How do you recover smoothly when your presentation slides suddenly crash during a keynote speech?

Stay composed and acknowledge it briefly with humor or confidence: “Looks like the slides took a break—good thing the real value is right here.” Then continue speaking, summarize key points verbally, and engage the audience with a quick story or question. Your calm response shows leadership and adaptability often leaving a stronger impression than flawless slides ever could.

La manera más sencilla para salir elegantemente del impasse, es aplicando una vieja y vigente fórmula estoica: Esperando lo mejor me preparé para lo peor, lo que en la práctica significa que tengo un punteo con las ideas principales que estaban en las visuales que ya no puedo usar. Así que de manera fluida, elegante y profesional, haz uso de las notas en modo bullets point que preparaste. El único cuidado que tienes que tener al usar tus notas, es asegurarte de que cada punto importante no tenga más de 3 palabras pues tu no quieres ponerte a leer tus apuntes pues comunica inseguridad, falta de preparación y desperfila tu profesionalismo. Recuerda que "menos es más" en visuales y en notas de apoyo!!

Before letting my audience made aware of the situation, I would bring this up as a teaching lesson(s) on preparedness, pivoting to life lessons &/or a mildly engaging anecdote on technical issues. All the while reverting my attention to my computer while allowing me to take a moment and calm down.

In being prepared for contingencies, I would have someone on my team who is familiar with the slides, be available to fix any issue behind the scenes. Acknowledge the glitch encountered and address to the crowd that this is being promptly looked into. Crack a joke on technology, it's easy. Some options I would consider: - If we are close to a planned break, close the subject I was on and suggest having a recess - Continue speaking on parts of agenda that do not require specific references to any slides or go back to any areas that could benefit from further elaboration - Invite questions on the matters that you have already covered clarifying that we will resume the keynote as soon as the issue is fixed and come back to the questions

In Australia’s business culture, adaptability and composure are key when tech fails mid-presentation. Stay calm and own the moment—acknowledge the issue with a touch of humour to keep the audience engaged. Shift to storytelling, using real-world examples to drive home key points without relying on slides. If needed, refer to printed notes or engage the audience with questions to maintain momentum. Focus on delivering value—people connect with confidence and insights, not just visuals. A tech glitch doesn’t have to derail your keynote; it’s an opportunity to showcase resilience, expertise, and quick thinking.

If your slides crash during a keynote, just stay calm and acknowledge it with something light, like, "Looks like the tech is taking a quick break, but let’s keep going." Keep the audience engaged by asking a simple question or sharing a personal story to keep the vibe going. Use your body language and make eye contact to stay present, and refocus on your main message, showing how adaptable you are. If it takes a little longer to fix, add some humor to keep it chill. Once the slides are back, give a quick recap and involve the audience to smoothly get back into your flow.

If your slides fail, use it as a chance to connect naturally with your audience. Walk around the stage, make eye contact, and speak directly to individuals. Simplify complex points into clear, relatable ideas. Use hand gestures or props to illustrate key messages. Turning a tech glitch into a human moment can make your speech feel more personal and memorable.

I would have them interact as I went around the room asking for them to speak of their own experiences and the outcome. I would do this to prove that these situations can be an inevitability, but that it does not have ruin your flow or presentation. And in fact it could turn into a testimony at some point in their career. All the while I would be attempting to resolve my technical issue.

Engaging directly with your audience when your slides disappear is a powerful way to turn the situation around. Ask open-ended questions or invite the audience to share their thoughts or experiences related to your topic. This keeps them engaged and shifts the focus from the technical issue to the value of the conversation. It also shows your adaptability and confidence as a speaker, reinforcing your ability to handle unexpected challenges. As John C. Maxwell says, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Engaging in this way helps strengthen the connection with your audience, even in the face of setbacks.

This is why you should always have an outline with you. One time at Coca-Cola this happened... we couldn't get the room's AV to work. 1, I flipped my computer around for the room of like 7-8 people. 2, I spoke in more high level terms to 'anchor' to the key point before going deeper. 3, I made sure to reiterate the key takeaway and talking points before i wrapped up. I was still sweating inside when we were done, but I was told I did great in the midst of navigating it. (Key lesson - they don't know you're nervous if you just roll with it.)

Any seasoned or experienced presenter/facilitator will acknowledge that practice is key to a presentation along with research of facts or course. But because you must consider thing such as time constraints and unplanned technical issues, making notes while practicing your techniques for a presentation is a big part of preparedness. Moreover, this helps with memorization of your presentation as well as calmness & confidence while speaking to your group/ audience. With those of us that have a nervous constitution with an audience or that need to warm up when 1st getting up in front, having notes is not a crutch but an extension of your thought process. Even debators make notes before presenting.

I would get the slides on my phone and use it more as a facilitating guide and prompts for my presentation. I would then introduce some strong telling to make it more interactive.

Relying on your notes is a great way to stay on track when your slides disappear. Use your speaker notes or an outline as a roadmap to guide you through the presentation. If you've practiced well, you'll be familiar with the key points and can elaborate confidently without needing visual aids. This not only highlights your preparation but also reassures the audience that you are in control of the situation. As Benjamin Franklin said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” With solid preparation, your expertise will shine through, even without the slides.

Sharing anecdotes during a technical glitch can turn the situation into a strength. Use the moment as a natural segue into a relevant story that ties into your presentation—whether it’s a personal experience or an example that reinforces your key points. This not only captivates your audience's attention but also makes your presentation more memorable. By adding a personal touch, you humanize the experience, which makes you more relatable and engaging. As Maya Angelou said, “People will forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” Your story can turn a hiccup into an opportunity to connect more deeply with your audience.

One thingbj have found helpful is to be expressive of my true emotions and share that of the the audience too. So that we can all be empathetic towards each other and have a relaxed room to engage efficiently despite the technical glitch.

To use humor in your keynote, start by laughing off any unexpected moments, like technical glitches, to keep things light. Self-deprecating humor helps make you relatable, and asking fun questions or polling the audience keeps them engaged. You can also introduce serious topics with a bit of humor to make them feel less heavy and transition between sections smoothly. Lightly poking fun at the audience builds rapport, and sharing relatable humor keeps it real. Wrapping up with a funny note leaves a positive vibe. Just make sure your humor feels natural, respectful, and fits the crowd.

Humor can be a great way to defuse tension during a technical mishap. A light-hearted joke about the situation can help you and the audience relax, turning the moment into something more relatable. Just be sure to gauge the mood of the room and consider the formality of the event before using humor. When executed well, humor not only helps ease the situation but also shows your ability to stay composed under pressure. As Victor Borge said, “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” It can bridge the gap and reestablish a positive connection with your audience.