TEDx Stages Are Not Created Equal

5 tools for finding your ideal event

By Devin D. Marks | Published Nov. 8, 2022

Many hopeful TEDsters become TEDx speakers because they aren’t invited to a TED main-stage event (TED Global, TEDSummit, TEDNext, etc.).

They pivot to pursue the open-sourced, volunteer-led, and thus, more accessible TEDx stage. Typically, they go with the first event organizer that gives them the time of day.

That's a problem because too many TEDx organizers are learning on the job. After all, they are volunteers — often without enough time, experience, funding, staff... to properly vet speakers.

What’s more, none of that has anything to do with the multiple production elements necessary to the “TED Style” of events: lightning, audio, camera angles, editing, and more.

That’s not to denigrate any team in the wide-ranging TEDx community. It is a robust, creative, idea-generative group. And some events are brimming with talented professionals!

But there’s a LOT that goes into a successful final talk video of fewer than 18 minutes. (A lot.) And that’s just on the event production side of things. Turn to the nuanced mix that is coaching a speaker: disciplining the big idea, refining a script, working on talk delivery.

(“Lions and tigers and bears — Oh my!”)

Any (and all) of the above can go haywire for a speaker on a TEDx stage. And it just takes one fail in that list of performance expectations to sink a talk.

Then guess where your message ends up?

In the unwatched realms of YouTube... a proverbial Hades.

Want to avoid that? Begin by digging into these helpful resources:

1. UNDERSTAND HOW TED WORKS.

To unpack a bit more of the TEDx and TED terrain, click here.

2. VET TEDx EVENTS.

Begin sorting which event(s) to apply to. For 7 considerations to keep in mind, click here.

3. MILL YOUR IDEA.

Before applying to your first handful of events, work to ensure that your Big Idea is truly TED-worthy. (Yes, this is akin to a college admissions process.) For an overview of the process, click here.

4. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

If you've made it through The BIG IDEA Mill™ process, you deserve to be a TEDster. Don't second-guess yourself. For 7 tips to shed the problem of imposter syndrome, click here.

5. FIND A SHERPA.

Plan to bring a veteran speaker coach alongside as you attempt to summit the Mount Everest of public speaking. For 4 tips on finding your TEDx sherpa, click here.

As you've learned, TEDx stages ain't created equal. Finding your event (instead of any event) will take some work — and an experienced guide.

But first, dig deeply into the tools shared above, because... Your idea is worth spreading!

DEVIN D. MARKS is known as The TED Talk Whisperer. His firm, CONNECT to COMPEL, has served 100s of TED, TEDx, and short-talk speakers — including Harvard’s Dr. Robert Waldinger for his all-time Top 10 TEDx Talk. The result: 100s of millions of views for clients. He helps niche experts, authors, and leaders spread world-changing ideas. 

You can reach Devin at 617.804.6020, or DM him here. His newsletters are here.

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