Technology is wonderful.
Until it isn’t.
The slides are loaded. The video is perfectly queued. The screen is glowing like a promise of excellence. The speaker steps forward confidently and says, “As you can see on the screen…”
And then… nothing.
No slide. No video. No movement. Just a blank screen staring confidently back at a room full of executives.
You look at the screen.
The screen looks at you.
This is now a staring contest you cannot win.
Welcome to live events.
In corporate environments across Africa, from Accra to Nairobi, Lagos to Kigali, technology has become central to presentations. Which also means when it fails, it fails publicly.
And loudly.
The first rule: stay calm.
This is not the moment to frown, sigh, or look aggressively at the technician as if eye contact will reboot the system.
Panic is contagious. If you look stressed, the audience immediately assumes something has gone terribly wrong. If you remain composed, they assume it is a minor hiccup.
Your face is part of the technology.
Second, acknowledge lightly.
“We’ll give our technical team a moment.”
That’s it.
No blame. No commentary. No “I told them to test this.” You are not there to expose problems. You are there to absorb them.
Remember: the audience is not interested in backstage drama. They are interested in the experience.
Third, and this is critical: fill the gap.
This is where many MCs freeze.
Silence creeps in. The speaker stands awkwardly. The audience begins to shift. Phones start to appear.
Do not allow that vacuum.
You have options.
You can summarize:
“While we sort that out, the key point here is…”
You can engage:
“How many of you have encountered this issue in your own organization?”
You can support the speaker:
“Perhaps you can walk us through the idea while we bring the slide up.”
Now the program continues.
Here’s a real example.
A CEO is about to present financial projections. The slide refuses to load. Instead of waiting, you say:
“While the numbers come up, could you give us a quick overview of the trend we should be paying attention to?”
Now the audience is listening again — not waiting.
Another scenario.
A video refuses to play at a product launch. Instead of staring at the screen, you pivot:
“Let’s hear directly from the team behind this innovation while we prepare the video.”
The audience gains value immediately.
Fourth, trust the technical team.
Do not hover over them. Do not narrate their struggle. “They’re trying to fix it now” is not helpful.
Give them space. Technology responds better to calm than pressure, or at least it feels that way.
Also, avoid turning into an amateur technician. Nobody wants an MC explaining HDMI cables, file formats, or “maybe try restarting it.”
You are not IT support.
You are continuity.
When the issue is resolved, and it usually is, transition smoothly.
“Thank you for your patience.”
Then continue.
No long explanation. No recap of the technical failure. No applause for the laptop.
The moment has passed. Let it go.
Here is the deeper truth.
Technology will fail.
The clicker will stop working. The slide will freeze. The video will refuse to cooperate at the exact moment it was supposed to impress everyone.
That is not the real test.
The real test is you.
When you handle technical disruption with calm authority, something powerful happens.
The audience relaxes.
The organizers trust you more.
And the event continues with dignity intact.
Because anyone can host when everything works.
Not everyone can lead when nothing does.
Stay on cue.
Kafui Dey is a corporate event host and author of How to MC Any Event.
Phone/WhatsApp +233240299122
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