…That’s Anticipation: the 67th World Science Fiction Convention, otherwise known as WorldCon.
My programming schedule has been confirmed, my bio has been sent off, and I’m good to go! I’m doing a panel Monday afternoon on hard science fiction, and I’m looking forward to hanging out with Dragon Moon Press author Erik Buchanan. If you’re attending and want to get in touch, you can use my comment form to drop me a line.
Speaking on panels can be a little intimidating at first, but it’s not too frightening an experience. While I’m preparing for the convention, here are my tips for participating like a pro on panel discussions:
Things to bring with you to your panel:
1. A watch
2. A notepad and pen
3. Water
4. A copy of your book and a small display stand
5. Business cards / bookmarks / flyers / some sort of small take-away item
6. Name plate
7. A sweater or light jacket
1. A cell phone can substitute for a watch in a pinch, but not if it’s the kind of phone where you have to keep poking at buttons to keep the screen active. Take off your watch and put it on the table in front of you so that you can glance down at it without looking like you’re checking the time. You want to be aware of it, and be aware of how much time you spend speaking, but you don’t want to look like you’re bored!
2. A notepad and pen are essentials for me. If I think of points I want to raise while other people are talking, I can jot them down quickly so that I don’t lose my train of thought by the time my turn comes around. Also good for noting especially insightful observations by your other panelists, or recommended reading, or taking down the e-mail address of someone who doesn’t have a card to give you, or jot down plans for later.
3. Most conference rooms will supply water, but I wouldn’t rely on it, just because I wouldn’t want to be stuck without. It doesn’t hurt to bring your own.
4. Bring your book with you to give the audience a visual reference. Choose one book, or two at most, and if the other panelists aren’t putting theirs out, follow the crowd. Don’t hide behind a wall of them, and pick the one or two most relevant to the topics at hand. I’m doing a science fiction panel, so I’ll probably be bringing Crescent by Phil Rossi to display. I have a couple of small, clear plastic hinged plate stands (they look something like this) – I think they were all of 50 cents each – and they’re great for elevating a book so that the audience can see the cover clearly. I bring a few extra stands because people invariably beg to borrow them.
5. Business cards are my handout of choice, because I’m an editor and I want people to contact me. If you’re an author, print up some business cards or bookmarks or tasteful flyers that promote your work. Don’t be too aggressive about giving them out – the panel isn’t about you, and it’s not your infomercial – but set them out on the table in front of you and make them available if anyone wants to come up and take one afterwards.
6. Conferences usually provide a name card, but you may somehow end up not getting one, or you may end up losing it or leaving it behind. Or, you may have one of those names that’s misspelled more often than it’s spelled correctly, in which case it’s nice to have the insurance of having your own name card that you know is going to be right… just in case. Plan ahead and print out your name in a bold, readable font on a landscape-oriented piece of paper, fold it in half, and you’ve got a backup name card for the table.
7. Climate control is a wonderful thing, but it doesn’t always control as well as it should. Dress in layers and have a light jacket or sweater with you if you can. In one panel I did at a recent convention, the air vents were right over the presenters and the A/C was blowing on us full-blast. Convention staff was informed and they were able to take care of it before the following panel, but we had to suffer through it and try not let it distract us. Temperature may vary from room to room. Be prepared and be adaptable.
Things to keep in mind
1. Be a professional
2. Do your research
3. Let the moderator moderate
4. Be a team player
5. Know when it’s appropriate to network
6. Relax!
1. Being professional means looking and acting the part. Arrive a little early so that the panel doesn’t have to wait for you. Dress a little better than the average con-goer and be especially conscious of your personal hygiene. Don’t torture the panelist next to you with your garlic breath from lunch! Also be aware of your body language when you’re speaking, and even when you’re not. You’re still up in the front of the room and on display. Don’t scratch, pick, or do things that will make watching you uncomfortable, and don’t play with your water bottle, click your pen, or do any other sort of nervous tics that distract from the other panelists while they’re speaking. Please turn your phone silent before the panel starts.
2. Don’t start off by saying that you don’t know why you’re on the panel, or that you didn’t know you were going to be on the panel. You were selected for your expertise and your opinions. Present yourself as someone who has both of those things. Research your topic as well as you can ahead of time, but accept that no amount of research can cover every question or angle. Still, the more prepared you are, the better you’ll be able to handle the unexpected. Research your fellow panelists, as well. If you have at least a little familiarity with their body of work, you can respond to them or hand questions off to them in a more personal way.
3. The moderator keeps conversation moving, gives everyone an equal chance to participate, and keeps the panel on topic. Don’t police the panel yourself, tell other presenters what to do, or watchdog others’ time. Let the moderator do it. Similarly, keep an eye on your speaking time, keep your tone respectful, and make the moderator’s job as easy as possible. Don’t be someone who needs to be policed.
4. Unless you’re a big name and you’re on a panel discussing your own books, it’s probably not all about you. Introduce yourself in the beginning and do refer to your body of work and experience as appropriate, but don’t use the panel as a time to rattle off your resume and star in your own one-person show. If you speak engagingly, if you entertain while displaying knowledge and insight on the topic at hand, your audience will be interested in learning more about you and following up with your work. But remember, they’re probably attending for the topic, not for you.
5. Arrive a little early and plan to linger a little after your panel if you can. Showing up early gives you a chance to meet your fellow panelists before things start up, and it also ensures that they won’t have to hold things up for you or start without you. Staying a little late gives anyone who didn’t get to ask a question, or anyone who wants to introduce themselves to you, a chance to do so. Or, it gives you a chance to follow up with your fellow panelists if they’ve said something you’re interested in discussing with them at greater length. The panel itself isn’t the time for any of these things. Don’t let a question turn into a personal discussion that excludes the rest of the room. Instead, mention that you’ll hang around for a few minutes after, or invite someone to take your card and contact you later.
6. Remember to relax, and remember to breathe! There’s plenty to make yourself nervous about, but in the end, don’t take your panels too seriously and don’t overthink them. They’re a chance to talk and share ideas in front of an audience, that’s all. They’re not lectures or formal debates. Have a little fun with them and give yourself a chance to enjoy the ride.
