Nerd Nite is an event held in more than 100 cities across the globe during which several folks give 18-21-minute fun-yet-informative presentations across all disciplines – while the audience drinks along. It’s kinda like the Discovery channel with beer! Or, Ted talks with beer. Either way, it’s education meets entertainment.
About Nerd Nite Toronto
Pre-pandemic, Toronto held events semi-monthly. Now we roll about two times per year. We’re flexible!
The Toronto bosses are Lauren Shorser (she/her) and Virve Aljas (she/her). We founded the Toronto chapter in 2010, passed the torch, there was a global pandemic, and then we came back. You can’t keep a good nerd down.
About the talks
PowerPoint + lecture is the typical show format, but we are very flexible and support a variety of styles. Do you want to be funny, or dramatic? Do you want to do a demonstration? Or a performance? Cool! We strive to be playful, entertaining, sometimes a little inebriated or salacious, but always deeply educational.
Talks are 20 minutes plus 5-10 minute Q & A. The best talks tell a story or share 2-3 main points of info. Talks should be like essays or good articles in that they have a clear structure and point.
What do we look for in a presenter?
We encourage both professional and amateur nerds to present! You don’t need to be an expert in your topic, but you do need to know enough to present with confidence and be able to answer questions from the audience. On a scale of 1-5 (1= know nothing, 5= a professional expert), we ask for at least a 3.5.
You should be comfortable speaking to an audience, using technology (PowerPoint, at least), and know how to keep to a time limit. You can be serious, funny, musical, deadpanned, anything as long as it fits your talk and your personality! Just don’t be boring.
Does this sound like you? Do you have a nerdy talk idea in mind? Contact us!