How to Speak at TEDxOmaha
Helpful information
Each TEDx event is independently organized. They are licensed by TED but put together by a local team of volunteers who are dedicated to TED’s mission: Ideas Worth Spreading. In Omaha, our team develops an annual theme, locates and trains speakers, generates community support, and gives a TED-like experience every October.
The most visible part of this event is the speaker stage. It’s a great place to be. Our speakers have a crowd of curious people and a chance to contribute their Idea Worth Spreading. And a video in the TED format? That’s like intellectual currency.
As you can imagine, the TEDxOmaha team fields requests from many people who are interested in speaking. Since this event is based on TED’s principles, there are some important differences from other conferences. We encourage you to read What is a TEDx Talk? from TED. Here are some tips to help you prepare.
LOCAL PEOPLE
We prefer people who live in the Omaha region or have a very strong tie to it. Part of the reason we produce this event is that we want to highlight the remarkable people who live here. TED shows us great thinkers and doers from all parts of the world. We have those stories in our community, too.
UNIVERSAL APPEAL
While we prefer people in our community, our topics are generally not about Omaha. TED focuses on topics that cut across geography: science, art, education, shared human experiences. We follow that line, too.
UNIQUE VOICE
Many of our speakers have national and global impact, but we are more moved by a well-expressed story than by professional credentials. Do you have an Idea Worth Spreading? What is your angle? How do you tell the tale in a way that no one else can?
UNIQUE TO US
Fresh vegetables are better than canned. The same goes for our stage. If you pitch a presentation that you’ve given before, we will decline. TEDxOmaha is not the place for motivational speeches, corporate talks, or plug-and-play presentations. We want to match the power you see on every other TED Talk.
PATIENCE
Our team considers hundreds of people for ten spots on the program. We compare multiple approaches on similar topics. We think about how a topic fits our annual theme. We challenge our biases. We question our choices. We take this process seriously because we want to present a remarkable TEDxOmaha. You may be right for us but not right now. Keep trying, keep in contact, and keep practicing your craft.
One of the best outcomes of TEDxOmaha is connecting remarkable people. Our speakers, our attendees, and our volunteers are all worth knowing. We have TEDxOmaha Salon events and TEDx Adventure experiences throughout the year to keep the ideas – and conversation – flowing. Thank you for being a part of that.
The TED Commandments
These are the official guidelines from TED on how to prepare your talk. Chew them over one at a time and let them sit with you until each one triggers new ideas. These tips will help you craft your talk to have a profound impact on your audience.
- Dream big. Strive to create the best talk you have ever given. Reveal something new/never seen before. Do something the audience will remember forever. Share an idea that could change the world.
- Show us the real you. Share your passions, your dreams … and also your fears. Be vulnerable. Speak of failure as well as success.
- Make the complex plain. Don’t try to dazzle intellectually. Don’t speak in abstractions. Explain! Give examples. Tell stories. Be specific.
- Connect with people’s emotions. Make us laugh! Make us cry!
- Don’t flaunt your ego. Don’t boast. It’s the surest way to switch everyone off.
- No selling from the stage! Unless we have specifically asked you to, do not talk about your company or organization. And don’t even think about pitching your products or services or asking for funding from stage.
- Don’t read your talk.
- End your talk on time. Doing otherwise is to steal time from the people that follow you. We won’t allow it.
- Rehearse your talk in front of a trusted friend … for timing, for clarity, for impact.
Other Helpful links to help build your talk:
Playlist: Getting ready to speak at TED or a TEDx event? We recommend these talks to help get you pumped up.
