TED talks have become famous because of the style of speech and the ideas they share. When looking for new speakers, the TEDxRexburg Team looks for new ideas. The identity of the speaker has little to do with whether they will be chosen to speak. As the official TEDx Guidelines put it “It’s actually not the person you should be searching for, but the person’s idea or innovation. This is a great way to decipher between a TEDx speaker, and an interesting person with an “okay” idea. What will the audience walk away knowing – that this person exists, or a new idea?”
So how do you know if your idea would make for a great TEDxRexburg Talk? Let’s first take a look at the TEDx Guidelines taken from https://www.ted.com/participate/organize-a-local-tedx-event/before-you-start.
- Look for new ideas that originate in your community but are widely relatable
- Look for ideas that need to be defended – not something self-evident, but an interesting argument, perhaps with an antagonist.
- Look for an idea the TED world hasn’t heard before. (In other words, not a copy of a TED Talk you like!)
- Look for ideas that change perceptions. (e.g., a scientific discovery that changes how you think about frogs, a philosophical argument that reshapes your notions of friendship.)
- Avoid pseudoscience – TED and TEDx are platforms for showcasing and explaining genuine advances in science, and it’s important we retain the respect of the scientific community. Speakers should avoid the misuse of scientific language to make unsubstantiated claims.
- No talks with an inflammatory political or religious agenda, nor for polarizing “us vs them” language
The TEDxRexburg team also has some of their own stipulations when it comes to the topic. First, the team looks for topics that apply to the Eastern Idaho area. Whatever your topic is, it must be able to relate to the people who live here and must relate to a wide range of people. The audience is diverse, so topics that only target a small group – like target business owners or college students – aren’t going to resonate with most of the audience. Second, the TEDxRexburg team looks for interesting and new ideas. Many people who want to do a motivational topic aren’t given an interview because their idea is either something that’s already been said or isn’t said in a new way. Lastly, the team tries to create a diverse program, so they will only allow one speaker to discuss a specific topic.
Still not sure if you’re idea would be a good TEDxRexburg talk? Then talk with a few of your friends and family. Tell them your idea and see what they think. And watch some TED talks. They will give you a great idea of what ideas make great TED talks.
And if you’re interested in applying with your new idea, go to the speaker tab and click apply.