New Object to Talk
New Object to Talk is a warm-up exercise in which participants pick up a random object and use it as a conversation starter, speaking to or about the object as if it has significance, purpose, or a story attached to it. The exercise trains spontaneous verbal commitment and the ability to generate content from minimal external stimulus.
Structure
Setup
A collection of miscellaneous objects is placed in the center of the space or passed around the group. Objects should be varied and ordinary -- kitchen utensils, office supplies, old keys, random hardware. Participants stand or sit in a circle.
Progression
Each participant picks up an object and immediately begins talking. The speech can take any form: a monologue addressed to the object, a sales pitch, a memory the object supposedly triggers, a story about where the object came from, or an expert lecture on the object's properties. The only rule is that the participant must begin speaking within a few seconds of picking up the object -- there is no preparation time.
The facilitator sets a time limit per turn, typically 30 to 60 seconds. When the time is up, the participant puts the object back and the next person selects one.
Conclusion
The exercise ends when every participant has spoken with at least one object. The facilitator may run a second round with shorter time limits or with the added constraint that the participant must speak in a specific genre -- infomercial, nature documentary, breaking news report.
How to Teach It
Objectives
New Object to Talk develops the capacity to generate verbal content from almost nothing. The object serves as a prop that anchors the speaker's attention and gives them something to react to, which is easier than generating speech from a completely blank prompt.
How to Explain It
"Pick up an object and start talking about it, to it, or because of it. Don't plan what you're going to say. Let the object give you something and follow that thread until time is up."
Scaffolding
For anxious or new groups, let the first round be purely descriptive -- participants simply describe the physical properties of the object for 30 seconds. Once that baseline is comfortable, the second round invites narrative or emotional content. Advanced groups can be asked to switch objects mid-speech without stopping the monologue, forcing them to bridge between two unrelated stimuli.
Common Pitfalls
Participants often stall by examining the object silently instead of speaking. The exercise requires speech to begin almost immediately after pickup; the facilitator should gently prompt participants who pause too long. A second pitfall is participants falling into a joke pattern -- every object becomes a comedy bit. Encourage variety in register: some turns can be serious, reflective, or absurd.
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Related Exercises
New Object Name and Application
New Object Name and Application is an applied improvisation exercise in which participants are given an ordinary everyday object, assign it a completely new name, and then pitch a convincing use case for it under its new identity. The exercise trains spontaneous creative reframing, confident presentation under uncertainty, and the ability to find value in unexpected contexts.
Object Narrative
Object Narrative is a storytelling exercise in which a participant picks up a physical object and tells a spontaneous story inspired by or centered on that object. The object serves as a concrete anchor for narrative invention, giving the storyteller something tangible to react to rather than generating a story from nothing.
Conch Shell
Conch Shell is an applied improvisation exercise in which a physical object serves as a speaking token: only the person holding the object may speak. The mechanic enforces one-voice-at-a-time give-and-take in group conversations, making unequal participation patterns visible and creating structured space for voices that are typically crowded out by more dominant speakers.
Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal Communication is an applied improvisation exercise in which participants interact, negotiate, and collaborate without spoken language, relying entirely on gesture, facial expression, body positioning, and physical presence. The exercise reveals how much information is transmitted nonverbally and trains participants to read and use body language with greater awareness and precision.
Touch to Talk and Eye Contact to Speak
Touch to Talk and Eye Contact to Speak is an applied exercise in which participants practice two distinct modes of initiating communication: physical touch as an invitation to speak, and sustained eye contact as a signal of direct address. The exercise builds precision in nonverbal communication and awareness of how physical cues shape conversational turns.
Repetition
Repetition is a paired listening exercise in which participants hold a conversation one sentence at a time, with each person required to repeat their partner's last statement before responding. The exercise forces genuine listening by making the repetition a prerequisite for the reply.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). New Object to Talk. Retrieved September 28, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/exercises/new-object-to-talk
The Improv Archive. "New Object to Talk." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/exercises/new-object-to-talk.
The Improv Archive. "New Object to Talk." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/exercises/new-object-to-talk. Accessed September 28, 2026.
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