Set an Energetic Stage
A stage set for a panel with a six-foot-long table and three chairs is boring and basic. Arnold suggests looking to popular culture for more inspired sets. A panel at one meeting she attended was a riff on James Lipton’s popular Bravo show, “Inside the Actors Studio.” The moderator mimicked Lipton’s style, including his moustache. A take on Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show enlivened a panel at a sales meeting.
Seating is also critical. Soft, cushy chairs seem like a nice gesture for panelists but can make them look slumpy and sloppy. Arnold prefers director’s chairs, bar stools and other tall, firm seating. “They might be uncomfortable, but I like for my panelists to be a little uncomfortable,” she said.
For more information about Arnold, visit her website at www.extraordinaryteam.com.
Click here for her Powerful Panels Planning Worksheet and a link to her Powerful Panels report.
Vickie Mitchell is the former editor of Small Market Meetings. If you have ideas for future columns, contact her at vickie@smallmarketmeetings.com.
