HOW TO MANIPULATE YOUR DUMMY (for beginners Ventriloquist only)
let's talk about manipulation of your Ventriloquist dummy, first of all if you're on this lesson we call your Ventriloquist figure a dummy because if you're learning how to manipulate the figure that means you have not given life to it so yes it's a dummy, now, let's learn how to bring your Ventriloquist dummy to life, so that he or she becomes your Ventriloquist character.
ventriloquist Willie Tyler and Lester with
How I learned about manipulating a Ventriloquist dummy was by people watching so this means that you can take notes by watching two people having a conversation on video or in person..the notes should be on how people talk, how people turn their heads, how people laugh, how the body move when people laugh, study the body language of people when they laugh, have your Ventriloquist dummy practice those moments of people when they laugh, try to get a few examples of people body language when laughing so that you have a few movements that your Ventriloquist dummy can practice...
Take notes on two people having a conversation, how do they sit or stand, the way their head move, and mouth move, what do the listening person do while the other person is speaking.. one thing you don't want your Ventriloquist dummy to do is sit there like a dummy, movement of a Ventriloquist dummy is life like and when your Ventriloquist dummy becomes life like then the Ventriloquist dummy is no longer a Ventriloquist dummy but become a Ventriloquist character.
practice practice practice on manipulation is very important for the Ventriloquist act, because your Ventriloquist character is a actor and you the Ventriloquist is actor, both of you are theater characters in a play called a ventriloquist act.
in this lesson I would like you to write a short dialogue where you are talking to the Ventriloquist character, the Ventriloquist character listening and laughing, practice that short dialogue to teach your Ventriloquist character how to listen and laugh while you tell him or her a funny story, this is not for rehearsal but to practice on manipulation. Here's an example of what your dialogue should look like...
Ventriloquist: how are you doing today?
Ventriloquist character: I am doing fine, how about you, how are you doing?...
Ventriloquist: I had a terrible start in the morning...
character: (look at Ventriloquist with concern)
Ventriloquist: I was so in a hurry getting dressed I put all my clothes on backwards...
character:(laughing)...
Ventriloquist: then I went to read the morning news and realized I was reading it upside down..
character: (laughing)...
Ventriloquist: why are you laughing?...
character: because because because-
Ventriloquist: because what?..
character: because I seen you riding your bicycle earlier...
Ventriloquist: yes and why are you laughing about me riding my bicycle earlier..
Character: you were riding your bicycle upside down backwards!..( laughing)
_____
This practice dialogue will teach you how to practice on manipulation of your Ventriloquist character, in the script the Ventriloquist morning starts out on getting up on the wrong side of the bed, as the character listening to the Ventriloquist it becomes clear why the Ventriloquist was ridiculously riding his bicycle. all Ventriloquists need to write a Ventriloquist act, all Ventriloquists need to write a script to have a dialogue.
It's better to write a script that you can manipulate your Ventriloquist character with, in the script your Ventriloquist character will learn how to act the part so manipulation of your Ventriloquist character and script writing will go very well together or you can practice on manipulation with out a script. Manipulation is life like movement that brings the Ventriloquist dummy to life, creating the illusion of life.
Turn the Ventriloquist dummy head gently left to right, while you the Ventriloquist is speaking your lines the Ventriloquist dummy can nod their head up and down gently as in agreement to what you are saying.. it's not good for your Ventriloquist dummy to sit still, movement is the complete purpose of manipulation, when you are not speaking your lines and the Ventriloquist character is talking you the Ventriloquist should also have movement not standing still like a big dummy, you the Ventriloquist can make hand signals or jesters while the Ventriloquist character is speaking or you the Ventriloquist can put your hand in your pants pocket then back out again or straightening your tie or if you're very good at manipulating the Ventriloquist character take a object out of your pocket look at it but you continue to listen to the Ventriloquist character while they talk, look at the object such as a small parking ticket note on paper or a smartphone or jewelry, then look at Ventriloquist character and when it's your turn to speak your lines put the object back into your pocket to respond to the Ventriloquist character lines. manipulation is also written in scripts, in the script should be a narrator director of directions, theses director directions will also tell you what actions to do such as take a note out of your front pocket to read while Ventriloquist character is speaking or Ventriloquist character look up at the sky, etc.
In the world of Ventriloquism of manipulating your Ventriloquist figure remember when your Ventriloquist figure is out of the Ventriloquist trunk treat your Ventriloquist figure as though you would a real person, for an example if your Ventriloquist figure is out of their Ventriloquist trunk at home, sit the Ventriloquist character on top of the Ventriloquist trunk instead of having the Ventriloquist figure laying on ground like garbage. If you are sitting by the pool at home have your Ventriloquist character sitting at the pool having a drink, this is the art of manipulation. When your friends come over to your house to visit, they will see your Ventriloquist character as a special person to you and this will help bring your Ventriloquist character to life, people will see how you treat your Ventriloquist character as one of the family, They may even stop by to visit your Ventriloquist character on some rare occasions. This is why manipulation of your Ventriloquist character is very important, and no you don't need to walk around the house talking to your Ventriloquist character but it will definitely help your performance skills as a ventriloquist.. manipulation is the skill of magic, the magic of creating the illusion of life. I never put my main Ventriloquist character in his Ventriloquist trunk, only when traveling, when people come over to visit Sammy is sitting in his favorite chair and no he doesn't speak to my visitors but my visitors speak to him and shake his hand or give him a hug. When people see how you are with your Ventriloquist character off stage the illusion effect will be more powerful when they see you and your Ventriloquist character on stage. don't be afraid to try knew movement with your Ventriloquist character, such as a standing position or sitting position, don't be afraid to add new features that will make your Ventriloquist character more life like, the more real the better for you the Ventriloquist.
If someone says the word "creepy" about your Ventriloquist manipulation skills 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 CONGRATULATIONS 👏 👏 👏 if someone says is that thing alive? smile and be silent, CONGRATULATIONS 👏 👏 👏 👏... Job well done, creepy and alive are magical words to a Ventriloquist ears it is the ultimate POWER. "OMG I thought 🤔 it was real" nothing is real baby we are illusionist.
"but I heard a kitten in a box" I open the box do you see a kitten? "but I heard a voice on the phone I heard it the voice" the phone haven't worked in years, "but but I seen the puppet talking and singing" "and and I seen a dummy walking around own it's own"... and that my dear students are real answers I've received from people that witnessed my Ventriloquist act... don't be shocked about some of the questions you will be asked during your Ventriloquist career, the best advice I can give you is smile, nod in agreement and keep your mouth shut be silent and let them believe.
If you practice with your Ventriloquist character your manipulation skills will improve automatically so don't worry just spend time in rehearsal with your "main Ventriloquist character" and you guys will develop a chemistry based on working together with each other...
I would also like for you watch creepy doll movies and horror puppet movies not for learning how to manipulate the Ventriloquist dummy but so that you know what creepy looks like, "creepy" or "scary" we want to see the vision that our audience see.. remember the audience paid for a ticket to watch a creepy doll movie so let us learn the "creepy marketing" way to sell a Ventriloquist act in the word of "CREEPY" learning and mastering manipulation of your Ventriloquist character is a marketing tool, take a look at "CHUCKY" in reality Chucky is a animated doll controlled by many puppeteers and one or two robotic operators but the audience cannot get enough of this "creepy doll" you mastering your skills in manipulation of your Ventriloquist character is no different than Chucky being operated by all those others artists but wait there is one difference, Chucky has many manipulators to bring him to life and your Ventriloquist character has one to bring it to life, don't you just love it!.. you don't understand, okay let me put it this way Bruce Lee movies was based on many against one and the many could not take down the one...it takes about five people to bring the Chucky character to life now let me ask you how many people does it take to bring your Ventriloquist character to life? one and that one person is you so yes you're Bruce Lee "enter the dragon!" You're more powerful than Chucky! so go get some of those creepy doll movie ticket money..yes Chucky is still on the market today meaning there is a market out there for this live creepy doll manipulation type entertainment.
We are talking about manipulating your Ventriloquist character to the point to where the character is so life like the illusion is creepy, on the same subject, Ventriloquist Willie Tyler is a amazing in manipulation, I was in the audience at a Ventriloquist Willie Tyler and Lester show Willie Tyler asked for a volunteer from the audience so I volunteered because I always wanted to meet Lester and wow! did I meet Lester, understand I am a Ventriloquist too! But when Lester started talking to me it was creepy I wanted to run off stage and hide under my seat!! true story I will never forget..I am a very big fan of Lester and I am a very big fan of Charlie McCarthy, I am very joyful 🥰 to have met Lester in person.
Lola falanda.
