Choose a topic specific enough to draw a receptive audience and to meet your needs as a presenter. A narrowly focused topic enables you to present multiple points of view within a concern and to advance the debate, which, in turn, attracts a more devoted audience to your programs.
Select a venue that offers comfortable accommodations for your panelists and audience members and proper sound equipment. Bookstores, libraries, hotel conference rooms, galleries, theaters and classrooms may be suitable. If your group cannot afford to rent a space, search for free space, or collaborate with a related group to share space--not to mention mail and media contacts.
Ask advice of others in the field about possible panelists who would express themselves well and offer interesting perspectives, and then choose three to five panelists who can be anecdotal in the time allotted to them and will express differing viewpoints on aspects of the chosen topic.
Market, promote and publicize your event through print and broadcast media, electronic and print mailings, social networking sites, and web content to achieve the twin goals of furthering discussion and pleasing the public.
Establish time limits for speaking, provide microphones and glasses of water, and repeat questions from unmiked audience members to enhance everyone's participation. Arrange microphones on stands at the table for clarity if they're available.
Keep the conversation flowing. Select a variety of people from the audience, but limit the number of questions each may ask. Rephrase long-winded questions, pose a few targeted queries to quieter panelists and gently interrupt audience or panelist monologues to coax questions if necessary.
Compensate your panelists with monetary payment, food and beverages, or the opportunity to promote and to sell their books, services or other events.