A pie in the face (and other conference mishaps):
AS YOU have no doubt heard, earlier this week while speaking at a business event in Perth, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce received a lemon meringue pie in the face courtesy of a gentlemen who somehow managed to escape the attention of any security. Ever the professional, Joyce excused himself by saying “I don’t know what that was about, we might take a break for a second,” and walked offstage for a minute and cleaned himself up.
He soon returned to the stage, made a few self-deprecating remarks including later that he needed the number of a Perth drycleaner and then simply went on with his presentation.
In my time as a conference speaker and MC I have seen many mishaps, accidents and technical difficulties take place mid-presentation. An audience member having a heart attack, sponsors’ on-stage banners toppling over, dropped glasses of water smashing on-stage, mild earth-tremors mid-presentation in New Zealand, a speaker’s three-year-old child run on stage and grab his leg, the ever-common IT or PowerPoint issues and even a blackout when a freak storm blew the power at the Hamilton Island Convention Centre.
Some event organisers panic, some presenters get totally flustered and some of the clients hosting the events get hugely embarrassed, believing that this might totally derail their event. The truth, as experienced event organisers know, is that (serious health issues aside), none of these mishaps really matter. It is how you react to the issue that matters.
Audiences rarely care at all. If anything, it makes for a very memorable talking point. Conference audiences understand that accidents will happen. Things get dropped or fall over. Technology, no matter how much risk management and planning takes place, can still fail you. A good MC simply tells the audience to sit tight, chat with your neighbour and the problem will soon be fixed.
The audience if anything love the opportunity to have a quick stretch, check their emails and chat with their colleagues. They are almost never phased at a short interruption.
Alan Joyce actually received a spontaneous standing ovation upon his return to stage. He showed good humour and humanity and just got on with it.
So prepare and plan for a seamless event but also plan for the unplanned to happen, fix the problem and get on with it. And perhaps keep your eye out for delegates entering the conference room with a creamy pie in their hands.
If you are looking for an MC for your next conference or a speaker/trainer on presentation skills or pitching skills, email andrew@lunch.com.au or visit his website at www.andrewklein.com.au.