Keynote Speaker Cancelled in Texas?
It is rare that a speaker will ever cancel the day of a live event.Most people who agree to speak except that they are in a very important role. But sometimes things happen and meeting planners find themselves having a “speaker emergency”.
The first thing to is DO NOT PANIC.
I assume you found this post because you are in a situation where your keynote speaker canceled at the last minute. If this is the case, call me at (512) 970-0398 or send me an email at Thom@ThomSinger.com.
If I am available to jump in my car or a plane and fill in at your event. I want to make that happen. If a keynote speaker cancelled it can create quite a panic, but knowing someone is on the way will make the sun shine and the birds sing.
Let’s see if there is a way to make this work, as serendipity will often provide the best results.
Also, if I am not available, I probably know another experienced keynote presenter who can step in and wow your audience. I will jump on the phone and make some calls for you right away.
The key is not to fret about the situation that has happened. There are lots of things you can do that will still allow you to have an amazing event that will have a lasting impact on your event’s attendees.
While it is rare that speakers cancel, this does happen from time to time. I have heard of speakers who had travel issues with airlines, weather, been in car accidents, gotten the flu, calendared the wrong date, or had a family emergency. Life happens. While it is no fun for anyone involved, the truth is that when something like this happens we cannot let it ruin the whole event.
A speaker no-show is more common for small groups that are not paying the presenter or use local executives for their program. Professionals make their living serving their clients and most will move mountains and part the oceans to be at your event. Because professional speakers work with meeting planners everyday they understand and respect all the nuances that go into executing a meeting. Also, professionals (especially those who are active participants in the meeting business and who view speaking as part of that industry) often have friends who are also speakers. A good reason to choose to work with speakers that are members of the National Speakers Association is that they will have access to thousands of peers.
I have seen events of all sizes scramble at the last minute to fill an open slot in their agenda. Below are four things you can do if your speaker canceled at the last minute and you cannot reach me or another speaker quickly enough.
(These apply for both local business club luncheons or a large multi-day industry conferences):
1. Always have a Plan B. I have worked with several organizations who keep my phone number on speed dial in the off chance a speaker canceled. While you might not think this would be something that would happen very often, I have filled in seven times in the last ten years (last minute can mean a few days in before the event, several hours in advance, or once I was pulled from the audience to deliver a 45 minute keynote when a speaker canceled an hour before a luncheon).
Savvy professional speakers also have a network of industry friends they can recommend who can step in at the last minute if a problem occurs. While you never want to get that call from your speaker saying they are too ill to speak to your audience, if they have already found a fantastic solution it will make your day much better. (Speakers who are members of the National Speakers Association can tap into this network no matter where in the world they are scheduled to speak).
2. Look to your event agenda, past speakers or future speakers. A multi-day industry event will have a full docket of speakers who will already be present. Look to see whose program could be up-graded from a break-out to a keynote. If it is a break-out session you need to fill, see if the keynote speaker has more information that can be delivered as a “booster shot” to those who might want more following his or her main stage program (some speakers will charge you for the extra presentation, but most will be happy to step in and help you out in your time of need).
If it is a local business luncheon, look at your list of past speakers you have had over the last two years and see if you can bring one of them back for an encore presentation. Since they already know the audience and the venue, they might be comfortable filling in with little notice.
Additionally, maybe a future speaker would be willing to come in and do his talk early. Some people might not be able to do this from a preparation stand-point, but asking is always a good idea.
3. Create a round-table lab. Your audience is full of brilliant people. Select two or three topic questions that are cutting-edge and involve timely issues. Get someone on the board or planning committee to be the Master of Ceremonies and explain openly and honestly about how the speaker could not be there. Next proclaim this to be a fantastic and unique opportunity to crowd source knowledge and best-practices. Make the audience the heroes. Then share the discussion topics, having each table elect a discussion leader. Every few minutes the MC will encourage a new question be bantered about at the tables. During the last 20 minutes of the meeting each table reports to the whole the best thoughts shared in their group.
4. Make it a networking opportunity. Turn the speaker-less meeting into a “Networking Speed Dating Bonanza” by encouraging people make more contacts. Extend the reception time, and once seated for the meal have everyone introduce themselves around their table. When dessert is served encourage everyone to move to a new seat in the room.
A main reason people attend business events is for the “networking opportunities”, and most meeting planners admit that no matter how much time they schedule for people to mingle, they do not do a good job of it. Make this open time powerful by facilitating introductions and connections.
Leadership is paramount to success in this situation. If you confidently communicate to the attendees that the keynote speaker canceled, but the meeting will still have an equal or greater impact, then they will follow with whatever you put on the agenda. If you are timid about the changes to the program being positive, then they are lost.
If you found this article from a search while you are in a panic… I wish you luck, but I am confident you can and will find the right solution for your event.
Having a speaker emergency? Contact Thom Singer at www.ThomSinger.com / (512) 970-0398
