---

As TEDxNavesink readies for its move to Asbury Park on May 20, a search for new talent will be held locally.

Entertainers, comics, artists, and idea speakers interested in being a part of the 30 TED Talks and entertainment lineup can audition Jan 20 during an Open Mic Night at the Paramount Theatre on the Asbury Park boardwalk, founder Brian Smiga said.

“Each year we discover and amplify local heroes and their ideas,” Smiga said. “Our Jan 20th open mic night is a chance for us to recruit and develop new talent.”

At year’s end, triCity News broke the news that TEDxNavesink, previously held in Red Bank and Long Branch, will move to Asbury Park through a collaboration with boardwalk redeveloper Madison Marquette.

Now in its fifth year, TEDxNavesink has become one of the largest and top-rated TEDx conference on the East Coast, selling out venues and garnering an over 90 percent audience recommendation rating. Past themes have included  Shore Life, Play, Accelerators, and Makers.

“A TED Talk is best at presenting a single, new ‘idea worth spreading,’ whether you perform a song, comedy, slides, or give a talk, try to come with a core new idea,” said Smiga, a Rumson native.

This year’s Identity theme will explore everything from America, authenticity, brand, communications, and design to DNA, education, entertainment, fakery, gravitas, gender, and Jersey, he said. Former Gov. Jim McGreevey and Beatles aficionado Ken Womack will be a part of lineup.

“Our team blends locally discovered ideas with leading speakers and entertainers from around the globe to build a community of idea-loving people on the garden shore,” Smiga said. “People are re-examining our identity in this post presidential- and pre NJ- election year. We seek problem-solvers, comics, and iconoclasts.”

According to the Dec. 22 triCity News article, an official name change to TEDxAsbury Park is in the works.

The new talent Open Mic auditions will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre, doors opening at 6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public with an opportunity to win two free tickets to the May 20 event.

Those interested in auditioning should come prepared with an up to five minute talk, slideshow, rant, routine, song, dance, experience, or performance art, Smiga said. Applications, available here, are due by midnight January 13.

Selection notification will be sent via email on Jan 15 at 11am. Both auditioners and attendees must pre-register at www.tedxnavesink.com/openmic2017.

Tickets for the 8 a.m to 8 p.m. TEDxNavesink May 20 event at the Paramount Theatre and Convention Hall, 1300 Ocean Ave, start at $40 for those under 40 and over 70. General admission tickets are $80.

To view the four previous editions of TEDxNavesink, visit tedxnavesink.com/tedxnavesink-videos.

Also, stay tuned for upcoming free TEDxNavesink and AP Boardwalk idea events in March and April via Facebook here.

——————————————————————–

Follow the Asbury Park Sun on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Asbury Park Sun is affiliated with the triCityNews newspaper.

---