The last time I was asked to be on a panel at a conference, I agreed, with one stipulation. I asked if I could leave the panel midway and exchange seats with an audience member who would resume the panel discussion for me. So, I asked 5 audience members, ahead of time, to play along. After my replacement answered a question on the panel, she switched places with another audience member, and so on. It’s all about spreading out the expertise and leveling the dais.