As far as backups, I usually go to a conference with three laptops. My work laptop if my blackberry rings, my personal big laptop and my personal netbook. Also, I keep my slides in github.

At a lunch meeting I went to, the presenter showed up with his Mac laptop and then was surprised when no one had the dongle to connect to the borrowed projector. Luckily he did have his slides on a flash drive and someone had their laptop with them. I was not impressed — he was a consultant telling us about using social media and other techie things.

I like the observation that “the audience wants you to win.” When I was getting started, it took me a while to get past the feeling that people would be there to challenge me, to dispute every point I made and to bring up the competition. But after a while I realized that those people don’t usually come to my session.

Also: Try to be entertaining! Many people are at your session because it’s a break from doing actual work. Sometimes they just aren’t that interested in learning anything; they’re on vacation. So bring your trombone out on stage and threaten to play it! (Note, this may not work for everybody.)

I always wondered about usergroups that cancel instead of filling in an alternate. Seems like one could get someone to full in.

I almost wonder if it isn’t a good idea for speakers to go to events prepared to speak even when they aren’t scheduled. Just in case somebody flakes out. Probably a great opportunity to get your foot in the door at an event you normally would qualify for.

How did the organizers recover from these situations anyway?