By Jennifer Saylor
Remember this at TEDxAsheville 2009?
Expansion to conference-style event: The year we’ve grown to a 4.5-hour conference event with two extended 30-minute breaks built in (time and space to discuss the event with others, meet event organizers and presenters, and meet people in the community with an interest in TED and spreading ideas)
Building sustainability with buy-in: Our 2009 event was about seeing if Asheville could successfully pull off its own TEDx conference. When you showed us we could, we changed our focus in 2010 to the long term: to creating an annual event. And that means buy-in from our participants. It’s not sustainable to run a major city event with 30 volunteers planning for 10 months and not ask our audience to become TEDxAsheville stakeholders themselves.
(Just FYI, did you know that filming and editing three hours of conference footage into 10 or more videos is an $8K-$15K expense? Add renting the Orange Peel for performance and rehearsals, the cost of ads and posters citywide, and you realize why the TED conference recommends a budget of $50K for a TEDx conference. We do it with a lot less, but we can’t do it alone.)
So we’re charging $25 admission this year and seeing how it goes. Participants aren’t just paying for a ticket, you are creating a new local forum for ideas: a community built around great ideas in Asheville, one that brings global attention to local people and local ideas.
Buy a ticket. In return, we’re working to create engagement, involvement and community that lasts long beyond our event.
Better Technology: This year we introduced our Droid App at TEDxAsheville on the Droid Market. It also includes the TEDxNextGenerationAsheville schedule and lineup as well. We have scannable badges this year! Networking made easy for your benefit. We have a hands-on product demo sure to make you reconsider what you can do with your brain.
FREE live webstream events: select venues around town allow people to tune in for free to a live TEDxAsheville webstreamviewing event, and the conference will stream live on the TEDxAsheville website, via internet radio audiocast on Asheville FM, and other online outlets TBA. Check our website (TEDxAsheville.com) for news as plans develop.
Online registration and ticketing: 2010 attendees register online (download our Android app!) and create a TEDxAsheville profile to become part of a connected online community built around great ideas in Asheville. An opt-in TEDxAsheville newsletter will tell members about TED-related local events including TED conference watching events, and allow the growing TEDxAsheville community to have more input shaping future TEDxAsheville events.
The TEDxAsheville fellows program: A “TEDx fellows” team searches for a small number of up-and-coming local presentation talent to attend this year’s conference for free, and be mentored by the TEDxAVL organizing team. This team cultivates talent for future events, keeping a crop of local presenters ready to take the stage at future events.
On-site computer & cell phone recycling with Charlotte Street Computers: We’re keepin’ it green by offering attendees to recycle electronics with us and a local, independently owned business. Got an old junker PC to unload, and get a chance to win an iPod in a raffle for recyclers.
After-conference mixer to meet presenters, organizers and fellow attendees: Want to meet our presenters, talk to organizers about putting on a major conference, nominate a 2011 presenter, volunteer for future TEDx events? Stick around the Orange Peel after the conference to do all off the above and process the night’s great ideas with other people interested in great performances and great ideas.
A sister event for youth, TEDxNextGenerationAsheville: TEDxNGA takes place place August 28, also at the Peel, and spotlights the ideas and talents of young people. Check them out at TEDxNextGenerationAsheville.com
The My Idea Project: Spearheaded by Ashley Cooper, Executive Director of TEDxNextGenerationAsheville, this project will be sure to please. Come to TEDxAsheville with your idea worth spreading!
