Welcome back to The Last Laugh, one of the last places you look for useful information … in this magazine at least.
The last time we were together, we shared some stories about things that went wrong in high-profile places … basically the worst nightmares for meeting planners. In the immortal words of the infomercial giants: But wait, there's more.
We touched a bit of a nerve with that one. Our readership seems to know a thing or two about putting together meetings, including what can go wrong.
In this case, we’re withholding some names to protect the not-that-innocent.
The Showoff
One person shared the story of a meeting event gone wrong. At the event, she was given a badge to wear, and promptly slipped it over her neck and went on her way.
Later that day, her way took her under a table to assist with setup. Leaning over, her badge caught the edge of her skirt, and as she lifted herself up, so did the skirt. Right in front of the all-male production crew.
The takeaway: Badges and skirts make a cautious combination.
Have a story to share for The Last Laugh? Reach out to us at [email protected] and we’ll help you lighten up someone's day.
Up, Up & Away
Another backstage story had a bit of an explosive ending.
Backstage at a training event, the production manager had a little issue, when a sudden “gas attack” literally knocked him from his seat, spilling him onto the floor.
Who said show business was glamorous?
SkyNet Strike
Speaking of the show must go on, there was the inevitable technical tale from someone who worked on a large-scale event. Just as a speaker took the stage to introduce Arnold Schwarzenegger, the teleprompter went out. Hasta la vista, AV.
Fortunately, as every trainer knows, people can think fast on their feet. The speaker was a Californian and a film fan, so he winged anice intro.
But will he be back?
Help!
I’ll share one from my travels, the story of a legend at sea.
The setting was a training conference held on board a cruise ship(which was pretty cool, by the way). The keynote speaker at the event was George Martin, the legendary producer of The Beatles. Very nice man, and the chance I had to dine with him is a treasured memory.
His speech was incredible, as you might imagine – you could have heard a pin drop in the auditorium when he talked about the death of John Lennon. It was also, however, very detailed, and the result was a long and winding road – like 45 minutes too long.
Here’s where the location becomes important. If you’ve ever cruised, you know they run on a tight shipboard schedule. Martin’s speech was supposed to end right before dinner. It didn’t. He was talking about integrating orchestral music when the captain made his first “dinner is being served” announcement, with ship’s speakers booming over the auditorium speakers. If Martin noticed, he gave no sign.
He was talking about the Sgt. Pepper album when the captain broke in with a shorter, terser message that dinner was being served now in all restaurants. Again, no change in pace from the speaker.
He was talking about a Vegas show when the captain – now sounding almost angry – came on again. Dining group A should make their way immediately to their assigned restaurant. That one got through, and people slowly started to get up. The wrap-up happened before another announcement. Strawberry fields forever.
Animal Magnetism
This issue’s last laugh goes to Stephanie Hazelton, who just proved that you can’t prepare for everything.
Stephanie is senior manager of commercial learning and development for Sanofi. She was leading product training on a Zoom call one day, when she received a rather unique – maybe even cryptic – message in the private chat:
“Stephanie, long story, but I just got bit by a chipmunk. I have to go. I’m sorry!”
That ever happen to you?
“I’m in the middle of reviewing a clinical study with the group, so all I can type out is: ‘I hope you’re OK’ and try to mask my bewilderment because I can’t believe what I’m reading,” Stephanie laughed.
Don’t worry … she didn’t leave us hanging.
“The person shared the whole story with the class the following day: She was cat-sitting for her sister. During our call, the cat captured a chipmunk and brought it into the house. While she was trying to usher the chipmunk outside, she got too close, and the chipmunk bit her finger.”
Luckily, everyone is fine (even the chipmunk), though the learner needed rabies shots (not a sentence you write often). In the end, Stephanie said, the classmates were glad everyone was well, and appreciated the levity the situation added to the class.
Let’s just be glad the class didn’t get “chip wrecked.”