TEDxBloomington Attendee Information

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April 23, 2014

Answers to “frequently asked questions” and tips for getting the most out of your day on the 26th.

Are you ready for TEDxBloomington this Saturday? We are so excited that you are joining us for this year’s event. We’ve compiled some info to help you make the most of your TEDxBloomington experience.
 
Namebadge pickup – Your namebadge is your ticket into the theater on the 26thand  your ticket to interacting more easily with the speakers and other attendees.  To skip the lines on Saturday morning, you can pick up your namebadge anytime from 11AM-6PM on Friday, April 25th in the Buskirk-Chumley Theater Lobby. Badge pickup on Saturday April 26th will start at 9AM. The doors to the theater open at10AM and the show will begin at 10:30AM.  
 
Schedule – The TEDxBloomington Program will run from 10:30AM to 5PM on Saturday April 26th with a break for lunch from about noon til 1:30 and an afternoon break from approximately 2:45-3:15.  We keep a close eye on the clock as we run the program, but it’s also an organic experience, so the exact time for speakers and breaks may flex a bit.
 
Interact! – Our breaks are designed for interaction. You’re coming to TEDxBloomington not JUST to hear amazing Ideas Worth Spreading from our speakers, but because the conversations between talks and over lunch are priceless.  Come ready to meet new people and have great conversations!
 
Eat – You’re on your own for lunch. We are hoping to have a few food trucks parked near the theater, and there are lots of great restaurants nearby. Feel free to tag along with one or more of our speakers: they’ll be heading to restaurants around downtown. Remember, lunch is a great time to continue discussions about the ideas being presented at TEDxBloomington and how you might use them to improve your own life, or work, or philosophy of being. You can also bring a sack lunch and head to the nearby Buskirk Waldron Park on 3rd Street to meet up with other TEDxBloomington brown-baggers. (We’ll have a cooler next to the ticket table if you’d like to stash your labeled brown bag there.)
 
Concessions – The theater will offer concessions during the afternoon break and Blu Boy Chocolatiers, adjacent to the theater, will serve coffee and sweets all day. Please note that only food from Blu Boy and the theater concession stand may be consumed in the theater.
 
Roundabouts – This year’s theme is “What Goes ‘Round” so we’ve built a list of several “roundish” places and objects within walking distance that you can explore during breaks.  You’ll receive a handout that lists and describes our Roundabout spots in greater detail. If you visit any of these spots, take photos and tweet your reflections on what you see at #Roundabouts #TEDxBtown.
 
Parking – There are many options for free or cheaper parking around the theater.  You can park for free at the following locations:

  1. 4th Street Garage – 105 W. 4th Street – Entrance on 4th Street between Walnut Street and College Avenue
  2. E. 4th Street and Washington Street (behind the Buskirk-Chumley Theater)
  3. Dunn Street and E. 4th Street (just off of Restaurant Row)
  4. E. 6th Street and Lincoln Street (across from the Monroe County Public Library)
  5. E. 3rd Street and Washington Street (behind the Bloomington Police Department)
  6. Madison Street from 2nd to 3rd
  7. Washington Street from 2nd to 3rd
  8. Lincoln Street from 3rd to Smith
  9. Grant Street from 2nd to Smith

All other meters are enforced on Saturday.  If you choose to park on one of the streets with meters the cost is .25 for 15 minutes.  The meters accept dollar coins, quarters, dimes and nickels.  Mastercard, Visa and Discover are also accepted (note: service fees apply for paying by credit card). You can also use the Park Mobile App (http://bloomington.in.gov/parkmobile) to pay using a credit card or Paypal (with a service charge). If you use the Park Mobile App, remember to consider whether you’ll walk to lunch or move your car. If you use the Park Mobile App, we recommend putting a sign on your dashboard to alert the meter readers that you are using the app – since the light on your meter won’t turn green.
 
Stay connected  – Internet access is via BCT-WIFI and the password is iwantinternet. If you tweet, spread the experience with hashtag #TEDxBtown. If you plan to live-blog or use a tablet or laptop during the event, we invite you to sit in Bloggers Alley – i.e., the balcony at Buskirk-Chumley Theater. This gives you prime opportunity to connect with people who share your same interests in blogging and social media, and helps to ensure that we also have a screen-free environment for our speakers and other attendees on the ground level of the theater. 
 
Keep the Conversation Going – If you’d like to keep the conversation and connection going with fellow attendees, sponsors, speakers, and volunteers, plan to stop by Rachael’s Café (address) after TEDxBloomington. Details are still being finalized and we’ll have more to announce on Saturday.
 
We still have a few tickets available, so spread the word – or invite a friend to come join you for an awesome day at TEDxBloomington.
 
We can’t wait to see you on the 26th!