Want to see an event producer sweat? Tell them you're doing a live demo.

🔥

So many things can go wrong. And they often do. But a live demo can be unforgettable... -If you manage the risk.

At TEDxRuakura, Mahonri Owen demonstrated a mechanical hand that was operated by the brainwaves of someone in the audience. The headset would read their thoughts, and the hand would open and close.

The potential for failure was enormous. WiFi issues. Headset problems. The wrong volunteer. Any of these could have killed the moment.

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱.

So we mitigated what we could. We pre-selected the volunteer, (the sister of one of our team members). We checked that the headset fit her properly and her hair wouldn't interfere. We had fallback plans if it didn't work.

It worked. The demo was a highlight of the event. People were still talking about it at the after-party.

If you're doing a live demo, prepare for the worst. Record a backup video of it working. Pre-select your volunteer if you need one. Have a plan for what you'll say if it fails.

And never lie to your audience. If you have to use the recording, tell them it's a recording.

The reward of a live demo done right is worth the risk. But only if you've done the work to manage that risk.

What's the most memorable live demo you've ever seen? Was it a success or a failure? 😉

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