If the microphone falls during my presentation, I would stay calm and acknowledge the situation with a light, good-natured comment to ease any tension, like “Looks like the mic wanted more attention than I did!” Then, I’d quickly and smoothly reposition the mic, or if it’s not fixable, raise my voice to ensure the audience can hear me. I’d use the moment as an opportunity to show adaptability and composure under pressure. Staying focused on the content and keeping the audience engaged is key, so I’d continue seamlessly, treating the mishap as a minor distraction rather than letting it disrupt the presentation flow.

If the room is small, this is no biggie. In fact, I've always tried to work without amplification in smaller rooms, in part as good vocal practice, and also as it creates greater intimacy with the audience. If the room is too big to work unamplified, this is a problem – but not an impossible one. The one time it happened to me, and it became apparent that no quick fix was coming, I simply got off stage. Not so that I ended my talk, I hopped into the audience, which thankfully had an aisle I could walk down. With my strongest voice I urged people to quiet down, and then talked from the middle of the audience, ensuring that as many as possible could still hear. I actually became a really popular talk – the audience felt more involved!

If the mic fails stay calm. Don't let it throw you off and do not panic. Acknowledge the issue and if you are good with humour you could crack a joke which the audience will relate with about the mic failing. The aim is to reassure the audience. You could move to the front of the stage and throw your natural voice so as to reach more people. In addition if the room allows and does not have a raised stage you could move to the center of the room so that the audience is closer to you. Engage with the audience through confident body language and incorporate personal storytelling if you feel its appropriate.

Don’t underestimate the power of microphones. Hearing disabilities are not something you can see and they need a good sound quality. Get the audience to discuss something in beehives while you handle the issue with the AV guys.

First, remain calm and let the technician work on the issue while you continue without interruption. Take this chance to move closer to the audience by walking between the rows. This physical proximity fosters a stronger connection and keeps the audience engaged. Next, shift the focus of your presentation slightly. Use this time to share relevant stories, real-time examples, or walk them through key insights using flow charts or visuals. These tools help reinforce your points while keeping the audience interested, even without the microphone. It’s important to maintain a conversational tone and encourage questions or interactions if possible. This approach allows you to turn a technical disruption into a moment of connection.