Containers are simple but effective props, like for dividing up what comes in or goes out

Containers can be simple but very effective props. For example, as shown above in a YouTube video clip, at Macworld 2008 Steve Jobs demonstrated just how thin a MacBook Air was by pulling one out of a forty-cent interoffice mail envelope.   

Containers can be used to interact with your audience and divide up what comes in among buckets, like income for retirement. As shown above, a YouTube video of Frank Maselli Seminar Tip: Presentation Props, describes sources to discuss strategy:  Social Security, retirement accounts, taxable investments,  pensions (or part time work).

Containers also can be used to divide up what goes out. As shown above (on page 10) via a pie chart, about half of the 2019 Idaho state budget goes to public schools. We could simplify by grouping smaller categories and rounding to the nearest five percent.

Then we might represent each five percent via an orange table tennis ball. Drop the 20 balls into a series of clear plastic cylinders (hydrometer jars or graduated cylinders) as shown above. Start with the smallest. Ask the audience what percent they think goes for each of those five categories. Build an interactive bar chart, and surprise by ending that fully half (50%) goes into public schools.


UPDATE  February 6, 2020





My Google alert on public speaking found me a TEDx Evansville talk by Lewis Chaney titled You Won’t Die From Public Speaking but Your Deal Might, as shown above. It begins by using a water glass as a prop.