Tryon Fine Arts Center – September 10th 2016 Speakers … are most passionate about. "TED" stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design — three broad subject areas that are collectively

Tryon Fine Arts Center – September 10th2016 Speakers Toolkit

Contents • Welcome Letter

• About TEDxTryon • Our Theme

• Creating A TEDxTalk • New for 2016 – Speaker Candidate Workshop Series

• Talk Tips • TEDx Commandments and Rules

• Process • Responsibilities • Calendar • Tech – A Word About Illustrating Your Talk

• Event Specifications • Contact

2016 Speakers Toolkit

Welcome

February 2016 Thank you for your interest in speaking at TEDxTryon. We are looking forward to hearing more about your “idea worth spreading.” This booklet is designed to help you through the selection process and, should your idea be chosen, through presenting your talk on the TEDxTryon stage. Preparing for a TEDx talk is a significant commitment of time and energy. It also yields the significant payoff of presenting your idea to a select audience from our Foothills region, as well as the world via the TEDx YouTube Channel. Take a minute to think about that. The team behind TEDxTryon is here to offer our full support. We’ve built tools and a timeline to help you develop your best talk. Throughout the process, you should never hesitate to approach us with any of your concerns or feedback. The success of TEDxTryon depends on our collective ability to bring out the best in everyone. So let’s get started.

Sincerely,

The Speaker Selection Committee


What is TED?

TED is an annual event where some of the world's leading thinkers and doers are invited to share what they are most passionate about. "TED" stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design — three broad subject areas that are collectively shaping our future. And in fact, the event is broader still, showcasing ideas that matter in any discipline. Attendees have called it "the ultimate brain spa" and "a four-day journey into the future." The diverse audience — CEOs, scientists, creatives, philanthropists — is almost as extraordinary as the speakers, who have included Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Frank Gehry, Paul Simon, Sir Richard Branson, Philippe Starck and Bono. What is TEDx?

In the spirit of “ideas worth spreading,” TED created TEDx, a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks videos, performers, and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connections. 2015 was TEDx’s sixth year, and it was a year of milestones. By 2015 more than 10,000 events had taken place in more than 166 countries – TEDxTryon being one of them


What is TEDx Tryon?

TEDxTryon is a local, self-organized event bringing people together to share ideas and to explore the unique opportunities and challenges that impact our lives in the Carolina Foothills.

Resources Learn More About TED TED: www.ted.com TEDx: www.ted.com/tedx TEDx Tryon: www.tedxtryon.com

http://www.ted.com

http://www.ted.com/tedx

http://www.tedxtryon.com


Live… TEDxTryon is the excitement, collaboration, exploration and discovery that happens within our community leading up to September 10th. Inspire…We’re bringing together local awesomeness. These are the thought leaders, dreamers, and downright amazing folks who make the foothills great. Some you may know, others have been tapped right out of the woodwork so be prepared to be surprised. Repeat... and TEDxTryon is what happens long after the 2016 event. We'll be asking ourselves and each other: How did the TEDxTryon experience inspire us? What did we learn about our community and the dynamic folks who are making a difference? How can we hit “repeat” and pay it forward in meaningful ways?

Our theme is “live. inspire. repeat.”


Creating a TEDx Talk

Ingredients Of A Great TEDxTalk

Focus – One idea Build your talk around one idea you can express in one simple sentence. A TEDxTryon talk is limited to 10 minutes; there simply isn’t time to explore more than one idea well. Something new Tell your audience something new. It can be completely new or simply a fresh angle on something we all thought we knew. Wherever it falls on that spectrum, it should make people say, “I didn’t know that” or “I never thought it of that way,” or even better “Wow, that changes everything.” A story Take your audience on a journey. A TEDx talk is not a lecture; it doesn’t just relate facts. A great TEDx talk tells a story—no matter how technical the subject. So weave some pertinent personal stories into your talk. You don’t have to be confessional. But these stories should tell the audience something about you while illuminating your idea, allowing them to connect both with you and with your idea.


Ingredients Of A Great TEDxTalk

Contagious emotion Inject your talk with real emotion. Show your passion for your idea and make it contagious. When people get excited about an idea, they naturally want to tell others about it.

Clear Language Though you may be an expert in your field, the majority of your audience is not. Make sure your talk speaks to a general audience. Avoid industry jargon. Ensure your story flows. Complete thoughts and threads. Don’t assume people are familiar with your subject. For your idea to spread, it must first be understood. Keep your language simple.


New for 2016

Speaker Candidate Workshop Series Find out just what it takes to put together a winning TEDx talk at our speaker candidate workshop series. (Attendance at this series is not a requirement for candidates.) Workshop 1: Your Idea Worth Spreading

February 23, 5:30-‐6:30 p.m. Isothermal Community College, Columbus, NC Clarify your idea worth spreading and be able to express it in one sentence. This is a must for your application and will make organzing the rest of your talk so much easier. Taught by Beth Brand, TEDxTryon speaker selection committee Workshop 2: The Outline & Flow Of A TEDxTalk

March 15, 5:30-‐6:30 p.m. Isothermal Community College, Columbus, NC See how the best TEDx talks are structured and get some proven resources that show you how to structure yours step by step. Taught by Robin Edgar, 2015 TEDxTryon speaker


Workshop 3: Performance Tips

April 19, 5:50-‐6:30 p.m. Isothermal Community College, Columbus, NC It’s not just what you say, but also how you say it. This workshop provides practical dos and don’ts of public speaking, as well as instruction on creating great stage presence. Taught by John Johann, TEDxTryon coach. Sign Up Now: To sign up for one, two or all three of these workshops, e-‐mail Beth Brand at [email protected], give your name and contact information, and indicate which workshops you’d like to attend. You will receive a confirmation, as well as further details.

This workshop series is open to the public. You do not have to have applied to TEDxTryon to attend. Also, it is not a requirement for application. However, if you are considering speaking at TEDxTryon or in public anywhere, it is recommended.

mailto:[email protected]


TEDx presenters might make their talks look effortless, but there are hours of thinking, preparing and practicing involved behind every one. Here are some tips to help you create a talk that grabs your audience and brings your idea home:

• Whatever discipline it springs from, your idea should matter to everyone.

• Make your talk focused and sharp. It should go deep rather than broad. It can include unique aspects of your personal experience or project, but keep these examples powerful, illuminating and succinct.

• Corporate, political or religious plugs from the stage are not part of the TEDx platform and are not allowed in TEDx talks.

• Practice, practice, practice. It really does make perfect. The ideal presenter speaks slowly and clearly, delivers their speech by memory, is passionate and engaging, and yet is flexible to possible technical glitches or memory lapses.

• TEDxTryon talks are no longer than 10 minutes.

Resources What Makes a Great TED Talk June Cohen, Executive Producer, TED Media http://bit.ly/1SBZoMF Many of the ideas on this page are based on this talk by June Cohen, executive producer, TED Media. We encourage you to watch her video.

Talk Tips

http://bit.ly/1SBZoMF

http://bit.ly/1SBZoMF


TEDx Commandments

1. Dream big. Strive to create the best talk you have ever given. Reveal something never seen or heard. Do something the audience will remember forever. Share an idea that could change the world. 2. Show us the real you. Share your passion, your dreams…also your fears. Be vulnerable. Speak your failure as well as your success. 3. Make the complex plain. Don’t try to dazzle intellectually. Don’t speak in abstracts. 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 organization. Do not pitch your products or services or ask for funding from the stage. 7. Feel free to comment on other speakers’ talks, to praise or to criticize. Controversy energizes! Enthusiastic endorsement is powerful! 8. Don’t read your talk. Notes are fine. If the choice is between reading or rambling, then read. 9. End your talk on time. Doing otherwise steals time from speakers who follow, and it’s not allowed. 10. Rehearse your talk in front of trusted friends. For timing, clarity and impact.


TEDx Rules • Speakers may never be paid • Talks cannot exceed assigned length (10 minutes) • Everyone who appears onstage must sign a release form. • Speakers may not support or fund any portion of TEDxTryon• TEDx events must feature a diversity of speakers from across several disciplines that address a variety of topics• TEDxTalks must maintain arguments that can be defended by well-founded evidence. TED reserves the right to remove

any video from the TEDxTalks YouTube channel.• Every talk’s content must be original and give credit where appropriate. Speakers cannot plagiarize or impersonate other

persons, living or dead. Speakers must be able to confirm the claims presented in every talk.• Speakers must confirm authorship. Speakers must tell a story or argue for an idea. They may not use the TEDx stage to

sell products, promote themselves or businesses. TEDx is not the right platform for talks with inflammatory political or regions agendas, nor polarizing “us vs. them” language.

• Each speaker must agree to inform TEDxTryon about any third-party material. Every talk’s content must be in compliance with copyright law. Speakers must also be able to supply written permission to use this material from its original source, and provide to Ted upon request in case the talk is selected to appear on TED.com.

• Speakers must license all presentation media. Images, music and video clips that appear in TEDx presentations for TED’s use in worldwide video and online distribution must be cleared. Do not use third-party images from the web unless they are clearly licensed by Creative Commons (Attribution/Non Commercial/Non Derivative) for re-use.

• Speakers must have a working e-mail address they check daily. The majority of TEDxTryon communications is done via e-mail.


The TEDxTryon Speaker Selection Process The TEDxTryon speaker selection process demands a lot from speaker candidates, with no guarantees of making onto the TEDxTryon stage. While in some respects we wish there were an easier way to select our 2016 presenters, we believe our process gives candidates the best opportunity to be both heard and seen, and ensures a stellar program for everyone in the end. With that said, the speaker selection team is here to help you do your best at every stage. Always feel free to contact us ([email protected]) with any questions. Here’s what to expect: Round 1—The Application Becoming a candidate to speak at TEDxTryon 2016 starts with filling out an online application. You’ll be asked to state your “idea worth spreading,” why it’s worth spreading, and some information about you. Things to know: February 1 applications are available online (www.tedxtryon.com) and will be accepted through March 30 This round is open to all Receipt of your application will be acknowledged via e-‐mail. April 10, candidates moving onto Round 2 will be notified.




Round 2—The Video & Outline If your idea is selected to move on to Round 2, you will be asked to submit an outline of your proposed talk, along with a 3-‐minute video of you talking about your talk. Coaches will be available between Rounds 1 & 2 to help with the outline and video, if you wish. (Contact [email protected], if you’d like to set up a time to talk with a coach.) Things to know: Round 2 is open only to candidates selected from Round 1 Candidates can create their own video or participate in a video day with a professional videographer (May 4, place & schedule TBA) May 11, candidate videos and outlines are due. Candidates will be instructed as to where and how to send them electronically. May 20, candidates moving to Round 3 will be notified. Round 3—Live Presentation For this final round, candidates will present a five-‐minute talk live from a stage to the speaker selection committee. This talk can be the first five minutes of your TEDx talk or an overview of your talk, whichever you wish. Coaches will be available before hand to answer questions and help you. Things to know: Round 3 is open only to candidates selected from Round 2 Talks are limited to five minutes June 8, candidates will report to a stage at a scheduled time for their presentation. (Place and time TBA.) June 10, speakers for TEDxTryon 2016 will be notified and given instructions as next steps. Please note: Even after you have been notified that you have been selected as a 2016 TEDxTryon speaker, you are not officially a a speaker until the speaker selection committee receives your bio, headshot, and your signed release form for TED. Instructions and forms for these requirements will be provided to you. Once you’ve accepted and have your paperwork in, you will officially be a TEDxTryon 2016 speaker. Congratulations!



TEDxTryon Speaker Responsibilities Now the real work begins. And we are here to help you all the way. Coaching – July, Aug., Sept Every speaker will be assigned a coach. Between the final selection and the event, speakers and coaches will work together to hone talks and performances. Please be aware coaches are volunteering their time to you. As a speaker, you agree to give your all to this process, listen to your coach, return phone calls, answer e-‐mails, show up for practices, attend all required rehearsals. Be prepared and eager to invest this summer in creating the talk of your life. The result will be well worth it!

The TEDx Speaker’s Pledge As a speaker at the TEDxTryon event on September 10, 2016, I pledge to: 1. Work with the speaker coaches 2. Send in my slide presentation for review by the scheduled dates (Aug. 29) 3. Participate in calls and meetings to review my presentation as required 4. Show up to all required rehearsals (dates below). 5. Make sure that my talk does not go over the agreed time limit (10 min.)

Required dates for TEDxTryon 2016 speakers. All speakers must be able to attend these two required rehearsals and, of course, the event. Put them on your calendar. Sept. 8 Technical rehearsal Sept. 9. Dress rehearsal Sept. 10 Event Other group practices in front of an audience (TEDx volunteers) will be scheduled between June and September. Please do your best to make those practices, as well. The more you can get in front of an audience, the better your final performance will be.


Calendar

Important Dates 2016

Feb. 1 Now accepting speaker applications online Feb. 23 Speaker Workshop 1—Your Idea Mar. 15 Speaker Workshop 2—Outline & Flow Mar. 30 Speaker Application Deadline Apr. 8 Notification of candidates moving to Round 2 Apr. 19 Speaker Workshop 3—Performance May 4 Video Day May 11 Round 2 candidate videos & outlines due May 20 Notification of candidates moving to Round 3 June 8 Round 3: Candidates on stage June 10 FINAL speakers notified Aug. 29 Final slides due Sept 8 Tech rehearsal Sept 9 Dress rehearsal Sept 10 TEDxTryon 2016 event


If you are including visuals in your TEDxTalk, remember less is more.

A single, strong graphic image or succinct line of text will tell a story better than a crowded collage or packed paragraph. Remember the audience needs to process everything that’s being said while simultaneously absorbing the slides. Rather than once complex slide, show several slides, each with one idea, image or data point. Eliminate headline-‐with-‐bullet-‐points slides; they are tiring to read.

Here are the technical guidelines to help your visuals work seamlessly with your talk:

Slides Our preference is to use Keynote or PowerPoint for your slides. If you are not able to provide your slides through PowerPoint, please let your coach know which format you are using in advance so we can make accommodations. Please design your presentation to fit within the following specifications: WIDESCREEN HD (16:9 aspect ratio): 1920 x 1080 (hi res)

Text Please keep a 10 percent to 20 percent margin around your text. This ensures everyone will be able to read your slides.

You rarely need more than five lines of text on a slide. Often, a one or two will do. Think of your text as an image. Remember, less is more.

Sans-‐serif fonts (such as Helvetica) are easier to read at a distance than serif fonts. To avoid last-‐minute glitches with your presentation onsite, font files should be embedded in your presentation file.

Slide image size Minimum font size 1024 X 768 28 pts. 800 X 600 24 pts. 1920 X 1080 (wide) 40 pts. 1280 X 720 (wide) 28 pts.

A simple, elegant background behind your text should be used to complement and enhance the readability of your words. If using a dark or black background, you may want to make the text bold.

A Word About Illustrating Your Talk


Graphs, Graphics, & Photos

Use high-resolution pictures and graphics. Full-quality photos form a digital camera will look better than images pulled of the web. You must properly license all images for TED’s use in worldwide video and web distribution. Don’t grab images form the web unless they are clearly licensed under Creative Commons for use. For data graphs or charts, be sure to follow the minimum font size guidelines above for all text, including labels on x- and y-axes and data points. For a video in your talk, video files must be sent separately from your slides otherwise the link to the video in the presentation will be corrupt. Useful Examples Here are five presentation featuring effective design that worked live at TED and also online:

Technical Specifications

John Doerr—Profit and Salvation in Greentech (2007)www.ted.com/talks/view/id/128

Erin McKean—Redefining the Dictionary (2007)www.ted.com/talks/view/id/161

Al Gore—15 Ways to Avert A Climate Crisis (2006)www.ted.com/talks/view/id/1

Rives—4 a.m. (2007)www.ted.com/talks/view/id/148

Larry Lessig—Creativity and the Law (2007)www.ted.com/talks/view/id/187

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/128






Event Specifications What: TEDxTryon 2016When: September 10, 2016Where: Tryon Fine Arts Center34 Melrose LaneTryon, NC 28782

Contact General ContactIf you have questions about TEDxTryon in general:Visit our website: www.tedxtryon.comOr contact: [email protected] Speakers Selection Contact If you have questions regarding talks or speakers:Contact: [email protected]




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Tryon Fine Arts Center – September 10th 2016 Speakers … are most passionate about. "TED" stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design — three broad subject areas that are collectively