ID8: A TED Alternative

So I want to share an idea. It has been sitting on my computer for over five years now and I know that I neither have the bandwith to follow it through because of existing projects that will take up my energy for the next ten years at least :)

From the get go let me say that I have no problem with TED Talks as it stands. I have been to TED Global in 2007, am a TED Fellow, have given three TEDx talks and have worked with a number of TEDx organisers coaching their speakers and hosts to deliver top quality content. This pic is of me and TED Content Director, and friend, Kelly Stoetzel in Tanzania, in 2007.

That said like any product or service I think that there should be an alternative to this platform as one for spreading good ideas, hence my concept IDEATE TALKS.

So one of the things I think people should have when representing a good idea is get paid for their time. And if they don't want to talk a fee for their speech then have the capacity to donate it to the cause that they are representing. It doesn't have to be much, just a flat fee for example of ￡1000 for each speaker.

Whilst TED has avoided issues such as politics or religion I think it would be good for ID8 if at least one or two of these be included in such a conference, just as long as the idea has an impact on the wider society and does not by it's nature limit or discriminate people. Many of the best charitable and social ideas have come from these places and I think they can comfortable sit alongside the safer scientific and technical disciplines as long as they could demonstrate a good business case as to why their idea could work.

Rather than just limiting it to 20 minutes where someone comes on and talks, I would rather that a presenter took the time out and presented a full 30 minute presentation that they would be coached on, just as an good conference speaker should have, and then be subject to about 20 minutes or so on the advantages and possible limitations of their ideas. Rather than the usual typical "standing ovation" the presenter is called to task on how feasible their world changing idea is, how it would work in practice and metrics on what kind of impact it would really have if implemented.

Given that it would then be televised in the same way as TED on the various social media platforms it would have a strong platform if it needed to be moved forward. Of course this would be subject to editorial agreement by a team.

Like TED the ID8 conference would be licenced out but managed by central foundation. The cost of the tickets of the event would cover speakers fees and least the expenses of the main organising team, many of whom currently go out of pocket (not by fault of TED I should add) and a small amount of that fee, say 10% to put aside for say contribution to an overall fellowship pot to help those who can't afford the full price and also towards ideas that the ID8 community feel could help with a bit of funding.

Again this is an idea I am putting out. I think of major health issues, e.g. knife crime, inter faith projects, political engagement and others that just miss out on the TED requirements, in addition to the other innovative ideas people have that could just do with the help of a conference or series of talks that by their nature birth follow on other than video views, book deals and high fees that many who want to make it to the TED stage honestly admit that they are inspired by.

So there it is. FREE. Who ever wants to run with. Whether by the name, or if you want to tweak the concept or whatever. It's yours. I don't have any answers to give am just putting it out there as I don't have the capacity to do it myself and in the spirit of abundance am sharing it so some fortunate soul can run with it at some point.

So who is gonna take it on then?