Checklist for setting up a Skype author visit with students

1. Participants/
Audience
Budget
Brainstorm
Books/Authors
Style of
Presentation
Technology
Needs
Contact Info. from
Websites, Face-
book, Twitter, etc.
Does Author Have
a Skype Procedure
Other Information
Available: Pub-
lishers, Book
Sleeves, etc.
Some Online Re-
sources Available
to Save You
Time: Google
“Authors Who
Skype”
Create a Tem-
plate for Contact
Start Sending
Emails
Expect Around
50% Positive
Response—Give
Yourself Options
Some are Fast,
Some are Slow-
Always be Gra-
cious
Know What to
Say Beforehand-
Don’t Leave the
Author Waiting
for You-Be the
Better Communi-
cator
Questions:
-When are you
Available?
-Skype Before?
-Honorarium?
-How Long?
-Do you Have a
Preference for
What You Will
Present?
-What is Your
Skype Name?
Kids:
-Read! Discuss!
-Write Questions
-Author Study
Campus:
-Location
-Calendar
-Sub.
-Financial
Technical:
-Skype Account
-Computer/Video/
Audio/Projector
-Test Connection!
About a Week
Prior
Ask if They
Want a Skype
Test Run (a Few
Days Early or the
Morning of)
Ask if They
Want Questions
Beforehand
Consider Men-
tioning that Stu-
dents Like to See
Physical Items
Setup Room and
Equipment
Organize Ques-
tions
Prepare Kids in
Question Order/
Etiquette
Use Skype’s
Chat Feature to
Converse with
Author Before
you Start
Once Call is
Made, You Are
Moderator: Intro-
duce Then Back-
off to Help Stu-
dents
Someone Should
Always Be Talk-
ing Directly to
the Camera
Have Some Extra
Questions to Fall
Back On
Send a Thank
You Email as
Soon as Possible
Include Some
Positive Feed-
back From Kids
Make Sure That
You Ask Them if
They Have Re-
ceived Money—
Follow Up if Not
Keep the Door
Open for a Later
Skype if it Went
Well