On cue with Kafui DEY: When the unexpected happens—Why calm hosts save events

There’s something about holding a microphone that attracts surprises the way jollof attracts debate. You rehearse, you plan, you script… then real life walks onto the stage uninvited. After years as a master of ceremonies and TV presenter, I’ve learned that the true test of professionalism isn’t how well you handle a perfect programme. It’s how you respond when the universe throws the running order out the window.

And believe me, it will.

Here are three moments from my career that taught me why a calm host is often the thin line between chaos and control.

1. The dinner guest who collapsed

I was emceeing a lovely dinner party: soft lights, good food, the usual networking hum. Then suddenly: a thud. One of the guests had collapsed. Her tablemates panicked, voices rising and hands shaking her desperately.

This is the moment when an MC must earn the title “master.”

Instead of adding to the confusion, I took a breath and asked the simplest, most life-saving question available:

“Is there a doctor in the room?”

There was, and he calmly stepped forward to take control while I gently guided the rest of the hall to stay seated.

Lesson: A host’s calm is more valuable than the microphone.

People borrow your emotional temperature. Keep it cool, and you cool the room.

2. Live TV drama: Presenter down, guest steps up

Another day, another surprise, but this time on live television.

A presenter collapsed mid-interview. The director, probably overwhelmed, forgot to cut to a break. Viewers saw everything happening in real time.

But the guest did something I will never forget: he looked directly into his camera, maintained composure, and continued speaking calmly while the presenter was quietly escorted off set.

A masterclass in grace under pressure: from the guest!

Lesson: When things fall apart, anyone can and should step up.

If you are seated in the hot seat, treat every surprise as part of the broadcast. Dignity and calmness never lose signal.

3. When the stage curtains caught fire

Yes… fire.

Minutes before an awards show began, smoke appeared at the edge of the stage. A section of the curtains had caught fire. While one woman near the front row screamed “Jesus! Jesus!” with enough force to summon the entire choir of heaven, a quick-thinking crew member calmly ran in with a fire extinguisher and put it out.

Crisis over in seconds.

Lesson: In emergencies, some shout and some act.

As a host, you must always be part of the group that acts.

The big takeaway: Calm is a leadership superpower

Whether you’re running an event, a meeting, a show, or a boardroom, remember this:
In chaos, people follow the calmest person in the room.

Here’s what staying calm looks like in real-world practice:

• Breathe before you speak. Silence is not weakness, it’s wisdom.
• Use a steady voice. Confidence travels through sound waves.
• Give clear, simple instructions. Emergencies don’t need speeches.
• Trust your team. Someone always knows where the fire extinguisher is.
• Keep the audience safe. The show must go on but never carelessly.

If you’re a communicator, leader, or host, your job isn’t just to speak well. It’s to stay steady when things go sideways.

Unexpected moments will come. Your calm will determine whether the moment becomes a crisis… or simply a story for the next “On Cue” column.

Until next time, stay On Cue.

>>> Need coaching? Email [email protected] today.

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