talkmagic.co.uk

Hello my name is Justen Smith ,

I am a huge fan of magic, illusions and other comedy based entertainment, I have tried my hand at magic, did not go to well, so I searched for a new hibbie to do with entertainment.
It all started with my parents telling me if I was the only living object in the room I could start an arguement so I thought wait a min why not ventriloquism then I came across the great Paul Zerdin and Jeff Dunham and began practicing, I have searched for ventriloquist schools in England and can not find any can anyone point any any where that I can get classes or any form of help in England posible even Britain if neccessary.

Kinds regards Wanabee vent Smithy

sorry guys, I didnt mean to post the above in the wrong section my bad,

Hmmm... the internet gremlins made my post vanish

Short and sweet... check out the follow resources...

http://www.inquiry.net/outdoor/campfire/stunts/ventriloquism/in_a_month.htm

http://books.google.com/books?id=fHQAofUf7OYC&pg=PA7&lpg=PA7&dq=ventriloquist+puppet+mechanics&source=web&ots=m0fZSewo8U&sig=M3PTy-17uFQ-pRvb0T2DYygqZx0#PPP1,M1

http://www.gis.net/~puppetco/

http://www.carolgreene.com/education/vent/exercises.html

http://www.brownielocks.com/ventriloquism.html

http://puppetvision.blogspot.com/

http://www.axtell.com/

You will also find that Axtel offers loads of FREE lesson type material on line as well as multimedia materials (not to mention a butt load of really fun characters to play with)

If you do not have the means to buy a professional puppet then maybe these links will help you out...

http://www.projectpuppet.com/

http://www.sagecraft.com/puppetry/building/index.html

http://puppetbuilding.com/hand--rod-puppets/the-wedge-method.html

http://home.comcast.net/~sare04/frame-puppetry.htm

http://www.puppetbuilder.com/info/index.html

http://www.puppetsandprops.com/CastEyes.html

http://drango.com/tips/makepuppet.htm

http://stevebarry.blogspot.com/

http://www.ventriloquistdummy.com/mechanics.html

http://www.puppets2000.com/index6_nvm.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7GK2gW694U&feature=PlayList&p=2F86D295310A97F1&index=0
Though she's the classic "Church Lady" the information here is priceless!


The links with the indicate the ones that I feel have the greater value as well as ones that I've used the most.

Best of luck!

smithy wrote:Hello my name is Justen Smith ,

I am a huge fan of magic, illusions and other comedy based entertainment, I have tried my hand at magic, did not go to well, so I searched for a new hibbie to do with entertainment.

Justen,

What was it about the magic that didn't go so well? Maybe we can help? Perhaps you could try your hand at a different area of magic, prop based parlour magic or maybe magic of the mind?

As Craig said, Axtell is always a good place to start with puppets.

i have a puppet lined up already, with mgic i feel that i am being tricked and i love it but i find that i no longer enjoy basic card jumping to the top of the deck tricks because i know how they do them so i want to enjoy the tricks like pouring milk in a newspaper and making it dissapear where as if i know how they do it i wil not enjoy it.


P.s thank you very much for all those sights ill check them oout.

P.P.s I looked at axtell already and im practi ing the front press. My main problem is my confidence lol...

Understand that learning the mechanics of a trick is not the same thing as being able to do magic.

Most people in the world logically understand how, for an example, the Sawing a Lady in Half Illusion works yet, in the hands of certain performers the piece still gets the audience to gasp when you do that separation of the two sections... not all performers get that result however. The reason for this is simple, they haven't learned how to make the effect "enchanting" and more importantly, they themselves have not connected with the public.

There's an old saying in magic regarding those that hide behind their props and there is a huge amount of truth to it... exceptionally few within variety entertainment have the cooth that allows them to achieve such connections.

Now, you admit to having a low sense of confidence on your part... the only way to overcome that problem is to take a deep breath and JUST DO IT!

The only way you ever learn to swim is to jump into the deep end of the pool... that is how any SKILL happens. Know now that you will suck... we all suck initially but with time, practice and experience we start learning how to no suck and more importantly, how to over come those issues that make us either believe we suck (which is typical in the mind of an artists) or, if we really are bad, how to overcome what it is the public dislikes about us and what we do.

You have to be aware... you must LISTEN... listen to THEM... the people you are performing for.

In magic as well as puppetry and even comedy, the performer does material that entertains themselves rather than thinking about the audience. Until you learn to change that point of priority you will not be able to graduate... but regardless of what area of entertainment you are in, you MUST learn to listen and follow the direction of your audience as well as your director... those coaches and guides that are able to help guide and mold you.

I've been on stage since I was nine and I still listen to others... I beg other people to tell me what I need to do to improve on a routine or presentation. With nearly forty years in this business I still doubt myself believe it or not... and I still reach out, finding those that can help me round out what I'm doing so that it becomes a magical encounter instead of a bunch of tricks.

Now, I'm betting you're rather young and you get bored quickly and easily. I'm saying this based on your response to the question you were asked earlier... both, what you said and your typing style... they both say a lot about you. My hope being that you will correct yourself the next time you get bored and decide to move on to something else before you've given the other thing a chance... in this case, Ventriloquism.

None of this stuff happens over night and just knowing the rudiments behind any of it, does not mean that you "know" it. So make friends with your puppet and that guy you see in the mirror when you practice... let them both know that you are their partner and you are going to stick it out with them until they get it right and start winning the talent shows... especially the big ones, like America or England Has Talent... the most recent winner in the U.S. being a Ventriloquist by the name of Terry Fader...

Don't give yourself permission to quit just because you're bored or it feel funny or you think you suck or some jerk told you that you sucked or gave you a ration of c*** (not the best) for playing with dolls. Just remind yourself that if it weren't for all the magicians and puppeteers in the world there would be no Star Wars...

If you want to see a puppet which can do magic (well, more of a mind reading trick but let's not split hairs at this stage!) see http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic22232.php It's a one trick pony, or rather a one trick bear, but it can be used for a vent act as well.

I completely understand what you mean, I didn't help joining the RAF as they asked me if i had any hobbies and I told them I was learning ventriloquism and the corporal and seargent interviewing burst out laughing but I will follow your advice and stick with it, never know venting could be a great moral raiser in the regiment out in the war

Good luck to you; I think you're right about the moral raiser bit, but not sure where the puppet would fit in the kit bag, they're usually packed tight certainly the navy one I saw was

they'll get over it...if not it's their look out...anyhoo you're gonna already be better than me...even though I'm the worlds greatest radio ventriloquist...just don't book me for Wogan's now and then tv chat show or anything!

I'll find some where, , I,m still trying to sus how Gordon Brown going ou there would raise moral, personally I would hit him because he is annoying and says millon like Dell Boy.

Craig Browning wrote:start winning the talent shows... especially the big ones, like America or England Has Talent.

How quaint!

Although I'm becoming increasingly unsure if it has.

England Has Castles.
Now that would work over the water.

Or how's about England Has a Stinkingly Low Literacy Rate.
I'd quite happily be the judge of that.

England has got lots of talent

Note from Mods: A bit too far off topic so it had to go, sorry.

Hi Justen
When I was 8 or 9 I got a vent doll back in the 70’s and still have him. ventriloquism
Is not hard to learn I got a few books from charity shops, When I do ventriloquism
And magic together it’s like having a silent partner you can be doing other things while the Dummy talks.

Ventriloquism works with both adults and children the thing is even if your lips move a little it still works, Look at the guy who does Nookie Bear in my view he is not a good ventriloquist but it works for him he made a lot of money out of it.

My main advice would be keep the dummy Moving at all times eyes or mouth as you are speaking then the attention is on the dummy most of the time not you, practice with a Video camera rather than a mirror. Never spin the head of the dummy 360 degrees it spoils all the fun (Especialy for children). I sometimes let the dummy be the magician I get it all wrong, always gat a laugh when the doll predicts the out come.

Good luck I hope this helps.