Behind the Red Dot: The Truth About Curating a TEDx Event

Curating a TEDx event looks glamorous on the outside—red carpets, powerful speakers, inspiring stories, beautiful photos, and a packed audience. But behind the scenes, it is not easy.

People see the final event.
I see the months of planning, late-night calls, script revisions, back-to-back auditions, and endless details that go into making one meaningful day happen.

And yet, I love doing it.

Curating a TEDx Event Is One of the Hardest Things I Do

TEDx is not a conference where anyone can buy a slot on stage.
It’s not about fame, followers, or titles.
It is about ideas worth spreading, and that responsibility weighs heavily on the curation team.

For every speaker who makes it on stage, there are dozens—sometimes hundreds—who do not. Each application is read. Each audition is evaluated. Every story is considered through the lens of:

Does this idea move people?
Does it open minds?
Does it challenge something?
Is this message aligned with the TEDx spirit?
And the hardest question of all: Is this the moment for this story?

It’s a process that demands discipline, courage, and sometimes difficult conversations.

The Hidden Work Nobody Sees

Here’s the truth:

We review scripts line by line.
We rehearse speakers until the message is sharp and the timing is precise.
We reject anything promotional because TEDx talks are not advertisements.
We adjust, refine, and polish every detail.

People don’t realize that the average TEDx speaker rehearses 100 hours for every 1 minute of talk. That’s the level of preparation expected, and as the curator, I’m the one who must hold that standard.

Curating means protecting the quality that TEDx is known for.

But I Love It Because It’s Purpose Work

Even with the long hours and the mental load, curating TEDx Forbes Park fills me with energy.

Why?

Because I get to witness ordinary people step onto that red dot and turn into forces of inspiration. I get to see ideas go from scribbles to goosebump moments. I get to watch the audience shift—eyes wide, hearts open, minds expanding.

TEDx is not just an event. It is a repository of human possibility.

Being part of that is one of the greatest privileges.

It’s the Stories That Keep Me Going

Each year, someone surprises me. A story hits deeper than expected. A speaker grows beyond what they believed possible. A message resonates across borders.

I love curating because I love people.
I love curiosity, courage, and the spark that happens when someone dares to share their truth publicly.

TEDx reminds me that even in a chaotic world, one idea can shift someone’s entire perspective. And sometimes, that’s all we need.

Why I’ll Keep Doing This

Curating TEDx is a lot of work.
A lot of heart.
A lot of emotional labor.

But it’s also meaningful, growth-filled, inspiring, and community-building.

And for me, that’s worth every second.

To everyone who has been part of TEDx Forbes Park—speakers, volunteers, sponsors, attendees—thank you. You are the reason this event continues to thrive. You are the reason I keep doing this year after year.

Here’s to more ideas worth spreading.
Here’s to more stories.
Here’s to more red dots.

Kate Hancock
Curator, TEDx Forbes Park