> Even in a relatively small conference, I have a really hard time interrupting someone to ask a quick question, even when the speaker is expecting interruption

> Even in a relatively small conference, I have a really hard time interrupting someone to ask a quick question, even when the speaker is expecting interruptions. It's always "excuse me!"; delay as person continues speaking; I stop; the other person says "yes, please ask away"; when I restart my question the other person already assumed I've changed my mind and continues speaking; repeat ad infinitum. One way to solve this is to have the speaker name the person, and then wait until that person speaks. For example, if someone interrupts: Speaker: [Talks] Person A: Excuse me! Speaker: Yes, Mr. A? [waits] Person A: What about X? Or if there are two people talking at the same time Speaker: [Talks] Person A and B: Excuse me! Speaker: Yes, Mr. A? Mr. B, I'll come back to you after A. [waits] Person A: What about X? Speaker: [Talk about X]. Mr B, you were saying? Person B: What about Y? Treat it as a synchronization problem, with the speaker breaking the ties. As long as it's obvious to everyone whose turn it is to speak, it works well (assuming people aren't too rowdy/impolite).