Speak

Speaker Applications for TEDxOrange have now closed.  We will be revealing our speakers with an Idea worth Sharing in the coming weeks leading up to the inaugural TEDxOrange 2015!

Watch our Twitter, Instagram and Facebook feeds for more information.

What is an idea worth spreading?

In 10-15 minutes, ideas worth spreading use evidence or observations to draw a larger conclusion. TED talks by Chris Anderson, June Cohen and Nancy Duarte explain this in detail.

Those ideas can be either:

Something new and surprising; an idea or invention that our audience has never heard about.

A great basic idea (that the audience has maybe already heard) with a compelling new argument behind it that challenges beliefs and perspectives.

Hallmarks of a great TEDx talk:

Original, authentic and passionate

Focused and sharp

Humility and vulnerability

Logical progression of an idea

Plain English

Go deep not broad – present one idea that the audience can understand and leave with a clear idea to share.

Share a process of discovery and intrigue with the audience. Show them why they should care.

Humour is great (if it’s part of your natural style)

TEDx talks are not religious, spruiks for business, motivational talks, pseudo-science or personal stories (unless the story illustrates an idea worth spreading)

The TED Commandments

1. Dream big. Strive to create the best talk you have ever given. Reveal something never

seen before. Do something the audience will remember forever. Share an idea that could

change the world.

2. Show us the real you. Share your passions, your dreams…and also your fears. Be

vulnerable. Speak of failure as well as success.

3. Make the complex plain. Don’t try to dazzle intellectually. Don’t speak in abstractions.

Explain! Give examples. Tell stories. Be specific.

4. Connect with people’s emotions. Make us laugh! Make us cry!

5. Don’t flaunt your ego. Don’t boast. It’s the surest way to switch everyone off.

6. No selling from the stage! Unless we have specifically asked you to, do not talk about your

company or organisation. And don’t even think about pitching your products or services or

asking for funding from stage.

7. Feel free to comment on other speakers’ talks, to praise or to criticise. Controversy

energises! Enthusiastic endorsement is powerful!

8. Don’t read your talk. Notes are fine. But if the choice is between reading or rambling, then

read!

9. End your talk on time. Doing otherwise is to steal time from the people that follow you.

We won’t allow it.

10. Rehearse your talk in front of a trusted friend … for timing, for clarity, for impact.