Using Props for presentations and speeches

Robin Bodicoat

Best practice when using props for public speaking

Props can be a great way to bring your presentation to life, particularly if you are not using slides.

Props can be used to add humour, shock or awe, highlight a point, enhance a moment, or it can simply be something visual that can help your audience understand what you are talking about. This is especially relevant for highly technical speeches or speeches about a specific object which is difficult for the audience to visualize.

So, what sort of item can be a prop?

It can be a physical item.

It can be something you wear. Clothes or hats or quirky sunglasses.

It can be a book. A picture. A cuddly toy!

And it doesn’t even have to be a physical item. It can be a sound, an audio clip that you play to the audience. Even a song!

Ultimately anything can be a prop!

But it must be relevant to your presentation.

A prop should be large enough to clearly see and draw attention and interest from the audience. If you are bringing out a small prop such as a pin or a badge, no one is going to see it and it is not going to attract any attention. In fact, it may even frustrate the audience if they are not able to see it, having a detrimental impact on your presentation and the speaker.

Selecting the right prop

How do you go about selecting your prop? How do you choose the right prop for your speech. The question to ask yourself is, does the prop advance your speech? Does it add value to your speech?

There are four main benefits of using props:

Props can add realism; You can see them, you can touch them, you can hold them, and you can feel them
Props can be unexpected; Think outside the box. What could really add value and excitement and catch the audience unaware? Using a prop can really make your speech stand out.
Props can be emotional; They’re visual which helps evoke memories and trigger emotions such as laughter, shock or surprise. They may have a shape, a size and colour too.
You can create drama or suspense with a prop

Your audience may not remember a specific point within your presentation, but they will remember the prop that you surprised them with. Let’s look at best practice.

Before your speech

Before you use your prop in a speech it is important to make a plan and understand how you are going to use it.

Will you simply hold it up?
Will you be wearing it?
Will you be doing a demonstration with it?
Will you be pointing things out on the prop as you continue to talk?
How long will you feature, or hold your prop up for?
When will you stop using it and put it away?
If the prop is in a bag, make sure it is easily retrievable.
Make sure the prop works. And have a backup in case the prop doesn’t work.
If using multiple props, arrange them in order, so they are easily found, but be mindful that multiple props may end up confusing your audience, rather than delivering a clear message.

Rehearse thoroughly, then you can integrate your prop thoroughly into the flow of your speech.

During your speech

Don’t just have a prop for the sake of having a prop. Be creative with it.

Build anticipation – if you are using a prop as a surprise, you might gesture towards the hidden prop, hint at what it is, or play a guessing game with your audience. Then when the time is right, dramatically reveal it.
Make it easy to see – depending on how large your prop is, you may need to hold it up high for everyone to see. Think about how large the room is and how the room lighting may impact the visibility of your prop.
Demonstrate it in use – if it can safely be used, think about incorporating it into a live demonstration, but as mentioned previously, make sure you have tested it, and are thoroughly knowledgeable on how it works. You will lose credibility if you don’t know your prop inside out and can’t even switch it on!
Explain its relevance to your speech – props need to be relevant to the presentation so draw a connection between the prop and your message.
Think hard before passing it around – Many speakers pass props around the room as an opportunity for the audience to see it close up, but it takes the attention away from you as you continue your speech. Even if you do this at the end, it may take the attention away from the next speaker, so only pass a prop around if the experience of holding it is essential to your speech.

After using your prop

Put the prop away again, once you’ve finished showing it. Preferably put it out of sight and out of reach. This brings the audience back to you and prevents you from fidgeting with the prop during the continuation of your speech.

Other tips and considerations for using props

The size of your audience matters. Holding up a small prop in a large lecture hall, won’t work as the audience won’t see what you are holding in your hand. As mentioned before, you may end up frustrating them.
If you are going to use a book or a picture, don’t just hold it up and wave it around. Instead, hold it firm and let people see it. Pause your speech so the audience can see and absorb the detail of the prop. And hold it next to your face, so they can stay focused on you and what you are saying.
Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse, with your prop. Make sure it is part of your presentation. Know how you are going to hold it, how you are going to use it, and when you are going to put it away.

In summary, props can be a great way to bring your presentation to life. They can add humour, shock or surprise, highlight a point, or it can simply be something visual that can help your audience understand what your subject is about, but you have to know exactly how it fits into your speech, when to display it, and the value it delivers.

Why not bring something different into your next speech, why not use a prop!

Speakers Club provides the perfect environment for testing your approach to using different props.