Boy, was I wrong!

When I started hearing news of the Scholastic Goosebump books that featured an "nasty" and sometimes "evil" dummy, I thought, "Oh, no - this will not be good for ventriloquism!"  Boy, was I wrong!  The Goosebump series of books featuring, Slappy, back in the 1990's only inspired youngsters to ask their parents for a dummy and stimulated their interest in learning ventriloquism.  So much so that Goldberger decided to come out with a Slappy doll!

 Admittedly, most of that interest was from boys - maybe they just wanted to frighten their sisters - but whatever, this was the book that started the craze!   Some day it just may be looked back upon and considered historical as well as "hysterical".  (It's already both from MY perspective.  :-)  I have one copy, For eBay auction, here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=261017738817

"Dialogue" magazine sale!

.  Wow!  George Boosey provided this set of nearly 50 different Dialogue ventriloquist magazines.  I will be listing them on his behalf on eBay soon (tomorrow, I hope), and I'll provide the links for you.  The issues cover a period from 1986-1999.  Don't miss out on this rare opportunity!

Future Hall of Fame Coins

Questions:  You have noted that the next "set will feature four favorite ventriloquists who are actively performing today." This is a very exciting project and I have some questions. Will these next four be the last set of HoF coins?   Or do you have plans for more?   How many new sets of HoF coins do you intend to produce? Thanks.  PS:   Will Clinton Detweiler be entering the Hall of Fame? I certainly hope so.......
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From Mr. D: It takes the sale of 125-150 sets to recover the cost of producing that set of four coins.  I put all $$ received from coin sales aside to help pay for the next set.  As long as sales reach 125-150 per set, I plan to continue to release new sets.  I'm not doing this project for personal profit, but I do need to have it pay for itself to continue.   Only time will tell how many coins will actually be produced.  As for a Clinton Detweiler coin?  He'll have to get in line like everyone else (and it's a long line.  :-)

Just along for the ride...

From Dave Pendleton

I'll be going on tour with the Women of Faith ministry this Fall (though I will also be a part of a couple "One-Day" events with Women of Faith this month and next).

http://www.womenoffaith.com/oneday/

Yes it is rather odd that a male ventriloquist was asked to join the Women of Faith team.  Actually, Aunt Tilly was the one who was invited.  I'm just along for the ride.  :-)  

Book with Bonuses

HOW TO BE A BETTER VENTRILOQUIST by Walter Berlin (1975)

Articles/chapters include: Novel Ventriloquism (The Art of Being Original); The Talking Hand; How To Get On and Off Stage; Secrets of Audience Psychology; Ventriloquism In America; Tips on the Drinking Bit; Lessons in Ventriloquism (Mouth Position, Voice Placement, Practice, Breathing, The Difficult Letters,)

By James Rodney: How To Be A Ventriloquist - Lesson One, Learning to Talk; Lesson 2,Holding a Conversation; Lesson 3,Manipulation of a Dummy (Figure/Doll).
BONUSES:
 Stapled to the first page is one of the author's business cards of the day, and stapled to the back of that same page arefour brief newspaper clippings with news and photos of Walter and his twin brother Greg (also a vent) with news updates from various years prior to 1975.
For sale: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=261017827539

Signed by Mr. D.

When Bruce Fife published this book in 1989, he requested numerous photos from Steve Axtell and myself to be used on the pages this book to illustrate the various aspects of ventriloquism being taught through the written words.  I've signed one of my photos (page 43).  Whether that makes this copy more or less special - I'll leave that for the buyer to decide.  I can tell you the 22 comedy dialogues making up the back half of the book make this work something to seriously consider if you are looking for comedy material for your shows.  And, it goes without saying, the teaching of Paul Stadleman is legendary!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=261017731605

How To Vent Your Expressions

Comment:  It's too bad that wonderful book by Cliff Taylor, How To Vent Your Expressions,  is out of print.  Maybe I could find it through a local bookstore used book program.  I have gotten a number of ventriloquist books that were out of print that way. 

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From Mr. D: How to Vent Your Expressions is an amazing work - just look up any attitude or emotion, and the author, who was a master at figure manipulation, explains how to move the figure to show that specific attitude or emotion through the figure's movements.  This is a big book and costly to print (comparatively), but I do have the master and would be willing to run off a few copies if a few others reading this were interested in purchasing a copy ($10.00)  I doubt you would find this book at a local bookstore since it was published in very, very limited number.

Book with free Hall of Fame Coin!

Ventriloquism In A Nutshell (SIGNED) with free Fred Maher Hall of Fame Coin.

Great gift for some beginner you know!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=261017295925

Which way to the barber?

Question:  I have a this figure and was wondering  if the hair can be cut or cleaned? Also if I wanted to take it off, Is the head completely painted underneath so that I would have a bald look?  What would be the best way of removal?
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From Mr. D: That's a great looking figure.  I don't know that I've seen one of this character before.  The hair is made of synthetic fur material so it could be washed.  However, I'd be reluctant to do so.  I assume it is fastened on with hot melt glue, probably glued around the edges.  Taking off such a wig usually leaves traces of glue in some areas, and pulls away chips of paint it other areas.  Normally Lovik does not paint the area of the head under the wig.  And there is a door under the wig that has a seam.  The seam would be unsightly of you are thinking of leaving the head bald.  The bald area of the head would need to be completely sealed, sanded and painted for best appearance.

"What's my name?"

Question: #268 is the one I want to purchase. (http://mrdsfigures.blogspot.com)   Can't wait to work with the new figure. Do you have a good name for this figure?
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From Mr. D:  I call him "Luke", but you should change the name to a name of your choice.   Choosing his name is an important part of your developing his unique and individual character. Very important to the success of your performance with him.

Mark Wade Writes

MATCHING THE RIGHT MATERIAL TO THE AUDIENCE IS ESSENTIAL

I know the title of this blog sounds like it is obvious, but you'd be surprised at how many well-intentioned vents don't have a clue on how to match the right material for the intended audience.  If they want to do kidshows they say "I can develop some good stuff while I am doing a show"...or they will say "the kids don't know good from bad..they laugh at anything!". Or will say "I found some jokes on the Internet and pieced them together! So what it it's a little ADULT, it will go over the heads
of the kids".  Don't be so sure...

Because of the rise of the Internet and Facebook, kids are exposed to more and varied types of comedy.  They know jokes, they know bits, they know..stuff! They know what's good and what's lame.  That's why it's doubly important to have material aimed at them exclusively, in fact, for ALL
your audiences.

I write comedy dialogs for vents, especially for kidshow vents (my specialty), and I have clients frequently ask me.."can you write something I can use for kids, families, church shows,campgrounds, and adult banquets?"  They want to take a one-size-fits-all approach to their comedy.  I say to them, figure out what puppet you be using for what routine and for what audience, and let me write for that character TO that audience.  Not all puppets are for all audiences. Using the RIGHT
character with the RIGHT script makes sense.  You will feel better using this puppet and your confidence will grow, knowing that the material matches up with the intended audience.  Please don't try to make a "square peg" fit into the proverbial "round hole".  It just doesn't work that way..and your performance AND reputation will suffer as a result. I want YOU to be your best and to put  ventrilodom's best foot forward every time you go on stage. Match up your routines for the right audiences.

markwade@kidshowvent.com

Facebook

Well, for better or for worse, I've joined the Facebook crowd ... Maybe I can find a friend or two.  :-)
Clinton Detweiler

Rare opportunity!

I have listed a set of 11 mint condition DISTANT VOICES ventriloquist magazines on eBay.  These high quality, "newsletters" were sold by subscription to members of the International Ventriloquist Association (IVA), Valentine Vox Editor and publisher.  The Pages are filled with quality and rare vent photos, past and present.  Articles by pros, convention reports, ads and more.  I do not know the exact circulation number of this publication, but I know it was low, perhaps 250 or less.  (If someone knows, drop me a note.)  A detailed list of all issues in this lot with photos here will be found here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=261014706097

Touch up paint

I recently repainted a figure for a customer who then asked me a question I've received numerous times, but still struggle to answer satisfactorily:
"What colors and brand of paint will I need for touch up in the future?"

Brand?  That's easy.  I prefer Ceramcoat acrylic paint.  I purchase my paints at either local Hobby Lobby stores or on-line.

Colors? That's where it becomes difficult.  Ceramcoat comes in dozens of colors, but none are just right (my opinion) for flesh color.  So I mix my own, for each individual figure, mixing paints on a "palate" (piece of white cardboard).  Usually I blend colors Medium Flesh, Autumn Brown, and Terra Cotta to arrive at the shade of "flesh" I use to paint the head and hands of a Caucasian figure.

But only the neck of the figure is covered with flesh paint with no color shading.  All the rest of the head: ears, cheeks, chin, above the upper lip and the eyes - even the forehead have various color shadings of varying intensity.  I use a variety of colors to achieve the shading: Rose and Reds of several shades, Browns of various shades, on occasion even a blue, white or yellow.

My "palate" after painting one coat of paint on a figure.
I start anew with a blank "palate" each and every coat,
 three coats of paint on each figure.

It is the color shading on a figure that brings life and depth to the appearance of a figure professionally painted.  It's not "paint-by-number".  When I started building figures, I dreaded the painting process.  But after painting literally thousands of figures, I look forward to the painting which has become one of my favorite parts of the job!

Customer comment:

From Donald Woodford:

Here's how I transformed two familiar figures into pirates.

 

 

 

For Sale

VOICE MAGIC - VENTRILOQUIST "SECRETS" and "VOICE CONJURING"
FOR YOUTH Copyright 1992 By Ormand McGILL
7.5: x 9.5", 64 pages, Illustrated, Hardcover, Like new condition.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290705378315

Maher Course Honor Roll

NEW MILLENNIUM BASIC MAHER COURSE:

Michael Dugas (RI)

Bob LaBelle (TX)

Ed Russe (MD)

Eddie Siller (AZ)

　

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NEW MILLENNIUM ADVANCED MAHER COURSE:

Hillary Saffran (AK)

Eddie Siller (AZ)

Bill Warren (VA)

<>

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!

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"Thank you so much for this wonderful Course!  Ventriloquism has opened up a whole new world of performance possibilities and (I've made) many, many new friends in the process of study and application.  It's a wonderful art form for teaching and comedy.  What a wonderful Course Maher is.  Thank you!"  Hillary Saffran (right)

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"This Course was just what I needed to really pursue my dream of doing ventriloquism.  This Course kept me on track and gave me the push I needed."  Eddie Siller

For more information, or to purchase the
Maher 30 Lesson Home Study Course of Ventriloquism:
http://mahercourse.blogspot.com

For Sale

From Dec 9, 1976 to January 26, 1977, a selection of figures and more from the permanent collection at Vent Haven Museum were placed on display at the Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, Ohio. This high quality 36 page book (only 2,000 were printed) shows photos of the exhibit and provides historical background information on both the museum and the exhibit collection

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290705044413

Pirate?

Question:   I've been looking for a pirate puppet, not the cloth ones, but a real ventriloquist figure.   I am older so I would want a older looking pirate.   Let me know and thank you.  Rick
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From Mr. D: I do make a character from one of Braylu's castings that I believe would make a good pirate. (See photo) 

But most of what makes a figure into a pirate character is the costuming - that I cannot provide.  You could probably find a child's pirate costume online.  Size 3T would work perfectly.

Reader Comment

From Sandi Sylver Well, it's been just shy of 10 years since I discovered my true path in life--having the happy childhood I never had the first time! I love my life as Storyteller-Ventriloquist-Songstress, and still wish it had happened for me when I was younger. Thought I'd share 'the family' with you, although I have a new child, an African-American named Angela, who missed out on the photo shoot. The other attachments are just for bragging rights, so to speak! I hope you are doing well, and I hope our paths cross again one day!  Best--Sandi