Have you ever participated in a panel discussion at a conference related to your field of expertise? Or maybe you\u2019ve sat in on panel discussions presented by others. What was the format? <\/p>\n
Generally, you have a moderator who introduces the panelists and fields the questions. Sometimes, each panelist will introduce him\/herself and give a little of their background before the program is opened up to questions. <\/p>\n
I\u2019ve sat on panels that were near chaotic. Either one person would monopolize the stage or everyone tried to speak at once with the moderator sitting quietly in the background. <\/p>\n
I\u2019ll be on a book marketing panel this weekend at the Ventura Book Festival at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and the moderator has actually given me an assignment. This is a first. Each panelist is asked to speak on a different aspect of the subject within an 8-10 minute pocket of time. Then the floor will be opened up to questions. Good idea! I like the feeling of organization and order this moderator seems to be giving to the presentation. I\u2019ll report later about how it worked out. For example, will she be able to keep each of us to the time limit? <\/p>\n
This can be a problem in some venues. Oh my gosh, have I been disappointed a time or two when my presentation was cut short because someone before me spoke way too long. I can get sooooo infuriated with weak program organizers. <\/p>\n
If you are putting on a program that has time-constraints (as most do), please be assertive enough to keep your speakers in line. Assign each of them a time slot and be firm about the parameters of that assignment. \u201cYou are speaking from 7:15 to 7:45 and then we\u2019ll open the floor to questions for 10 minutes.\u201d Tell the speaker that you will signal him or her at 7:40. And if he continues speaking beyond 7:45 by, say, 5 minutes, interrupt him and ask for questions from the audience. <\/p>\n
And when you are the speaker, find out how much time you have to talk and then adhere to the boundaries.<\/p>\n
My part of the panel discussion will be fun. I\u2019ve been asked to come up with 10 things an author absolutely must do in order to promote his\/her book. I have 10 minutes to accomplish this. I have decided to create a handout in order to provide additional information and resources that I won\u2019t be able to cover in this brief time allotment. <\/p>\n
One thing I\u2019ll point out to the audience is that, as a member of the panel, I am promoting my book. I will do this as a way for them to understand how to use speaking opportunities as a book promotion tool. I\u2019ll tell them that they may not even hear me mention the titles of any of my books. But that, by way of my sharing information and resources with them, I am demonstrating my expertise in the field of publishing and book marketing. My handouts will include my business card with my website addresses and my brochure showcasing some of my books and highlighting my editorial services. I will also have some of my books for sale at the event.<\/p>\n
If they trust what I say, feel I am credible and want to know more about how to promote their books, they will purchase copies of my books.<\/p>\n
You can learn more about me and my work here: Have you participated in or observed panel discussions that you thought were particularly successful or that just didn\u2019t work at all? We\u2019d like to hear about some of your experiences and get some good ideas for future panels.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Have you ever participated in a panel discussion at a conference related to your field of expertise? Or maybe you\u2019ve sat in on panel discussions presented by others. What was the format? Generally, you have a moderator who introduces the panelists and fields the questions. Sometimes, each panelist will introduce him\/herself and give a little […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com<\/a>
\n http:\/\/www.patriciafry.com<\/a> <\/p>\n