HALLOWEEN

I actually started this a couple of years ago. I wanted to do a Halloween themed vent figure. As you may remember I had considered a bumpkin vampire. I also considered a skull in the box. I priced skulls on Amazon. Boy ... THAT didn't sound right ... and was running out of my budget. However this year, while going through Wal-mart, I came a cross skulls for $10. I couldn't pass it by.

It was slightly smaller than the other heads. I took cut ping pong balls to form eyes. I designed a box with the intention of building it of wood. I bought supplies and planned out. Oh Lordie!!!! What I wouldn't of given for a band saw. Or a circular saw. Or wood that wasn't warped. Just another reason I need the proper equipment. So let's just say ... my box did not come out as planed. I ended up using two pieces of board to form the structure and framed it with cardboard. It worked. I painted  it black and attached the head with a plug and screw eye attached to the jaw. I added a black string and ran it through the back of the box. It worked well and I called him "Wences."

Come Halloween, I sat outside by the door amidst the decorations with the box handing out candy. It was a little clumsy and I had to use some judgement as to not send small children into therapy. Given the obstacles .... I considered this a success.

WHY I HATE BLOGGING

Okay ... I really don't hate blogging ... It's the schedule. I always fall behind. And I have ... by almost a month.  I will attempt to catch up as soon as possible. At the very least, I will cover Halloween , my first video and an update to an earlier post on the T-shirt I designed. I will update these as soon as possible.

Honest. I promise.

MY CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Well the old credit card is unusally maxed out. It cost a bit to go on the Wife's cruise. $200 for the care of our dog, Elvis and Darth the PT Cruiser. Port charges, tips ... etc ... etc ... etc. I also extended the strain by buying a camera ... a video camera. One was suggested for the learning process. I am playing catch up at work. This limits my cash flow. This is not aided by the days I have taken off. One for a music Jam, one for an awards banquet, one for holiday show, and a week off for the cruise ... I need to work as when I take time off ... I loose money.  Al so in the plans was/is Sparky, a Mike Bose figure that as of Nov 1st will increase $200. I need to put up a deposit the day before.

And then along came Crackles. Walt Crackles is the name of the dummy I bought on ebay. He is a cheeky boy from the 80s but a fairly well known puppetteer Rene. Walt has big eyes an apparently hairline fractures. He has moving eyes, ball and socket and of course .... a moving mouth. He reminds me of my good friend,Walt, in his younger days. Maybe it's the hair.

I need to come up with money for Christmas from my Wicked Stepmother, Sylvia. It might be the only thing I might make it happen.

TWO BOOKS

Just finished ... or read two books on ventriloquism. Can't say finished on one. The first was "Creating a Character" by Ken Groves. Ken is Tom's mentor, so this book came recommended by Tom. It is a very thin book but one that needs to be reread over and over again since it is full of thought and concepts. Mr Groves is a man of principle and knows that anyone who underwtakes this art form must be commited to hard work and possess a dedication to strive to nothing less than a personal best. It is like a boot camp and he is the drill sergant.

"DROP AND GIVE ME 50, BOOT!!!"

The other book was the Jeff Dunham auto biography ... "All By My Selves." I was a good read and besides covering thelife of vent, Jeff Dunham ... he expains and explores his creative process. I find it interesting that at times it was trial and error in some cases to

READ MY LIPS!

Here is one of the projects I mentioned in may last post. It is a graphic design of my own making. I figured it would be a good creedo to wear on my upcoming videos. Tom says you should look your best when preforming. Not that a t-shirts are my best togs. But for now ... it will do for a learning uniform.

As I type this my shirt has been wash and laundered, just waiting for it to air dry. It is an extra large but I could still stand to loose a few pounds. I'm working on that too. I am air drying to prevent any mor shrinkage that might occur in a dryer. You wash it to take out a sizing that is there to keep it crisp in the store. This allows the decal to be transfered.

While I started doing sketches in my journal, for a change I did this in Photoshop with my tablet on my computer. A step forward. Usually I draw it on paper, scan it into the computer and then in a program I would normally ink and color it. I remember when I first started college, Mr. Hagenbuckle, an art proffessor at St. Petersburg Jr. College, wanted me to learn to draw the pen without drawimg on top of a pencil sketch. Now I need to be able to sketch digatally. Always something to learn. But to really do this it, I need a larger tablet ... a costly item. $2,600 ... Always something else I need.

The drawing is flipped horizonally ... test printed and finally printed on a white shirt t-shirt paper. This will work on the red shirt, however there will be no white ... just red and black. Now all that is needed is to let the shirt dry and iron the shirt. Then you place the paper in place and transfer the design with heat from the iron. When the shirt cools, you peel off the backing.

As always it takes longer than expected.

Catchup

It's been awhile since I've posted. The wife and I went on a cruise to Nassau. I was under strict orders not to bring Cluck Cluck, but I didn't go completely cold turkey. Brought my lessons and vent movies on my tablet, as well as a book from Al Stevens. It made compare the lessons to Tom's. I suddenly realized how little of the lessons are actually on the mechanics of lip control and what you would expect concerning ventriloquism. I found the book enjoyable and helpful

At Nassau, we went into the straw market and bought some native looking necklaces. I am thinking about making Cluck Cluck into a cannibal. Yoko was very paitent with me and a big help.

We had a few extra days. Yoko walked in on a practice session. Cluck Cluck engaged her and the were talking about the beads. Suddenly Yoko became startled and said I can't believe I'm talking to a chicken.

I have also been working on several projects, including my first dialouge, a halloween puppet and a t-shirt to use on filming. I've added to Cluck Cluck some eye lashes. Add this to my studies ... I am a busy man.

VALIDATION

So is this validation that I am on the right track? That my ideas have some worth at least in a kernal of a concept?

Yesterday I finally got to sit down and watch the new Jeff Dunham special, "Minding the Monsters" that played on Comedy Central. It was ... as usual very good. This seemed to be made just as a limited venue show with the purpose of a TV special/DVD-bluray release. Filmed in Savannah, the theater was magnificent ... full of character and the sets were awesome. They even had a remote car for Peanut. But the theme for the show was pretty much spelled out in the title

It was a Halloween show with the various figures dressing up in costume as their favorite monster or character. Walter was Frankenstein's Monster. I like how they left patches of flesh showing through the makeup. Peanut and Jose were dynamically duoed inspired with Little Jeff in a Riddler styled costume. Achmed was in drag as American women are what he finds most scary. But Bubba Jay was dressed as a red necked Vampire.

About two maybe three years ago I got the idea for Halloween of doing a red necked Vampire. I have perhaps not the best display in our neighborhood ... but maybe a close second. And it keeps growing every year ... with something new. My idea was to convert a Mortimer Snerd vent doll and add fangs. He would of been more blatant as he would of worn a tuxedo coat over overalls. He would drink "toe mater" juice rather than blood because he would faint at the sight of blood. I even got as far as ordering a Mortimer off of eBay and looking up where i might purchase a tux in a T2 size. However my skills at building and doing ventriloquism curtailed this venture.

So I have to admit it was a little disappointing looking at Bubba Jay. It wasn't the same as what I came up. Bubba Jay was after all in costume. My vampire would be ... well a bumpkin vamp. Still if I did it now ... would people go, "Oh, I saw Jeff Dunham do that." I have over the years come up with ideas and seen other versions pop up. Several comic book/strip ideas have gone this way. Most recently I did some photoshop work for a pick box cover for my wife's Christmas present. (I was trying to get her interested in an Appalachian folk instrument that I like, called the dulcimer.) I put a dulcimer in the Mona Lisa's arms.  Four years later, Don Pedi, dulcimer great, did the same thing on prints to sell. Everyone thought, "Oh, how clever." Even though I showed the same crowd, none remembered mine and I have been accused of copying him. In truth, I remember an episode of the TV shoe "Bewitched" where they put a tube of tooth paste in Mona's arms. So actually neither of us were that clever.

And no I am not accusing anyone of copying me. I have no such false ideas. This is a case of similar lines of thoughts. I won't go as far to say, "Two great minds." It's not like I was ever inventing the artificial heart.

Still it is an interesting pair of emotions. A certain satisfaction and frustration.

The Letter "P"

"P" is one of the labials or difficult letters as Jimmy Nelson puts it. We were watching a Jeff Dunham special on TV and Yoko , my wife laughed, saying, "He's making an inside joke about the letter P!!!"

Sort of scary that she got it.

Lesson 6

Lesson 6 is about proper lip position ... and no ... this is not an example of good lip control. Tom goes over several theories and concerns. The old school way is clenched mouth into a fake smile. You see it all the time. But it is not natural. It separates the figure from ventriloquist. When you see the smile, it's a red flag. It causes your mind to have to disbelieve a little more. The way Tom shows is a little more difficult, takes more practice, but is natural and gives optimum air flow for sound to go forth. Tom then gives us the vowels to practice. A welcome relief for many of us who were chompping at the bit. Lord, give us paitence at baby steps.

Lesson 5

This lesson concerns dramatic inflections to the character's voice. I find this an interesting postioning for this lesson. If this is even mentioned at all, Tom sets this early so that we will already be incorperating feeling into our practice. This once again shows he is teaching ahead of the curve, laying a good foundation to build on. Too often courses covering ventriloquism only handle the mechanics. Bergan has been held up as having poor mechanics but if radio made him sloppy in lip control, he was razor sharp on his acting abilities. Just another reason to recommend this course.

This lesson is also the sign up lesson. To continue you must commit, and at that you have a grace period to cancil. You could not get anymore fairer than that. Tom points out that the whole course is less than one private lesson. And you have the luxuary to review each and every lesson.

I'm commited ... in more ways than one.

Two great minds ...

I was going through youtube videos today. I came accross this gentleman's video. He too, is taking Tom's course. And he also is blogging or measuring his growth through a form of documentation. I congratulate him and send well wishes.





I am also including a link to his web site:

www.duckdummy.com

Selberg Studios

I have already mentioned the Selberg Studios as the makers of the Danny O'Day replica. but I came accros this video on youtube and thought I might add it.

A Little Help

I saw this posted in one of the threads on the Learn Ventrioquism forum. It is for a hot tea that is suppose to sooth the throat. It was discribed as an ... acquired taste. What can I say ... good thing I'm fond of licorice.

LESSON 4

The Voice

The fourth lesson is the voice. Since you have already started to create your character, the next step is to create the voice. Tom nudges you by giving options and things to think about. Voices need to not only fit the figure but be different enough to seperate you into two indiviguals.

 

Tom also gives us bonus material that touches on catch phrases.

 

One a personal note. I feel that this will be my biggest obsticale to me becoming a compident ventriloquist. Almost two years ago, I had a thyroidectimy. The doctor that extracted my thyroid said that normally there is no perminant damage to vocal chords. It was a long procedure taking much longer than anticipated. The next morning when the doctors made their rounds, The Surgeon, in a stern voice, admonished me for not imforming him that my vocal chords are forward. I replied best as I could in the socratic meathod, "How would I know" He replied asking me that no one had told me. "No ... it never came up in conversation."

 

Because of this my voice is a little ... raspy ... and limits my vocal range. Before I was able to do a pretty good imatation of Mickey Mouse. If fact I was fairly well know for at work. Once I checked in a family where Little Billy, accused his family of lieing. He had been promised that he would see Mickey Mouse. No Mickey, but Little Billy was pitching a fit. He had long past gone from pink to red to purple. I got on a house phone  and called the room and asked for them to put Little Billy on. The parents going down the hallway saw me and stopped and stared as I conversed with Billy. He was thrilled and said that "Mickey talked him and no one else." He settled down. My reward ... his parents stiffed me.

 

I may be limited by voice but then who knows ... this might even help. 





Ken Groves' "Create a Character"

Dizzy from South Austrailia on the Learn Ventriloquism Forum posted about a book(?) from ventrioquist, Ken Groves. Apparently he saw it on,so far, the only master class that Tom has in the offering. I am unsure what it intails but the title is "Create a Character." This treatis might be of some use even on some crossover projects. Thanks for the heads up Diz!!!

http://www.kengroves.com/resources.php

Course Review

Here is an excelent review by www.howtobeaventriloquist.com

Lesson 3

Lesson 3 is an interesting justapostion. Usually this is subject is covered much later if at all. Tom talks about the various types of puppets and figures. He warns of the impulse buy and stresses starting from a concept of character. Begining with a direction and then finding or building that character.

I bought an Axtell chicken puppet from ebay. It was a great deal. Good price ... good shape. I have a concept that stems from from a concept of a cartoon that I had incorperated into another cartoon.It wasn't defined at all. It still isn't defined. I'm unsure of one of which direction I need to go and will have to develop through experimentation.






One thing that is not been covered has been the creation of character and if there is a limitation in those choices. Can you paint yourself into a corner? For example I have been looking at Kenny Croes' "Otis."

http://ventintothemic.blogspot.com/

 He is sort of a "Mortimer Snerd" character. Stupid or just ignorant. I would want to make some modifications. Droopy eye lids. Red nose. A more pronounced beard stubble. A different hat. Destressed clothing and maybe an attempt at a union suit. I might even put a new pair of shoes that I got a couple of years ago with a doll figure. I could possibley get a pair of feet that are bare feet and blow out one of the shoes. You know ... make him a real yokel. I might put a jug in his hand and make him a drunk character. Can you do this any more? Is too old a character one way or the other?

I don't know.

I guess time will tell.

Dream Dummy

This falls under a want. It is simply a desire. Oh I'm sure that he might be used as "cheeky boy." Built by Selberg Studios, it is a replica of the famous Danny O'Day. I grew up with Jimmy Nelson's show. It was on Saturday mornings ... just before a magician, named Mark ... his show. I also remember vaigley the Paul Winchell show.My first figure was a vent doll of Danny, who I called Andy. It gave me a certain feeling ... an affection for the character and a love and interest in ventriloquisim. Danny is a symbol of these emotions. So the possesion of such an item is definately an emotional one and not a practical one. I mean ... just look at the price. This studio discribes itself as the Rolls Royce of vent figures. They are ... with Rolls Royce prices. I can hear my Auntie Gretchen saying, "If you have to ask the price of something  ... you cannot afford it." The one being sold from the Jimmy Nelson site is $2,200. A big chunk of change for something that might just sit in the corner. These are ment for the professional. They are a quality level that would far exceed most hobbiest needs ... except for desire.

Jay Johnson's Blog.

I've always respected Jay Johnson since his days of "Soap." Since then its been other shows and venues ... including Broadway. I've gone back and I'm reading his blog from the beginning. I found it interesting that we share some common elements. We both are interested in tarot, ventriloquism, drawing , and cartooning. We are also both deslexix. Take a kool ... I mean look.

http://hellandhayes.blogspot.com/

And just for good measure here is the link to his web page :

http://monkeyjoke.com/

Enjoy!!!!!!

Lesson 2

This lesson , like the last is deceptively simple and in the book it's usually confined to a couple of lines.
 
You gotta stick out your tongue!!!

The tongue is a muscle ... and it needs to be stretched and exercised. This leads you to do all the labials. You need to add this to your daily routine. Stretch, cluck and stretch it out. You now have a licence to stick out your tongue. You haven't had this kind of freedom since you were a kid.

Lesson 1

Mr Miyagi and his dummy Chop SticksTom starts the lessons with the most basic of things. This is a sign of things to come. We are given small bite size bits ... just enough to chew ... which is a good thing for such a close mouth activity. They are building blocks , so why not start at rock bottom. The first lesson is about proper breathing and the exercises to increase lung compasity and air flow. Nothing new. I've seen this explained in a book or two. However Tom teaches by example and explains the need. And if future lessons he reinforces and reminds us to do the exercises. In the books, there is a line or two that is quickly passed over and soon forgotten. And I have. This is definitely a skill I need to work on. Tom gives the base to build our skills. After all in the words of Mr. Miyagi ... "No breathe, no life."

Why???

That's the question. Why am I doing this? I don't think my wife, Yoko understands. I'm not sure I do myself. Maybe it's an element that always has fascinated me. Or perhaps it's that I have a hard time letting go and admitting defeat. Typical Cancer. Maybe it's just that it won't get out of my head. Ideas just keep coming . I don't know. It certainly isn't it because I need something to do ... at present I have art work blogs a plenty, and musical instruments to learn and practice. I have a wife and critters to care for, a job to go to and chores to ignore. And let's not forget the boob tube. Cable, Netflix and DVDs a plenty. I could veg for years. I guess the answer is because I have a passion. Or maybe it's because I was dropped on my head as a child. One way or another .... hear we go ... again.

Thank you, Tom

I can't really remember how I came to the site. I was just doing my normal surfing of the internet. Made my way to the A tell site. They have some really nice puppets. I've been thinking the chicken puppet for a long time. There are a few more that speak to me. I would love to get the baby dinosaur as a baby dragon with the smoke. (But I think I don't want to know the cost.) The Audrie 2 is close but I don't like the lips. As I look at the site resources, I find the link to Tom Crowl's online lessons. And before I know I am immersed. It contains a lot of information I've seen before, but it's organized and stressed in all the right places. I like his approach and the little bites that he serves us. Just enough to push us along. There is a blog and a forum to participate in. The only thing better would be if Tom was in my living room giving private lessons.

Thanks Tom!!!




http://www.learn-ventriloquism.com/

Manifesto ... This Blog

This blog is indeed about something "magical" ... but truth be told 'I have no illusions that anyone will ever read this. Not even my wife. It is more of a personal diary that is left out in the open , in hopes that someone will pick it up out of curiosity. It's main purpose is to record both progress and stumbles as I attempt this path once again. It is a little late from the gate but I will try to catch up. I promise to try and stay the course ... but it is entirely likely for me and this blog to go the way of all my others. Abandoned and forgotten. Don't hold it against me.

What the heck does this mean???

I grew up in the silver age of television. There were variety shows, like "The Ed Sullivan Show," that were an extention of the long gone theaters of Vaudville. They brought into people's homes jugglers, singers, animal acts, clowns, comedians, and puppeteers. And among the puppeteers were ventriloquists. I was blessed with the likes of Paul Winchell, Jimmy Nelson and Senor Wences. There were vents hosts even on the local kid's cartoon shows. Nelson and his buddies, Danny O'Day and Farfell, sold Nestle's Quick chocolate drink. Winchell pushed the boundries of the art with a sophistocated understandings of the medium of television.

Some where along the line I caught the bug. I was maybe 12 when I realized the possibility that I might be capable of doing ventriloquisim. I bought Paul Winchell's book at a small shop called "The Magic Mart," that had long held my interest. When I went downtown with my parents, I was allowed to explore to my heart's content while my parents shopped in the old Maas Brothers department store. (Yes, you could do that ... back then.) I remember finding this treasure. Under the influence of my pleeding eyes, my Father advanced my allowance and I had my start. I devoured the book until brads had to placed to support the bindings. It gave me my start.



My next step was when I was 13. I had hoped for a figure for Christmas. I had gotten another book from the Magic Mart, which gave me my first lead on vent figures. They were English and probably commanded a dear price. The box underneath the Christmas tree that I pinned my hopes upon held not my dreams ... but a ticket to the scout ranch, Philmount. It was a trip of a life time, but my Father noted my dissapointment. He found an ad in the local classifieds for a dummy. It turned out to be a Danny O'Day vent doll ... not a true figure. But it did come with Jimmy's "Instant Ventriloquism" album. Now if you have had any thing to do with ventriloquism, you might know there are certain letters that are difficult to say with closed lips. M is one of these. Mr. Nelson's solution is to substitute "N" for "M" .... So you say "N" and think "M." The practise phrase was " Many men make money." Or ... "Nany nen nake noney"