Contingency and Safety

Year 9 Power of Speech • Game Show • Safety

A live show is unpredictable. A question is misread, a microphone dies, a contestant freezes, the audience gets too loud. Contingency planning is not pessimism; it is what lets the host stay calm and the show stay safe.

Start with a risk check

Area	Question	Control
Space	Are there trip hazards, blocked exits or unstable furniture?	Clear routes; tape cables; test chairs.
Sound	Is the volume safe and intelligible?	Sound check; limit volume; offer ear defenders.
Lighting	Can everyone see without glare?	Light faces; avoid strobe; test.
Props	Are they safe, lightweight and easy to clear?	Inspect; ban projectiles; rehearse handling.
Contestants	Is participation voluntary and comfortable?	Consent; pass rule; liaison.
Audience	Can people opt out or step out?	Quiet space; clear exits; no pressure.
Medical	Is there a first-aid plan?	Know the school process; have water.
Emergency	Is there an evacuation plan?	Know exits; brief the team.

Technical failure

Failure	Host response	Team response
Microphone dies	Project; move closer to the audience.	Swap battery or microphone.
Feedback	Step away from the speaker; lower volume.	Adjust the mixer.
Screen fails	Use printed questions.	Switch to the backup cards.
Timer fails	Use a phone or a countdown from the audience.	Backup timer.
Music fails	Continue without it; use a countdown.	Check the cue.
Lights fail	Pause; use natural light or a torch.	Follow the safety plan.

Content failure

Sometimes the problem is the question, not the technology. The host needs a calm way to correct the record.

Problem	Response
Wrong answer key	“We need to check that. The correct answer is ... . We'll adjust the score.”
Ambiguous question	“That question had two possible answers. We'll accept both and move on.”
Offensive question	Stop; apologise; remove the question; follow school policy.
Inaccurate fact	Correct it briefly; do not argue with the contestant.
A question too hard	Offer a hint or a pass; do not mock.
A question too easy	Move on; do not over-celebrate.

Contestant distress

Sign	Response
Freezing	“Take your time. Would you like a hint or a pass?”
Shaking or tearful	Pause; offer a break; ask quietly if they want to stop.
Angry	Stay calm; lower your voice; offer a pause.
Wanting to stop	“Of course. Thank you for playing.” Move on.
A disclosure	Respond privately; do not use it as content.
A medical need	Stop the show; follow the first-aid process.

Audience behaviour

Agree on a quiet signal and practise it.
Do not encourage booing or jeering.
Intervene early if a contestant is being mocked.
Keep exits clear.
Offer a quiet space for anyone who needs it.
Stop the show if the room becomes unsafe.

The stop plan

Everyone on the team should know how to stop the show. A stop plan is a short set of instructions.

The host says: “We're going to pause for a moment.”
The sound operator cuts the music and lowers the microphone.
The liaison attends to the contestant or audience member.
The stage team clears the area if needed.
The host waits for a signal before resuming.
If the show cannot continue, the host closes politely.

Emergency

Emergency	Action
Fire alarm	Stop; follow the school evacuation plan; leave equipment.
Medical emergency	Stop; call for first aid; clear the area.
Severe weather	Follow the school's shelter plan.
Unsafe behaviour	Stop; remove the risk; follow school policy.
Power failure	Pause; use natural light; wait for instructions.
Lost child	Stop; alert staff; follow the school process.

Contingency cards

Write short cards for the host and the team. Each card should name the problem and the first three actions.

Card	First actions
Microphone fails	Project; signal sound; continue.
Contestant stops	Thank them; offer a seat; continue.
Wrong answer key	Pause; check; correct; adjust score.
Audience too loud	Stop; signal; lower voice; reset.
Show overruns	Cut a round; protect the close.
Emergency	Stop; follow school plan.

Activity: failure rehearsal

Write three things that could go wrong.
Assign one person to each failure.
Rehearse the first thirty seconds of the response.
Run the show and introduce one failure without warning.
Debrief: what worked and what stalled?
Update the contingency card.

Calm is contagious. If the host stays steady, the audience and the team will follow.

Common errors

No stop plan. Everyone freezes.
No backup questions. A wrong key derails the round.
Ignoring distress. A contestant is harmed.
Encouraging booing. The room becomes hostile.
Blocked exits. An emergency becomes dangerous.
No debrief. The same failure repeats.

Next, study designing a classroom game show to bring the unit together. The teacher notes offer planning and differentiation advice.