As a TEDx organizer, we're vesting you with a little piece of the TED brand. Organizing a successful event is going to take hard work -- and passion. Read this page carefully, and be sure you understand what all TEDx organizers have to commit to before you apply for a license.
Your responsibilities as a TEDx organizer
- Designing the program: More than anything else, the content is what defines a TED event. As organizer, you'll be curating (or working with a team to curate) a program designed to inspire and delight the attendees you gather. Whether you invite live speakers, or simply show recorded TEDTalks, your selections will set the tone and drive the conversation.
- Inviting guests: Early on, you'll need to decide who your event is for: Work colleagues? Friends? Kids? This decision will help guide all the decisions that follow. We recommend organizers carefully curate their audience -- selecting diverse attendees who can contribute to the conversation. (Do not invite more guests than you are licensed to accommodate. Organizers who have not attended an official TED conference may not organize an event for over 100 guests.)
- Choosing a venue: The environment you choose for your event will both set its tone and dictate its complexity. A dozen people in your living room is a very different proposition from taking over the local theater.
- Clearly communicating expectations: From the outset, be clear to your potential guests, speakers, sponsors and support staff about what is expected of them, and what they should expect at your event.
- Creating a TED-like experience: Welcoming your guests to your venue, facilitating conversation, and encouraging behavior that will allow everyone to get the most out of the onstage content. This includes, of course, keeping them physically safe.
- Resolving problems: Inevitably, problems will arise -- it's up to you to solve them, and to respond graciously to audience feedback.
- Enforcing the clock: Keeping the event running on time -- talks may never exceed 18 minutes. (See tips for training speakers from TED's June Cohen.)
- Treating attendees, sponsors and staff with respect: Assuming responsibility for the venue that's hosting you.
- Being a part of the global TEDx community: TEDx is more than a set of events -- it's a global community comprised of individuals from many nations, cultures and backgrounds. Engage and collaborate with others graciously and professionally.
Next: Naming your event »