Speakers Make the Most of Unexpected Platform Disasters

The great UCLA basketball coach, John Wooden, made an observation more speakers ought to take seriously: “Things turn out the best for those who make the best of the way things turn out.” You craft your presentations, fine tune your PowerPoint slides, and recheck your staging and lighting, but as a professional speaker are you ready to turn any unexpected speaker nightmares you might face on the platform into another opportunity to show your professionalism?

When I started the opening keynote for the NSA’s 1990 Winter Workshop in Tampa, I had no idea of the challenge that I would soon face. I had hoped to help kill the myth of perfection that blocks so many speakers from launching their fledgling careers and experienced pros from trying something new. I had no idea that I would have the opportunity to kill that myth over and over again before their very eyes. I had been prepared for a peak presentation. My introduction had the audience warmed to a mirthful frenzy. When I took the platform, everything was right with my world.

Then, ten minutes into my presentation, those ominous, microphone goblins that have plagued all professional speakers at some time in their career decided to have a convention of their own at my expense. As 400 of my esteemed NSA peers watched in disbelief, the microphone whined, sang, popped, and then stopped altogether in a seemingly never ending string of mishaps. My mind frantically searched internal databases grabbing for past cover-up lines I had used or learned from other professional speakers. I looked at the microphone and confided to the audience: “That’s quite a sound. It must be microphone mating season.”

The inside struggle to keep my composure and my confidence was equally difficult. I kept clinging to the comforting belief that audiences want you to succeed. If given the chance, they will rally to support your humanness and applaud your success in the face of adversity. With an audience of speakers, I knew there was an added appreciation. They were each saying to themselves: “That could be me! Heaven help him. If he succeeds, so can I!”

As four microphones in a row failed, I kept coming up with new lines. Staring first at the microphone, I projected to the ends of the ballroom, “How many of you in the back of the room read lips?” Encouraged by the audience’s warm response and the frantic work of the staff, I kept saying to myself, “Don't fight it; use it. You can make a hit with a miss!”

With time, the microphone problems were fixed and my program continued to conclusion with no further disasters. In the hours and days that followed, however, I received notes and comments that started with a soon familiar refrain, “Terry, I loved your presentation, but the way you handled....” It was a message of support that reinforced a timeless truth—your actions always speak louder than your words.

Later, many wondered if the problems had been staged to make my point. It wasn't staged, but my “seemingly” spontaneous comments were prepared. After all, professional speakers should be prepared for the unexpected. To help you handle your own platform nightmares, here are some lines you can use. Memorize the ones you like best and take the time to create and master some of your own.

Cover-lines for your speaking bag of tricks:

* Stare cautiously to the left while listening to the microphone buzz. Then say in concerned tones, “Whatever it is, it's getting closer!”

* “You know, I'm actually starting to like these sounds.”

* “OK you win!” (looking up as if talking to the sound) “Microphone, you take the parts; I'll take melody.”

* “Obviously, someone at the controls has already heard me before.”

* Get down on your knees as if praying. Lift the microphone to the heavens as if asking for help. “Alright God, I'll change the subject!”

* Facing the microphone, say “Prepare to die.”

* “These are not tears you see; my eyes are sweating.”

Then there are the generics for any cover-up situation:

* “Is this Candid Camera?”

* “Some days you're the bug; some days the windshield. Guess which one I am today!”

* “This life is a test. It is only a test. If it had been a real life, I would have been given instructions and where to go and what to do.”

* “The ability to be cool under fire is such a great skill. I wish I had it.”

* “Someday I’ll laugh at this moment. Can I start now?”

*?“Have any of you seen my mother; she usually handles things like this for me.”

As you can see, humor can be a great ally for a frustrated speaker and a concerned audience. If you want to explore more possible situations and lines to save the day, I suggest you read Lilly Walters’ practical book, What to Say When: A Complete Resource for Speakers, Trainers & Executives.

?I've shared what you can say, now let's look at what to avoid. It's tempting in the middle of any platform disaster to deflect blame to any target you can find. When in pain, we want to find someone to blame. Some speakers rail at the production people. Still others play victim before the audience in a personalized version of "Poor me!" Instead, use your positive energy to pull your audience to you as your production team works to correct the problem. They already feel bad enough; don't add to it. You want them putting their energy into fixing the problem not getting even with you for making them look bad. After the program you will get more credit and compliments for your professionalism, and others will apologize profusely for the problem ever occurring. Remember, everyone makes mistakes and some staging problems are no one's fault! They just happen!

Finally, the increased use of multimedia has just increased the number of speaker nightmares possible. Be able to use multimedia, but don’t create a dependence on technology that may not work. Build your program around a sequence of stories and key points that you have memorized and that are supported by the quotes and graphics shown on the screen. If your presentation is built around stories, you can always fall back on sharing the stories and memorized material alone. Audiences may miss some slides, but they will be impressed with your ability to deliver the message under adversity. After all, few audience members leave a program saying, “Wow! Was that a graph or was that a graph? I want it for my office wall!” No, they are much more likely to be touched by and remember stories that embodies your message. Being ready to handle unexpected multimedia disasters means being ready to wow them with no visuals except the ones created in their minds by the messages and stories you share from the platform.

H. T. Leslie once said, “The game of life is not so much holding a good hand as playing a poor hand well.” That is wise advice for any professional speaker. Here's hoping you never have to face a speaker nightmare like the one I had in Tampa, but now there is no excuse for not being ready to meet that challenge.

Bio: Terry L. Paulson, PhD, CSP, CPAE is a past president of NSA and the GSF and author of The Optimism Advantage and 50 Tips for Speaking Like a Pro. As a speaker, he helps organizations, leaders and teams leverage optimism to make change work. Visit www.terrypaulson.com or contact him at [email protected]