5 Quick Tips For Giving A Successful TEDTalk

A couple weeks ago, Film Alum, Tyler Rabinowitz, gave his first ever TEDxTalk! Here are five things he learned from the exhilarating experience:

1. Be Prepared

Public Speaking for 20 minutes can feel like running a marathon. Make sure you've "trained" and have tried out the talk with your friends or colleagues. Have water on stage with you and whatever you do, just keep going and reaching for that finish line!

2. Don't Follow Along With A Script

A talk should not be scripted. Have ideas that you want people to think about, and feelings you want them to join you in feeling.

3. Know The Difference Between a "Talk" and a Speech

There’s a reason why it’s called a TED Talk and not a TED Speech. Imagine that what you have to say is like river—your unique “stream of consciousness” that nobody else knows about. Your TED talk takes the audience down that river and let's them experience it as the same time you are. You have to steer them and yourself through it—there’s no auto-pilot. and it’s never going to be the same experience. It ebbs, it flows, it might hit a bump or two, but that’s what makes it exhilarating.

4. Connect Directly With Your Audience

If you hear somebody in the front row crying, stop walking around on the stage. Stand right in front of that person and look them in the eyes as you talk. Those tears—those are splashes from the river. They are with you. They believe that this river exists, so much so that they can feel it.

5. Remember to Reward Yourself! You did it!

Treat yourself to your all-time favorite snack afterwards! It will never taste better!!