Nerd Nite - May 22nd

Nerd Nite Pittsburgh is a lecture series that’s a mix between a comedy show, TED talk, and a social mixer! Speakers present for 15 minutes on a variety of topics related to science and technology, popular culture, history, and other nerdery with a vibe that’s as entertaining as it is academic! Audience members can ask questions, and beforehand there is an entirely optional social game. If you like alcohol, learning about random and interesting things, and meeting other humans this is for you! Social game starts at 6:30, Doors open for the show at 7:30, show starts at 7:45. If you have a topic you are passionate about and you’d like to be a speaker at a later event get in touch at pittsburgh@nerdnite.com! This event will feature the following presentations:

Theme? Themes.

So, your leitmotif came back in a minor key and that made you feel something. Let's talk about it. We will dive deep into analyzing the music of video games the same way you analyzed Catcher in the Rye in high school. Leitmotifs are more abundant than you’d think. Let’s figure out what they are, how they’re used, why they’re so dang emotional sometimes, and go over some really neat spots where you’d find them and not expect them. By Abby Lannan.

Of course it’s a boss fight! Can’t you tell from the ominous music playing?

Music is the emotional backdrop of the video game experience. It adds intensity, joy, melancholy, suspense, and connection to the world of gaming. But how does music create these emotions? And how does our cultural understanding of popular music styles such as Jazz, Classical, and Rock create the magic of the video game worlds we love so much. 

Lucas Bowman is a Pittsburgh based musician, teacher, and composer. He has toured nationally, primarily as part of the band “The Commonheart.”

Electronic wind instruments and their role in video game music

Combining the nerdiest instruments with the nerdiest music, Arcadia is a wind-synth duo that aims to recreate popular video game music with modern instruments. While these "robo-oboes" look like something out of a sci-fi movie, they've been around for decades and have had a large influence on video game music. Do you actually have to blow into it? Where does the sound come from? Are you sure that's not a handheld vacuum cleaner in disguise? Find out what makes these instruments so unique in this video game themed presentation! By Foolish Frankie.

Social game:

Our social game will take place before the show from 6:30-7:30. Similar to ‘Speed Dating’ or ‘Speed Networking’ our game is ‘Speed Friending’! Whether you are new to the city and hoping to make friends or trying to expand your professional network with other nerds, the game is just about meeting new people! We have a system in place to rotate everyone around to meet someone new every 5 minutes, then you can fill out an online form with which conversations you enjoyed and we’ll email you your matches! You are welcome to join late, but if you want to get the most of it arrive at 6:15 to register and the first round will start at 6:30.

If you haven’t been here before, check what this is about with videos from our youtube channel,

This event is 21+ and requires ID. The venue has limited space and there may not be door sales if we sell out, which happens regularly. Be sure to get a ticket before heading over.