TEDx event set for Columbus. How to attend and maybe even become one of the speakers

A TEDx event is coming to Columbus this fall, and its organizers are seeking speakers, sponsors and volunteers.

TEDx Bibb City is scheduled for Nov. 21 in the Powerhouse Events Center , 1205 Front Ave. in Columbus. The announcement came during a Tuesday news conference at the Nonic Rooftop restaurant and bar.

The TEDx Bibb City event will begin at 6 p.m. with a pre-event function. The first speaker will begin at 7 p.m., and attendees can expect four to six speakers.

“Essentially the whole purpose of it is to be able to allow people to spread ideas and talk about things that they may have experienced in life that others can learn from and I feel like Columbus, Georgia is now primed and ready for that,” said Alap Shah, the lead organizer for TEDx Bibb City.

According to TED.com , “TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience.”

TED Talks are popular online presentations recorded in front of an audience to share knowledge from experts about a variety of topics. TED from stands for technology, entertainment and design.

Shah said they’re seeking applications from those interested in being a speaker.

“I think if somebody has a unique idea that they feel that they want to share, if they don’t have a platform to be able to share that, and they think that people in the Columbus community would love to hear about it and maybe inspire them to create something, that’s our perfect candidate,” Shah said.

Those interested in speaking at the event can apply at tedxbibbcity.com . Applicants will need to upload their bio information, photo, the title of their talk, three bullet points describing what attendees will learn and a video showing them giving their talk.

“We’ll have a curated committee that’s going to look at all the videos and decide who’s going to be actually speaking the day of the event,” Shah said. The deadline to apply to be a speaker is September 20.

Shah said because rules require TEDx events to be supported through fundraising, they’re also actively seeking sponsors.

“ W.C. Bradley has stepped up to be one of our first partners,” Shah said. “And that being said we would love to have more community partners come out.”

Tickets go on sale Aug 21. at 8 a.m. and can be purchased through a link on the TEDx Bibb City website. There will be 100 tickets available to attend the actual event. They are priced at $100 each. There will also be tickets available to watch a live stream of the event at the venue for a lesser price. Organizers are still determining the price of these tickets and say they’ll share that over their social media sites when ready.