Where It’s Going: A TedX Love Story.

Back in 2019, I delivered my first TedX talk. 

It was the culmination of years of work, observations and life experience. Not to mention submitting multiple times and not making the cut. Once I understood that the organizers didn’t need or want me to lecture from the stage, that what was required was my story with some strategic takeaways, I finally made it to the show.

What an amazing experience it was, too!

There is so much community and camaraderie surrounding a TED event. Everyone involved has the same goal — to make a spectacular event full of interesting and provocative ideas worth spreading.

For the speakers, it’s months of writing, editing, rehearsal and coaching, and maybe a bit of crying. We understand how big this thing is. TED has become part of our cultural lexicon, as in, “…thank you for attending my TED talk…”

The one thing I didn’t have to worry about was fear of the stage. I’m a theatre-trained actor and while the idea of speaking to a very large crowd of people may paralyze some, for me, it’s just a really good time. 

I loved it. Well, what I can remember of it. Like all of the greatest, biggest and most important moments of our lives, we forget to remember it all because we’re so busy being in it.

After it was all said and done and the rush died down, I was faced with the inevitable, “What’s next?” I mean, I was still working, but I began to think of my next big challenge. An idea started to form…I thought, “I wonder what it would be like to emcee a TedX show?” I threw it out to the organizers, who heartily agreed to the idea. I would be the Emcee for TedX Charleston 2020!

Except…well, you know. Covid arrived and in-person events were canceled. 

Fast forward to December 2021 and TedX Charleston is ON for 2022 and yes, I’m the Emcee!

Now began a different kind of work. Still writing, still editing, and attending speaker rehearsals and coaching sessions so that I could hear the talks and how they were evolving. The format for this event was different from years past — it was an afternoon event as opposed to an all-day affair. That meant that it had to run even tighter and smoother than previous shows. Meaning, that it really was my job to move the show along with brevity and as much wit as I could conjure.

I decided to have a couple of message t-shirts made for the show, because what’s good theatre without costumes? I opted for “Catalyst” and “Phenomenal,” because what’s good theatre without a costume change!

As we got closer to the final dress rehearsal and show date, the speakers were fine-tuning their talks and slides, which meant that I was fine-tuning my introductions, opening and closing.

The day of the show was as excitement-filled and energetic as you might imagine. The stage crew, audio-video experts, stage manager, volunteers and organizers were all ready and raring to go. The speakers were filing in and out of the makeup room and I was buzzing with energy and eager to get on the stage.

The dangerous beauty of live theatre is that it never goes exactly as it’s planned, and often it works out for the better. For example, the day before the show we had a dress rehearsal with an audience. I walked on stage and began an introduction for the next speaker and promptly forgot the guy’s name.

Completely blank. 

I joked with the audience about it and ended up calling him to the stage so he could give me his name and then I started my introduction all over again. On show day, when it came time to introduce him again, I was able to share this goof with the audience, along with a prompt to never forget his name.

There was also the moment where the stage crew forgot to clear the stage from the last musical performance, so I ended up being on stage while they were moving equipment and I had to riff for a moment joking with the audience about what they had for lunch.

It’s moments like this that are the most fun test of my skills and make the entire event more memorable. At least for me, that is.

The show was a rousing success. People were happy to be with each other, in the same room again, rather than in front of their computers. We were all connected and sharing a terrific community experience. There was so much joy.

I loved being another, different part of the TedX experience. It was far more work than I had originally anticipated back in 2019. It was fun and educational, challenging and frustrating at moments AND I got to grow my skills and flex muscles I hadn’t used in a while. 

My only question now is, what’s next? 

LB Adams is the Founder of Practical Dramatics, headquartered in Charleston, SC, providing interactive, theatre-based communication skills training.  She is the author of The Irreverent Guide to Spectacular Communication, available in paperback, ebook and audiobook.