Session Emcee Instructions
Session Emcee Quick Reference
Print this page for use during the conference.
Before Your Session (15 mins early)
- Be in talk room 15 minutes early
- Have schedule and time cards (15/10/5/STOP)
- Meet your speaker - ask about:
- Pronouns and bio details
- Q&A preference (yes/no/how long)
- Photo restrictions
- Remove lanyard before talk
During the Talk
- Track time: 25 or 45-minute talks (not the full scheduled time)
- Flash time cards at 15, 10, 5 minutes remaining
- Pay attention and prepare 1-2 questions for Q&A
After the Talk
- Start applause if silence hangs too long
- If Q&A: Stand up and ask first question (unless someone else is already heading to mic)
- Give the speaker their gift
Talk Lengths
| Scheduled Time | Speaking Time | Q&A Time |
|---|---|---|
| 30 minutes | 25 minutes | 5 minutes |
| 50 minutes | 45 minutes | 5 minutes |
Key Reminders
- AV Team: Check mic positioning before starting
- Cancellations: Reassure speaker it's okay, notify conference staff immediately
- Code of Conduct: Contact staff for violations - minor issues after talk, major issues stop immediately
Emergency Contact
DEFNA Board Member: [Update phone number each year]
Q&A Management Scripts
| Situation | Script |
|---|---|
| Too many questions | "Please ask only one question at a time" |
| Comments not questions | "We're looking for questions only. Save comments for later" |
| Time management | "In the interest of time, I need to move to the next person" |
Q&A Introduction Script
"Thank you [speaker]! We've got a few minutes for questions now, so come to the microphone if you've got one. I would ask that you use this time only for questions directed at the speaker; please save your comments for after the recorded portion of the talk."
"Before we open up Q&A, we want to remind the audience to keep your questions short, on-topic, and respectful."