For those of you who follow me regularly know my background as an audiophile. In fact, if you attended one of my presentations earlier this year you’ll recall the limbic opening I shared while recanting my first job during my teenage years. For those of you not in attendance, I was a DJ while growing up in New York.

Fast forward a few years, now living in Colorado where there is no shortage of opportunities to attend live music. Last week I was afforded the chance to see Jamie Cullum live at the Arvada Center for the Arts. Jamie Cullum is a jazz musician but the farthest from a traditional pianist. The performance was fabulous and the band played for almost three hours.

So What? (What does this have to do with software demonstrations)

During the third song Mr. Cullum’s wireless microphone died. We watched his lips move but the notes were silent. Mr. Cullum could have stopped, complained to the technician, delivered a bad joke and blamed someone for the technological mishap. Instead, the band played on. They segued from a jazz band to a jam band while a roadie worked quickly to correct the glitch. Their transition was seamless and the crowd, appreciating their efforts, roared.

Bands rehearse every day, all day. They are perfectionists and prepare for any dilemma and quickly adapt to changing situations. Conversely, software engineers (generally speaking) practice when there is extra time in their day.

Think of a few ways in which you and your “band” of presales engineers can prepare for any possible situation. It is so essential to ensure you orchestrate your team for any public appearance and even more important to have a back up plan. Your audience will appreciate your adaptability.