List all the things that could go wrong!

• Use team brainstorming to think of all the things that might go wrong!
• Write everything down!
• Ask open ended questions to prompt ideas!
• Do not edit ideas at the time.

Determine how the potential problems are related to each other!

• Group the problems from the brainstorming e.g. props, people, equipment

Add new things to your list!

• Look for additions to your list
• Combine items the team thinks are really the same
• Do not delete anything unless the team is UNANIMOUS!

Rank the problems for the trouble they could cause!

• Rank the potential problems for the seriousness of the result
• Remind the team that small things can sometimes have disastrous results
• Review each group and make any adjustments

Think of all the ways to prevent the problems or minimize them!

• For each problem ask "if this happens we could....?"
• Discuss problems that cannot be prevented, e.g. weather, crowd noise, etc.
• Encourage your team to HAVE FUN, and be creative with their ideas... ad libbing always scores well!

Prepare a plan of action!

• Include who, what, when, where and how!
• Review the "disaster plan" periodically
• Cause 'spontaneous' mishaps during practice to allow your team to practice the plan! A good example is deliberately leaving the batteries out of the tape player, or knocking over a prop during a rehearsal.