What do you do if a speaker or entertainer drops out at the last minute?

If a speaker or entertainer drops out at the last moment, you take five steps:

1. Bring in your backup speaker, whom you always have on standby.
2. Rearrange the programme so the empty time doesn't stand out.
3. Call your speaker agency to request a replacement.
4. Have the day chair fill the gaps with relevant content or interaction.
5. Update screens and apps immediately.

To prevent it: take out insurance for keynote speakers. Ask speakers to submit their presentation 48 hours in advance. Always keep an internal subject-matter expert on hand as a backup option. Live Impact builds in reserves and ensures one dropout doesn't throw your event into disarray.

Read our full article →