Pratfalls from the Platform

When I was seven-years-old, my parents took me to see my first Broadway show, “Oklahoma.” Every since that time, I have been in love with live theater. I think the reason for that is that, for me, live theater is more exciting than the movies because anything can happen.

Giving a speech is no different. Anything can happen, and it often does. As W. Mitchell, CSP, CPAE, says, “it’s not what happens to you, it’s what you do about it.” And, to add to those wise words, if what you do about it is to add some humor to those platform mishaps and mistakes then you are way ahead of the game. It’s something I wish I had known when I first started speaking.

I was hired to do a post-dinner presentation for surgeons and their spouses. After signing the contract, I found out that it was going to be a formal event. Since I had no tuxedo at the time, I went to Costco and bought one for $99. I lucked out because it was the week prior to New Year's Eve. I didn't do so well, however, during the speech.

The tux, made in Yugoslavia, had some weird side buckles that I apparently didn't fasten too well. During the program, one buckle came undone. Then the other side did too. I leaned to one side and caught the falling pants with my elbow. And that is the way I remained during the rest of the talk…one hand holding the microphone and the other arm holding up my pants. 

I was too new in the speaking business to realize that I could have openly shared what was happening with the audience, instead of trying to hide it. Had I revealed my dilemma, I probably would have gotten a chance to buckle up again and maybe even a great big laugh.

Another time, just as I was getting to the punch line of a story during a luncheon speech, the fire alarm went off. The audience sat there thinking it was part of a joke. But it wasn’t. I didn’t smell smoke but I knew that it was my responsibility to take charge and get the audience out of the ballroom just in case there was a fire.

When we returned, after learning that someone had accidently set the alarm off, I continued my talk about therapeutic humor. My opening line was “I guess humor is really a hot topic.”

Perhaps one of the funniest comebacks and a great example of “going with the flow” no matter what happens on stage, was told to me by friend and colleague, Karyn Buxman, CSP, CPAE.

One day she was giving a presentation in an unusually dark ballroom. The walls were black, the carpeting was black, the stage curtain behind her was black.

        

At one point in her talk, she stepped forward, missed the edge of the stage, and found herself flat on the floor. Although she was a little startled, she realized that she wasn’t hurt, just embarrassed. She also realized that the microphone had fallen right nearby. So, still lying on the ground, she picked it up and announced to the audience, “And now I will take questions from the floor.”

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