Frequently asked Questions: TEDx Arlington Heights Conference
I had the fabulous experience recently of speaking at the 2023 TEDx Arlington Heights Conference!
Since giving this talk, many people have asked about what it was like to speak at a TEDx conference! So here are some frequently asked questions about my experience speaking on the TEDx Arlington Heights stage.
What is a TEDx conference?
TED stands for Technology, Education and Design and started as a one-off conference in 1984 that has now become famous for innovative ideas presented live on-stage. TEDx conferences are licensed by TED and are independent, local events. You can learn more at TED.com and at TEDx.com.
Who organized the TEDx Arlington Heights conference?
The founder and curator of the TEDx Arlington Heights conference is Donna Marie Post.
How did you get selected to speak?
Someone from the TEDx Arlington Heights curation team reached out to me via Facebook Messenger and suggested that I apply to speak. They had seen me speak online about my mission to empower women through boudoir photography and thought that it might translate well to a TEDx talk. I had never considered speaking at a TEDx conference before, but I was intrigued by the idea. I submitted an online application and to my surprise, I received an acceptance email just a few weeks later!
Did you get paid?
No. The TEDx Arlington Heights conference was put on entirely with volunteer labor and donations from corporate sponsors.
Did you have to pay to apply or to speak?
No. There were no fees involved.
How did you pick the topic of your talk?
When I first applied for the TEDx Arlington Heights conference, I wanted to speak on the topic of feminism and the patriarchy. The conference organizers came back after I applied and said, “We like you as a speaker, but the topic of feminism and the patriarchy is too broad and doesn’t fit well with the conference theme. If you can come back with a more narrow topic, we will consider having you.” After a few back and forth sessions with the curation team, we agreed that I would speak on the topic of nudity and confronting the taboo of the naked body.
Were there rules and guidelines about what you could do and say?
Yes. TEDx grants local groups free licenses to put on TEDx conferences, but they enforce strict guidelines. My talk had to fit in the TED guidelines. My talk could not be longer than 18 minutes (mine is 13 minutes) and I was not allowed to directly promote my business or any other business. I could not show any corporate logos or nudity in my slides. I couldn’t tell anyone that I was speaking at the TEDx Arlington Heights conference until the conference itself announced me as a speaker. And even then I could not share or post about my talk topic until after the conference was over. I could not wear any jewelry on stage (they said it would interfere with the microphone).
Did someone help you practice your talk?
Yes. Each speaker at the TEDx Arlington Heights conference was assigned a coach who helped them to edit and rehearse their speech. My coach was wonderful and helped me tremendously from March through October to get my talk ready. I also enlisted trusted friends and family to help me rehearse. There were two in-person dress rehearsals with the curation team in the weeks preceding the conference.
Did you have a teleprompter?
No! My TEDx talk was delivered with no notes. All of the presenters at the TEDx Arlington Heights conference gave their talks without notes! I knew from the very beginning of the process that I would need to memorize my whole talk. But I don’t think I realized what a challenge that was going to be for me. It took me many, many hours to commit my 13 minute talk to memory!
I’ve noticed that a lot of the TED and TEDx talk videos you see online that there is a teleprompter visible. Some speakers also have note cards in their hands or on a podium. I don’t know the reason why the TEDx Arlington Heights conference talks were all delivered from memory and speakers at other conferences seem to have teleprompters and/ or notes.
Were you nervous on stage?
Yes! When I walked onto the stage, my whole body was shaking. If you look closely in the videos, you can see my fingers trembling throughout the whole talk. While I am happy with how my talk went, I was indeed nervous! I was mostly nervous that I would forget my lines!
This must have been a ton of work - are you glad you did it?
Yes, it was a ton of work. I put in many hours of work over a period of 7 months to get ready for the TEDx conference. And yes, I’m glad that I did it!
I’m interested in giving a TEDx talk — any tips?
There are TEDx conferences happening all the time, all around the world (more than 3000 are held annually!). Do a Google search and see what’s happening near you! It’s worth throwing your hat in the ring. Participating in a TEDx conference was a remarkable experience and one that I highly recommend! Be prepared to put in lots of hours of work over several months.
Any other questions?
I’d love to hear from you and I’m an open book! Let’s be in touch. xo Liz
