[[!meta title="Conference-day instructions for speakers"]]
[[!meta copyright="Copyright © 2021 Sacha Chua"]]

# How to check in

Please check in at least 30 minutes before the start of your Q&A
session. You can check in on IRC by joining the #emacsconf-org channel
on libera.chat using your favorite IRC client or using
[https://chat.emacsconf.org](https://chat.emacsconf.org/?join=emacsconf-org).
If you want, you can also join the channel for your track as well
(either #emacsconf-gen or #emacsconf-dev). Say something like "Hi,
this is <your name> checking in" in the \#emacsconf-org channel
and one of the organizers will check you in. If you are having a hard
time with IRC, e-mail <emacsconf-submit@gnu.org> and we can give you
the URL of a BigBlueButton room to join.

# The process

- If you want to do Q&A over IRC or Etherpad:
  - You can hang out in the IRC channel for your track and/or on the
    pad for your talk.
- If you want to do Q&A over Mumble:
  - You can connect to mumble.emacsconf.org.
- If you want to do Q&A in a BigBlueButton room (ex: quick demoes):
  - We'll set you up in a BigBlueButton room (check your e-mail for
    the URL, or ask in #emacsconf-org). You can keep watching the
    conference or doing other things while waiting there. We'll let
    you know shortly before your prerec ends. If you want, you can get
    things ready for whatever you might want to demonstrate.
  - Please use headphones or earphones to minimize the risk of audio
    feedback. Webcams are optional.
- While your prerec plays: people will add notes and questions on the
  pad, or they'll ask them on IRC. Volunteers will try to copy all the
  questions to the pad. If you're looking at the Etherpad or IRC, you
  can start answering whenever you like.
- General notes about answering questions:
  - You can answer questions in any order, and you can skip any questions you like.
  - You don't have to answer questions right away. If you want to take
    some time to think about things, that's okay.
  - If you're answering questions by voice and the host is not reading
    the questions out for you, please read the question out before you
    answer it. This makes it easier to follow the conversation and to
    copy the answers to the talk page afterwards.
- After your prerec finishes:
  - If you're doing IRC/Etherpad: we'll let people know where to ask
    questions and we can read out some of the questions and answers
    that are there.
  - If you're on Mumble: we'll pull you into the channel room and the
    streamer will connect to it. When we confirm that you can be
    heard, you and the host can go ahead with the Q&A.
  - If you're doing Q&A in a BBB room:
    - We'll switch the stream to broadcast from the BBB room you're
      in, and we'll start recording the session so that Q&A can be
      available after the conference.
    - Depending on your preferences, the host can read questions to
      you, or you can read questions off the pad/IRC yourself.
    - We'll open up the Q&A for other people to join if there's time
      for a longer discussion. If so, this conversation can continue
      for as long as you like. If it's time for the next talk to
      start, we'll give you a heads-up and your Q&A can continue off
      the stream in the same BBB room. When you are ready to stop
      answering questions, you can wrap up however you'd like and
      leave the meeting.
- After the conference, we'll collect questions and answers from IRC
  and the pad. We'll put them on the talk page and e-mail them to you
  in case you want to follow up or keep the conversation going. We'll
  also work on extracting the videos from the Q&A sessions and we'll
  post them on the talk page.

# Tips and backup plans

- Doing a tech check can help if you want to do live Q&A.
  https://test.bigbluebutton.org has a self-serve tech check.
- Please let us know if you're running late or if it turns out you
  can't make it. Drop by #emacsconf-org, e-mail us at
  <emacsconf-submit@gnu.org> , or use the emergency contact
  information from the check-in instructions email.