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Successful live events can be magic, captivating audiences and creating unforgettable moments — but sometimes they're unforgettable for the wrong reasons. Even the smallest misstep can lead to cringe-worthy failures. From the Oscars' envelope mishap to a global concert plagued by technical glitches, live events have certainly seen their fair share of disasters.
The good news? Every failure offers a unique learning opportunity for AV professionals and event organizers. At the Xchange LIVE Stage at InfoComm 2025, Troy Peters, Chief Experience Officer at SEAS Productions, spilled the tea on some of the greatest live event failures he's experienced during his career. He also gave some incredibly useful strategies for preventing and overcoming issues when they undoubtedly arise.
Live events are unpredictable, dynamic, and highly audience-focused. Unlike pre-recorded productions, they don’t offer the luxury of "fixing it in post." Once an issue arises, the onus falls on AV professionals and event managers to act quickly, troubleshoot on the fly, and deliver a seamless experience.
Yet, this environment also fosters creativity, resilience, and teamwork in ways no other project can match. Understanding how to mitigate risks and anticipate the unexpected is key to mastering the art of live events.
What Happened
At the 2017 Academy Awards, Warren Beatty announced the wrong winner for Best Picture, mistakenly awarding "La La Land" instead of the actual winner, "Moonlight." This error was caused by a mix-up in handing the correct envelope to the presenter.
The Issue
How They Overcame It
Prevention Tips
What Happened
During Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans, half of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome stadium’s lights went out due to an electrical overload, halting the game for over 30 minutes.
The Issue
How They Overcame It
Event officials worked with power engineers backstage to isolate and resolve the issue swiftly. Broadcasters filled the downtime with analysis and commentary.
Prevention Tips
What Happened
Mariah Carey’s infamous Times Square performance was plagued by audio issues, including malfunctioning in-ear monitors. This left her struggling to hear the backing track, resulting in a chaotic and awkward show.
The Issue
How They Overcame It
Despite the failure, Carey finished her performance and, in a show of redemption, returned the following year for another flawless New Year’s Eve show.
Prevention Tips
What Happened
At a high-profile tech conference, former President Bill Clinton delivered a keynote that ran 45 minutes over the allotted time, causing a ripple effect of delays for subsequent sessions. Speakers and attendees grew frustrated as the schedule was thrown off track.
The Issue
How They Overcame It
Organizers revamped their scheduling process, building buffer times into keynote sessions and equipping moderators with clear signals to keep speakers on track (literally, a monitor that read "STOP TALKING".)
Prevention Tips
What Happened
During a live test by a tech company, a product meant to showcase resilience in extreme temperatures failed after its cables disconnected mid-demo due to ice damage.
The Issue
Repeated freezing and thawing during rehearsals caused unexpected wear and tear on the hardware.
How They Overcame It
The team pivoted quickly, showcasing an unfrozen backup unit while seamlessly shifting focus to key talking points.
Prevention Tips
From redundant power systems to duplicate audio setups, having backups in place will help you recover swiftly in the face of technical difficulties.
Rehearsals aren't just for performers; the entire crew benefits from running through key scenarios before the event. Clear communication protocols among team members prevent last-minute mishaps.
Event planning and AV emergencies are inevitable. Your ability to stay composed and think critically in these moments will inspire confidence in your team and salvage the experience for your audience.
If unexpected delays or errors do occur, have tactics ready to keep your audience engaged, such as trivia, Q&A sessions, or commentator banter.
Live events will always come with challenges and curveballs. Whether you're dealing with a sudden AV equipment failure or a performer who skips rehearsal, planning ahead and thinking on your feet can make all the difference.
You can make sure your next live event goes off without a hitch if you find the perfect AV solutions and the right skilled professionals for the job. Head to our AVIXA Careers Center to hire your next AV tech who could save the day.
Photo credit: Getty Images/Eugene Gologursky
As AVIXA's manager of editorial content, I bring to the role fifteen years of marketing experience and ten working predominantly in editorial and video content. I've spent many years in the entertainment industry working for Nickelodeon, Lucasfilm, Disney, and even a small theater in the heart of Florence, Italy. I love great stories and finding the right way to tell them. I am also a stop-motion animation aficionado who makes puppets and writes books. And if you have a food-related AV story, I'd love to hear it!
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Live event mishaps are never easy and can be super frustrating in the moment, but they’re some of the most important learning opportunities. It's tough when it happens, but these experiences help us reflect, adapt, and ultimately improve. They play a crucial role in our growth, both as professionals and as a team.
@Summer Campagna absolutely! You also gain new perspective once you have to go through a mishap yourself. You'll still cringe when the power goes off at the Super Bowl, but you have so much respect for everyone hustling behind the scenes to get things up and running. It takes some resilient people to work in live events, for sure!
Here are my top 5:
5. J.J.'s "wardrobe malfunction" during the S.B. halftime show
4. When a certain billionaire smashed the window of his new electric truck with a ball bearing
3. That time a rapper did an "Unplugged" broadcast with deodorant chunks in his armpits
2. M.J.'s hair catching fire while filming a soda commercial
And coming in first place, drumroll please
1. The press conference at Four Seasons Total Landscaping
https://youtu.be/7QTRO9MG6z8
@Paul Konikowski, CTS-D, CISSP AMAZING list, bravo! 😅
Just so you know, backups were in place for Mariah Carey's Times Square performance. In addition to her in-ear monitors, monitor wedges were spread across the stage, featuring similar mixes to those in her ears. Her inability to perform was not due to technical difficulties, but more to her refusal to roll with the realities of the situation and to adapt. I understand that it may not be ideal, but she locked up rather than attempting to put on a good show for her fans.
Many artists have continued to perform, trying to maintain the good energy, even when far more substantial failings than an in-ear monitor mix issue occurred.
Yes, you're right to point this out. One of the main points Troy stressed in his presentation was encouraging talent to make sure they run through the rehearsal and are familiar with the backups when things go wrong. Sadly, Mariah couldn't hold it together. Thanks @Joseph Foley !