In the meantime, you can check out our on-demand product demo and get started for free by clicking on the button below.
Discover everything you need to know about creating a successful panel discussion including how to choose the best format, topics, guests, and host.
Published on May 3, 2022 • About 8 min. read
Careful planning is the key to creating and implementing any successful event, so what should you be aware of when putting together a panel discussion?
Here we talk about what a panel discussion is, the different formats, types of discussion, and when to use them. And we also take you through the steps you’ll need to take to deliver a discussion that will resonate with your target audience.
A panel discussion is a format that’s common for television shows and conferences, where a small number of guests (the panel) explore topics to share insights, express, and challenge opinions in front of an audience. There is usually a moderator, who helps guide the discussion, and members of the audience are often invited to ask the panel questions.
There are lots of terms used to describe panel discussions, many with a slightly different meaning or focus. Let’s look at some of them here:
What’s the difference between a panel discussion and a roundtable?
A roundtable is an informal and intimate format where the audience can be involved throughout the discussion.
What’s the difference between a panel discussion and a symposium?
A symposium is normally formal and academic and brings together subject matter experts. Experts make their own presentations, so there is less interaction between guests and the audience than there is during a panel discussion.
What is the difference between a panel discussion and an open forum?
An open forum is designed to incorporate as much audience participation as possible, traditionally with seating arranged to encourage lots of expert-audience interaction.
What is the difference between a panel discussion and a seminar?
A seminar is a way of presenting a topic for educational purposes. Traditionally held in an auditorium, there will be a small number of speakers or professors, with questions taken from the attendees at the end.
There are three basic types of panel discussion:
If you’re stuck for ideas for suitable panel discussion topics, take a look at these suggestions for some inspiration:
Panel discussions can come in various formats, so pick that one suits your purposes best. Here’s a round-up of some of the most popular, all of which work well for real-life, virtual, and hybrid events.
Traditional mainstage panel discussions are your classic auditorium or theater events where the guest panel is mic’d up and on stage, normally for a paying audience. The nature of discussion can be educational, humorous, hard-hitting, or any combination of those, but ultimately it has to be informative and entertaining.
A mainstage discussion is normally hosted by an experienced interviewer or moderator (this could be the host of a podcast or radio show), and the panel might be made up of experts and celebrities. There’s usually an opportunity for audience members to direct questions to the entire panel or individuals.
For successful virtual mainstage panel discussions, you need a video conferencing platform like Livestorm that can take care of everything from event creation and promotion, to controlled and engaging in-event communication, to post-event analytics and marketing.
With a Q&A format there’s usually an introductory discussion between panelists, followed by a series of questions posed by the moderator, and then further questions from the audience, which may or may not be vetted pre-event.
Q&A panel discussions translate especially well to virtual platforms with Q&A engagement features, which allow for live polls and question upvotes.
Debates work best when the discussion revolves around divisive subject matter – think climate change, politics, or open-plan offices.
Traditionally, debates start with each guest speaking their point of view before challenging each other with questions designed to expose holes in the other’s argument, followed by further questions from the moderator and audience. Finally, each guest makes a round-up speech before the audience votes for the winner.
For virtual debates, utilize live polls – not just to engage your audience, but also to understand their points of view, and even get feedback on your event.
A talk show panel is based on a TV talk show setup, with two or three guests sat together to talk informally on the questions and topics the host gives them.
The key to a successful talk show panel discussion is chemistry between guests and host – and a host who’s charismatic with experience in leading a thoughtful, entertaining conversation for an audience.
Somewhere between a talk show and Q&A, the fireside chat brings together a small group of guests for an informal interview. To emphasize that level of informality, guests could be sat together on a couch. Or, for virtual fireside chats, participants might be encouraged to be in their living room or even in a cafe.
Here, the focus is on creating a sense of intimacy to help bring about a candid conversation with lots of personal experience and insight. As such, fireside chats are a great format for less polemic topics, and instead ones that relate to self-improvement or stories of triumph in the face of adversity.
There’s no single way to have a successful panel discussion, but there are some key principles that are just about always practical to have in place.
Here are six key recommendations you should consider when running your first panel discussion:
The best way to approach choosing your topic is to first think about your audience. Who would you like to be watching your panel discussion? Who would you like to attract and why?
So, if your target audience is within a specific industry – let’s say tech hardware – brainstorm topics that could be of interest to that group. But ideally, don’t do it alone – invite a small collection of people from within that target audience, who will give you unique insights into what catches their attention most.
A fantastic host can make or break your event, so where possible, choose someone who not only has experience moderating panel discussions (or similar types of events), but also someone who has some connection with your chosen topics and target audience.
A skillful, knowledgeable moderator will bring out the best in your panelists, understand how to engage and include the audience in the discussion, and also make their own original contributions to the talk.
The best panels are made up of diverse groups who not only have expertise and authority but also charm, wit, and charisma.
Three to five guests is normally the perfect number, so everyone has the chance to make a meaningful contribution without the conversation ever drying up. If possible, avoid dominant characters who might drown out other guests, and invite people who have some experience speaking in front of audiences.
Even an experienced host with knowledge of the subject matter will benefit from meeting with an expert in the field who can guide them through the topics of discussion.
So try to organize a meeting – maybe for a couple of hours over lunch – where your moderator can ask an expert some key questions and gain an understanding of some of the nuances surrounding the areas of debate.
And once you’ve helped establish that relationship, your moderator will have someone to reach out to should they need any further support in the days leading up to the event.
As we’ve said, chemistry is just as important as subject matter expertise, so if possible, bring your guests and moderator together pre-event, where they can get to know each other and build up a rapport. This can have a huge impact on how well your guests are able to interact and support each other in-event.
Of course, bringing together a group of strangers can be difficult to organize, so use a video engagement platform that’s designed for fun virtual interaction, with special engagement features, like emoji reactions, chat panels, and breakout rooms.
Get this right and you’ll create a great atmosphere for an engaging panel discussion.
The final consideration is the best format for your topics, guests, and target audience. Here are some key factors that should come into play when deciding which format to choose:
A panel discussion is a fantastic opportunity to bring together experts, thought leaders, and enthusiastic audiences – but a successful discussion requires careful planning.
To get the most out of your event, start by identifying your target audience and build your event around what’s realistic in terms of organization and what will resonate most. Once you’ve narrowed down the topics of discussion, choose an experienced moderator and settle on a format that will engage participants.
The moderator plays a crucial role in a panel discussion by guiding the conversation, keeping it relevant to the audience, and involving the audience where appropriate.
A panel discussion script outlines the structure of the occasion, including details like how to organize seating, how and when to introduce the guests, what topics and questions to begin with, and at what points and how to involve the audience.
Panel discussion gives experts and thought leaders the opportunity to express their opinions, challenge each other, and explore topics of discussion that provide value, insight, and entertainment for the watching audience.
You should prepare for a panel discussion by following these steps:
Teachers can recreate a talk show, debate, or mainstage panel discussion in the classroom by giving students a topic to investigate, opinions they have to support, and a highly structured format around which the conversation can take place.
Get started with Livestorm for free
Create a better experience for your attendees and less stress for your team.
Need a Livestorm demo?
Leave your information to schedule a demo with a product expert. We will run you through the features and answer your questions.
Need a Livestorm demo?
Need a Livestorm demo?
Leave your information to schedule a demo with a product expert. We will run you through the features and answer your questions.
"We were looking for a simple webinar software that was not over-engineered. If you do a side-by-side feature comparison, Livestorm competes very well with the other webinar players."
A Webinar Solution used by the best US companies for their business
Thanks, we'll be in touch soon!
In the meantime, you can check out our on-demand product demo and get started for free by clicking on the button below.
Try Livestorm for free
Try Livestorm for free
You’re just minutes away from building engaging online events. Sign up for free in no time. Create a better experience for your attendees and less stress for your team.
"We were looking for a simple webinar software that was not over-engineered. If you do a side-by-side feature comparison, Livestorm competes very well with the other webinar players."
A Webinar Solution used by the best US companies for their business