The sidewalk beneath the Ellen Theater’s marquee was clogged with people seeking tickets to the sold out show. Inside, the lobby buzzed with friendly conversation punctuated occasionally by the joyous exclamation of, “I got a ticket!” This crowd had not gathered to see a famous musician or award-winning writer, as you might expect. Instead, this crowd had gathered to see their neighbors, friends, and fellow community members give presentations for Bozeman’s 6th Pecha Kucha Night.

A typical Pecha Kucha consists of 12 presenters. Each presenter has the opportunity to show 20 images for 20 seconds each. The concept originated in Japan; Pecha Kucha is Japanese for “chit chat.” Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham of Klein Dytham Architecture set up a Pecha Kucha night as a one-time event to open their new studio. The limit on images and time encouraged precise and focused presentations on many subjects. The first event was incredibly popular and people soon wanted more. In the past ten years, Pecha Kucha has become popular globally; 74 events were held around the world in February 2013.

Larry Sterne, one of the Bozeman event’s organizers, first saw Pecha Kucha in Portland, Maine. He immediately thought it was the “perfect event for Bozeman for a number of reasons. It is all about community, and Bozeman is proud of its community,” Sterne explained. He organized some of his friends, Dede Taylor, Cindy Christin, Steve Durbin, Ross Rodgers, and Jim Madden, and together they made Pecha Kucha a reality for Bozemanites. Ben Bennett from Massive Studios designs all the posters and programs. Everyone that helps organize Pecha Kucha events is a volunteer, and Pecha Kucha Bozeman is registered as a nonprofit.

Bozeman’s first Pecha Kucha was held in October 2011 at the Story Mansion. Much to the organizers’ surprise, around 100 people attended. The audience has been growing ever since, and they now sell out the Ellen Theater. According to Sterne, the last show sold out before they did any official advertising. The organizers have discussed the possibility of adding a second night to their scheduled events because Pecha Kucha has become so popular. They have talked about moving to a larger space, but love the feel the Ellen Theater has, likening it to “Bozeman’s living room.” At the event in February, actor and comedian Kent Davis emceed, introducing 11 presenters that discussed a wide range of topics from conditions in Northern Mongolia to the treatment of minorities in our own country.

The drone of a didgeridoo lured the audience to their seats. Once everyone was settled, the didgeridoo player left the stage, only to be reintroduced as the evening’s first presenter. It was the first of many surprises that evening, and the crowd cheered for didgeridoo player and MSU plant scientist Gary Strobel. He spent his brief time on stage discussing his groundbreaking research on endophytes, plants that live within other plants and have been found to have antibacterial properties and fuel potential. His images of cloud forests and giant Ceiba trees mesmerized viewers.

Jackie Rainford Corcoran drew a number of her slides—clever depictions of how we might “rise above our own demise.” Corcoran, a local personal trainer, used her presentation time to remind everyone that healthy choices are worthwhile. Using herself as an example, she dispensed health advice without making anyone feel guilty.

Tom Dickson came from Helena to let the audience know that paying it forward is simple, as long as you have a spare organ. With humor and wit, he described his journey to give “a perfect organ to a perfect stranger.” He explored his reasons for kidney donation—Would this forever assuage any and all guilt? Could he feel justified hanging up on phone solicitors and denying requests for his time or his money? Dickson made his donation anonymously, but eventually, his kidney recipient tracked him down and asked to meet. Ultimately, he explained, the greatest benefit from his decision was the smile on the man’s face, who now lives a healthier life thanks to Dickson and his kidney. His inspirational presentation left smiles on the faces of the entire audience as well.

There is a lot to be learned at Pecha Kucha Night. Half of the fun is not knowing what you will be learning until you walk in the door. The combination of surprise, education, and fun is what draws larger audiences for every event. Organizers have realized that attracting an audience in a town like Bozeman is easy. Attracting presenters is slightly more difficult. “There is no shortage of good people,” Larry Sterne said. “But, tracking them down and getting them to agree to present is challenging.” It takes a bit of work to get 20 images organized, he explained. But, it is clear that the audience appreciates all the effort.

Anyone interested in presenting at Pecha Kucha should contact one of the organizers. They have a Facebook page, and there is a link to information on Bozeman’s organization through the International Pecha Kucha page. Any topic is fair game. The original Pecha Kucha was a forum for artists and designers, but the event has broadened to include anything. Sterne said that Bozeman’s event attracts a lot of adventurers and conservationists, but the organizers work to ensure there is variety in each event. “We try to make it as open as possible to everyone,” Sterne said. “We want to keep politics out and make everyone feel welcome.”

Pecha Kucha organizers also make sure that the events include plenty of time to socialize. The doors open at 6:30p.m., so ticketholders can arrive early to share a drink and conversation before presentations start at 7:20p.m. A 20-minute intermission allows the audience to socialize, discuss what they have learned, and refill their drinks.

Pecha Kucha harnesses the community’s collective curiosity. “It gives us a chance to learn more about all the fascinating people in town,” Sterne said. No story is too big or too small to bring the community together. The next Pecha Kucha is on April 24, at the Ellen Theater. It is a great opportunity to grab a few friends, relax with a drink, and learn what your neighbors have been working on. Bozeman is full of interesting people doing interesting things.

Sarah Cairoli’s curiosity will not allow her to miss the next Pecha Kucha. She can be reached at scairoli30@hotmail.com.