Spoiler: Everything. And we planned it that way.
At BudgetAV Disasters™, we pride ourselves on engineering events that dance on the edge of collapse. For those new to the industry — or those still foolishly optimistic — we’ve compiled a complete* list of all the glorious ways an AV show can spiral out of control.
This is not just a checklist. It’s our playbook.
Audio Problems
Mic works fine… until a VIP uses it.
Wireless interference from a nearby 7-Eleven.
Feedback loop triggered by a polite cough.
Someone muted the channel — and blamed the gear.
Lapel mic taped to the inside of a jacket.
“It was working during sound check.”™
Low batteries. Again. Still. Always.
Video Woes
Presentation loaded on a MacBook with only USB-C.
HDMI handshake fails at the exact moment of launch.
Projector color shifts to green mid-speech (“It’s a mood.”)
Slide deck auto-updates during the keynote.
YouTube video embedded without offline backup.
Video plays fine… but with the speaker notes on screen.
Resolution mismatch creates an unintentional 4:3 art film vibe.
Operator-Induced Chaos
Crew member pressed “Freeze” instead of “Play.”
Mixer fader left down during the entire panel discussion.
Intern accidentally unplugged power to the stage while “looking for a phone charger.”
Clicker given to the wrong speaker.
Operator uses in-ear monitor as a phone holder.
Onsite tech “didn’t bring that cable — thought you’d have it.”
Livestream Meltdowns
Stream goes live with backstage chatter and mild profanity.
Internet drops during product launch — stream reconnects 10 minutes into the Q&A.
Chat disabled “for safety” after viewers ask if this is an NFT scam.
Stream audio lags by 6 seconds, causing unintentional karaoke vibes.
Lower-thirds rendered in Comic Sans.
Power & Cabling Mayhem
Extension cords daisy-chained like spaghetti on a dare.
Tape budget: zero. Trip hazard count: twelve.
Generator powers everything… except the AV system.
One power point, three crews, five coffee machines.
The lights short out every time someone flushes.
Miscellaneous Glorious Disasters
Fire alarm test begins right at show open.
LED wall stuck in “factory test mode” flashing RGB like a disco.
Crew member falls asleep mid-panel — mic still live.
Translation headsets tuned to the wrong language (“We were all very confused in Portuguese.”)
Client requests “just a simple show” two hours before doors open.
Did You Spot Any of These at Your Last Event?
If so — congratulations! You’re already a BudgetAV Disasters™ success story.
We don’t just let these things happen. We strategically allow them to unfold, ensuring you and your team have the necessary emotional trauma to demand a proper AV budget next time.
Because sometimes the fastest way up… is a complete and glorious collapse.
