Official Movement Bash Poster (Click for Large Version)

DES MOINES, Iowa (October 8, 2009) – Impromptu Studio plays host to movers and shakers from across the Midwest at the first ever Movement Bash on Thursday, October 22. A select group from Des Moines’ growing tech and creative communities are joining forces to celebrate entrepreneurship with free food, free beverages, and free entertainment. Organizers are creating a casual networking evening for entrepreneurs and creatives from the Omaha, Kansas City, and Des Moines metro areas coming to town for Highlight Midwest.

“There’s a lot of good energy in Des Moines right now, and it’s connected in a big way to the same energy that’s growing across the whole Midwest,” said Dan Shipton, an organizer of the event and co-founder of Impromptu Studio. “Movement Bash will be a great way for big brains and big ideas to come together, network, and have a good time. No presentations, just conversations.”

To keep the event free and open, organizers tapped 18 19 different local businesses for support including tech start-ups, law firms, and creative agencies.

“Everyone I called was really excited,” Shipton said. “[Our sponsors] are a broad mix and involve a lot of businesses that are part of this movement of genuine innovation in flyover country. Events like Movement Bash, BarCamp, BIG Omaha, Ignite Des Moines, Advance Week…they’re tied to the new platform that real movers and shakers in the Midwest are building.”

Organizers are encouraging Movement Bash attendees to cut loose and come share their passions over food, drink, and activities. Rock Band, social games, an anonymous “suggestion box” for entrepreneurs, conversation-sparking nametags and other activities will help prevent wallflower-ing and keep the evening lively, Shipton said.

Movement Bash is being presented by Paragon IT, BitMethod, Law Offices Of Brett J. Trout, P.C., Public Relations Project, Grand Consulting, Click! Photography, Internet Solver, Napkin Sketch, Tweetup Badges, Test of Time Design, createWOWmedia, Market Street Media Foundry, Catchwind, 25 Connections, 48Web, Spindustry, SmartyPig, Olde Main Brewing Co. and Mars Café.

An RSVP is requested but not required and available at http://movementbash.eventbrite.com. Impromptu Studio is located at 300 SW 5th St, Des Moines IA 50309.

After the Ugly Sweater Party we took the donations to the Central Iowa Shelter and started organizing for a New Years Eve dinner at the shelter which we were helping Doug Mitchell and Claire Celsi organize.  Thanks to the Des Moines Register inviting volunteers to join us in serving dinner we had an amazing turn out that night and were able to go out and serve dinner to everyone. Claire was able to get cornbread donated by Famous Dave’s and our own Daniel Shipton made the chili for the evening. Volunteers brought cookies, drinks and all the chili “fixin’s”.

Overall we were very excited that for the holiday season we were able to have fun and really get out and help those less fortunate than ourselves. We want to thank everyone who donated items and their time. It wouldn’t have been a success without you.

Check out our flickr photostream for more pictures of the event!

The Technology Association of Iowa bills themselves as the voice of Iowa’s high tech industry:

The Technology Association of Iowa (TAI) is a member-based, not-for-profit organization accelerating the success of Iowa’s technology industry.  TAI works to create and sustain a positive environment for technology-based economic growth and job creation through innovation, advocacy and leadership.  Visit their website at www.technologyiowa.org.

The Technology Association of Iowa also runs the “academy awards” of Iowa’s technology industry, the Prometheus Awards:

Iowa’s largest and most prestigious awards devoted to promoting and celebrating the innovation and high-tech excellence in Iowa. This showcase honors companies and individuals who represent the best and brightest in technology and business and have demonstrated outstanding leadership and innovation. For more information on the 2009 Prometheus Awards and to see the criteria for the 17 award categories, visit www.technologyiowa.org/awards/2009/.  The nomination period ends December 22, 2008.

So, please visit their website to submit your nomination for the 2009 Prometheus Awards. You can also check out @TechnologyIowa on Twitter.

We also want to acknowledge one of our guests favorite sponsors, which is Olde Main Brewery. We reached out to Olde Main through their @OldeMain Twitter account which is ran by Jill Haverkamp.  Jill and the folks at Olde Main have been great to work with and we are glad to work with them again for the Ugly Sweater Party! They will be supplying two kinds of their tasty beer that are brewed locally in Ames, Iowa.  Everyone should stop in at Olde Main when they are in Ames for good eats and great beer.

All of the event info: The Epic Ugly Sweater Party

Ignite Des Moines will be a chance for its finest to gather, network, and IGNITE! Participants should be ready to learn and laugh, be inspired and entertained. The event will showcase the creative class of Des Moines by listening to the Ignite Talks, participating in short impromptu presentations, and entering into the Egg Catapult Contest. Additionally, the Iowa Web Awards will be announcing its winners throughout the night. Mark your calendars and RSVP now because is an event you won’t want to miss.

We are hoping to fill Impromptu to the gills with local entrepreneurs, innovators, and up and comers. We are looking for sponsors to help us make this event great. So whether you just want to participate or would like to be a sponsor, check out www.ignitedesmoines.com.

Impromptu is open for coworking Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm and Wednesdays until 10pm.

Shared Amenities

• Coffee, tea, and water
• First come, first serve conference tables and whiteboards
• Lounge space
• Kitchenette area with shared sink, microwave, refrigerator
• Wi-Fi Internet Access
• Mail and package delivery with a three month commitment
• Lockers available to rent ($20/month)
• Free black and white printing, scanning, and copying
• Library of business, creative and instructional books and magazines
• Board games and video games when it’s time to kick back
• Hold an impromptu meeting in unreserved conference rooms
• Chance to be featured in Impromptu marketing efforts, including the website, newsletter, and press releases
• Add your business cards or brochures to the information rack

Mobile Coworking

• $50/month
• Unlimited Daily Access
• Month-to-month commitment
• Open tables and desks to cowork from
• Pay by check on the first of the month or get billed through Paypal subscription
  Ready to go? Subscribe through Paypal and come on out.

Desk Coworking

• $175/month
• Minimum 3-month commitment
• 24/7 keyed access
• Desk and chair included – you can bring your own chair if you’d like!
• Pay by check on the first of the month or set up a Paypal subscription

Does all this interest you? Drop us a line for a tour, a visit, to sign up or to learn more.