You’ve prepared for your role as Panel Moderator by reading
Part 1 of
this blog.
It’s showtime! Time to call the room to order.. and
conduct a stimulating, thought-provoking, memorable event. .
1.
Calling the room to order- use a nice hearty voice letting folks know you’d
like to begin in (pick your time.. 3 minutes?). You can give them a
countdown or any additional warning you’d like.
2.
Your voice: Make sure you’re using a clear, full, projected voice.
Send it out from your stomach. You can warm yourself up and do a mic
check with your call to order. Ask if everyone can hear you clearly in
the back. Mic adjustments might have to be made.
3.
You want to set the premise at the beginning- as you would with video
interviews. Start with a Lead
(rhymes with seed) Line.. Keep your
intro as brief as possible.
4. Introduce
the panelists- brief and your way. It is your show. If you feel
that you may be shortchanging someone- you can suggest to the audience where
they can find more biographical detail.
5. Tell us
how the panel event will flow. What are the rules for the panelists
and for the audience?
6. Keep it moving and
lively!! You are good cop/bad cop.. traffic cop.. instigator..
You are in total control.
7. Ending it.
Always be ready with a short, smart final statement although you’ll most
likely be coming up with something new. If some or all of you will be
available afterwards- let the audience know where/when that might be.. and
that you’d be pleased to chat further.
8.
Fielding questions. You can have folks writing them on collected cards
or sending them electronically.. you can have hands held high with a person
running around with a mic.. you might have a mic stand for folks to line up
at… If it’s not 100% obvious that the amplification of a question is
sufficient for every attendee in the room- always repeat the question!
Always bring at least 2 questions of your own in case there are no others.
You can introduce them as ‘A provocative question recently posed to me was…
‘ or ‘here’s one that struck me while we were talking..’
Beware praising someone’s question as ‘great.. interesting.. ‘ etc. since
other folks may feel bad that they haven’t received the same praise- or that
their question won’t be a good one.
You’ll still be traffic
cop here too- e.g.. if a question is posed to one person and you think
another panelist would like to weigh in.. or if a question is posed to the
group at large- and you need to pinpoint a first and second responder
Expect combative folks (if I may politely interject…) .. long-winded folks
(I believe your question is..).