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Attending a TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design) conference can be a potentially transformative event, as you’ll be able to hear, share, and interact with great thinkers from around the world in a variety of fields. If you have a budget of $5,000 and want to experience a great event, you can submit a written request to participate in a TED conference. If you’re more budget-conscious and prefer a local experience, you can get tickets to a TEDx event in your area. Whichever type you choose, you can have the full TED Talk experience in just a few steps and find out firsthand what it’s all about.
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Sign up for a TED.com profile. To apply to participate in a TED Talk conference, you will first need to create a TED.com profile on their website: https://auth.ted.com/users/new. You will need to enter your first and last name, your email, and your account password.[1]
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Select the TED talk you want to attend. TED publishes a list of upcoming conferences on its website: https://www.ted.com/attend/conferences/ted-conference. Read the description of each TED Talk and choose the one that seems relevant to your interests and goals.
- TED Talks tend to fill up months in advance, so consider choosing a talk that’s a few months away. Then you can register early and increase your chances of getting a spot on the attendance list.
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Choose your membership option. TED offers four membership levels for attendees: Vanguard, Standard, Donor, and Patron. If you have never attended a TED Talk, you should choose the Vanguard option as it is made for beginners. It’s also the most affordable of the four options in terms of price, at $5,000.[2]
- The other three options increase the price and benefits ranging from $10,000 to $250,000.
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Allow at least 2 hours for application. The app consists of 6 short essay questions that you will need to answer in detail. Focusing on the application for 2 hours will ensure that you give enough thought and effort to each question. You will need to provide a biography and answer questions about your goals, accomplishments, and professional work.[3]
- You can take the app apart, work on it piece by piece, while saving and returning to your app through your TED.com account.
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Discuss 1-3 career goals. Tell reviewers what you hope to achieve professionally in your career, outlining your short-term and long-term goals. Make the goals specific and relevant to your professional work.[4]
- For example, you might write down short-term goals like “Create an app that tracks the effects of human activity on corals in the ocean” and long-term goals like “Connect human activity with human responsibility for the ocean.”
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Please list at least 1-3 professional awards and achievements. Include any scholarships, grants, and other honors you have received in your field. This will show reviewers that you are ambitious and committed to your work. You can also write down any scholarships or grants you hope to receive in the near future to help you reach your goals.[5]
- For example, you might write “As the leader of my research team, I received a $15,000 grant to fund ocean sustainability work in local communities.”
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Explain how you will contribute to the TED community. Tell reviewers what you can bring to a TED Talk as an audience member. Explain how the topic of the TED Talk you are requesting relates to your work and professional interests. This will show the reviewer that you will be a valued participant in the conversation.[6]
- For example, you might write: “My work on an ocean sustainability app ties into various aspects of an upcoming TED talk, ‘The Future You,’ which combines activism, science, and social media engagement for one unique way”.
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Include links to your social media accounts. If you have Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, please include your social media directories for those accounts in your application. Make sure your social media accounts present a positive and engaging image of your professional work, as reviewers are likely to scrutinize these accounts.[7]
- Before submitting your application, you can review your social media accounts to ensure they are a good representation of your work, interests, and career goals.
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Provide attractive, interesting was. A key part of the application is your bio, where you introduce yourself and provide details about your background, interests, and work. Avoid simply copying and pasting an existing bio onto your website or social media pages. Make your bio personal and detailed so it stands out, using a professional and friendly tone. Your bio should be at least 200-500 words.[8]
- For example, instead of writing “My name is Jane Flowers and I’m a microbiologist,” you could write “As a microbiologist who studies the impact of human activity on the ocean, I’m dedicated to examining hidden secrets.” details, the creatures of the deep”.
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Please provide 2-3 professional references who can speak to your goals and interests. Use references you have worked with directly or for whom you have worked in your field, such as a professor, colleague, boss, or mentor. Avoid using family members or a spouse as a reference, as this may not seem very professional.[9]
- If you have a reference who has attended a TED Talk in the past or is in any way connected to TED, be sure to mention them on your application.
- You will be asked to provide the names and contact information of your references on the application.
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Submit your application online. Registration to participate in the TED Talk conference is free.[10]
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Find a TEDx event in your area. TEDx events are organized by local organizations that partner with TED to create events and discussions similar to TED Talk. Search for a TEDx event using the search tool on TED.com: https://www.ted.com/tedx/events. Browse events by location, date, and availability.
- Find an event that seems interesting and relevant to your business. Make sure the event is held locally on a date that fits your schedule so you don’t have to travel to attend.
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Buy tickets to a TEDx event at TED.com. Tickets for TEDx events can be purchased individually through TED.com, as it is not necessary to submit an application to attend a TEDx event. Tickets will be significantly cheaper than a TED Talk, and will range in price from $75 to $100 depending on the event.
- Look for tickets a few weeks or months before the event to increase your chances of getting them. Some TEDx events can sell out quickly or have limited seats.
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Get tickets online through TEDx partners if you can’t find them on TED.com. Look for a TEDx event online, as organizations that partner with TED typically sell tickets to the event on their websites. Some organizations will also offer tickets through their social media accounts to their supporters.
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Budget for a TED Talk ticket. If your TED Talk application is accepted, you will need to pay for a ticket to attend the conference. The price of participation depends on the type of membership you chose when registering. The base price to attend a TED Talk is $5,000. TED offers discounted ticket prices for young innovators through its TED Fellows Program. You can apply for this program here: https://www.ted.com/about/programs-initiatives/ted-fellows-program.
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Consider travel and accommodation costs for the TED Talk conference. If you’re attending a TED Talk conference, you’ll need to make your own travel and accommodation arrangements, as they’re typically held over multiple days at locations throughout North America and Europe. Look for flight deals online and look for cheaper accommodation like Airbnb, VRBO or a budget hotel.
- TEDx events are local and typically last only a few hours, so you may not need to worry about additional costs like travel and accommodation. You’ll still need to factor in the ticket price of the TEDx talk.
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Choose 3-4 people from the guest list that you would like to meet. As a participant, you will receive a list of speakers and other conference participants. Browse the list of participants and research them online to learn about their work and interests. Identify 3-4 people you want to connect with so you can network during the conversation. Read these 3-4 people so that you have talking points and conversation starters when you meet them for an interview.
- A TEDx event and TED Talk conference usually have meet and greet times before and after the speakers at the event so you can meet other attendees and speakers.
- You can also connect with other attendees and speakers before coming to class, especially if they work in the same or a similar field. Find attendees near you and contact them so you can meet before speaking in preparation for the event.
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Participate in Q&A with TED Talk speakers. Stand out from the crowd by asking a thoughtful question or two during the question and answer portion of a TED Talk. This will show speakers and other attendees that you have done your homework and are willing to participate in the speech.
- You may need to research the speakers beforehand and take notes during your talk to prepare your questions.
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Take advantage of additional activities in TED Talk. TED Talks are more than speakers. There are also off-site events, meetups and networking, and more casual conversations. Vendors and organizations will also have products and innovations on display for you to see and experience. Be sure to take advantage of all the different conference activities and extras to get the full TED Talk experience.[11]
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