Library Shows - Help!

I've had a request for tips, ideas, suggestions, routines, etc. for ventriloquist library shows. I'm setting up a "themed page" on this subject and can use your help if you have experience in this area. Just send your contribution by email: mahertalk@aol.com

Thank you!

Creating Speaksakes

Question: "Years ago you sold a booklet on how to make items into figures (wagon, ball bat, etc.). I'm guessing you are not printing it anymore, so are you able to run that off and give me a price?" Bryce G.

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From Mr. D.: The book you are referring to was actually first prepared as a set of lecture notes for lectures I presented at the FCM Conference, Vent Haven Convention, and elsewhere. Then due to the number of requests, I reprinted it in booklet format, title "Creating Speaksakes From Throw-Aways". Actually, I still have a few copies! Nine, to be exact. They are $5.00 each PP mahertalk@aol.com

Paul Winchell & Jerry Mahoney

During the years Juro Novelty Co. produced the replicas of Paul Winchell's popular pals, Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead, they included a small instructional booklet with cover photo of Paul and Jerry. I have here in hand a framed copy of the attractive cover. (I notice Jerry is wearing one of the novelty light-up bow ties someone asked about several months ago.) By way of our drawing today, Mark Truman is the winner of this very nice historical piece.

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12 Things To Remember

12 Things To Remember

C. Allyn Brown, Jr.

1. The VALUE of time.

2. The SUCCESS of perserverance.

3. The PLEASURE of working.

4. The DIGNITY of simplicity.

5. The WORTH of character.

6. The POWER of kindness.

7. The INFLUENCE of example.

8. The OBLIGATION of duty.

9. The WISDOM of economy.

10. The VIRTUE of patience.

11. The IMPROVEMENT of talent.

12. The JOY of originating.

Mr. C. Allyn Brown, Jr. was a teacher for 40+ years and every student he taught and who entered his classroom received a copy of his "12 Things To Be Remember". (He misspelled "perseverance" on purpose to see how many were really reading it and paying attention to detail.) The list has been passed down for years to more people than he could have imagined and even made it to the Senate floor in Washington where it was read by the Senate Chaplain. While applicable to all people, if you read through the list through the eyes of a ventriloquist, you will see the appropriate extra value of this list, worthy of posting where it can be reviewed frequently. My special thanks to Jeff Brown for sending me a copy of this list in his Father's original handwriting and format as it was given to his students.

When should you start charging for your shows?

By Dale Brown

There are some simple ways to gauge your progress as an entertainer and find out if you're really entitled to be rewarded for all your hard work. My formula for finding out if you should be getting paid for your talents is simple ... ask.

The most practical approach to evaluating your ability is to use your free shows to produce tangible evidence about your strengths as a vent, as well as your weakness. Let your audiences tell you what you're good at, and what you may need to improve on, before starting down the path as a professional.

Make a critique form (an example is shown in "Putting Money Where Your Mouth Is") and give to at least five people in the audience. Tell the people they do not have to sign their names. Arrange to have the forms turned in to someone other than yourself ... probably the person who asked you to perform. That will ensure that you don't know who says what, which will tend to generate more honest opinions. You'll want to ask about:

1) Voice contrast (was the ventriloquist's voice significantly different from the puppets?)

2. Entertainment value (Was the show entertaining?)

3. Technical skills (Did the ventriloquist's lips move? Was it easy to understand the ventriloquist and the puppets?)

4. Variety (Did the show offer variety and keep the audience's interest?)

5. Audience appropriateness (If it was a school show, was the program aimed at children, etc.?)

6. Audience participation.

7. Audience reaction.

8. Program length

9. Professionalism (how well did the performer handle himself/herself on stage?)

10. Would you pay to see this show?

Remember ... "It's what the audience thinks of your performance that's important. It's not what you think of your performance."

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The above excerpt was condensed from chapter one of "Putting Money Where Your Mouth Is" (revised 2010) by Dale and Leslie Brown. Thanks to the author, we are today awarding one free signed copy of this book to Tiffany Cox. To order a copy of this book or more helpful booklets or Dale's DVD, visit http://www.dale-brown.com/

NAAV Collector Spoon

They're over 35 years old, still new and in their boxes, these NAAV* Collector Spoons. I don't know if that makes them a "vintage" item or not, but it is fun to own one if you're a collector of either spoons or ventriloquist memorabilia. Today we're giving away six spoons. The winners (who will receive one spoon each) are: Marion MacPherson, Glen Goodrum, Quinn Buffandeau, Donna Calise, Kenny Croes, and Margaret Davis. Please remember, you must confirm your address with Mr. D to receive your prize spoon. (*North American Association of Ventriloquists 1940-2004)

Sliding Mouth

From Ted Nunes:

This is a tomato puppet idea I did recently. It's something I drew, instead of a photo, but the principle is the same. For a photo you would probably want to spray mount it to some card stock (bristol board) to give you some rigidity.

The jaw is the tricky part. I cut it out and mounted it to a strip on which I drew the insides of the mouth. (you could grab this from another photo of somebody's open mouth, or just draw it with markers--it could look funny to have a "cartoony" mouth interior.) I made a track that the jaw would slide along using strips of cardboard glued to the back of the face. I cut out another piece of cardboard the same shape as the head that the face is glued to. The jaw slides between those pieces--the track acting as a spacer--plus that second piece gave me something to attach a stick to (a chopstick in this case.)

This photo is version #1, where the jaw is simply attached to another strip of cardboard that I used to move it up and down. I've modified it to use a lever and string and rubber-band for tension, but I don't have photos of that one yet.

I just used crafts store googley eyes on this, but my ukulele puppet is mostly the same principle and he has moving eyes. I'll try to get a shot of how that works.

Hard Work

From Steve at The Dummy Shoppe

Good morning Clinton,

I stayed up most of the night working on your riddle from a day or so ago. Terry Fator's KHODRRAW. After much HARD WORK I think I finally solved it. I believe that Terry has a lower paid staff member who is constantly searching around the land for the newest GEEKIE type puppet to turn into a star.

This staff member is a bit of a redneck, so he just wanders throughout the land muttering loudly to any puppet who might be listening. WHAR DORK, . . .WHAR DORK, . . .WHAR DORK. Every now in then one will answer. . . . Heer I Is, I be the Dork U R looking for. . . and a Star is Born!!!

KHODRRAW could also be a dyslectic Marine from Oklahoma talking about his latest sketch in Mono sylables.

(As you well know, when we stop having fun. . . we might as well quit.)

Have a great day.

Coin Comments & Note from Mr. D.

"I like the coin very much. I carry it n my pocket all the time now on stage and off. It is the new manipulating coin I carry as a talisman. Love the look, the weight and the size." Jay Johnson
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"Received your coin and I can not express my great delight enough. I will treasure it always. I am going to have it framed to hang in my den as a sign of encouragement of continueing in my favorit hobby." Don Jones
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"I just wanted to drop you a note letting you know that I have received the Vent Collector Coin. It really does look better in person. A very nice vent collectible. Thank you for being kind enough to give these out to your readers and friends. They are very nice. Thanks." Jeff Walters
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"Many thanks for the $5 coin, I am really thrilled at receiving this in the mail. I was thinking what I could do with this coin, and then I saw on this mornings entry that they would make a good key ring, so I will go and see if I can find a holder to fit this coin. Once again, many, many thanks for this memento." Doug Price
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Note from Clinton (Mr. D):

I purposely had these coins dated 2010 and it is my plan to have my entire supply distributed before the end of the year to guarantee their true collectable value going into the year 2011 (when I hope to be able to offer a companion 2011 coin).

"Sliding" mouth

Question: Hi, Clinton. I am currently trying to build a "flat" vent puppet - using a photo of a face. I want to give it sliding moving eyes and a sliding moving mouth. I noticed on your blog you built a talking skull with a "sliding mouth" See Skull here. Are you able to send photos of how you did this or draw some diagrams of how you did it? I know it's a big request; I know you're busy, but....? Any help would be appreciated. Look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards. Geoffrey
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From Clinton: The skull to which you refer, has a jaw built on the slide principle, with a jaw of significant thickness moving downward over the FRONT of the face.

On a photo or picture, however, the mouth will be quite thin, and is best when it slides down BEHIND the picture. I don't think I have anything at hand that was made in this manner. 30 years or so ago I printed up a series of plans for "poster puppets". They did have plans for such puppets with moving mouth and eyes. I don't know if I can find any of them or not, but I will check around.

Clinton

Comin' along with Fator "magic"

You may remember the three unfinished hard puppet heads I purchased on eBay a few weeks ago - the very same heads I started building over 25 years ago, but never completed and subsequently found their way to eBay auction... Long story short, I'm nearing completion of the work on one of them. Shortly after this photo was taken yesterday, I applied the first coat of paint to the head. I see from this image I was wearing my Terry Fator hat...maybe I was unknowingly hoping a bit of the Fator Magic* would be bestowed upon me as I worked to complete this figure! I can dream, can't I?

Note: *Fator Magic can be spelled with eight letters: KHODRRAW. Unscramble the letters to make two common four letter words and you'll discover Terry's secret of success.

"Hey, Let Me Outta Here!"

I've read many articles about ventriloquists and ventriloquism over the years, but the 10 page feature in the August 1989 issue of The Atlantic Monthy by Cullen Murphy is one of the best. The exquisite illustrations by Bill Nelson (incluing those seen here) make it that much more special for any collector of ventriloquist memoribilia. I sure hope John Iskat is following my blog today because that is the name we drew to receive a free copy of this magazine (provided for this drawing by Dale Brown).

Andersen Script books

Question: "I have found a lot of success harvesting the works of William Andersen for tried and true scripts. Would you be able to list for me the titles you have available by William Andersen?" Jim
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Script/Dialogue Books by William Andersen

Short Routines $10

My Favorite Routines $5

Tell Me A Story Gramps $5

School Talk For Dummies $5

School Talk For Dummies #2 $5

School Talk For Dummies #3 $5

From The Birds $5

Animal Sense and Nonsense $5

Ventriloquist Safety Programs $5

Short Bible Routines #1 $5

Short Bible Routines #2 $5

Short Bible Routines #3 $5

David and Goliath $5

"How To" Books that include dialogues:

Ventriloquism For Little Children $5

Ventriloquism For Senior Citizens $5

Gag Files in Dialogue Format:

Silly Riddles $5

Bible Humor #1 $5

Bible Humor #2 $5

Also by Andersen:

Know Your Character $5

Make Your Own Dummy $10

111 Ways To Use Ventriloquism In Church $5

All in stock. All prices include postage.

mahertalk@aol.com

String

Question: I have been working with several types of string for the controls for a puppet I am making. The problem I keep getting is that the string breaks due to friction. Any recomendations? Charles
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Answer:

I recommend using only BRAIDED NYLON string. I use a heavy fisherman's line, but braided (not the twisted) mason's line will work as well. I've never had such line break on it's own. It can be cut if it passes repeatedly over a sharp edge or burr so you will want to make certain there is no such happening. Even a burr too small to be seen can do damage, so be sure to sand all edges and replace any screw eyelet that is causing the string to wear.

If there is a sharp turn along the string's path that causes the string to wear by friction, you may need to add a pulley or turning dowel or something similar. Vaseline as a lubricant at such friction points will also prolong the life of the string.

Coin Comment

From Buddy Big Mountain:

"Mr. D. Thank you so much for sending me a "DUMMY DOLLAR" collector coin. I will be keeping it in my medicine bag. I know it was given with a kind heart and it will give me comfort always."

Puppet making "How-To' Book

Reader Comment: I have an idea for you...well you know...You're such a brilliant Puppet maker why not write a book on it and add some of the cool projects you've done off your blogs? Viola! A cool book! It would also be used as a cool text to teach this craft along with ventriloquism techniques. Just a thought from one of your students and fans.
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Reply: Thank you for the idea and your more than kind and encouraging words. Writing a puppet making "how to" book has been suggested to me more than once. But after preparing a lesson on building a simple vent figure for an earlier version of the Maher Course (Lesson 18, copyright 1975), I know only too well how much work it is to put together such instructions. I can't see myself doing that again. I do from time to time try to show on this blog some of the general steps of construction of the puppets without getting into great detail which I fear 95% of the readers would find quite boring.

William Andersen did prepare a book on figure making. It is titled Make Your Own Dummy, published by Maher Studios. I do still have copies which I sell. You will find a more detailed description with price here: http://maherbookstore.blogspot.com/2008/12/make-your-own-dummy.html

Ventrilo-Bucks

From Barb Gregerson:

I received the signed and framed Ventrilo-Buck today (Blog Prize). My husband, Al, and I are thrilled with it. We read it carefully and really appreciated the play on words. We were also impressed with the attention to detail displayed in the matting. What a careful craftsman so you. Al was wondering if you are Lipps R. Still or Wood N. Dummy?

I am having a wonderful time doing small shows for Sunday Schools and Head Start family nights. My little soft puppet, Lily, was invited to two birthday parties tonight after a Head Start event. I suppose I was invited also.

My official retirment from the education profession was June 30th but I have a feeling that I will be as busy as I want to be entertaining/educating small children after that date. I can't wait for the next phase of my life to begin. Of course, my troupe of puppets is anxious to get out and meet everyone.

The decision to sign up for the Maher course and follow through with the lessons was one of the smartest moves I've ever made. Thanks for your support and encouragement along the way.

Official Ventrilo-buck

We printed these in 1995, but they're collector's items now. I didn't have any myself until Bob Abdou sent a packet of the bills to me recently to be used as prizes on this blog. Before giving them all away I'll be certain to stick one in my own scrapbook! If the following people contact me within 14 days to confirm their mailing addresses, each will be sent one crisp new Ventrilo-buck from the "United Studios of Maher": Newell Falkinberg, George Meinhardt, Bruce Miller, Janice Watson, and Sonny Calkins

55 years!

She was from Colorado; he from Kansas. They met as high school classmates and shortly thereafter (55 years ago today) said their vows to one another.

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Our anniversary celebration will begin in earnest next week as our family gathers from near and afar.

Our thanks to Donald Woodford for the beautiful 55 anniversary scroll work mantelpiece. How appropriate to have a timepiece mounted in a momento marking the anniversary of passing years. Years are made up of hours and minutes, every one precious. We are blessed.

Abdou Museum

I mentioned Bob Abdou's home museum would be the new home of my Banana Puppets. Here's a small peek of part of Bob's vast collection. His wife said "No puppets in the living room, kitchen, and bedroom," but he got the rest of the house and "ran with it."