Blanking on Stage? Here’s How the Best Presenters Recover

You are mid-presentation when, poof, your brain wipes like a shaken Etch A Sketch.

Your stomach drops, shoulders creep up, and you are breathing like you just sprinted up Everest with a fridge. We have all been there.

I once blanked while filming a video with my friend Aisling. We cracked up and reshot. Easy when it is just the camera judging your soul. On stage, in front of actual humans, different story.

The good news is recovery is a skill, like riding a bike or pretending you meant to walk into that glass door.

First, take a beat (a pause). Drop your shoulders and breathe at a normal pace. The audience reads it as a thoughtful pause, not a crisis.

Repeat the last line. It jogs your memory and makes you sound considered rather than unhinged. Repetition is my personal favourite (just between us).

Use humour. A light line such as ‘My brain just left the chat‘ can warm the room. Context matters. What lands at conference drinks might bomb in a board meeting.

Bring the audience in. Try, ‘What do you think so far?’ It buys time and builds connection. Of course, this only works if you have said more than ‘Good morning’ and your name!

Own the wobble. If you do flop for a moment, acknowledge it, smile, and keep going. Audiences forgive human moments every time.

The best presenters are not flawless robots. They just recover faster and smarter.

Your audience is on your side, even when your brain hits reset like a temperamental router. Take a breath, use these moves, and carry your audience with you.