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.

Yes, I'm reading this site.

Just to say I am an avid reader!

Wanlu here

Matman present and accounted for, This site and all you guys are a real blessing to me.

Ron here.

Yes, I read messages on this website.

Im Reading it

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.

Yes, I'm reading.

Love this site, I have gotten so much info. Thanks
Checking in..... before Sept 15, I'll be 50 Sept 18 if anyone wants to send presents... ha ha ha.

Anyone got a small 19inch Chimp "Amazing Apes"
Thanks,

Ribbons the clown
Robin Bremer
www.ribbonstheclown.com
www.youtube.com/user/ribbonstheclown

For my 50th I received a baseball cap that says "I'm not 50, I'm just $49.95." I've been wearing it all year.

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.

Reader - non-poster

Yes...I'm reading this site.

More beginner information.
One handed magic...bird on other.

Thanks,

Dennis

Just oined today. I'm tryin g to learn as much about vent as possible. I currently own 7 Axtell Figures.

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

Welcome, to all!

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.

-Tony Borders

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.

Hi from Belgium

reading every day and looking for updates


best regards

danny

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

Greetings,

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.

Mike

Just discovered this site through an Axtell newsletter, have already gathered invaluable ideas. Thanks.

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!

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.

Am I able to use chatroom being just north of Brisbane, Australia? thanks Rod

Yes, I believe so. It is open at 4 pm Pacific Standard Time (California). Give it a try and let Steve know if you had any difficulties.

Tony,

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!

--Julian Franklin

Oh, by the way, I'm reading the forum.

Yes i'm a believer (euhhh) reader!!

Looks agood

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

Welcome to the newcomers! Your presence here is appreciated. Please join into all the discussions!

Ax

It's me, your resident new guy! Newbie here.

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?

Glad to be a part of the fun!

Don Schockow
Rainbow Ridge Productions

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.

We have several resources

This Forum (read it all!)

The Learning Center - http://www.axtell.com/learn.html

The Customer Service Page is full of ideas and tips http://www.axtell.com/custserv.html

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.

Welcome!

Ax

Yes, I am reading this BB

Ralph

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...

Thank you all!

Hi! I am passing through!

Have a Great Day,

Dan Montgomery

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.

Reading what website?

YUPPERS I AM AVID READER KEEP UP THE WONDERFUL WORK
N JAY

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)

I do puppet shows but no venting.

Thanks
Randy

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!

Oh wait and yes I read the site!

Trick, The Magician (Yeah, think about it)

Just checking in. My Magic Drawing Board is supposed to arrive tomorrow. Oh joy! Oh rapture! Good thing my wife is an artist.

....and thought it should continue Tony had a great idea when he first started it last year...lets keep it running and updated

This is our favourite place on the net!
I'm lucky I suppose, my wife is just as whimisical as myself and she loves our Axtell puppets. She is a reserved girl normally, and seems to transform into a terrific stand-up comic with one of Steve's puppets on her hand. We mostly work for disabled folk and churches. One of the real pleasures of this art form is "just thinkin' about what we'll do next!" There is no doubt whatever that Axtell's make the world's best vent puppets, and we always get a good reaction when we perform with them. We had/have a band for yonks, but nothing gives us the satisfaction of having people laugh at our puppet's antics and gags! We reckon what this world needs apart from Jesus, is a good laugh!
best always,
Terry

It's so great to read all the wonderful comments from old visitors and new visitors. You all Rock!

Ax

I thought that this would be a great Idea and have it revisited at least once each year to nrefreshen it with new visitors. so everyone who signed it once before you are also requested to resign it with updated new stuff

hello I'm just letting you know I'm in the area

Let us know about yourself when you post here. Where you are from, your experience and what your interests are with Axtell products and entertaining. Thanks.

No question, I just enjoy reading what everyoner is talking about.