If my live demo crashes, I’d stay calm and acknowledge the issue with a smile, keeping the mood light. I’d reassure the audience that technical hiccups happen and I’m working to resolve it. While the tech team handles the problem, I’d engage the crowd with a relevant story or discuss key points of the demo. Staying composed and positive builds trust, allowing for a smooth recovery.

If your live demo crashes, its important to stay calm. Take a deep breath, acknowledge the issue and let the audience know you’re handling it, Stay positive and if you feel its suitable make a light joke of the situation. Work on explaining the main idea of what the demo was supposed to show and how it works. Incorporate storytelling and work on narrating for eg- a user journey of your product by creating a character who uses the product and how it makes a difference to their life etc. Have a back up in place like showing slides or visual images of the product. Always focus on the bigger message, not the hiccup, so the audience still learns and feels your confidence.

The first thing NOT to do is to panic. Alternatively, it could be a good idea to inject some humour into the situation by discussing common occurrences such as unexpected IT glitches. You could then start practicing 'stand-up' comedian skills of yourself in order to keep calmness and bring in some relaxation to the audience, as a more tasteful introduction of apologies that will shortly then follow.

If your live demo crashes, stay calm, acknowledge the issue, and pivot smoothly. First, maintain composure and avoid panic, as your reaction sets the tone for the audience. Briefly acknowledge the issue with humor or transparency, then shift focus to a backup plan, such as a pre-recorded demo, screenshots, or a verbal walkthrough of key steps. If possible, troubleshoot quickly while keeping the audience engaged with insights or Q&A. Emphasize the key takeaways rather than the technical failure, ensuring the presentation remains valuable. Adaptability and confidence will help you recover gracefully.

This is fairly a common problem. There have been many times when I was speaking at a conference, and the live code component had issues This was most likely because of slow internet at the speaking venue. I would recommend having a recorded version of the live demo as a backup always. I also like to carry a pocket internet device with me, so I don't have to rely on the venue's internet connection. Since there is a high chance for live demos to crash, its best to be prepared with a good backup plan. Also this is a great time to engage with the audience and open the room for questions while you wait for the issues to be solved. The last thing you want to do is be nervous and blame yourself for a demo crash.

Keeping calm and having a bit of humor always helps. Everyone has experienced technical issues. Having a backup plan is also key. If you have written materials you can refer to those. Your follow up may look different as you may need to not only answer questions but use it as an opportunity to convey or demonstrate information you may have missed. Keep smiling and stay calm and so will your audience.

Use Humor!! Humor is always my go-to when things go wrong—because, let’s be honest, things will go wrong! It is good old Murphy in action Murphy’s Law). Being able to laugh at the situation (and ourselves) keeps everything in perspective and helps us navigate challenges with a lighter heart. Stress and frustration rarely solve anything, and yes it is hard to ignore when it happens- just take that big breathe- and remember -a good laugh can shift our mindset, spark creativity, and even bring people together. In the end, very few things are as serious or important as they seem in the moment. Keep going, keep laughing, and trust that this challenge is just another step forward in your life journey!

When a live demo crashes, staying composed is key. Acknowledge the issue with confidence and humour to ease tension. Shift focus to the core message—explain what the demo was meant to showcase, using visuals or storytelling if needed. If possible, troubleshoot quickly or offer an alternative way to demonstrate the concept. Keep the audience engaged by turning the setback into a learning moment. In the Indian Army, we trained to stay mission-focused despite unexpected challenges—when things go wrong, adapt, lead with confidence, and keep moving forward. The way you handle failure often leaves a stronger impression than success.

If your live demo crashes in front of an audience, stay calm and composed to maintain credibility. Acknowledge the issue with a confident, lighthearted remark to ease tension, then quickly pivot to a backup plan. If possible, troubleshoot briefly while explaining the key takeaways of the demo verbally or using pre-recorded visuals. Engage the audience by answering questions or discussing real-world applications of the demo. If fixing the issue isn’t feasible on the spot, assure them that you’ll follow up with a working version after the session. Handling the situation gracefully shows professionalism and keeps the audience engaged despite the hiccup.