Plan Your TED

TEDGlobal is not a typical conference. Whether you're attending for the first time or returning for a new injection of ideas, here's how to get the most out of TEDGlobal 2010.

Questions?

Logistical question? Last-minute crisis? We're here to help. Pre-conference, contact us via email. On-site, visit our concierge at the registration desk.

Arrive early. You should plan to arrive on Monday, July 12, the day before the official TED program begins. Arriving on Monday means you'll be able to join tours and activities during the day and, in the evening, attend the Opening Night party. And on Tuesday morning, you will be able to catch the pre-conference TED University sessions.
Stay until the very end. We recommend you stay in town on Friday, July 16, until at least 3:30pm to enjoy punting and a riverside picnic, the traditional close to TEDGlobal. Saturday morning is also a great time to leave, after joining a casual group for dinner Friday night.
Clear your calendar. No, really. In order to get the most out of TEDGlobal, you have to lend us your brain. Ignore your email. Don’t set up conference calls. Breathe away your worries. TED is an immersive experience, and you won’t want to miss a moment. Let your mind absorb completely what happens on stage and around you. (Afterwards, it will thank you nicely.)
Leave your laptop in your room. Cell phone, too. At minimum keep them in your bag. The speakers at TEDGlobal merit your full attention, and laptops and cell phones are a big distraction -- not just for you, but for everyone around you. To preserve an immersive experience, we don’t allow any cell phone or laptop use in the Oxford Playhouse's theatre.
Eat. Drink. Sleep. TEDGlobal runs full throttle for four days. You’ll enjoy it more if you pace yourself: drink plenty of water, grab light healthy snacks, go easy on alcohol, and get as much sleep as is humanly possible.
Don't miss a thing. Watch every session. Go to every event. The best TED moments happen when you least expect them. It’s often the unknown speakers who wow the crowd. Watching every session helps you avoid disappointment, and ensures you take in each key moment as it happens. Social events, too, are there for a reason. So resist the temptation to sneak back to your room, and give yourself a complete TEDGlobal experience.
Talk to strangers. TED's greatest natural resource is people. Most speakers stay all four days of the conference, and the attendees, in truth, are every bit as extraordinary. As a result, chance encounters often lead to new ideas, projects, perspectives, companies. They're as essential to the experience as the stage program itself. So don't limit your experience by hiding with your friends. Talking to strangers is encouraged. (That said, blatant "networking" is not.)
Devour the program guide. Our schedule is so crammed, we simply don’t have time for long speaker introductions. Absorb the program guide as soon as you get it, and follow up on the speakers who capture your imagination.
Experience the exhibits and the tech demos. Check out the amazing things we have on show in Oxford.
Let us help you. Our staff will do their best to answer any questions and solve any problems, from logistics queries to laptop breakdowns. Pre-conference, reach us via email at registration@ted.com. On-site, visit our concierge at the registration desk (located at the Randolph Hotel) or ask anyone wearing a Staff badge.
Blog with us. Or … not. If you plan to blog, take and share photos, or twitter, use these tags: #TED. (But do not feel obligated to live-blog from TEDGlobal.) TED events are best experienced in the moment (see Item 1). Also, please note: no videorecording nor flash photography during the main programme in the Playhouse, nor during TED U.
Plan for next year. Mark your calendar and protect the dates: TED2011 happens February 28-March 4, 2011, in Long Beach and at the rocking TEDActive simulcast in Palm Springs. Watch-at-home Associate Memberships are also available. Get more information on TED.com under TED Conferences.