how to be a Nazi moderator

I have ambivalent feelings about being a Nazi moderator on panels. On the one hand, I think I am a good moderator. I hope that isn't my ego speaking, though it might be. But on the other hand, I don't particularly enjoy being the moderator because when I am moderating, I am constantly thinking about the time, about who still needs a chance to speak, about how I should change the questions to deal with the direction the panel seems to be going in (which is sometimes too interesting to let die). I worry a lot more when I am moderating about whether we're on track, whether I sound like an idiot, and who isn't working on the panel. When someone else is the moderator, they often do a wonderful job and they don't seem to be nervous at all (this may be wrong). I feel like the panel blissfully goes on and I have a good time without needing to control it. But I like to control things, so . . .

I have started simply announcing when I am moderating that I run a tight ship. I don't mind a (very) little wandering off the questions, but if I feel like one person is taking over, I will intervene, especially if it feels like that one person is just doing self-promotion. (Unless I think this is what the audience came for.) If you're telling everyone the plot of your latest novel for more than about one minutes, you're taking too long. If you're talking about the plot of almost any novel for more than a minute, you're taking too long. Mention the title and the author and a one sentence explanation of why it's important and move on. I do tend to write questions down before the panel, but they change as the panel goes along because the energy of every panel is different. I love/hate that. It's like improv comedy, I suppose.

I also like to make sure that the audience does not take over the panel. You've been there when that happens, right? Instead of asking questions, audience members decide that they actually are on the panel and say, "This isn't really a question, but I had a comment . . ." And off it goes. The thing is, most of the audience doesn't want to hear from other audience members. They are there to hear the panelists and are annoyed when they don't get to. So, I say from the beginning that I will stop the panelists talking with precisely 10 minutes left to ask questions. That usually means 3-5 questions, depending on what they are and who wants to answer them. I tend to leave that part up to the panelists. I also insist that the questions are repeated with the mike, so people can hear in the back.

Another thing I tend to do is try to avoid super controversial topics. I mean, there is a certain fun in seeing a knock-down drag-out fight between panelists. I suppose I like it as much as anyone, as long as I don't have to be on the panel. But if I have the sense that we're skirting close to a dangerous topic, I will move us right along to something else. On the romance panel this week at LTUE, I wonder how many people noticed the moment when I tried to veer away from a violent argument about whether or not the two romantic leads should hate each other at the beginning of a novel and whether the author's job is to keep them apart. I have strong feelings on this myself and I was more worried about what was going to happen if *I* had to delve into them than if anyone else did.

Generally, I think the quality of the panel depends less on the moderator than it does on the panelists. If the moderator has picked the panelists, then s/he can take credit for that, but that's not often true. Panelists who either know each other and respect each other or who simply have interests in common work better than those who are talking at something from a completely different angle. Honestly, if you are that different, you aren't even going to be on the same planet. So, best advice on being a good moderator is to get yourself on some good panels. Be polite. Be generous. Don't take over the panel yourself. Be even-handed in allowing time to others. Don't play favorites. Don't make faces. Think madly while you're in the midst of it, and be relieved when it's over.