It was supposed to be a smooth showcase of the latest CMS features at the Umbraco Festival. Everything worked perfectly during rehearsals. But as the live demo began, the CMS froze, leaving the audience staring at a blank screen.

The culprit? A flaky VPN connection that decided to misbehave at the worst possible moment. The experience served as a reminder: **never trust VPNs for live demos**. Network instability can turn even the best-prepared presentation into a disaster.

The takeaway? Always have a backup plan. Screenshots of key steps can save the day when technology fails. They allow you to continue explaining the process without awkward silence or panic. Preparation isn’t just about knowing your content—it’s about anticipating what could go wrong.