This was not easy. Our presenters didn’t pull any punches. Seriously—there were some amazing, intriguing, and downright shocking entries we wish we could have used, but after voting … we narrowed the presentations down to fourteen for Ignite Phoenix After Hours #1.

Sticking to the Ignite Phoenix principles, with an added edgy vibe, I present the lineup for our inaugural event:

• A Brief History of Pornographic Videogames – Adam ‘Pi’ Birch
• An Expressway to Your Skull: Strange Visions, Infernal Machines, and You – Ashley Naftule
• Cantaloupe, Cropping & Kegel Exercises – Annie Janssen
• C*nt – Nina Miller
• Do Drink & Drive! – Michael Cady
• Faith Isn’t Sacred – Alexander Cherry
• Fuckin’ Asthma – Debbie Walker
• Introducing … Lenny Bruce – Tim Giron
• It Started With A Wink – But I should Have Killed You – Stacey Champion
• Need a Hand? Vaginal Fisting for 1 and all! – Shanna Katz
• Not Mexican Enough – or – a son of a bastard searches for identity – Krystofer James VanSlyke
• Rectum – Nearly killed them – Terry Simpson
• The Dead: Zombies & Our Fascination & Love of the Dead – Victor Moreno
• Titties Through the Ages – Evo Terra

We would like to thank all the brave souls who took an adventurous step and sent presentation ideas for IPAH #1. We were thrilled to have so many submissions for our first event, and truly, each one had its own wonderfully dark and dangerous merit. We hope to see all of you in Scottsdale for IPAH #1.

And start now: reach out to your personal dark passenger. Get ready to submit for IPAH #2!

Submissions for Ignite Phoenix After Hours close tomorrow. The tickets sold out in one day, so let’s face it: if your presentation makes the cut, you have a guaranteed captive audience. Let’s see … what could you talk about?

How about the time you saw a tarot card reader in Vegas? She pulled the Death card. Once you got home, you locked yourself in your house for a week.  Finally, one day, you turned on the news. A tarot card reader had been murdered in Vegas. Life went on as usual, but you still sometimes look back and expect to see her following you.

Or that time you survived New Orleans, Mardi Gras. Some girl kept feeding you test tube shots on Bourbon Street, until you lost your group of friends. You called your buddy, standing under that glowing Mango Mango neon sign. You told him, “I’m under the sign for Mango Mango!” He said, “I’m under the sign for Mango Mango!” That’s when you realized, there was a Mango Mango sign on every corner.

I know you have it in ya! A bunch of brave souls have already come forward, bearing their best for an IPAH-hungry Phoenix. One gal wants to tell you how to be comfortable naked. A fellah is ready to share what high school teachers are REALLY thinking. What’s your story? What’s your passion? What really gets you going—bad or good? Tomorrow is your final chance to introduce your edgy self to friends and strangers. Time is running out!

So be ambitious on a Monday. Procrastinate at work, and submit a presentation to Ignite Phoenix After Hours: the inaugural, SOLD OUT place to be December 3rd. Details are on the Speak page. You don’t have a moment to waste.

Wake up! Get out of bed. Pour that coffee. And TGIF! One day of work until the weekend, and you even have a mid-day distraction. Namely, the Ignite Phoenix After Hours tickets go on sale at NOON TODAY! For those of you who haven’t been paying attention, let’s recap …

Based on the foundations of Ignite Phoenix, Ignite Phoenix After Hours has been created to accommodate the no-limit, no-fear crowd. At IPAH, you never know who might show up. From burlesque dancers to road ragers, nudists to necromancers … you name it, we won’t shy away from it. As long as it’s your passion, sky’s the limit.

Programming is from R to X, so 21 and up only. It’s still an information exchange, and we still want to leave you inspired and excited about life in the Valley of the Sun. But certain presentations at Ignite Phoenix After Hours might also leave you shocked, and you’ll definitely learn something new. Just be sure to leave the kids at home.

The eye-popping event will be happening Friday, December 3, from 7 to 10 PM. The venue is sexy; a modern, fashion-savvy Phantom of the Opera would love it, and so will you. It’s The Ballroom at Myst Nightclub, 7340 East Shoeman Lane, Scottsdale. Tickets cost $10, and we’re only selling 190. It won’t be long, and we’ll be sold out. You don’t want to miss this! So set your cell phone alarms for 11:50 AM and prepare to purchase.

Follow the link: http://ignitephoenixafterhours.eventbrite.com/.

If you’re still not convinced, browse the submissions we have so far. Seriously, how could you stand to miss something like this?!

You’ve recovered from your Halloween weekend hang-over, so why haven’t you submitted for Ignite Phoenix After Hours yet? I don’t want to hear your excuses. I will not accept things like a) “I still can’t find the finger I cut off while pumpkin-carving,” b) “I spilled Witches’ Brew on my computer, and now, it just makes a cackling noise,” or c) “I’m more scared of public speaking than that trick-or-treater who looked heinously similar to Justin Bieber.” No, no, excuses will not do.

After all, other people have already submitted their presentation ideas. So far, topics range from porn to not being Mexican enough, asthma to drunk-driving. Head over to the Speak page and read all about it. There’s plenty of sex and drugs, but we want even more variety!! Think BIG! Think WILD! I know you have an edgy idea in the transoms of your subconscious. Set that idea free! (Freud would have it no other way.) Be brave today. Submit your presentation idea. You only have until next Tuesday, November 9. Shake off that Halloween hang-over. Dust off your public speakin’ shoes. Get ready for Ignite Phoenix After Hours.

And did I mention tickets sales? Tickets go on sale THIS FRIDAY, November 5, at NOON! Drop everything (no one really works on Friday anyway), and head to the Attend page for your chance to party with the edgy Phoenix crowd at IPAH #1. Keep in mind, this is not gonna be a massive to-do. This is going to be much smaller than the Ignite Phoenix you’re used to. We want it cozy, comfortable, and crrrrrazy at our inaugural event. Trust me, you don’t want to miss it. All the cool people are doing it.

You heard about us at Ignite Phoenix 8. Here’s the whole story.

For awhile, Ignite Phoenix has been receiving excellent, intriguing presentation submissions that are way outside the PG-13 boundaries. So what does the Ignite Phoenix team do with these excellent, intriguing presentations? Toss ‘em. We don’t want to, but we have to, because Ignite Phoenix is family-friendly. The tossing of such passionate (and R-rated) presentations hurts. I mean, it really sucks. But what could be the answer?

1. We could change the format of Ignite Phoenix, but why mess with a good thing?
2. We could move on, pretending we don’t get amazing R- and even X-rated submissions.
3. We could create a whole new Ignite Phoenix, designed for the after hours crowd.

Obviously, we opted for item three.

Introducing Ignite Phoenix After Hours, created on the same foundations as Ignite Phoenix but catering to an adult-only crowd. In order to submit, present, or attend, you must be 21 and above. Your topic should focus on your passion, whatever that passion may be (even if mom wouldn’t approve). This is your chance to get in touch with a deeper, edgier side of yourself … and share it with a room full of strangers.

Take a look around the new site. Learn about us, and submit a presentation for the December 3 event. We want presentations that will inspire, shock, and enlighten, with no PG-13 limitation. Welcome to Ignite Phoenix After Hours—your night to touch base with the no-limit, no-fear crowd, living on the metaphorical edge in the Valley of the Sun.