Once the speakers have been chosen they begin a four month refining process. Speakers are required to attend one coaching night, a speaker dinner, a dry run and a dress rehearsal.
The Coaching Night is the first time all of the speakers are in the same room. Each speaker gives their speech and receives feedback from the speech coach and the other speakers. This night usually takes 3-5 hours to complete. We only require one coaching night, but can set up multiple coaching nights at the request of the speakers.
About two weeks before the big day, the TEDxRexburg Team puts on a thank you banquet we call the speaker dinner. This is an opportunity for speakers to meet the entire TEDxRexburg Team and visa versa. This is a night of relaxation and gratitude.
Between a week and a day before the event there will be a dry run. This is the speakers’ first opportunity to practice on the actual stage. During this time, the technical and sound team works with speakers on mics, powerpoints and any other technical matters. Each speaker gets 30-40 minutes to practice their speech and has the opportunity to get further advice from the speaking coach and other members of the TEDxRexburg Team.
The dress rehearsal is a complete run through of the entire event and is the final refining point before the event. All speakers are in the theater together and practice how they will come on and off the stage and get to see the full videos that will be shown as well as practice with the emcee. The dress rehearsal usually happens the morning of the event.
Those are the four major requirements for the speakers. They have the opportunity to work with the speaking coach as much as they wish, but they are not required to.