Why You Should Use Props in Your Next Speech

As an elected official you’ll have to present to the public or officials. The best way to connect with your audience is to use props such as flip charts, images, videos, demonstrations or other people. Media-training.info had a great blog on props that I wanted to highlight.

(image: syracuse.com)

Props will engage your audience to your presentation: The audience will be drawn to your key points and statistics that you can show through graphs and charts. When people can see your idea through a visual illustration you don’t have to explain every detail. Jeff Dunham is famous for his hilarious comedy routines using dummies as props. Dunham without the dummies is a far different comedy routine than with them. It makes that big of difference!

Prizes and giveaways work excellent: This is best done with a large audiences. This technique opens and fires up your audience. People will always go crazy for free things! The prizes don’t have to be related to your presentation.

Props can be used spontaneously in your presentation: When you are describing your props your audience won’t be focusing on you as much. The props can be a substitute for notes.

Visual images are remembered easier than the words you speak. It’s sometimes easier to use a prop so you don’t have to exhaust yourself explaining a scenario. If you’re unfamiliar with props, use them sparingly then add more if you see more excitement.

Have you had success with props? Are there any downfalls to props? Did we miss anything?