Dealing with the unexpected

I have presented so many sessions when things have gone wrong, sometimes quite spectacularly – it happens to us all.

I once presented a session where I needed a volunteer to put their hand in a bowl of pretend mucus. I asked for a volunteer and one enthusiastically sprang up. I explained what was about to happen to the student who was very happy to get involved….until it came time to actually do the task. She put her hand close to the pretend mucus and burst into tears in front of the whole 200 strong audience. It is never a good thing to have a crying child as part of a show. I had to think quickly as this was an integral part of the show and without it the narrative wouldn’t have made sense so I couldn’t skip it. I switched our roles around so I would be the one dunking my hand instead. The little girl enthusiastically agreed (I think to get her revenge), stopped crying and the show continued.

What I took from the experience was the importance of staying calm in the face of a show disaster. Ever since I have felt much more prepared for things going wrong like this as even though it was my nightmare at the time; I was able to fix it and keep the show going – a massive confidence boost.

What is your response when things go wrong? Share your general response or a specific example if you have it.