Ted X Syracuse University

Stage Manager

What Did I Do?

The 2nd Annual TEDxSyracuse University brought together eight speakers for 15 minute talks built around the theme What Matters Next? The event took place at the K. G. Tan Auditorium and was produced under TED’s organizational licensing guidelines, which covered everything from time limits to audience capacity.

My involvement started weeks before the event through regular pre production meetings with organizers Ryan Nkongnyn and Sonia Issa. We walked through the run of show, logistics, and the full speaker lineup, and those conversations shaped how I prepared for the day.

On the day of the event, I arrived early to meet with the AV team and make sure we were aligned on lighting cues, speaker slides, and timing notes. I received the final itinerary from the organizers, then introduced myself to each speaker so they knew I was there to support them throughout the show. I greeted and escorted speakers to the green room, helped with mic placement, and seated them in order. From that point until doors opened, I stayed in communication with the hosts, speakers, and AV team to make sure everyone had what they needed.

Once the event began, I handled timekeeping and coordinated with the AV team to pass along time remaining notices to speakers on stage. When one talk went over its limit, I signaled the AV team to send a wrap notice so the schedule stayed on track without interrupting the flow for the audience. During intermission, I mic’d the remaining speakers and continued managing the second half of the program through to closing remarks. We ended the night with photos of the full team and speaker line up before I helped with cleanup and breakdown.

Working with the organizer team and technical crew reaffirmed how much stage management shapes the experience of a live event. It affects not only the audience but every person who steps onto that stage.