The Dude-Bro Conundrum

I have the good fortune of delivering keynote speeches at over 100 corporate events per year. They range from a few hundred to many thousands of people in attendance, often with elaborate staging, lights, and production value. Hours before taking the stage, an AV tech check occurs where all audio and visual elements are plugged in and tested.

Within 11 seconds of arrival, I can tell if it will be smooth sailing or a disaster (there’s no middle ground here, by the way. It’s either terrific or...