Being Prepared: What Happens When Your Equipment Fails?

Breakdown!

We have become increasingly dependent on technology for pretty much everything. For presenters this is both a challenge and an opportunity.

The Challenge:
So, what do you do when...
- the projector  doesn't work?
- your laptop suddenly crashes?
- your memory stick gets eaten by a giant dog?
I have been in presentations where major technical issues shut everything down. But I have also seen people deal with these problems as if they were nothing at all. And that is a real pro skill.

The Opportunity:
Being able to present, even when your gadgets fail, is both impressive and professional. It means you are really prepared, and that you obviously know your stuff. Having said that, there a few tips and tricks you can use to make this easier to accomplish.

Tips and Tricks:
1. Print out your presentation.
It sounds obvious, but these days, most people don't actually print their presentations. I find it very useful, both for practicing and for making changes. And, of course, having it with you on the day means that even if all the equipment fails, you can still go over the information, using the printed pages as a guide. Not as good as the real thing, but still better than nothing.

2. Back it up on a pen-drive.
If your laptop suddenly goes bonkers, chances are someone else will have one. Having the presentation on a pen-drive means that you will be able to go ahead with few problems.

3. Prepare an outline.
Have a (maximum) one page outline of your presentation. It might contain your first few lines, then your points, one by one. This is a cue-sheet, and will keep you on track. Highlight key words. Include your conclusion lines.

4. Know your presentation.
Once again, it comes down to practice (as you know by now, one of my favourite things). If it were up to me, practically every presentation would be done with no visual aids. But I'm a bit of a purist. Still, too many people use power point and other visual aids not as tools, but as crutches to hold them up. A good presenter can get by just with their words and their presence.

5. Use the flip-chart or white-board.
When things go terribly wrong, there is usually some down time when those who know how are trying to fix the problem. Use this time to write key numbers or words on the flip-chart or white-board. Go to them when you reach that point in your presentation (with the flip-chart, you can have the info written on the second or third page of paper, so that it remains 'out of sight' until you want to reveal it).

And finally... stick to the Boy Scout motto: ''Be Prepared''.
As Robert Baden Powell (the founder of the scouting movement) famously wrote:
               ''Be prepared in mind...  ...by having thought out
                beforehand any accident or situation that might
                occur, so that you know the right thing to do at
                the right moment...''

For me being prepared extends to making sure that, on the big day, I have a few extras. Things like tissues, some painkillers (just in case), working flip-chart and white-board markers, and pens and paper. A bottle of water is also a good idea. You never know.

If you've had any mechanical or technical issues in a presentation, please share in the comments section. What are your tips and tricks?

All the best, and happy trails,
Rob