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Post by GuinevereGradual on Mar 31, 2012 17:28:08 GMT -5
Does anyone have suggestions for handling panel attendees who are being disruptive? I don't mean causing any kind of violent trouble; obviously in that situation I'd yell for security. I just mean the ones who don't know when to shut up.
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Post by supergeekgirl on Apr 2, 2012 13:10:46 GMT -5
Oh, yes. ;D I've been doing panels long enough to have a system for dealing with those people. It's a matter of having a plan and sticking with it. And improv. A bit of that too. The more structure there is to your panel, the less opportunity a panel pirate has to say anything, and if you make it clear to him/her that you are now changing to a new topic, you can cut the person off and move on without too many hurt feelings. There are also a few stock phrases you can keep in your arsenal to use when someone is threatening to make the panel about them: "I'm getting to that." (when they want to talk about something you were going to cover later) "We already covered that." (when you talked about it at the beginning of the panel before they came in) "Since there are so many people, please raise your hand if you have a question." "We don't have very long, and we have a lot to talk about, so let's move to the next thing." "I'll take questions in a moment." "Actually, that's not what this panel is about. It's about _____, so if you like ______, you're welcome to stay, but let's stay on topic." (great against people who have come in with some vendetta regarding the subject of your panel) "Yes, but I want to show an example." (then show a video or picture which illustrates the subject) If it's a subject you KNOW will attract panel pirates (such as a controversial topic), you should start the panel with a "mission statement". State plainly what your panel is about and not about. Say when you will allow discussion and when you won't. I learned this the hard way, so the second time I did a "controversial" panel (called "God in Anime", in which I was talking about anime directors' appropriation of Christian symbolism and how the Christian God is presented in anime), I started with a mission statement explaining that it was not a religious debate panel, that I was not presenting a panel on the VALIDITY of religious belief but on its mere presence in anime. A group of people left, and then, after my first slide, a straggler attempted to start a religious argument. I let him get one sentence in before I explained, again, the subject of the panel. He looked sad and left. Yeah, he was probably heartbroken he didn't get to talk about how much he hates Christianity, but you know what? That wasn't the topic of the panel. He would have known that from the description. Remember, it's your panel, and you shouldn't feel bad keeping it on topic. You've come to teach and to moderate, and part of moderating is keeping the audience from taking over the panel. Another tip is to listen to a few shows on NPR, especially shows with call-in elements such as the Diane Rehm Show and Talk of the Nation. The hosts constantly have to cut off callers so they don't take too much time from other callers. I'm sure some, like the panel pirates, have hurt feelings, but they should also realize that they can't go on talking forever. That all said, I've been known to talk a bit too much in panels myself, and it would be great if more panelists would use my own phrases against me so I know when to stop.
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Post by GuinevereGradual on Apr 2, 2012 17:59:34 GMT -5
Thanks for the tips, I appreciate it. I've never run a panel at a convention, and I've seen several instances, at several cons, where somebody decided they'd rather sit and heckle and be a smart aleck than listen and learn something. So I want to be prepared.
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