TedX sydney - A Recap

I’m in the airport, about to take off to Toronto to visit our offices and although a little bleary eyed from my 3 hours sleep I felt compelled to provide a little update/insight on the TedX conference yesterday as it inspired me greatly – and seeing as Ted is about Spreading Ideas...I thought I’d do the same.

There was an overarching theme of music, starting out with the Digerebone..
This incredible piece of equipment along with a “space face” of which I can’t even explain other than I felt like I was being transcended into another planet with the most eery of sounds coming from a bucket of water, bare feet and a mix of a digeridoo/trombone...
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WE were then thrown into space with Bryan Gaensler who was captivatingly passionate about well..space! In yr 2 he had asked 2 many questions of his teachers about space, they said..put all of your questions and asnwers intoa text book for the school library..so he did.

He was enthralling and discussed really about the big bang through to where we are now and how we don’t even have the slightest glimpse of our universe and better yet – the hubble telescope is just pathetic. He discussed new technology with Fish Eye Lenses (made me think of my digital camera) and how they are capturing more and more data to be able to read the sky every night and understand why the stars explode..personally I’m not sure I want to know ;)

Next was David Chalmers who ...well..I still don’t know what the hell he talked about..however the key takeaway was around mind extension and that our daily technology partners were extensions of our mind and could potentially assist in treating or assisting those with Alzheimer's etc. The #1 take away was a picture of a hand on which was written: If you’re reading this, someone has stolen my iphone... Oh so true:

Synergy then mesmerised me with this almost creepy sound of bells and whistles...but by the end of it – whatever it was, I was very very chilled out...

Genevieve bell – well, she talked about how we need to increase our boredom – as really when was the last time you didn’t have something to do or look at or something to amuse yourself with ? I revelled in the concept and realised I have absolutely NO down time..twitter, facebook, bberry, laptop, foxtel, et cet cet cet the list is endless...she encouraged us to leave the house in the morning and not come back until dark – without plans – like we used to do as kids...having to make things to do all day long.

Josh Cook’s show was definitely stolen by his gorgeous Parrott Mango...and other than that..I’m really not sure what it was about ;)


Fourplay quartet really do bring the symphony into the modern age and I was completely compelled by the playing of the violin and the base...unreal!


Richard Gill is saving the world, one genetic match at a time, Katherine samaras told us we need to starve a little bit...interesting concept around adding our countries health to our list of resources – which truly does make sense – I mean if your country isn’t well...what’s the point!?

Shaun Tan’s the Lost Thing which was an oscar winning film with a composition done live was incredible. Please if anything = go and watch this film online or wherever you can. It’s like 10 minutes of beauty...and just a fabulous message...

Saul Griffiths was so passionate about energy – he showed me graphs and charts of things that take energy inclusive of his doing his taxes...so incredibly impressed...he believes in green energy – realistically...I want to be him.

However, and I’ll get the rest of the speakers up to date at a later date as they’re calling my flight...I want to just leave this Part I with this..

Daniel Johns...

Now bring your mind back to the late 90’s and these little kids from Newcastle are killing the charts with an album called Frogstomp. Now this was my first forray into Australian music and I have to say that song "Tomorrow" still rings in my head on a regular basis. I LOVED SILVERCHAIR..and I MEAN LOVED...OBSESSED, WANTED TO BE THEM LOVED SILVERCHAIR...
So to see D.Johns in person was brilliant..

What it inspired in me was this though..his complete capacity to let it all go with every note. This compilation he’s doing with Josh Wakefield is going to be something so incredible beautiful, I just cannot wait. They go through the story of collaboration and story telling and the differing of ideas and concepts brought together and this end result sample that they offered well..it moved me to tears. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever ever ever ever seen...

So until Part II which may happen in Hong Kong if I’m not completely lost to the planet ...

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This V That (that’s the app...)

TedX Sydney PART II

So, the final sessions of the afternoon starting with a beat...a major drum beat.

Ben Walsh gets out on stage with an octagonal drum set that he created with rubbish and cable ties. He’s from gosford. Clearly not the home of drummers he states. HE starts by giving us a little bit of information about himself, his past, his family and why he loves percussion...and continues - all said with an undeniable grin on his face – by saying that he hopes to inspire all those who may think it’s a little idea in a small town or a little idea in a big town or whatever..but to get out there and dream big.

He then gives us the percussion performance of his life. A full circle 360 drum set and a little dude from gosford just rocked my world for about 10 minutes and most of the audience were standing in the rows for the first time that day.

Thus follows a very good looking Designer from Argentina – who was hot yes and dressed like a Jedi Warrior...but a terrible speaker and in my opinion did him nor his business any justice even though the overarching message was awesome (sustainable environments and designs)..

Rives went onto to show us a rather interesting hand puppet display using an ipad...from then on, there were some interesting, and somewhat average speakers – which really proved to me it’snot just content, it’s definatly about presence and ensuring you’re engaing the audience..

which does bring to mind that I forgot to mention the musical experience with Richard Gill who wanted the lights up in the house so he could see the whites of our eyes and treat us as a classroom. He ended by bringing home the message that all children before the age of 5 years old MUST experience music as it develops the creativity in our lives and our ability to think outside the box.

Now, I must admit, at this stage I was getting restless, we had had a call from the vet as our puppy had made an escape and a local passerby had dropped him off..so my husband had to dissapear to collect our insolent Fur child...

So, I was ready for this 10 hour session of ideas to end. I must also state that I was exhausted. I had thunk, thought, sung, clapped, cried, laughed and well really, I’d done it all in the space of one afternoon in one theatre.

So for the final sessions, they had big shoes to fill and therefore the Poet Entrepreneur Joanna really didn’t do it for me...as she went on about truckies poetry – of which I would have lived to have heard..instead of the consistent array of unremarkable projects she discussed.

However, When Simon Stone came to the...microphone ..as you never did see him..I was fascinated. Albeit a simple portray of what and how the theatre creates...well theatrics, it brought home significant insight of lighting, actors, tonality, context and the power of numbers...I loved it.

Craig from the Chasers provided a recap and this is where I realise I suppose I get a little dissapointed in the future of Australian humour as I didn’t really find it all that funny after a day of inspiration, his use of the Term TED in words likes..Masterba..ted and the like, was a disappointing finish to the day,


So unfortunately I didn’t see the finale of paul Kelly who on Twitter was receiving rave reviews.


So. You ask.
What did TedX do for me.
Well, other that bring me together with some mates I never get to see – Naomi Simson, Lauren Brown, Carden Calder, Joanne Moore, John Shim, etc etc etc (all big wigs in their own right)...it really hammered home the things I’m missing..

TedX has inspired me to get back to my creative roots – which I’m sure you’ll all be happy to hear is not in graphic design, nor interior (I can hear our designers' sigh of relief from here) but after many years of not playing or singing on a regular basis...I’m putting it back out there. In whatever capacity that ends up..I just know it won’t ever be conventional. The day of speakers, music and creativity made me realise that I have the power to inspire millions using my talents and that I need to do so..before it’s too late and Im too old and boring to take any action.

So here’s my call out. If you know any aspiring musicians, or the like, that would like to start something – whatever that may be...please send them my way..

I apologise for any spelling or gramatical mistakes...this is written on the fly..literally on the way to Hong Kong.
;)

Thanks for reading - I'd love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to msg me on @acculligan