• Sparks the imagination—the props give your mind something to work with; with the right props, you become a cowboy or secret agent. The imagination fills in the gaps that your props don’t.
• Creates suspense—bright colors, big objects, fun signs, and unique items give our mind questions; we begin to anticipate what the props are and wonder how they fit. Props are to games what a trailer is to a movie; the props make me want to play more.
• One-of-a-kind experience—we talk about it, share the pictures, and remember it. Most of the props that you will use are a result of your creative skills, which means that props can’t be bought at Walmart!
• Elevates the storyline—competition at its core is just a story of a winner and a loser. When you add props that need a storyline to justify their existence, you bring the most interesting part of competition to the surface . . . the story, that which gives meaning to the score, the players, and the props. When a story becomes part of the competition, it takes it to a whole new level of adventure, fun, and excitement.
• Door of creativity—no props means that we reward efficiency and convenience; adding props opens the door of creativity to both the person running the game and the person playing the game.

Closing Thoughts

• Props can never take the place of a balanced, well explained, well run game.
• In a time bind, prop out one or two games to stand out from other games.
• One of the easiest props to add to any game is the back story that brings us to this moment.