Advice re difficult flash conditions

[m7b52000]

I recently had to take some pics at a book launch and poetry reading. Conditions were difficult:
-very dark room
-bright window behind speakers
-lamp behind my daughter's head
-1 bare speedlight only with no modifier
-I was seated quite close to the speakers and I didn't want to blind them with direct flash
- only bounceable surface was matt dark bown ceiling

I had my Fuji X-t4 with kit lens 18-55 and a manual flash. I ended up shooting at f4, 1/250, iso 800 and flash at about 1/2 -2/4 power pointed vertically at dark ceiling!
I am trying to attach raw and processed versions of 1 image. Could I have done anything differently?

 

[m7b52000]

Apologies. I am having trouble adding the 2 images....

 

[swanseamale47]

The dark ceiling is the problem. For bounce flash to work you need a light ( white ideally) surface obviously.
In similar situation ( green ceiling) I've used a white card, or reporters note book to bounce off, a white shirt will work.
It's not ideal, but better than direct flash.
The old Metz 45 or 60 had a super huge bounce board that clipped onto the flash., sadly not something you see these days.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

The old Metz 45 or 60 had a super huge bounce board that clipped onto the flash., sadly not something you see these days.

I used to make my own from cardboard.

The trick is to use Velcro or similar to attach it to the flash head. I also made a slightly more sophisticated version for closeup work...