arisia | Panel Problems (Reply)

Let's talk about panels. Specifically, problems with panels. I know that there was a panel ABOUT bad panels (I think I may have been the one to suggest it), but I wasn't able to make that one due to a conflict.

But I'm probably not the only one to notice that some, even many panels...well...there's no way to say it nicely...suck. For various reasons. And please note, I've been a panelist at Arisia for practically forever.

Among the problems I've seen:

1. The monologing panelist. There are three, four, even five or six people on the panel, but this panelist insists on doing 90% of the speaking. Nothing must get between this person's ears and the precious, precious sound of their own voice.

2. The bored panelist. S/he's not interested in the topic, but feels free to talk about some other subject that s/he IS interested in. Too bad for audience members who expected the panel to actually cover the listed topic.

3. The audience member who won't shut up. We've all seen this one, and it's painful.

Yeep, look at the time! I'll come back to this in comments. Please add your own ideas.