Ventriloquism sounds cool and unique.  You're ready to dive in and want to get a puppet or figure to get started.  Check out some of these places that sell figures just right for someone who is just beginning.

  The Dummy Works offers a page of lowcost puppets ranging in price from $19.95 to $39.95.  These are inexpensive starter figures perfect in size and weight for a junior performer.

 Axtell Expressions is often known for its latex bird puppets but they offer more animals than you can imagine and people puppets too.  Animals from farm to woods to pet shop to wacky, there are lots of choices of puppets here.

 One Way Street also offers a wide range of puppets including a page of puppets under $50.  They have people, animal, and special puppets, plus a group of puppets just for ventriloquism.

  The Dummy Shop has critters, birds, and people puppets from which to choose.  This figure maker offers free shipping through DHL on orders.

Kid ventriloquists face a multitude of problems when it comes to being paid for a show.  At least in my experience, there is often the question, “Do you want to be paid and, if so, how much?” and I always feel strange answering.  Who wouldn’t want to be paid? But the way they ask makes it seem like you should answer, “No, it’s okay.  I guess I don’t need to be paid.”  You may not feel that you’re worthy enough because you’re not an adult depending on ventriloquism to make a living.  However, if you are being asked for your time and your skill as an entertainer, then being paid should go along with that, no matter what age you are.  People who ask you to perform shouldn’t have a problem with paying you if you can meet their expectations for performers.  You also shouldn’t feel bad if you’re really talented.  Your prices may seem a little high because people are used to paying teenage babysitters $8 per hour.  Almost anyone can babysit, however; you need to have special talent, training and people skills to do ventriloquism. If they want your skill, they should be willing to pay for it.

The next question is “how much should you ask for?”  My advice is to be realistic. Don’t ask for an outrageous amount so that you never get hired but also don’t sell yourself short.  Maybe you can have a variable price range, so for big events you can charge a lot  but for a small birthday party you can knock down the price a few notches.  If you do more than just ventriloquism, you can charge more.  When I also do balloon animals as part of a gig, for example, I charge more because I have to invest more time, more effort, and more material.  Also, don’t get greedy.  If you’re not very good, don’t charge very much or you may be asked for a refund! (Note—this is not part of my experience!)

There are times when it’s okay not to be paid, and in fact you shouldn’t expect to be paid.  If you’re asked to do a show for a charitable or nonprofit organization with limited funds, don’t ask for money because they don’t have it.  You don’t want to make these organizations take money away from sick kids or homeless puppies just to pay you!  These jobs are important, though; you get to practice, and they’re good for networking. Always bring your business cards to every gig because there may be people in the audience who will hire you for a future performance—and pay you for it!

The following excerpts were taken from Creating a Character by Ken Groves.  This is just a sampling of the useful information found in his book.

What is the difference between a puppet and a character?  "A puppet is a tool to create laughter or to get a message out...A character comes from within the performer.  The character is a defined personality [with] its own attitudes, gestures, phrases, and appearance.  A character is developed over time with experience and hard work, trial and error...Characters are created when there is a noticeable difference between the puppet and ventriloquist."

"You need differences in personality."

• If I am strong; they are weak.
• If I am nervous; they are calm or laid back.
• If I'm normal; they're neurotic.
• If I'm dumb; they're real smart.

 "Define your personality on stage and then set and define the character's personality, making sure there is a big difference.  From this difference you can find humor."  Use the following questionnaire to help you create your puppet's character.

Use this link to download a PDF version of the questionnaire below.  You can open it and print it using Adobe Reader.

Character Questionnaire

• Name:
• Age:
• Occupation:
• Hair:           Eyes:              Skin:
• Body Type: (weight, physical type):
• Voice Type & characteristics (high/low):
• Outstanding physical characteristics (first thing noticed):
• Bad and good habits (whistles, laughs too loud, etc.)
• Music tastes:
• Most and least favorite games:
• Religion:
• Schooling:
• Phobias:
• Where originally from and where live now:
• Lives with who or what people (people, pets etc.):
• Brothers and sisters:
• Relatives, like or dislike:
• How say hello and goodbye:
• Favorite expression (always says):
• Self esteem (how character feels about himself):
• What do others like about this character:
• What do others dislike:
• Talent most proud of:
• What can't seem to do at all:
• What is funny to this person? Makes him cry? Angry? Jealous?
• Who is idolized and who is despised:
• Philosophy of life:
• Most exciting thing ever happened to:
• Most embarrassing, most frightening:
• Latest big event in life:
• Where want to go and be:
• Current car and wish car:
• Biggest lie ever told:
• General mood and how does it affect all else:

Whatever character you create, the material needs to fit the character.  If the puppet is going to be a teenager, then jokes about a husband or wife don't work.  You should find that as you develop the character, material and dialogue will emerge. 

Now it's time to give the puppet a voice that fits who he or she is.  Be sure the puppet's voice is different than your own.   This is called Voice Clarity.  "Voice Clarity is important to make a character believable. If there is no difference between your voice and the puppet's voice, how can you possibly make people think there are two different personalities on stage?...The voices must be different, strong, clear, and enunciated." 

Differences are also important in the vent's and the puppet's appearance.  "If you and the puppet dress alike, it's hard to separate you and the puppet into distinct personalities.  And it's looks corny!...What can you create to make your character memorable or peculiar? Can gestures make your character memorable or unique?" 

Finally as your character begins to emerge and dialogues are being developed, avoid two common stereotypes that have a negative impact.  "The first is always correcting your puppet or talking down to it.  Never be the authority figure over the puppet.  You and the puppet are a 'comedy team' -- you are equals." Avoid dialogue like "'Quit that.  What's the matter with you?'  Watch people in conversation -- learn from them. When you talk to your friends, do you keep telling them to 'Quit that,' 'Stop that,' 'Be good,' 'You dummy,' 'Behave,' 'Straighten up'?  If you do, you need a different set of friends."

"The second big mistake is repeating the puppet.  Why do you do that?  Maybe you have no voice clarity and your audience can't understand the puppet.  Maybe you only have ten minutes of material and by repeating everything you now think you have twenty minutes.  Maybe it's a nervous habit you need to work on....When you talk to your friends do you repeat everything they say? So get busy breaking bad habits or never letting them form in the first place, like talking down to your puppet, always correcting your puppet; constantly repeating your puppet; always pulling, adjusting, or touching the puppet." 

When you get that character defined and your stage personality defined, you've made a huge step forward in the world of ventriloquism.

Want help from a professional ventriloquist?  Do you have a question that you need expert advice about?  This is the place for you.  Each month a professional ventriloquist will available to answer your questions by email.  Check back each month to see!

Professor Mark Wade is available to answer your questions.  Prof. Wade is the Executive Director of the Vent Haven ConVENTion,
putting together great conventions every year including this year's Junior Vent University.  He's also America's Foremost Children's Ventriloquist and performs over 500 a shows a year.  He educates and entertains kids across the country and is the author of the best-selling book on performing for youngsters called Kidshow Ventriloquism.

Click This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to send your question to Professor Mark Wade.