How to be the audience for a great panel

This comes partly from world fantasy this year, and partly from my experience in general with panels. I have been working on my own moderating style and had some really interesting conversations with Holly Black and Ellen Kushner, both excellent panel moderators, on how to do a panel well. I also talked to a lot of the attendees and got some differing opinions. I'll do a post tomorrow on some updates from my previous thoughts.

What NOT to do when you are in the audience on a panel:

1. Make the comments you would make if you had been invited on the panel. You may be every bit as qualified as the people on the panel. I have been to dozens of panels where some people in the audience were more or at least as much qualified as the panelists. Nonetheless, you are the audience. They are the panelists. The rest of the people who came to listen to the panel came to listen to them, not to you. Also, this is just plain polite. Let others have their turn.

2. Get into a debate with the panelists. I know that there are occasions on which this can be interesting. Nonetheless, I consider it bad form. If you have a question and the panelists answer it, they have answered it. If you don't like their answer, you may complain about it privately, on your blog, or to your friends. You may even invite the panelist to talk to you about it in the hall afterward or over coffee.

3. Ask more than one question. I have been to a handful of panels where there were so few people in the audience that it would have been fair to ask another question. But otherwise, it is so impolite to think that you should be called on for another question when there are others with hands up. Share the wealth.

4. Start raising your hand before the moderator has specifically asked for questions. When the panelists are in the midst of their discussion, it is rude to start asking questions. You have come to listen to them. Don't interrupt.

5. Attack one of the panelists about something either said on the panel or that you read in one of their books. You may disagree with them politely, but going on the rampage, no matter how much proof you have assembled, just makes you look like a nasty party guest.

6. Stalk panelists after the panel is over. It is fine if you happen to see a panelist, to make a comment about the panel besides merely saying that you liked it. But don't follow the panelist into the bathroom (YES, this has been done) harranging him/her. Don't assume that you are the panelists' new best friend. If the panelist does not appear interested in continuing the conversation, let it drop as any polite person would.

What to do when you are in the audience on a panel:

1. Listen carefully to what the panelists say. I think it is nice to take the "best possible interpretation" of their words rather than the worst possible. Listening is a skill that has to be developed. If you are bored as an audience member, it may be because the panelists are boring. It may also be because you are not doing enough work listening carefully.

2. Ask real questions. This is so important. I know that it takes a lot more effort to think of interesting questions than to comment on a question. I know this because I have been a moderator lots of times and I spend hours and hours beforehand thinking about questions to ask that would be interesting and entertaining. On the other hand, when I attend a panel, I do little preparation because I figure that's the moderator's job, not mine. So take your time to formulate questions. You may even write some down and then pick the best one.

3. Stop asking questions when the time is up. Along with this goes moving out of the seats so that the next panel can start on time. If you are involved in a scintillating conversation, please move it outside and keep it down so that the conversation inside the next hour is not interrupted.

4. Say thank you to the panelists if you see them. No matter how bad you thought the panel was, always thank them for their time and effort. Ask them how it was from their perspective, if you want to know if they hated it as much as you did. Be subtle.

5. As much as possible, enter and exit the panel on time. If you must sneak in, do so quietly. Do not move chairs to make a place for yourself. Hold the door so it doesn't slam. If you leave, make sure you don't make a fuss out of it, motioning to others to come with you.

6. Turn OFF your cell phone before you sit down. Think of a panel as a business meeting. We don't want to hear your favorite song and you should not be leaving in the middle when your phone goes off.

7. Feel free to Tweet tidbits of the panel to friends who could not come. You may text as well, so long as it is quiet and not disturbing.