A Chat Show, also known as a Talk Show, is a useful tool for sharing knowledge from experts or influential persons, all of whom join the meeting or workshop as guests. It works in a similar way to a television talk show, with a host who interviews one or more guests, focusing on a pre-selected theme. It is a dynamic and creative alternative to panel discussions. Its appeal is its informal approach which puts guests at ease while at the same time engaging the audience.
WHEN TO USE IT AND WHY
The Chat Show is a great tool when there is the need to introduce new ideas and concepts that face resistance. It is also useful to introduce new people in a more relaxed way. The role of the host is very important. The main results of a successful Chat Show are learning and inspiration among all participants, as a basis for future improvement - especially when guests have shared lessons learned or experiences that can be re-used. Ideas presented during a Chat Show can form the basis for follow-up discussions later in a workshop.
HOW TO?
- Choose a theme or topic and select 3 – 5 guests to be interviewed during the Chat Show. If your goal is to introduce new people, then you already know the proposed guests. Define a theme/topic in a few words, tailored to their expertise and role;
- Identify a host, skilled in the art of the question, engaging the audience;
- Contact your proposed guests to brief them on the process: Let them know that there will be no PowerPoint presentations or formal speeches, and that instead, they will be interviewed in front of an audience;
- Once the host and guests are chosen, invite them to a pre-meeting session to prepare for a successful Chat Show event: discuss at least some of the Chat Show questions, so that the guests have an idea of what to expect. Ensure that guests know their answers should be reasonably short and to the point;
- Set up the room: An ideal venue has theatre or auditorium style seating, with a stage in the front and the audience in a semi-circle facing it.
Instructions for the host:
- Welcome the audience and give a 2 – 3 minute introduction of the guests touching on their relevant expertise;
- Keep an eye on time. Depending on the chat show timing, i.e., 60 minutes or 90 minutes, allocate 10 – 15 minutes or 20 -30 minutes, respectively, for a concluding Q&A with the audience;
- Provide a quick overview of the topic, then begin with questions for your guests mostly open-ended, some prepared in advance, others spontaneous and arising from the conversation;
- The rapporteur captures pertinent points as they arise in conversation. This can be done in various ways: as keywords on a flipchart, as a mindmap displayed to the audience on paper or via a projector, or as words typed on a PowerPoint slide. Just make sure that the rapporteur’s activity does not distract from the Chat Show.
WHAT DO YOU NEED?
- A host (or a facilitator; outgoing, engaging personality who is good at getting people to talk and thinking on their feet)
- 3 - 5 guests (subject-matter experts, leaders, people with knowledge to share)
- Rapporteur
- Room (ideally with theatre-style seating)
- Microphones (lapel and wireless)
- Flipchart and marker pens (Optional: projector, for capturing key points on PowerPoint slide)
- 20 - 50 people (larger audiences possible too)
- Time: at least 60 minutes
MORE INFORMATION / SOURCE
- UNICEF, 2019. Knowledge Exchange Toolbox. A collection of tools "for anyone who needs to make effective decisions, facilitate or guide effective decision-making processes, or manage or coordinate group work in development that requires the knowledge of multiple persons to succeed."