If guest liaison Jan mailed you a confirmation of your invite for TEDxAmsterdam 2012, we’ll meet each other Friday. He also asked you a few questions to ensure everyone has a smooth TEDx experience. In addition, here are 7 things you need to know to Rethink Human Nature.
1. Come early
We have a dense program. To make the best out of your TEDxAmsterdam experience you should take the time to come early and mingle with fellow visitors. Find out what interesting stories others have to share and connect with people you would not have met anywhere else. Coffee, tea and some morning snacks are available. And who knows, you might get the best spot in the Grote Zaal! We open up the registration desk at 7.30 and would like everyone seated by 8.45 AM. When the show starts we will close the doors for quite a while. Also, we expect you to be with us the entire day.
2. Reserve a restaurant and share a meal
This is the perfect way to end the day: TEDxAmsterdam is offering you a chance to network over dinner. After the event, you can join other TEDxAmsterdam delegates for dinner in several restaurants close to the Stadsschouwburg (at your own costs). In selected restaurants in the neighbourhood a special TEDxAmsterdam menu is on offer, and delegates will be seated together.
If you have not made your reservation yet, do it now!
3. Are you more ’special’ than your fellow visitors?
We like to think we’re all alike in our diversity. Some of us actually do need a special treatment. In order to prepare the food, drinks & hall arrangement, please let Jan know if you are handicapped or have special needs (for instance if you need medical help during the event).
The food will be fully vegetarian. If you suffer from allergies like lactose intolerance or peanut allergy, please let Jan know so we can take this into account for the catering. Of course, all this information will be held confidential and only shared with the necessary staff members.
4. Giving is all we have. What will you bring?
TEDxAmsterdam is famous for its giftbags. But this year, we want to give something more meaningful, which needs your help to succeed. Mad scientists prove: There’s one thing that makes us happier than receiving a great gift. And that is giving one. So this year, we’re asking every one of you to offer your talent, or one thing of value, to a fellow TEDxAmsterdam attendee.
Together with the great team of Giving Is All we Have we have set up a site where you can tell us what you would like to give. We’ll turn it into a beautiful ‘give card’ with a unique code on it, which we’ll randomly give away during TEDxAmsterdam on the 30th. After the event, the give site will connect the mystery giver and receiver so you can exchange talents & gifts! Because making the givecards takes a few days, please do this right now or at least before the 27th of November. The unique URL is in your mailbox.
5. Travel Toogether
If traveling by train is not an option for you, then use the TEDxAmsterdam Toogethr group. The group is a place where you can find another TED visitor to either hitch a ride, or share your car. It is easy and a great way to not only reduce your environmental impact, but also save on fuel and parking costs, and maybe the best: get to know other TED visitors and start sharing ideas!
Please help us to reduce our carbon footprint and use your bike or public transport to get to the Stadsschouwburg.
HOPPER is the new way for commuters and Amsterdam residents to get around the city. HOPPER offers chauffeur-driven electric scooters, at a fixed rate of € 2.50 per ride. Friday 30 November, as a special TEDxAmsterdam treat, you can hop on one for free! The TEDxAmsterdam HOPPERS are situated in front of the American hotel, across from the TEDxAmsterdam venue.
6. Look smart, be comfortable
We don’t do dress codes. But we have 10 video cameras, 6 photographers and possibly 600 social media savvy snapshot addicts around. So we’d like you to look your best while being comfortable.
7. Devices? No. Social media? Yes.
Important: we do not allow laptops, iPads, cameras and flash photography in the main conference room – think of TEDxAmsterdam as a theatre performance. We want your full attention! Of course you are welcome to use your laptop on the balconies and in the foyers where you can watch the program live on flatscreens.
For twitter, video and photo tags please use #TEDxAms as the identifier – the TEDxAms live platform (powered by Mobynow) will integrate all reports. We are with you on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, Flickr, Tumblr and Google+.
A big bonus: shake things up at the official “Hyperbole” afterparty!
What’s a TEDxAmsterdam without a proper creative party? Bring your badge, all the energy you have left and dancing shoes.
After mind-blowing talks, it’ll be time to stop making sense and hustle all that fresh know- ledge into place by dancing the night away. Come and feel the music at the official TEDxAmsterdam afterparty “Hyperbole“. It will start from 21:00 onwards at Bar LUDWIG, Reguliersdwarsstraat 37, the cocktail and lounge- bar that just opened this year.
Facebook
Twitter
Google+
YouTube
Flickr
Pinterest