gambitt wrote:I don't think anyone mentioned these.
Three times during your panel ask if anyone has any questions. You know, like, even before you say ANYTHING to START your panel, ask if anyone has any questions. Makes the audience think you care.
Got that one covered.
Also, prepare yourself for their questions. For example, "what programs do you use to make these videos?" Even if your video has the program information listed in a credits sequence, you're gonna get that question, garaunteed. Also, just for reference, if you use After Effects, flat out deny that you do, if possible. No one in that room's gonna know what the hell you're talking about with your "track mattes" and your "alpha channels."
Covered, and I only use MSPaint. Go me. XD
If you get questions you can't answer, refer them to Read <a href=http://www.a-m-v.org/guides/avtech31/>ErMaC & AbsoluteDestiny's Friendly AMV Guides</a>. ErMaC and AbsoluteDestiny already answered everything, even the meaning of life. Sadly, that guide IS the meaning of life to some people here, keep that in mind. Good opportunity to name drop.
How 'bout I refer them to
my guide, no? XD
No, I'm kidding. AD is like my best bud, of course he'll get name dropped.
If you don't make comedy videos, play someone else's. Or attempt to make something funny in two hours and tell your audience beforehand, "This is funny." Oh, and reference sex or drugs, or both. AMV Hell segments count, but make sure you explain, afterwards, why your video's only three seconds long
I'm known for my horrid sense of humor. I make "comedy" but nobody thinks it's funny but me. It's a sad world.
-takes out AD's DVD- Ah HA! Instant comedy relief!
Reference one of the following during your panel: Strongbad, Saturday Anime (on Scifi!), Adult Swim, Family Guy, World of Warcraft, the Sims, Megatokyo, l33t sp34k, or Christopher Walken. This serves multiple purposes.
I hate strongbad. Gar! Scifi has saturday anime?! WHY DID I NOT KNOW THIS?! I love AS. I love FG. WoW, I haven't played but I know it's awesome. Sims sucks. Megatokyo, I don't like. WOO 1337! I have no idea who that is...
Figure out who your audience is. If you see guys whipping out their GBAs, offer a couple rounds of Advance Wars while your videos are playing. If most of them have glowsticks, play a slow ballad and wave your cell phone in the air. They WILL join you. If most of them are wearing cat ears, then purr. JUST DO IT.
I've got that one covered, audience is allowed to yell out whatever they want, whenever they want. Including "Your vids SUCK! Play [AMV here]!"
Try to relate with your audience. Chances are, they think you've got more time on your hands than the cosplayers, but you made Vash dance to the "Tunak Tunak Tun" song, so you're cool.
Hell yes, I have TONS of free time. Sad thing is I do [bad] cosplay, too.
And the what song? 0o
Learn about charisma. If you're not charismatic, act anti-social and goth. Fangirls love mysterious guys.
I hope those fangirls are gay, because I don't have a penis...
Act like you've made fifty videos, even if you've only made four on your own. Experience pays off when it comes to convincing your audience that you are l33t enough to warrant their attention. If it's your first time running a panel, START NAME DROPPING.
I've made 60+ (sucky) videos. And there will be plenty of name dropping, regardless if it's good name dropping or not... (Nexmos... YSCTR...)
By the way, it's not elitism, it's called an "inside joke."
Alright! XD
If your video is encoded terribly, make it an example of what NOT to do. In fact, even if the video has a terrific concept, you spent three months on it and you achieved your earliest and most diehard fans from it, tell them you were drunk one night, it seemed like a great idea and after a night of rampant editing you woke up with a terrible hangover and a 50 meg divx file on your desktop.
Well, I'm underage. Let's say I was high. I hear that's the new trend, now! And it's be a 50mb wmv file. God, that has happened SO many times when I was "high"...
Leave your audience with a lasting impression of yourself. Unless you're repetoire is filled with loli h-game MADs. In that case, have girlfriend handy. Oh, and since you're at a con, it's totally acceptable to objectify her and put a leash on her. Extra points if she's a cat-girl.
... Can the leash be on ME? I like leashes... ^^;
Otherwise, since the audience is mostly college males, I can do some lesbian action! HOORAH!
Oh, wait, most importantly, have some form of alcohol up there with you... because one minute you're talking about a video, and the next you're ranting about how you woke up one morning with the word BALLS written on your forehead. No, I didn't rip that from Garden State. Yes I did, but it happens, and it's god damn funny.
I'm underage. How about a minikeg of rootbeer! That stuff's awesome. Never heard of Garden State. Man, I'm a loser. -_-;;
Yeah, lastly, thank everyone for going to your panel. Unless you're infamous for doing a striptease at your panels or giving out candy, or throwing stuffed hot dogs at unsuspecting attendees, they're there because the rave hasn't started yet and needed something to do. It's a miracle they didn't just bust out and rave through your DDR video.
Free shirts and AMV action. And, uh, I didn't have a DDR segment.
Screw that, yes I'll thank the audience. XD
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Sorry, I just found the way you worded your post really funny.
But on the serious note, thanks for that information. It was really helpful.