A TEDx talk is a coveted thing. Many want to stand on the TEDx, or even the TED, red spot. It requires a special kind of talk to get on that spot and then to get subsequent meaningful video views afterwards, takes yet another step, but it is within most people’s grasp with the right help
I have been the ‘gatekeeper’ to (Organiser of) 4 TEDx talk events, curated them and coached those speakers. I have also done the same for other TEDx ‘style’ events where organisations want a TEDx talk but don’t want to follow all the TEDx rules or have the branding.
TED has in place a set of rules for event organisers and these must be followed if the organiser hopes to renew their licence for another event on another year. If you know these rules it helps with landing yourself a TEDx spot. I can help with that.
A TEDx talk is also a short talk, no more than 18 minutes. At one event I saw someone go over 19 minutes and it is not a pretty sight. What happens next is you get all but physically removed from stage. This is not unfair, because the rules are 18 minutes, and it is unfair to by your fellow speakers at the event as it would push their time back and they had to work hard to get their talk into the time.
There are things one would or could do at a TEDx talk and there are other things one does not do that you may usually do in a typical business or stage talk.
All TEDx talks will be recorded, and then once edited, shared on the TEDx YouTube Channel for the world to watch. It is here most views will occur. The Channel is controlled by the TED team and they will on occasion, select a talk to showcase or move talks to the TED.COM web site where a talk can go ballistic. The Simon Sinek talk from 2009, was at PugetSound TEDx and got added to the TED.COM site. Having interviewed Simon I know how that changed his life forever and the course of his career.
I often tell people that the event is really only the means to record your talk. The audience on the day will be nothing like the number that will eventually see it. Our events have been typically between 200 – 500 audience size and I know Sao Paulo has 20,000 in attendance, but even that is nothing compared to what can happen once on YouTube.
I have run many events at schools to get young children learning to speak on stage and share an idea and it is always impressive how well they do. I start by giving them some simple tips which I also share on this site, and from there I often see some amazing results. If a 9 year old can do it, I’m sure you can too.
The main thrust of a TEDx talk is the idea, ideas change everything, but a lot of people seem to miss this point. It’s not about a reveal at the end, although that can work, and it’s not a sales pitch. It is a special kind of talk that should also be unique and one you have not typically done before. The talk should also fit in with the theme of the event. Themes, however, are usually quite broad and vague so it’s often not difficult to make most talks fit with most themes, but it should fit! I like to describe the theme as a thin thread that links all the talks, but it can often be quite loosely linked.
I can help you develop that idea for the talk as it’s not always what is most obvious to the speaker. I can also help shape that idea to fit with any theme.
I have often held talent show type auditions where speakers would present their talk to me and a panel and hope to be selected for an event. If nothing else they always got useful feedback. On one occasion the speaker went on for 16 mins of something I forget about then in the last two minutes mentioned what should have been his whole talk. It is often the small nuggets of speaking gold that we miss ourselves and then we focus so much on what we think is needed. I can help give that unbiased and constructive view to help shape the best TEDx talk you could give and find that nugget in your talk or thoughts.
A talk does not have to be 18 minutes, it can be less, much less. Some of the best talks are only a few minutes, like this one here by Terry Moore from 2005 about how you should really tie your shoe laces!
The organisers need a mix of topics and of durations as a well put together TEDx event will have long talks (up to 18 mins), short talks, musical interludes, and any other entertaining or informative distraction to make the day truly memorable. This is where the ‘curation’ comes into play, getting the right mix.
In an event have opened with controversial talks to get the audience listening, I have put two speakers one after the other with what seemed like contrary views. It’s all done to boost engagement and interest from the audience so whatever your talk is about there is an event somewhere that wants to hear it and they will have the perfect slot to put it in.
Get in touch to discuss how we can work together and hone, develop or start your TEDx talk and the journey that can take and perhaps one day you can stand on the TED red spot!
