I'd like to start a question which hopefully will generate a sequence of answers for those of us who haven't many performances yet. So you know your routine..kinda got the right vent actions, but now in front of a mirror one discovers one's lips are moving at times. So when did you jump in the deep end? Were you perfectly ready for your first few shows? Where did you first perform? Did you survive? Ron

Hi,
I love your question!
The very first puppet I had was a foam one, and I started to practice with it!
So one day I sat in front of a big mirror in my fathers house, and descovered that on my B's and M's and L's I was moving my lips!

Well I practiced as best as I could, and a few weeksd later I got my first booking...On the street at a street carnival, I had shows at 12.00pm 2.00pm and 4.00pm,
Well I got through all of them and my mum videod it all...My lips didn't move, only the odd once!

I have got many booking over the last 7 years and i have many of Axtell's puppets!
Thanks,
Paul x

If ventriloquists waited until they had perfect lip control, there would probably be no ventriloquists performing. I recently rented a video by America's most popular ventriloquist and was amazed at the number of lip "quivers". I have been to ventriloquist conventions and seen a large number of those who do it for a living, moving their lips regularly. I think it's great that you practice in front of a mirror! It is still the only way to really know.

You'll find that new material or a new puppet (especially with new controls on a hard figure) will take more concentration so that you may move your lips more. But people will only judge you once (I saw him, or I didn't see him move his lips) and then they focus on the true star of the show- your beautiful Axtell puppet.

I have seen people with just a few days of practice do ventriloquism perfectly. I shot a video on how to do ventriloquism and on the hard figure (which I rarely use) I found that I moved my mouth a lot! So much for a good video!

When people find out that you are a ventriloquist they often say, "Say something!" There you are with no puppet and they want to see where the sound will come from. You can use a coin purse with eyes on it. A pair of peepers you carry in your pocket. Take off your sock and draw eyes on it. Or just use your hand like a puppet. But I do recommend that you move your hand as well as your mouth so you can "Say something" but their eyes will avert to your moving hand. Here's what I say:
Me: Mr. Hand, they want to know how you work.
H: I don't work. I'm retired.
Me: They want to know how you talk.
H: I just start to talk!
Me: Actually, when he's talking, I'm talking. Tell them what that's called.
H: That's called rude!
Me: If he sings a song you'll see my tongue move.
H: Are you going to stick out your tongue when I sing? That's rude too!
Me: Just choose a song.
H: Okay. (start to sing and the hand keeps trying to look at your mouth, which helps block the view of the person.) I think I saw it!
Me: You saw my tongue move?
H: No. I saw something green stuck in your teeth. (Then I use that hand to kind of feel my teeth.) H: That's disgusting!
end

Tony..when did you first perform in public? Second question. What would be a better first audience..a seniors' home or at a primary school(grades JK to 3)? Thirdly, you mentioned controls. Is it easier to manipulate a control puppet or a vent figure like mine in which one manipulates the latex face? Ron

When are you really ready for anything? On stage I think it's important to be in the "good" to "very good" category. You are a paid entertainer. If you are still below average, don't perform vent yet, keep practicing. My personal feeling that nothing is worse than a really bad ventriloquist. When you have a difficult time and cannot be understood, and you grit your teeth when the puppet talks....all of that is very distracting to the entertaining performance. I'd rather see you relax and talk with your mouth fully moving but have really strong character and voice for the puppet. "Turn your head and Talk" is what I call it. Turn your head toward the puppet using misdirection....you direct the attention of the audience toward the puppet that is "talking". If you have a good routine and a really funny character (an Axtell puppet)your audience will relax and laugh. If you have the awkward hard to understand clenched teeth thing going on with lips quivering all over, you make the audience uncomfortable. You'll soon hear "you're making them talk" etc.

Am I shocking you? Is Steve Axtell saying don't be a vent?? NO! I am saying don't be a bad vent. It's better to use a puppet without vent than to perform with bad vent. I love ventriloquism and strive to teach it wherever I go, but most kids today have never seen one. They are not being exposed to vent on TV like we were when we were kids. So....blow them away with good vent, but as you learn and practice it, start using a puppet with these techniques NOW.....

HOW TO USE A PUPPET WITHOUT VENTRILOQUISM

Many people ask me how they can use a puppet in their magic show if they are not a ventriloquist...

DON'T BE INTIMIDATED by Ventriloquism! Please don't think you must be a vent to use a puppet. No vent is better than bad vent! Good ones ROCK, but if you are not good....don't attempt to do it on stage until you are GOOD!

Instead.... you have a lot of OPTIONS on how you can use a puppet in your show....

NO VOICE OPTIONS

1. WHISPER TECHNIQUE. Tell your audience that your puppet is shy. Have the puppet whisper in your ear. Now you tell the audience what he says. As you tell them, he could be shaking his head "yes". Sometimes get it wrong and he double takes at you! This technique is really fun and requires no voice!

2. ALL ACTION. All Manipulation no voice. No whispering. Just actions that convey the obvious thoughts of the puppet. This can really be fun. The puppet can do a lot without saying anything and it can be the best part of your show. Watch this video of Bill DeMar & Feldon the Frog and you'll get the concept of "All Action".


VOICE OPTIONS

1. TURN YOUR HEAD AND TALK - When the puppet is talking, turn your head sideways looking at the puppet....this will hide your mouth and misdirect attention to the puppet creating a strong illusion. DON'T SWEAT IT! If you try to fake vent, and are not skilled yet, you will draw attention to your awkward mouth positions and poor clarity. The audience will be uncomfortable and will be looking at the lack of skill. Kids will even say "you're doing the voice!" It will not be your greatest moment. So just be a puppeteer and move your mouth (looking at the puppet) and they will immediately let it go and get into the puppet character.

2. VENT YOUR FEELINGS - You can do it! It took me 3 months but I didn't do it publically for a year....now I've been doing it for 20 and am pretty comfortable in most situations. You can start by avoiding any hard words... keep it very short and simple and build as you go. We have a lot of teaching books and DVDs that will help you learn this exciting art!

3. TECHNOLOGY BABY! USE AxTrax ROUTINES ON CD! We have put together VERY FUNNY routines on CD with the puppet's voice, sound effects, a song and music for you. You can easily put them on your IPOD or sound control system. When you perform with the CDs in your show, it looks like you and the puppet are talking! They are used by hundreds of professionals in their shows. I have a video and more info at http://www.axtell.com/axtrax.html

I am not saying do not learn vent....I am saying LEARN VENT but while you are learning you can rock and roll with puppets in your magic show.....NOW!

Ax

Steve Axtell

www.axtell.com

Wow..a lot of info to digest. Most helpful and constructively encouraging. Ventriloquism is impossible magic to the uninitiated, but then can be ntimidating to those beginners learning the trade. Great strategies. Thanks, Ron

When I was a freshman in high school we were asked to give an oral report in December. I had a pull-string vent figure and decided to write a skit for my report. I spent one to two weeks rehearsing while I learned vent from Jimmy Nelson's record. The teacher liked it so much that she sent me to the neighboring elementary to repeat the skit for a class or two. Later I was doing puppetry and magic and people told me how hard ventriloquism was so I thought I must be doing it wrong. With proper instruction I never found it hard. I didn't do it for 15 years! Then one day I decided to try it again. I fell in love with ventriloquism all over again.

You asked about seniors vs. young kids as a first audience. I would personally go with the young kids. Volume is a problem with seniors, whether you're too soft or too loud. The best is to ask the nursing home if there is a daycare nearby that could have kids walk over, or perform for a family visiting day. The seniors LOVE to watch the little kids as they watch you.

You'll find it much easier to find a local daycare. Just tell them you are practicing a new show and can offer it for free. Ask for their feedback on your "new show". I still practice new ones on my local kindergarten class or on a daycare. Great opportunity to check timing and whether they "get the joke". I've thrown a lot of stuff out and got a valuable additive from a teacher recently.

-Tony Borders

When I was learning ventriloquism, I, too, was really focused on making sure my lips didn't move. However, in watching videos of famous ventriloquist, I began to realize that many of them moved there lips quite often.

"Why were they still enjoyable to watch?" I wondered--Their characters were well presented. If your puppet is alive, moving in good sync with the words, and is animated well, the focus is off the vent and on the figure. This is not to say that proper lip technique is unnecessary, but the ultimate goal should be getting the focus off of the vent and on the figure. With a solid rountine, this will get you off to a good start. Then, with much practice, you will be a well-rounded vent in all respects of the term, and lip technique will become second nature.