How does a moderator get questions from the audience during a panel discussion at meetings, conferences, and conventions? Professional Panel Moderator Kristin Arnold asked this question of Dr. Chip Bell, professional speaker and panel moderator.
Video Transcript
Kristin: During the audience Q&A, is there a roaming microphone, or do you go into the audience like Oprah or Phil Donohue?
I’ve done all of the above. I would say typical unless you’ve got a really big audience they usually can holler out the question loud enough. And the advantage of that is you don’t have to wait for somebody who has a mic to get it to them when you’ve got a fairly large group.
And usually if you’ve got a couple three hundred people you can hear it. You say, “Just holler out,” I always use those words.
“Just holler out your question.” And they usually will and it’s loud enough for them to hear. If you got a thousand people in there witnessing this panel then you’re going to need some microphones to be able to hear it.
And I’ve gone out in the audience just like you described like the Donahue/ Oprah style into the audience with a mic and gotten the questions so.
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Kristin Arnold, professional panel moderator, and high stakes meeting facilitator is on a crusade to make all panel discussions informative, interactive, and interesting. Specifically, she wants to help YOU become a better panel moderator. Why? Because 95% of annual meetings have panel discussions – and according to the 2014 Panel Report, it’s a fifty-fifty proposition they are any good at all! Expectations decrease dramatically when your attendees walk in and see the traditional draped head-table with microphones on short stands. There are sooooo many other ways to have a stimulating conversation! So let’s increase the probability of success for your next panel discussion with these resources.
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