Plans are underway for next year’s TEDxTraverseCity, starting with two “pitch nights” for anyone interested in speaking. Youth Pitch Night, which will take place February 23, 2017, is an opportunity for students up to age 18 to make their pitch to a judging panel and live audience at Milliken Auditorium. Open Pitch Night offers the same opportunity to speakers regardless of age, one week later, March 2.

“The idea is to select three speakers from each Pitch to present their ‘ideas worth spreading’ on the main stage at TEDxTraverseCity, May 17, 2017,” says Sara Harding, lead curator for the event. The process begins with a call for applications. Twenty persons will be selected from among the applicants to give a pitch (a three-minute talk on their idea worth spreading) at each of the two events.

A pitch must be less than three minutes in length; must be clear, concise and compelling; and must respond to the 2017 theme: “…There’s Something More.” Pitch Night applications and more details are available at TEDxTraverseCity.com, where a description of the 2017 theme can also be found. Applications for Youth Pitch Night are being accepted until December 15; finalists will be announced by December 22. Applications are being accepted for Open Pitch Night until January 12, 2016. the 20 finalists will be announced by January 26.

Pitch Nights will take place from 5:30-7pm on February 23 and March 2 at Milliken Auditorium. They free and open to the community. Those in attendance will be invited to provide feedback via ballots to the judging panel, which is comprised of the TEDxTraverseCity Advisory Board, Planning Team, and local TEDx alumni. The winners will be among those selected to speak at TEDxTraverseCity, “giving attendees more opportunities to take away content that’s rich, deep and meaningful,” according to Harding.