It' just over a year a go when Masuka, Kupela and I got together to discuss the the possibility of hosting a TEDx event in Lusaka. After a couple of sessions around pizza and a sumptuous dinner at Kupela's we applied for a license. The license was granted to us in November, 2010. Eager to stage the most important independent event of our lives to date we turned our hats inside out and marched into corporate offices asking them for sponsorship.
Sponsoring a TEDx event shouldn't be difficult. None of the members on the organising committee makes a cent from working on the event since all payments are made directly to suppliers. Sponsors may even suggest suppliers that they know will offer them preferential rates. An event like TEDxLusaka is also a media steal. It tugs at the heart of all the people you want to know in Lusaka. I couldn't think of any better event to align a corporate brand too. However, we would learned the hard way ... some things are not so simple.
The first date set and announced for the event was done after we thought we had a sponsor. We had sold our idea to a senior manager in a corporation and we were informed that they were keen to be the sole sponsor for the event. This was exciting - actually thrilling until as the day for event drew closer, our liaison went oddly silent on us. When we finally got hold of her we were promised we would be informed of the steps forward at the end of a management meeting that could happen, maybe might happen and eventually never happened. At the 11th hour we had no one else to turn to since we had stopped canvassing sponsors on the assurance that we had sole event sponsor.
Realising that the event wouldn't take place on the day we hoped it would, we informed our speakers of the circumstance and pushed the date back. Strapping our work boots on we hit the well worn track once again in search of sponsors. As time wore on this time round the answer form corporations sounded like an echo, "we love the idea but it's a little too late into our marketing year". We were exhausted by the time we got into a period when every marketing department in Zambia pleads "bankruptcy" because of events like annual Easter Egg dash, the Zambia International Trade Fair in Ndola and the Agricultural Show in Lusaka. We also felt it was a bad to hold the event soon after because, of course, it then became national election campaign period. Almost feeling defeated, we decided to pack in and take a break having gained a lot of respect for beauty pageant coordinators.
The thing, though, with an event like TEDx is that it attracts a particular kind of audience. The TED by-line is "ideas worth spreading". The kind of person interested in attending an event like TEDxLusaka is someone usually on the hunt for fresh conversation - new ideas, challenging memes and fresh perspectives. TEDx brings people like that together. It therefore wasn't surprising that at the last Development Discussion Group meeting someone invariably asked "what happened to TEDxLusaka?"
So, we are at it again ... however this time round we're self-sponsoring. Why not? We've asked a couple of friends to help with contributions and the response so far is amazing. Our venue has been picked, our speakers will be decided very soon and on November the 5th TEDxLusaka will happen.
Do we need help? Yes, we do. A lot of if it infact. We'd really appreciate it so much if you could get involved. Why don't you, actually? Drop us an email at info@tedxlusaka.com and we'll let you know how you can help.
The event website is up again and if you'd like to find out more, please visit http://www.tedlusaka.com/.
Ideas worth spreading - I like the sound of that. It excites me.
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