Bucket list item ticked! I can now say I'm officially a TEDx speaker! I was a little bit nervous watching the video this morning when the Warrington team let me know my TEDx talk had dropped. I knew I'd said everything in the right order and I had a blast on the night. No special video preview, I got to see it at the same time as the rest of the world on the TEDx youtube channel. I'm pretty chuffed. here it is...
Giving a TEDx talk is an altogether different experience from any stand-up comedy I've done. If you look closely you'll see muscle memory where I'm waiting for laughter and just have to remind myself I'm not in a comedy club. I've earned and owned my space on the stage. Going forward I hope to do more talks on improv. To explain the benefits in more detail to groups who are perhaps a little hesitant about jumping into an improv workshop with both feet I need a little more information before wielding the power of 'yes and'.
Big thanks to my amazing friends and teachers at ComedySportz. I hope what I've learned and shared here is valuable to others. Thanks also to the TEDxWarrington team for putting on this event
This was the first TEDx event in Warrington and there were some amazing speakers on the stage that night with wonderful ideas to share;
Finding freedom in using a wheelchair | Pete Donnelly
Connecting with authentic success | Kate Trafford
Why conservation education matters | Charlotte Smith
From frustration to fascination: Embracing cognitive diversity | Kerry Lockyer
Building an alternate future through grief | Ben Dunne
Everything is connected, connection is everything | Ali Davenport
Poetry never abandons us | Kate Jenkinson
Rachel Morgan Trimmer
Emma Baylin
There is nothing wrong in your life right now | Russell Treasure
It's such a relief to let the get out of the bag, as I've been sitting on this info and rehearsing for the last two months. Not only that, but this particular inaugural TEDx in Warrington was intended to go ahead in 2020, and we all know what happened there. I submitted my idea in 2019 and then resubmitted again in 2022 when the doors reopened. It's been fascinating watching the other speakers in rehearsals, the diverse topics and of course, I can't reveal ANYTHING AT ALL. Ha ha.
The live event has already sold out, with maybe one or two last-minute tickets if folks are lucky. The Warrington team have been amazing, steering the rollercoaster and all the moving parts that make the event happen.
Of course, I'm an experienced performer, and I've done a lot of gigs, but this is very different. I've been a fan of TED and TEDx talks for years, so to be picked to do one is special, and a big tick box on my bucket list.
The challenge I found as an experienced stand-up comic hasn't been to remember the words, but learn to leave my ego and performance habits at the door, approaching the whole thing as fresh as I can.
Kirsty, Catherine and the team, have been really supportive with great feedback and I can't wait for the live event on 23rd June at Parr Hall.
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