Apply to Speak

Our theme for TEDx University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) is “Improving the Human Condition.” TedxUMBaltimore will offer a big-picture view of unique perspectives, new insights, and awe-inspiring ideas for improving our world.

We measure proposals to speak at TedxUMBaltimore by the power of the idea! Speakers must genuinely connect with the audience and convey a BIG IDEA with passion. Speakers should have something truly important or unique to share and have credibility in terms of actively working on the idea.

These are the official guidelines from TED on how to prepare your talk. These tips are given to all TED conferences and TEDx speakers as they prepare their talks. They will help speakers craft talks that will have a provocative impact on your audience.

• Dream big: Strive to create the best talk you have ever given. Reveal something new or never seen before. Do something the audience will remember forever. Share an idea that could change the world.
• Show us the real you: Share your passions, dreams, and fears. Be vulnerable. Speak of failure as well as success.
• Make the complex plain: Don’t try to dazzle intellectually. Don’t speak in abstractions. Explain! Give examples. Tell stories. Be specific.
• Connect with people’s emotions: Make us laugh! Make us cry!
• Don’t flaunt your ego: Don’t boast. It’s the surest way to turn people off.
• Don’t sell from the stage! Unless we have specifically asked you to, do not talk about your company or organization. And don’t even think about pitching your products or services or asking for funding from the stage.
• Don’t read your talk.
• End your talk on time: Doing otherwise is to steal time from the people that follow you. We won’t allow it.
• Rehearse your talk: Do it in front of a trusted friend for timing, clarity, and impact.

We are seeking proposals from the UMB community, and beyond, for TedxUMBaltimore to be held Nov. 9, 2018, at the University’s SMC Campus Center. Speaker applications will be accepted beginning June 15, and the deadline is July 16. Finalists will be contacted for an exploratory interview, and speaker selections will be made by Aug. 15.

If you or someone you know is working on a big idea — one that will teach, entertain, make people think or inspire action — please complete the speaker proposal below.

The deadline for speaker applications has passed. Submission are being reviewed by the selection committee. Finalists will be contacted for an exploratory interview, and speaker selections will be made by Sep. 15.