At $8,500 a ticket, attending TED2016 is just a “Dream” for most of us

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      Registration has begun for next year's elite TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) conference in Vancouver. TED2016 will take place from February 15 to 19, 2016.

      The theme of TED2016 is "Dream", which is fitting because the ticket price is US$8,500 (about $10,500 in today's Canadian dollars)—far from the reach of the 99 percent.

      In an email sent today (January 27) to the "global TED community", TED curator Chris Anderson and his team talk about the TED2016 theme:

      Because dreams matter. And TED2016 will be dedicated to the greatest dreams we are capable of dreaming. It will be a week to stare hard at humanity’s toughest challenges, and to listen carefully to those who can show us a way forward. A week to celebrate the creative brilliance of our generation’s best artists, designers and storytellers. A week of invention, innovation, imagination … and the dreamers who can bring us with them on their journey. A week to stir the blood.

      I would like to invite you to be part of this week and to help make some of these dreams come true.

      The price of admission for TED2016 is the same as for TED2015, which happens March 16 to 20 and has a theme of "Truth and Dare".

      Vancouver's first TED conference, TED2014, cost US$7,500 a ticket.

      Having the dough doesn't guarantee you admission to a TED conference. If you want to attend, you must fill out an application with questions about "your goals, accomplishments and connection to your community".

      "We read every application, and actively seek out leading thinkers and doers across a wide range of fields," the email from the TED team says.

      Comments

      4 Comments

      Nevertheless

      Jan 27, 2015 at 11:34am

      Reading this takes some of the shine off of the TED phenomenon for me. I guess it's no surprise that TED became elitist on the heels of becoming successful. Nevertheless, I am glad that TED exists. Symposia like this are truly inspirational (though sometimes hit-and-miss) It's important to exchange new ideas and to encourage divergent thinking.

      Besides, it's the ideas that count, not the hob-nobbing. I'll just watch them on youtube.

      J.M.T.

      Jan 27, 2015 at 11:42am

      What a rip-off. TED is just the recent 'flavor of the day'. All it is, is a bunch of dorks sitting around in a semi-circle, trying to look smarter than the dork he's sitting next to. Ugh. Who do these people think they are?

      C Reality

      Jan 27, 2015 at 11:52am

      These articles about the ticket price and exclusivity of TED don't inform, they just gripe. It's sold out every year, so it's obviously not an issue to have expensive tickets for the org. Also, most of the people who present at TED have a plethora of free or very accessible information out there - that comes in a more complete form then the limited 18-ish minute presentations people do at TED.

      The event itself is about gathering - a place for like minds with a record of achieving their goals to meet. It's incredible. Perhaps the comments here should be people submitting their merits instead of complaining. The world gets to take away the talks, and those who got in had a fabulous event where the organizers took the time to filter out fluff - no, I'm sure it's not perfect - but it's very well done as anyone who has attended will testify I'm sure.

      I for one am very happy this event exists in it's current form.

      There are dress codes at clubs, financial investment minimums to gain visa's and citizenships, height limits for amusement park rides, age limits for senior discounts, and test score levels to gain entry to most post-secondary schools ......... how is this different? Are those reasons worth complaining about?

      The event is great because they spend a lot of money producing it, bringing people in and creating the stage - if the tickets were say $20, it would suck like the BILL conf.

      Reality .... join it.

      Free

      Jan 27, 2015 at 12:53pm

      Or you can watch or fast forward on youtube for free.

      Why wait in line when you can watch for free in your under wear and while drinking (craft) beer.