Rehearsal Day: Volunteer Staff Prepare for the Big Event

It’s the day before TEDxTokyo 2011 at Tokyo’s Miraikan – The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation – and a huge team of volunteer staff are setting up the hall with registration points, exhibitions, buffet tables and simulcast lounges. Backstage is a hive of activity, with a video production crew, two live streaming teams and the all-important presentation/sound teams working together to construct a highly complex web of connectivity.

The floor management team held a meeting at 10:30 am, during which they checked the operation manual and the lines of flow of participants.

The registration booth is set up using desks and chairs carried out from the conference rooms – the conference rooms become the exhibition and communication space, complete with new furniture brought in for the day.

Since some floors of Miraikan are still under repair following the earthquake, team members are required to wear helmets as they bring the furniture in!

There’s a real feeling of excitement in the air, with over 300 participants expected tomorrow – Registration begins at 8:00 am, May 21st – and for those without a ticket the livestream will start at 9am at http://www.tedxtokyo.com/live

Text by Satoshi Iritani (@irritantis)