Speak At Elevate Daytona

1. Elevate talks are a forum for ideas, not for marketing.

Anything that looks or feels like marketing will almost certainly not be chosen. It’s not that you’re not allowed to talk about your work or your business, but if you intend to do so it should be in such a way that it informs a larger idea.

2. The goal is to get people thinking and talking.

For example, you can:

• Come up with and explain an innovative way to solve a problem
• Show people a new or unexpected way to look at something familiar
• Pull back the curtains on a complex process
• Show how something isn’t what it seems
• Show how something is what it seems but maybe should not be
• Challenge or debunk a preconceived notion
• Illuminate a fascinating but hidden bit of culture
• Give people a challenge they can act upon (without demanding that they do so)
• Present a new way to consider an opinion
• Present an old but forgotten way to consider an opinion

3. Don’t propose to speak primarily as a representative of an organization.

Every speaker represents her activities and work. Sometimes that’s a critical component of a good talk. The idea comes first. Your organization (or business/job/cause/politics) should be secondary.

4. Original is good.

People come to Elevate to see things they haven’t seen anywhere else. There’s nothing wrong with giving a talk on a topic you have spoken about before but not the same talk. Think beyond that. 

5. Mind the format.

Anyone who has given an Elevate talk can tell you that they are tough. The format is weird and challenging. So, keep that in mind as you think about your proposal and try to develop something that will work well within the 20 slides, 5 minutes, 15 seconds per slide restriction. Slides advance automatically so you MUST keep pace. Build that into your thinking from the beginning.

6. Be creative, and have fun.

The best talks are the ones fueled by true passion. 

7. Watch similar talks at:

Go to www.elevatedaytonabeach.com/elevate-daytona-videos/index 

8. Speaker Disclaimer

Elevate Daytona Beach, created by the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Daytona Alumni Council, reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to set and change the number of speakers for each event and select only speakers with content that align with the goals of the event. Elevate Daytona Beach shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations, which include the selection of speakers. We are committed to providing an inclusive environment for all audience members, volunteers, speakers, and vendors.

9. Contact us if you have questions on being an Elevate Daytona Beach Speaker: 

Submit questions via email: ken@daytonachamber.com

Sign up to audition for Elevate Daytona Beach 2024!

Click here to see available audition dates and times.