I was weaving my way backwards through some of the threads. I saw the idea for putting a cape around your puppet for walk arounds. Great idea. So simple, but yet I hadn't thought of that. When I used my Seal a few weeks ago that arm placement really concerned me. I was able to enter from a back room and enter with the Ayla the Seal already going into full action. So...I hoped that my arm placement was not a huge concern, but I am sure some noticed. (Couldn't help but notice.)
I really noticed my arm placement being a huge problem last week. I was showing my Grandsons my puppets for the first time in person. They had only seen homemade DVD's until then.
When I turned to take Ayla the Seal back to her cage in the other room, upon my return, I was grilled.
My 5 year old Grandson pointed out to me that I had my hand in the Dolphin's back, and that I was talking for her. "OH NO! The Magic is gone!" I corrected him that Ayla was a Seal. And yes Ayla is a Puppet. Then he said ever so sweetly. "We won't tell her." Whew...the Magic is still alive. Even though I blew it with my exit, Ayla was my 9 year old Grandson's favorite. The 5 year old's favorite was the possum.
I love kids!

I made Ayla, my Seal puppet a cape. She looks nice in it. I have a program coming up in about a week and I was concerned about hiding my arm entering in her back from the little kids. So, after reading one of the threads about putting a cape on the puppet to hide the back entry. I made a cape. Ayla primarily does tricks and such at this time like a circus act, so the cape fits her really well. Her next skit is during a program titled Under the Big Top so this is great. Thanks guys for the ideas you share on the threads.

I always tell the kids it's a puppet - even the youngest ones. They either don't get it, don't care or become even more interested and want to try. I charge them 2 bucks to see the back.

The magic is not fooling children - the microwave oven can do that. The magic is bringing the whole audience into your imagination. Some young kids enjoy your performance of the character so much they delight in the interaction on any terms. Don't worry about fooling them - have fun with them, that's what they love.

Having said that, like yourself, I don't like to make it obvious where I end and the puppet begins - especially if you're gonna do walk arounds. The cape is a good idea!

By the way - I think it's really cool that you use each performance opportunity to advance.

First off. Thanks Steve Petra for sharing with new Vents like myself that need that little hands up to get a good start in the art of Venting. Your ideas and inputs have really helped me grow. And I do want to keep improving each step of the way. I try and watch my mistakes and learn. Shoot I know I will always make mistakes, but you can learn from them.

I had the same issue with the Old Storyteller when I got him. Hand entering from the back. I really did not have a problem with entering from the back, because we got to enter somewhere or there is no life. That is pretty much a given for a puppet. {:-> But since I was changing the poor old guys gender to a lady I did some clothing change as well. I measured the puppet all over the place. Then I went off the rack shopping for new duds. With the outfit I came up with it is very simple and still hangs on her nicely with my hand and arm up under her polo shirt with the outer shirt hanging nicely around that. I was going to bring the new duds home and put them under the sewing machine to make a clean entry, but this is working out nicely. I feel that the puppet just looks more a live if you can hide it from any viewer that you are operating it with your hands.
It was such a joy taking her out for her first adult performance. Aunt Lowe Lee is a live to me when I am wearing her. If she is attached to my arm she is full of life. I truly believe that is what brings the puppets to life for the viewers. If the Vent is treating the Puppet as a breathing object or person, the viewers get sucked right into it believing it is a live as well. I love being around adults and they address the puppet as much as they address me. It is so cool. The sparkle in their eyes and smiles when they realize that they are talking to the puppet is fantastic. I think it is fun when they feel they have to explain why they are talking to the puppet. Makes me feel pretty good when I can get them to react to the puppet one on one.

I thought I'd share this. It was funny. I never really gave any thought to how puppets are put together. But when I had to undress my Storyteller to measure him for his new clothes I was surprised. {:->
I will not take away the magic from other new Vents with their first clothing change, but I am pretty sure most of you guys reacted the same way I did. {:->

I agree with Steve about this. I always tell the kids that I bring "puppets" with me. The magic of it all comes from going into an imaginary world where animals can talk and tiny boys get to smart off to adults without getting in trouble. You don't really want to set up a situation where the audience is trying to "figure you out" at ever turn, because they miss the fun of what's actually going on.

I went to a magic show in Pigeon Forge, TN, a few years back. In the magician's intro to the audience, he said (this is a paraphrase), "There's a trick to everything I'm about to do. If you look hard enough, you'll be able to find it. But, instead of searching for how it's done, I hope that you can put that aside and go with me into an imaginary world and just have fun this evening." Essentially, he broke down the wall the audience builds up around magicians where they are constantly analyzing the trick to see "how it's done," when really we are there to be entertained! If you can let that go as an audience member, you can more freely enjoy the show.

My favorite part about ventriloquism is that the "trickery" is soooo obvious. It is clear that you're moving the puppet (you're standing right next to it!) and everyone knows that the Vent is actually providing the voice--somehow. But, when the talent is good, people quickly and easily forget all that and travel to a magical world where that silly hunk of latex and foam is alive! And you don't even have to lie to them.

With all that said, every time I use my seal, I never turn him around. He always comes out from under my table facing forward and goes back in that way.

---
Robbie
www.theventguy.com

I perform in front of young enough kids that many of them believe my characters are real. I don't have a problem with that---as long as thinking they're real doesn't scare them. For the few kids that my characters do scare, I have on occasion taken them aside individually and shown them how it works (if possible). I don't charge them $2, though. (o: I try to select puppets that are goofy-looking or friendly so as to minimize the scare factor. For example, I'd go with a Cheeky or Bongo ape over one of the more realistic Amazing apes here. I think that's why kids really prefer Axtell products to the traditional hard puppets. The wooden ones looked spooky and disturbing. I remember thinking that when I was a kid.

If kids blurt out that the characters are or aren't real (which is rare), I may respond with, "Yes, he is a real...puppet." Most of the time I just ignore those comments and move on, though. No sense in getting into a debate with a kid whose aim is to spoil it for the majority who just want to have fun with the illusion.

I make a concerted effort never let them see my arm. I put my possum and wild thing, for example, on my bird arm illusion (in addition to all my birds, of course). I press my forearm into the small of the back of my larger stuffed puppets, even though this may not always be comfortable. I go to an area of the room where I don't have peripheral viewers, and if that's not possible with the way the room is set up, I encourage those on the peripheries to scoot in towards the center so they can see better. When I walk past kids with characters on my arm, I always have the puppet face them. This means that sometimes I'm walking sideways or even backwards so as to maintain the illusion.

I got some feed back this week that made me feel pretty good about how I was handling my puppets. I love feed back since I am new at this.
A five year old little girl saw me walking through Wal-Mart and had her Daddy take her up to me, as he waved me down. She wanted to say "Hi". She also wanted to let me know that she loved Rosie (skunk). She showed me how she held her nose when Rosie came into the room. She was also one of the little kids that saw me entering with Ayla (Seal) that day. She was 5 years old she told me. And she did not have a favorite of any of the puppets I brought out, cause she liked them all. {:->
At Sunday School today a Mom shared with me that her son told her while at Wal-Mart yesterday that he saw the lady that has pets that talked at Church.
It took her a little bit to figure out what he ment, then a light bulb went off. He was talking about me. She asked him, "Do you mean Suzie?" HE said "Yes. The lady with the pets that talk at church." Now I think that is cool. I think he is around 4 or 5.
Then just this afternoon after Church I was at an RC Airplane gathering for our club. I saw a little girl sitting alone. So I slipped back off to my car and grabbed Dodger DeCar my Possum. I had the children's moment at church this morning so he was still with me. I took him over and started talking to her. She spoke to him as if they were old friends. Then after she gave me more information. She had attended a Kids In Christ Program that I had done a skit for with Dodger DeCar. The two of them talked while I just stood by and listened. {:-> Then they sang a song. As far as she was concerned Dodger was a live and kickin' possum, and they were friends for life. {:->
I may not do it right all the time, but the kids love it. Dodger and her almost made me forget that he was a puppet. {:->

If you wear a long sleeve outfit when performing you could make fake arm that goes around the puppet -- somewhat along the idea of Steve's arm illusion -- but it would requre wearing the same outfit...or having a number of outfits. Jim Barber and several others, including Steve Petra, use variations of that idea.

Even though I'm forthcoming about the "puppet" issue (if they ask) kids who have seen me before, ALWAYS ask for the character not the puppet.
"Do you have Hercules with you - where is the Brain - is Penelope here - did you bring the Naked Turkey, etc.

Thanks John D for an additional idea to use with the puppets.
You are right Steve Petra...after a little while kids learn the puppets names. It is cool.