Please pass along pre-programmed patter. Steve posted the following and I thought it would be good to start a new string...

HELP!!! Your ideas needed! February 3 2008, 12:30 PM

HERE IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET FREE PROGRAMING (for the Magic Version)!

Please either post or email me (steve@axtell.com ) with types of statements, reactions, bits, jokes, etc. you would like to have in your Toucan or Chimpanzee. We are recording and programming starting this week and we might put many of your suggestions into the characters as a pre-programmed feature for all to have. Examples are

Introductions (not using your name of course)... think of creative ways to do this.

Finales - Goodbyes - Outros (fun ways to end your show with the character)

Song ideas (we might even produce the music free for a few of the first ones!)

Bits of Biz - like the 3 part hungry / popcorn bit I did with the Toucan.

Magician's assistant - Waving a wand - saying magic words -

Tricks - mind reading bits - picking out a "random card", etc.

Reactions to your show - Things like "Oh Wow! That as a Great Trick!", "Oh that was funny...it reminds me of a story..."

Funny Poems - Limericks - special occasions

etc.

Now's your chance...you may have to pay for it later! Thanks!

Ax

IF you perform with a lookalike here are some ideas:

1. Have an assistant behind the backdrop and have a lookalike empty stand sitting beside the backdrop. With your back to the audience you pretend to put the puppet down, with a few complaints from the puppet. While your body blocks the view your assistant takes the empty stand and puppet and puts the hands-free clone in it's place. You step aside.

2. You can leave the stage and the puppet slowly says, "Is he gone? I thought he'd never leave! Now I can tell you what I really think! I know, you THOUGHT he was a ventriloquist. He is a good animal trainer, but that's it! etc.

3. Song: Start off singing "I Can't Smile Without You" and you are standing right next to the puppet. People think that you are working it. After the first verse you step aside and the singing continues.

4. Chimpanzee uses a banana like a magic wand. Magic words are "Grab a banana" instead of abracadbra.

5. You want the chimp to help you with a trick, so you give him a red silk to hold. He looks at it and throws it down, then looks down. This happens about three times. Finally, you stick it over his head. A puff of air is heard (you'll have to rig up a squeeze bulb and clear tube so that when you squeeze it it looks like he blew the silk off.)

6. Doris Day song about the Abba Dabba Honeymoon.
Abba-dabba dabba dabba dabba dabba dabba said the monkey to the chimp.
Yabba-dabba dabba dabba dabba dabba dabba said the chimpey to the monk.
All night long they would chatter away.
All day long they were happy and gay.
.... (Modern kids don't know what they're missing! You can't understand words nowadays.)

7. Play a game of Simon Says with the chimpanzee leading the audience. Be sure to throw in a false line or two.

8. Several magic tricks, or even the blowing of balloons require the audience to respond "Bigger". This could be built into the puppet's response.

9. An "Oh, that's good" "No, that's bad" skit complete with head movements.
(Keep the repetitive parts short.)

10. I can't think of a 10th one and I know Mr. Monk would need to see it, so please keep 'em coming!