by Arvee Robinson

Created on: May 30, 2011   Last Updated: May 31, 2011

What to Do When Things Go Wrong During Your Speech

Murphy’s Law states—whatever can go wrong, does. This is true even when you speak. The good news is, knowing what might go wrong ahead of time will help you to know how to handle it.

If Murphy does show up on the scene, never let your audience see you sweat! Never apologize when something goes wrong, and never make excuses.

On a recent episode of America’s Got Talent one of the acts was a team of two young children about ten or eleven years old. They started dancing on stairs and guess what? The little girl fell. Seconds later she got up and performed as if nothing happened. At the end of their performance the judges asked her, “Are you okay, honey? “Are you hurt?” At that moment she started to cry. Until then she was a trooper and never let anyone see her sweat.

That’s a perfect example of what you want to do as a performer and speaker. Unexpected things are going to happen that are out of your control. What are they? Here are five possibilities and how to handle them with grace and ease.

#1 – Electronic gadgets in the audience. 

Today, people will often bring their laptops or other electronic devices to a presentation or workshop. The problem is, these devices disconnect your listener from you and you’re your talk. The best solution is to discourage the use of computers, laptops, netbooks, iPads and iPhones during your presentation.

Train your audience to turn off their cell phones by asking them to do so at the beginning of your talk. Take out your own cell phone and demonstrate what you want them to do while asking them to turn it off. Then thank them for doing so.

When people bring their laptops to use—and I’ve seen it over and over—they are not thinking about the event or the people in it; they are thinking about themselves. I’ve seen people plug the laptops in an outlet in the center aisle where people walk. As the speaker, you’re in control of the room and you’ve got to pay attention to what your audience it doing so you can correct it if necessary.

I discourage people from using their computers during my talks. It is a known fact that your audience will retain more information if they write it down than if they type it. So do your audience a favor and ask them to put away all electronic devices.

#2 - Your laptop explodes.

You’re ready to start your presentation and you turn on your computer – it doesn’t

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