Ok here's one that hasn't been requested before so why not put it on the table:
A Vent has to practice every day to keep sharp: A newbie needs to begin doing the right thing so a typical day in the life of a venbtriloquist begins with early rising or late rising doesn't matter-you guys take it from here what is typical, and I know nothing is typical but when your going to perform you need to go through certain daily tasks each has their own method, what are they?

It is important to know WHY to practice more than just to practice.

Are you:
1. Trying to learn a new puppet's personality?
2. Trying to learn a non-puppet ventriloquist trick? (like the talking glass or making an audience member sing.)
3. Trying to memorize a skit?
4. Trying to get a new voice?
5. Working on controlling your lips?

#5 can be done anywhere. In the beginning I would practice not moving my lips while I was driving the car. I'd sing along with the radio or pray or talk to other drivers...
#4 It's fun to imitate radio voices while driving or "translate" a commercial into a different voice as it is being given.
#3 This is the tough one! Put the puppet ON as you practice so he can memorize his lines too. He may want to change a few lines as well.
#2 Make a list of what you'd really like to try and then start incorporating them into a show. I'd say no more than one in each show for quite awhile.
#1 Sit and watch a movie with the puppet and comment on the movie. You can see a GREAT example of this on the video "Dummy". You can actually watch the movie with Jeff Dunham and the old man puppet sitting there making comments.

Tony you are always there with these great pieces of advice... but lets say you are learning breathing exercises..labial lessons-preparing for a show
lip control, where do you fit them into your daily schedule.. this is the question that needs to be addressed. It becomes more difficult when your working a full time job, taking care of a house... so this is the reason why the question was addressed as your daily routine. I know it sounds corny but it does have a rhyme and reason.

I think the best place to practice on a regular basis is in the car. You can use weird voices and sing and have fun. You can practice skits (though they need to be memorized in advance), change skits, and just have fun.

Is it necessary to write a script before using a new puppet? Or when practising, just use the puppet and see what ever comes out of it?

This is just my opinion, but I would suggest playing with the new puppet at home or in private settings with friends or family members and seeing what the puppet would come up with. But before performing with it in public you would do best to write a script. So both are good ideas.

Having said that, I often throw a new puppet into an old show just to see what it would say. I know that if it only lasts 30 seconds I still have plenty of material with the rest of my show, but if it continues, I have a painless way of incorporating a new skit!
An example is the Big Baby. I wanted to incorporate it in a bullying show BUT I didn't want the volunteer who got called up to be called a big baby. It would be awful if I told the kids, "Don't tease" and then I had a volunteer get teased about being a Big Baby. So I thought and thought and probably prayed in advance for an idea. It hit me! Bring up a second volunteer as the caregiver. The message, "Nobody thinks it's right to be a bully to a baby. So why do we think it's okay when the baby gets older? We want a babysitter that takes care of the baby. They will get called back over and over again.
Then I taught that bullies should become caregivers. They should take care of people that need help instead of hurting them.
I didn't have a skit, but I had the idea of "caregiver" in mind. It went over great and will definitely be the thing they remember the longest.

hi my name is jon i'm 10 years old and i was wondering what is a typical life of a ventriloquist, if you can give some more info about ventrloquists

Jon

If you are refurring to what age you must be before retiring from vent there is no age limit I remember a Vent who worked till he was over the age of 100 his name was senor wences. As long as your happy performing and as long as your material is fresh and new the audience will except you. Puppets don't have to cost you a lot of money either..I remember another vent when I was a little guy like you who wore a sock on her hand and made millions and millions of people all over the world laugh with wonderment. Try your school and see if your teacher will allow you to perform for your class who knows you might wind up being the next Peanut...ooops I mean Jeff Dunham. Remember there is no limitations on age some people pickup vent after they retire from another career and some pick up vent when they first learn to speak untill someone or something takes the attention away and then they come back to it years later in life like I did. But what ever you choose have fun with vent and keep a stiff lip.

Ventriloquially Yours

N J

Hmmm. Good question, Jon! Many people think that a ventriloquist only works an hour one or two days a week. Here was my day today.

6:30 Got to sleep in today! All right! Woke the kids up for school.
7:15 Off to school to drop off the kids.
7:45 Workout at the fitness center. If you give yourself energy your show will improve!
8:30 Download information from the internet for future shows about the Armor of God. Found 13 pages of info.
Spent time editing the material I found so it fit the age group I wanted. Once I get the concepts in my head I can begin to write the programs.
10:30 Phone call. Will I do an announcement on Monday with the puppet and introduce a new church leader? I said no because I wanted to keep focused on the programs. I've been pulled away several times this month with other mini-projects.
11:00 Had to call back and give a couple of creative thoughts about what they could do to introduce the leader. They liked the ideas. Now I can concentrate!
11:15 Picked up someone from the doctor's office who needed a ride.
12:15 Lunch.
12:40 Back to work on the programs.
2:20 Pick up kids from school. Answer e-mails.
4:30 Shower and then pack for evening show.
5:30 Off to do the show at a local library!
7:30 Dinner at the Drive-thru.

And now home to check out the Axtell Forum!

No work today. At least, no paid work.

Took kids to school.
Went for a walk with my lovely wife and caught up on our lives.
She went to church for a few hours and I stayed home and did contracts and laundry. (I try to get the contracts done by the first of the month BEFORE the month of the show. For example, by May 1st I wanted all the June contracts out.)
Called magic club members to set up a meeting.
Picked up kids.
Went to library to see a marionette show and get books.
Helped daughter with memory verses.
Watched 90 minutes of MASH! Cool!
Check Axtell Forum

Remember folks, if you want to surprise yourself or someone else for Mother's Day or Father's Day you better call your Axtell order in! You just know your kids would like to see you get another puppet or magic trick for a gift!