Think in moderation
My next exercise in "event moderation" will be at the app-tly named Planet of the Apps which would surely call for some singerie from the so-called moderator.
While the role of panel moderator is fairly well documented and respected activity the "whole day moderator" at a conference tends to be seen as a mix between a water-boy and a linkedin profile reader.
Refusing to be either of them, I gave go at putting the job in the spotlight it deserves, by listing the duties of he moderator:
- Keep a straight line: Every event sometimes feels like a hazardous stumbling walk through presentations of various flavors, styles and topics. That's why the moderator helps connect the dots to give the event a sense of completeness and cohesion.
- Be a good companion: It's always annoying to see a good mate's best story wasted because the audience is left asleep by a lunch, scattered by a break, dreaming from a presentation or simply muted in the expectation of the closing beers. This is where the moderator jumps in to prepare the crowd for the speaker's good words, cracking a joke or a WIP to get the attention and focus.
- Don't let'em abuse the good stuff: A speaker enjoying the sound of his own voice a bit too much? That's where time the good samaritan steps in and gently takes the mike away to make sure the party goes on happily.
- Get'em out of the gutter: Every now and then a speakers hits a bad day... when the speech just does not seem to flow well, the tongue is a bit too heavy,. And that's when the good moderator comes in with questions that will make the whole presentation sound like a Steve Jobs keynote.
Now who would dare say that moderation is just monkey business?
If you want to see this exercise in moderation join me at Planet of the Apps ... it's free for developers (just contact Laurence) .
If you're more interested in the speakers you might enjoy seeing Raimo from Layar, Mark from Flirtomatic, Tyler from Blackberry, Gustav from Spotify, Romain from Tellmewhere and more...
If you want a chance to pitch or code for fame this will be followed by a Dragon's Den and a workshop ran by Intel and will surely all end in pizza and beer.
And for somewhat different exercise in moderation I will be in Amsterdam for SEE if you want to join!