Scott Kirsner: Events / Additional Info

nergy. Insight. Humor. Spontaneity.

As a long-time journalist, I've been to enough conferences, trade shows, panel discussions, and off-sites to know that those elements aren't always present. Event organizers spend months bringing the audience together, lining up the speakers, and taking care of a million venue details. My goal is to bring the program and the content to life, and get the audience to really connect with what's happening onstage.

Moderating at the Digimart digital cinema conference in Montreal, October 2006.
I often work with event organizers to:

discuss session formats that will keep the audience engaged and learning

write intros and transitions to keep things moving smoothly

host the event from start-to-finish, moderate panels, conduct "fireside chat"-style one-on-one interviews, or deliver a presentation.

Feel free to contact me by e-mail or phone. I'll gladly provide references, audio, or video on request. Here's a list of upcoming and recent events I'm involved with; I also have compiled a list of my thoughts on assembling and running successful panel discussions (complete with photos). I also collected some of my advice on panels in this Harvard Business Review piece.

Some endorsements of my moderating, speaking, and hosting work:

"I cannot count the number of comments made to me about how enjoyable people found your keynote. Thank you so much!" - Joel Welch, Director of Professional Development, SMPTE

"Scott's ability to interview significant business leaders and innovators in a friendly, charismatic, and cerebral way helped shape our event tremendously. He has an uncanny way of directing the flow of a conversation while providing a compelling and fun event for audience members. I recommend Scott wholeheartedly." - Andrew Collins, Producer, MITX Fireside Chat series

"What a great lunch speaker! Entertaining and challenging." - Participant, Making Media Now 2008

Moderating at the Nantucket Conference in May 2005. To my right is Bill Raduchel, former CTO of AOL Time Warner. In my hand is the Sputmik, a "tossable" microphone from MIT and Design Continuum. Photo courtesy of Dan Bricklin.
"Scott has been an invited speaker and an always-fantastic moderator at several technology-focused events I've organized at MIT over the past six years. Whenever I'm putting together panel discussions for conferences at MIT or private executive briefings for companies I work with, I reach out first to him. I know that the session will be lively, interesting and informative if he's running the show. I trust him to facilitate thoughtful and provocative discussions on any topic." - Neena Buck, MIT Industrial Liaison Program

"Thank you so much for hosting the Fast Company/CEA Executive Forum at the Consumer Electronics Show. You were a lively, dynamic and engaging host who not only kept the audience entertained but informed with your unlimited knowledge of the technology issues addressed at the day-long program. We simply couldn't have done it without you! Thanks again for helping to make our program a huge success." - Gina Imperato, Director of Programming, Fast Company and Inc. magazines

"As part of Constant Contact's innovation speaker series, Scott gave a unique and compelling talk on the role of innovation in Hollywood. Speaking to a packed house, Scott was engaging, funny, and dynamic, while pushing our audience to think differently about the role of innovation in the workplace. Any company looking for a thoughtful and different perspective on innovation would be well-served to invite Scott to speak." - Reed Bundy, Manager, Constant Contact

"You did an amazing job and I look forward to working together in the future." - Jarod Neece, Production Manager, SXSW Festivals & Conference

"Thank you for speaking at our Annual Meeting. Your presentation on the New England Innovation Economy was funny, engaging, and very informative. You were well received, as evidenced by the many positive comments we received from members since the event." - Roy Nascimento, CEO, New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce

"The feedback has been great, and I know the partners enjoyed the intellectual and entertaining substance of your presentation." - Richard Scullin, Village Ventures

"Every time I have seen you in action, from Convergence to the NEHI dinner, I have been extremely impressed with your thoughtful and personal approach. Conducting an interview is clearly an art form you have mastered." - Wendy Everett, President, New England Healthcare Institute

"By all accounts, your skill as a moderator was the key to the success of the event. With your knowledge of technology, your sense of humor, and your ability to draw out the best in our panel (even Sir Arthur [C. Clarke]), you helped keep our audience on the edge of their seats for two and a half hours (no small achievement in this age of sound bites)." - Edward Alton Parish, President, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

"Would have liked to have heard even more from this speaker." - Participant, Making Media Now 2008

"We have received very positive comments about you and the program." - Paul Guzzi, President & CEO, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

"Your presentation was by far the highlight of the evening." - Laila Michaud, Assistant Director, Montachusett Regional Planning Commission

"From those in attendance, it was clearly one of the best sessions at the show." - John David, EVP / Radio, National Association of Broadcasters

"Scott is an engaging and effective moderator, who always keeps his audience in mind and uses the right touch of humour to bring lightness to the conversation when needed. Scott's extensive experience in the industry and his capability to shed thoughful insight on complex issues, coupled with his unsatiable curiousity about new and emerging trends makes him a dynamic and ideal moderator at international film and television events. It is a huge pleasure and privilege to work with Scott!" - Sheila de la Varende, Digimart: The International Digital Cinema Market

A sample of the folks with whom I've conducted on-stage interviews and moderated panels:

John Abele

James Ackerman

Jeff Anderson

Colin Angle

Dean Barrett

Charlotte Beers

Rodney Brooks

Jim Buckmaster

Carter Cast

Clayton Christensen

Sir Arthur C. Clarke