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Seven Surefire Ways To Kill Your Chances Of Scoring A TEDx Talk

This article is more than 4 years old.

TEDx talk invitations are lost, not won.

Frank King, aka The Mental Health Comedian, is an accomplished TEDx speaker and TEDx speaking coach. I met Frank 15 years ago when he was a standup comedian and needed some publicity assistance. Recently I asked him for some surefire ways to kill your chances of landing an invite to deliver a TEDx talk.

“Here’s the deal, it’s the same advice I give speakers and comedians when they are creating a video demo,” says King. “Chances are, whoever is tasked with selecting the talent probably has dozens of people to choose from and they’re not looking for a reason to book you, they’re looking for the first reason not to book you, and move on to the next candidate.”

Same thing goes for the TEDx curation team, only it’s not dozens, it’s hundreds of potential talkers to choose from, says King. So don’t give them any reason to toss you onto the “no thanks pile.”

“Any and all of the following reasons will undoubtedly put a double tap into the back the head of your chances to do a talk,” says King.

Avoid these seven invitation-killing approaches:

One. Make It Too Long. “First way to kill your chances, your submission is too long,” says King. “Brevity is the soul of wit and the way to get a serious look at your idea worth spreading.”

Two. An Idea That Won’t Fit. “Way number two, your idea doesn’t fit the TEDx theme,” says King. “If the theme is ‘Animal Rights,’ and your idea worth spreading is a killer recipe for Spotted Owl, Harp Seal and Black Rhino stew, then it’s not going to fly.”

Three. Right Idea, Wrong Person. “Way number three, your idea fits the theme, but you’re not the best person to deliver it,” says King. “If you’re a Kardashian and your idea worth spreading is an amazing take on how to live the simple life, you’re probably not going to get the gig.”

Four. Too Motivational. “Way number four, your idea fits the theme, you’re the person to deliver it, but you frame it as a motivational speech,” says King. “TEDx curation team’s are looking for innovation, not motivation.”

Five. Demanding Pay. “Way number five, you won’t do it for free, you demand to get paid,” says King. “TED rules state that the speakers are not to be paid.”

Six. Winging The Callback. “Way number six, your idea fits theme, you’re the person to give the talk, it’s innovation not motivation and you agree to do it for free if you’re selected,” says King. “You submit your application, you make the callback, but you don’t prepare for it.”

Seven. One And Done. “Way number seven to kill your chances of scoring a talk is you apply to one and only one TEDx, and then quit,” says King.

King’s main message is to try, try, and try again. But do it in a way where you are not killing your own chances.

“It’s possible to get one on your first try, I did, and so have a number of my TEDx coaching clients, but the odds are against it,” says King.