You’ve probably noticed that in the last three weeks there has been little said about TEDxOmaha 2011 despite the fact it is less than a month away. We wanted to provide an update regarding changes in our original plan resulting from discussions with TED over the past weeks. Rest assured, it is still scheduled on Saturday October 15, however it will be more intimate event in audience size and setting than we originally planned. For the full story, read on after the event details.
Here are the vitals: TEDxOmaha 2011 DATE: Saturday October 15 (the only Saturday in October with no Husker game) TIME: Noon to 6pm LOCATION: Hixon-Lied Auditorium at the Harper Center on the Creighton University Campus
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get tickets? Register at TEDxOmaha.com. Names will be drawn randomly, and the lucky ones will be notified by email they have been selected to receive a ticket.
How much will tickets cost? There is no cost this year for tickets thanks to the generosity of our underwriters, Creighton University College of Business and The Apogee Group.
When does registration begin and end? Beginning Monday September 26 there will be a link on TEDxOmaha.com to register your interest in attending. Registration will continue through Sunday October 2. On Monday, October 3, names will be drawn and those people will be notified by email.
Will there be a waiting list? Yes, in addition to the names drawn on October 3, we will drawn a pool for a waiting list should others be unable to attend. Those people will be notified of that status.
What if I don’t get a ticket? You can still participate live by holding a TEDxOmaha Viewing Party. The full event will be streamed live on TEDxOmaha.com, and we encourage to set up viewing parties with your friends and family to share the experience of TEDxOmaha. We will include listings of parties you arrange on the TEDxOmaha.com site if you provide us that information.
So, for the long story…
Going into planning for TEDxOmaha 2011 we believed that we could stage an event for a larger audience, but were notified by TED that we were only contracted to host for an audience of 100 due to a change in licensing.
We’ve spent the past weeks in an aggressive effort to get an exception and approval to go over the 100 attendee limit. We were supported by several people who interceded directly with TED Board members and the Curator of TED, Chris Anderson. We are humbled by both the sheer amount of generosity of those in our community, as well as their willingness to provide their valuable time. Unfortunately, our request was denied, and we are licensed to have only up to 100 attendees at TEDxOmaha 2011.
In their explanation, TED made it very clear that they are simply applying the rules evenly and fairly to everyone who licenses an event. There have already been 2,000 TEDx events this year alone, and they receive many requests for exceptions. While we are disappointed, we fully understand their position and applaud them for maintaining a consistent set of rules and for maintaining the experience of TEDx first and foremost in their minds.
In past weeks we’ve had to continually remind ourselves to look at What’s Possible, and what we’ve have come to understand is that the quality of the event doesn’t have to change, the level of excitement doesn’t have to change, and if anything, the event will be even MORE exclusive and exciting given the intimacy. Plus, we will be live streaming the event, which will provide access to thousands more who want to be part of the TEDxOmaha experience.
Please let us know if you have additional questions or concerns. And remember to register beginning Monday on TEDxOmaha.com!
From those us on the TEDxOmaha organizing committee, thank you for your patience and support! Both are greatly appreciated.
We all look forward to TEDxOmaha 2011 and What’s Possible.
TEDxOmaha 2011 is generously underwritten by Creighton University College of Business and The Apogee Group. It is produced by REBEL INTERACTIVE.
