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[clark]

I am going to chair a panel at a conference for the first time, and I am delivering a paper on the panel.  The schedule has come out and the organizers have listed my paper first.  I just assumed that it is good etiquette (certainly less egotistical) for the panel chair to present last.  Am I correct about this?   

[larryc]

I would move your paper to the final position just to give yourself another incentive to shut down the blabbermouths who might go over their time! Yes, do it.

[johnr]

Sometimes the panel chair goes first because his or her talk serves as an introduction to the entire session; it sets that stage in other words.  Regardless, if the schedule has already been announced, and the program is printed, I wouldn't change it now.

[tee_bee]

As to other etiquette questions--be scrupulous in keeping speakers to time, esp. yourself (!). Ask another panelist or an audience member to give you the same time cues you give the other speakers.

[systeme_d_]

The custom Lizzy mentions is also the norm in my field.

If this were in my discipline, as chair, I would still present first, in order not to throw off the "panel wanderers" who plan their schedules around the order of papers.  I'd mention this in my (very brief!) introductory remarks.

[oldchair]

As others have noted, as chair your most important duty is to enforce time limitations.  It's also helpful to provide brief introductions for each speaker.  I always ask the panelists if the paper is part of a larger project.  If it is, I lt the audience know.  This often helps focus the discussion in useful ways.  If you want to be a really prepared chair, come up with a few slow-pitch questions for your panelists, just in case there are no questions from the audience.

[larryc]

Lizzy makes a good point about the importance of the order in the program. I guess you should stick with what is listed. And Oldchair's tips are excellent.

[fiona]

Stick with the order in the program. People do come and go for specific papers, and sometimes become outraged (yes) when they miss the one that they were interested in.

The Fiona

[compdoc]

Yes, go first. Even if this isn't one of those conferences where people wander from session to session.

And hold the questions till after everyone has spoken.

Good luck!

[temporaryname]

Yes, go first. Even if this isn't one of those conferences where people wander from session to session.

And hold the questions till after everyone has spoken.

I've been away from this thread for a few days, so this is coming in late, but in response to the suggestions I quoted:

No!

No, no, no!

This is a discipline-specific thing (as, I suspect, everything about conference etiquette except perhaps time limits is).

It may be best to do what CompDoc suggests, but in my field this would get you talked about for--quite seriously--years, and not in a good way.

Find people who know your conference's discipline and ask them. You're more likely to be led astray on the fora on questions like this than you are to get solid advice, I fear.

[compdoc]

I am in an MLA field, so if you are not, perhaps my answers do not apply.

However, I was the third on a panel to speak. We were supposed to be given 20 minutes. The chair let the questions come as the papers did. I ended up with less than 5 minutes until the panel was scheduled to end. Thankfully I knew the data backwards and forwards and was able to summarize what I had to say. But all I had was 5 minutes. After that most people stayed to ask questions, but I would not have been able to give my 20 minute paper and have questions. Even giving my 20 minute presentation would have taken over the next panel's time.

So, if you are in an MLA field, hold the questions until after the talk.

I will say that some of the MLA conferences do have floaters and (after rethinking it) you should probably go in the order on the page.

[august_leo]

If I knew you were in my field, I would tell you:

1. Practice your talk so you are definately within the time limit. Try using "presenter tools" in powerpoint if you can.
2. Go first. Add 1-1.5 minutes to introduce the whole symposium/panel before you start. I like to explain the format e.g., "each talk will be about 15 minutes, with 5 minutes for questions while the next speaker sets up. Then, we will have a 20 minute discussion and more questions at the end."
3. time people, have someone time you (like above)
4. let people ask questions after each talk. When the first presenter is answering the first question, motion to the second speaker to go "up there" and start getting his/her powerpoint ready. Listen to the questions, if you can't hear, tell the person to "speak up" because the presenter can't hear either. If the first question/answer is more than 3.5 minutes say "we'll have time for more questions later." If less, let 1 more question be asked. If you need to, be prepared to say "we need to continue this discussion later so [next presenter] can speak." It might feel like you are a "meany" but most of the audience will love you.

That's my field, at least.