If you have never signed in before please do so by clicking on the "Post an Idea or Comment". You won't be signing up for mailouts or e-mails or any unwanted advertisements. I would like to know how many people are actually reading this site. Please sign up and then respond to this message with a Yes, I'm reading this site.
In addition it would be nice to know if there is a topic you would like to know more information about. "How do I keep my lips from moving?" "How do I care for a latex puppet?" "How do I do the hard letters?" etc.
Please respond so we'll know how many people are out there.
This message has been edited by axtell on Nov 26, 2007 6:16 AM
Thanks for responding! I'm hoping to see some more names, particularly the new ones. I have read many things by our prolific writer, anonymous. He/She is probably quoted more than any other being in history.
It appears that we have a small clientele. If you read this site please respond to this topic so we can know how many readers there are. I appreciate those of you who have already done so. Thanks.
just discovered the site and this page. 4 days late! (typical) have been working puppets all my life but am now graduating to axtell. i will be found in the learning center
Thanks for responding. I know that sometimes I feel like the late night Radio host who wonders if anyone is listening. I'm glad that you are.
Mark, let us know which part of the learning center from Axtell's site is the most beneficial to you.
And just to let you know, I don't work for Steve Axtell. You are all free to write on this site. He just asks that you don't buy and sell anything except for the occasional Axtell product that he is out of production. Speaking of which... I have a Veggietales Jr. Asparagus? for sale. $35 plus actual bidding. He's in 80% condition. He gets a B- for a fade in the colors.
I'm just starting a puppet ministry @ my church with my sister and brother-in-law.
None of us are vents, we are just learning. I ordered our firt axtell puppet (vern) and am anxiously awaiting it's arrival! We want to learn all we can!
Click on the pictures of each bird for possible links to bird jokes. Vern is a GREAT puppet! For Christmas you could have a skit where he has to let everyone know that he isn't a turkey. He is on the endangered list. He is a dodo.
I'm here
I am a christian vent, everyone is a true blessing to me, you all are so willing to share ideas and comments. This site is a real blessing.
Matman
I am new to the forum, but not to the wonderful world of Axtell puppets!
I have been using Axtell's fine products to amaze children and the young at heart for a number of years.
For those of you who speak English as a second, third, or fourth language, when one adds "in" as a prefix it means the opposite of the root word. Example: Insufficient means not sufficient.
Mary, I'm sorry that you find the messages invaluable.
Just heaven fun!
You are correct that "generally" putting "in" before a word changes the meaning, but there are exceptions and "invaluable" is one of them.
Invaluable means "having great value".
In the same way "flammable" means the same thing as "inflammable".
The best way to remember when it changes the word and when it doesn't is to...wait, there is no way to remember. That's just one more reason that English is such a difficult language to learn!
Just bought a MDBoard with afew Axtrax CD's ( 2-3 wks to get to me in Australia ) already have 3 puppets and a theatre but can see I can draw plenty of ideas for church and kids & learn things thru this website
Welcome aboard, Mate! Play around on the website. You'll find that by clicking on the photos of puppets you often find hidden information and jokes. Sign up to join the International Performer's section as well.
Well, firstly I write all my thoughts on the subject, gags and quips etc. Then I type it out in large type and have the script near my bed so I can read it often. After that I'm pretty right after I practice a few times in front of a mirror minus puppet, and then with a puppet. Sometimes I do what Tony Borders does, and write some land marks to read just before I go on and after that........ I pray! I always add lib anyways, so it comes out in the end ok. This is the first time I have been here , and this site is tops! I am from the East Coast of Australia and there is not many vents here. Puppets are still well accepted though and we find people quickly get into the fantasy of our puppet world, which is great for us. We only work clean and come anywhere near "blue" stuff at all.
best always
Terry
I'm here. Just found this forum. I live in Uk and am trying to find the voices and acts for my two lil' boys. Hoping to get Mr. Tucker the turtle for christmas
Just thought I would check in and say hi. I have been a huge puppet enthusiast ever since I was a small boy. Even though I have worked in the entertainment industry as both talent and production for the past 28 years, I have never had the opportunity to do any real performing with puppets, even though I own a few.
After seeing your website and getting excited about the Magic puppets (the movement is just amazing!), I am now trying to talk my wife into helping me put together a puppet entertainment company for children and family parties and events.
I have a good history in show production......but talking the wife into investing into such a venture....well, that's the hard part. Any ideas?
Welcome! You might try letting your extra jobs pay for equipment for the first several jobs. (Don't quit your dayjob kind of thing.) You will find much more work for kids than adults when advertising puppets, but that's okay. There are always kids who need entertainment.
What are you looking for in the way of ideas?
How to advertise a new business?
How to convince your wife?
How to put together a show? (You'll find tips on this forum from previous posts.)
Welcome Don! I know your excitement will carry you a LONG way! I cannot tell you how many times I've heard about people wanting to quit their job to do this....I agree with Tony that do it cautiously and over a good period. Don't underestimate the security of a real job....but then again don't underestimate what your career could potentially become if you turn to Entertainment. There are easy ways to begin the journey.
There are also mail lists for puppetry and ventriloquism listed on our links page http://www.axtell.com (worldvents, puptcrit, christianvents, christpup)
We also host a daily Chat where we can do real time idea exchanges. There are a lot of experienced, and newbies there.
Newbie who is happy to be here, I often visit for inspiration and the priceless advice of everyone here who is more seasoned than me. I love entertaining kids, always have. I am striving to be better and better and reach the professional standard displayed here. I have a dozen clown magic shows under my belt, 11 of them have recieved excellent feed-back, even follow up calls to my current employer praising my performance. ( Don't ask about the first party I did and why I have had Velcro on my pockets since then
I will branch off to work on my own soon. I am bursting with potential, but I know nothing compares to experience and doing your homework, so here I am. Studying, note-taking and standing in awe in the shadow of Giants.
I am so glad to have found this Forum and Axtell. I have an Axtell puppet fund going...baby steps..baby steps...
I have always loved puppets and ventriloquism. So now that I am able I will be starting in ventriloquisim and hopefully learn as much as possible in the shortest amount of time.
I am starting to post here after being around for a couple years. I love axtells puppets and I really am excited to see the new characters coming out like they are . Keep them coming. (armadillo)
V: Alright, well, here we are...You ready to check in?
F: !efil ym ni ydaer erom neeb reveN !haey hO
V: Umm...What was that...?
F: Well, my mother always said no backtalking while I was under her roof...
V: So?
F: (looks up) So we're not under her roof anymore...
V: Enough, just check in and introduce us!
F: Can't do that!
V: And just why not?
F: I only work when peopl can hear me...no fingers to type with.
V: So once again, I do all the work and you get all the credit.
F: And the big bucks...Which reminds me, you still owe me some money.
Oi, ok enough of that, allow myself to introduce....myself....
Hello! Bonjour! Hola! Aloha! Konnichi Wa! And just in case you're reading this in the am: Ohayou Gozaimasu!
My name is Patrick, but normally go by Trick (Drop the PA, I don't come from Pennsylvania...ouch, bad joke) I have been mainly know as a Magician, as that is what I have been doing for the past 21 years...(21 years? Wow that makes me feel old...And I'm only 25...Wow maybe I should say several years...But then that could be any number. Ooo! I could be a magician with zero death crystals...Yeah, then people would want to book me)
Ok, back to what I was saying, I have been a magician for many years. During my times of magic, I found myself interested in Vent, and the leap didn't seem that far (Which is good cuz back then I was young, and today I'm too fat to leap) So when I told my parents about this new found interest (imagine how proud they were first its "Mommy I want to do magic" then "Mommy, I'm ready to be a big boy and play with dolls") they supported me and got me my first vent. dummy...A Charlie McCarthy. Well I used that puppet of mine for a good, um, 2 weeks, before I got bored (I was 10, I had a short attention spand an-...OO LOOK SOMETHING SHINEY)
Anywho, though my McCarthy wound up in a garage sale, the skill I started learning grew with me, until I found I could talk to myself rather easily!
But I'm sure if you're reading this you don't care. The point I'm slowly and painfully getting to is that now I have decided to return to ventriloquism and start creating more shows based of this wonderful art. I decided that my first puppet for this venture should definatly be an Axtell, and by weeks end my lovely new Crow will be here. Looking forward to a lot more fun puppets and new shows!
Glad to be a part of the fun!