Panels are supposed to be of the fans, by the fans, and for the fans!

What is a panel?

A panel is a discussion of a certain topic between 2-5 people with an audience. This topic could be anything from the works of Joss Whedon to the economic systems in a fantasy setting.

What is a panelist?

A panelist is someone on a panel. The important thing is an interest in the topic and opinions and information you would like to impart about the topic. You do not have to be an expert. You do not have to be the best public speaker, but there will be some talking in front of people (I hope) involved.

What is a moderator?

One of the panelists is designated a moderator. This could be the person who has the most information, the originator of the idea for the panel, or just someone good at asking the right questions. The moderator is the person most responsible for keeping the panel from getting bogged down with sidetracks (though not the only one), encouraging involvement from other panelists and audience members. It is also very encouraged for moderators to keep track of the time so the panel does not go over its allotted time slot.

Odyssey Con has a wonderful tradition of having a wide variety of panel topics spanning media, gaming, literature, society and science with a blend of fans and professionals. The number of panel slots is limited so we have to chose panels that we think would be popular, fun, and appropriate for our con goers and Guests of Honor.