Whether you applied to speak or are just the curious type, you’ve probably wondered how TEDxRexburg speakers are chosen. The process itself is rather simple.
Nominating a Speaker
If you want to nominate someone who you believe would be an excellent speaker, then you go to tedxrexburg.com and nominate that person. Once you’ve filled out the form, that information is inputted into a Google Spreadsheet. When it’s time to start looking for speakers again, the TEDxRexburg Team refers to this spreadsheet. A member of the team then emails or calls every nominated person on that list to encourage them to apply to speak.
Nominating a speaker is not enough to get them an audition. They must apply to speak. This is because many individuals are nominated every year who are not interested in speaking and so we will not ask someone to audition who has not applied.
If you have nominated someone, give them a nudge to apply.
Applying to Speak
Once a speaker has applied to speak their information is inputted into another Google Spreadsheet. This is the list that the TEDxRexburg Team uses to scope out potential speakers. Potential speakers are chosen to audition based on their ideas. There are often similar, competing ideas every year. In these cases, the more unique or well formed of the two is the one who is more likely to be offered an audition. Anywhere from 10-20 people can be asked to audition each year and usually 8-12 actually set up an appointment.
Auditions
Auditions are held over the course of a few days. Each speaker has 2-3 minutes to pitch their idea and then 7-8 minutes to have a Q&A with the audition panel. That panel consists of the speaking coach, the license holder and the event managers.
Selecting the Speakers
After each audition day, the panel discusses the auditions and selects the best speakers. There are many factors that go into picking speakers:
How complete the idea is can be a determining factor in selecting a speaker. Speakers are picked based on their idea, not on their ability to present. A speaker who has a concrete grasp on their idea is more likely to be selected than a speaker who just has an idea.
The style of presentation is not important when selecting speakers. Presentation style or grace is something that can be learned so those who have difficulty with presenting are given many opportunities to work with the TEDxRexburg speaking coach to improve their skills.
Gender balance is an important part of each event. The TEDxRexburg team strives to have at least two women in the program, but ideally would like to have an even split between speaker genders. This plays a part in the competition of speaker selection. Men are more likely to apply to be a TEDxRexburg speaker, meaning that there is more competition for a spot for men than for women.
Variety of ideas is also vital to each program. The event can only have two speakers who cover a similar topic. In cases where there are few unique ideas, the TEDxRexburg Team will hand select individuals and invite them to speak in order to diversify the program. These hand-selected speakers go through the same speaking process, but do not have to formally apply or audition for the program. They can be picked for their field of expertise or for a unique hobby.
Ability to communicate while setting up the audition. First impressions say loads about your personality, and your first impression as a speaker starts not at the audition, but while setting up the audition. Potential speakers who are very slow to respond to calls or emails or who are unclear or hard to communicate with are less likely to be selected because these are indications of future communication problems that could arise.
After careful consideration, the speakers are selected are notified. Those who are not selected for that year’s program are notified and given ways they can continue to participate in that year’s event and are also encouraged to apply again next year. After this, the speaking process begins.