Paul Ryan uses Republican convention gavel in creative way

Banging the gavel is an art form, one that takes coordination, grace and the ability to distinguish "top" from "bottom."

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan struggled with the convention gavel on Tuesday night. After Alaska contested the delegate count, Ryan brought the convention back to order by banging the ceremonial gavel. But the noise seemed to confuse the Wisconsin representative, and he struggled to determine its source.

Watch as Ryan slowly inspects the gavel, looking for an error in its design. After trying and failing to get the sound he desired, Ryan makes a desperate move and hits the gavel sideways.

Out of options, Ryan has no choice but to "shush" the crowd, a traditional classroom management technique.

Here's video with sound:

Other speakers had similar problems:

Will the gavel survive tonight's convention? America waits and watches.