When popular streamer iShowSpeed touched down in Lagos last week, Nigerian content creators got their moment. Some seized it. Others fumbled it.

Talk is cheap. Everyone’s a creative until it’s time to be one. Titles are easy to claim, but when the spotlight finds you, when there’s no script and no second take, can you deliver?

Aside from all the talk about what should and shouldn’t have been done during Speed’s time in Lagos, his visit showed that people don’t have the skill to back up their reputations. 

One thing that caught the eye was how differently creators approached their moment with Speed.

iShowSpeed had a moment with popular content creator Egungun, who introduced himself as the most popular lifestyle interviewer in Africa (is he?). Then things got awkward. Egungun congratulated Speed on reaching 50,000 subscribers. Speed had already hit 50 million subscribers. His next questions were even more concerning. Asking Speed his age and why he was so strong at 21, then asking when he started barking. It wasn’t a good interview. Egungun had built his brand on a specific interview style, but when faced with a guest outside his usual format, he struggled to adapt.

Popular TikToker Peller, on the other hand, spent the entire day trying to get Speed’s attention, to the point of getting on a horse and screaming for a collaboration. Speed clearly ignored him. Despite his massive following, Peller couldn’t position himself strategically or understand that sometimes less is more. The harder he chased, the less effective he became.

Artist and owner of the fashion brand ZTTW, Zlatan, hosted Speed at his ZTTW store. You’d think that was a golden opportunity, a chance to catch his attention, do something special for him, make him something custom. Instead, Zlatan tried to show him one of the regular ZTTW jerseys, and, of course, Speed declined. Here was a chance to showcase why ZTTW is special, but the pitch wasn’t compelling enough.

Tough day for these guys.

On the other hand,

Jarvis, a content creator known for her robotic content, understood the assignment. She showed up in character, taught Speed Nigerian dance moves, and created an interaction that felt natural and entertaining. Speed appeared relaxed and engaged, the energy was right, and she walked away with a win. What viewers didn’t see was her tracking him across Lagos for hours beforehand, but she kept that struggle private and showed up prepared when her moment came.

Nigerian streamer Tega the Creator also showed how it can be done. He introduced himself clearly, repeated his name multiple times on the livestream, kept his composure, and most importantly, knew when to leave. No begging for attention, no overstaying his welcome and no desperation. Just confidence, clarity, and awareness. Speed engaged, the interaction was smooth, and Tega walked away having made an impression without making it awkward.

Two different routes, but both executed well.

The difference wasn’t talent or following size. It was preparation meeting opportunity. Jarvis and Tega did what needed to be done. The others either froze, overcompensated, or simply didn’t have a plan for what to do when the moment arrived.

You claim to be a lifestyle interviewer. Can you ask engaging questions when the format changes? You own a major brand. Can you present your best work when it counts? You’re a creative. Can you create under pressure and know when less is more?

It’s easy to make fun of these guys, but let’s turn the mirror on ourselves: When your moment comes, what are you going to do?

Jarvis and Tega walked away from their interactions having elevated their brands. The others walked away as cautionary tales. 

So the next time you introduce yourself with a bold claim, ask yourself: if I had to prove it right now, in an unfamiliar situation with everything on the line, could I back it up? Do I know my craft well enough to adapt? Do I have the self-awareness to know when I’m winning and when I’m losing the room?

That’s the standard. Not just being good at what you do, but being good enough to deliver when it matters most, in conditions you didn’t script, in front of an audience you can’t control.

Sometimes you only get one chance. Make sure you’re ready to take it.