What Do You Know About Ventriloquists?
Ventriloquists seem kind of strange. People playing with dolls used to lead to the common misconception of “LOSER!” But these comedians with puppets are anything but loners with problems. It is a misunderstood art ridiculed by people who found it an easy target. Now ventriloquists are getting the last laugh, and so are their audiences.
Ventriloquism is not an easy art to master. When top ventriloquists perform, it looks easy. Thousands of amateurs can tell you it is not. A ventriloquist is a puppeteer, a comedian, an impersonator, and actor, a skilled linguist and a technician of the art. Skills accomplished simultaneously without any apparent effort on the part of the performer.
Consider what is happening during a ventriloquist comedy act. Only one person is on stage, yet it must seem like two or more. The ventriloquist needs to present a script while sounding spontaneous, requiring the delivery of an actor. Unlike an actor, the ventriloquist must also deliver the opposite side of the conversation. Both must sound as if they come from two distinct individuals with different voices and personalities. The banter must remain constant, with no holes in the presentation.
Talking for two involves change of pitch and speech patterns. These voices must be identical every time. After all, your voice doesn't change midway through a conversation. It you think this would be easy, try holding a conversation with yourself for ten minutes. Now try it for forty-five minutes!
Now that you have a conversation going, lets make things even more difficult. Living beings are never still. They breathe, look around and remain animated while awake. During the ventriloquist act, both ventriloquist and puppet must remain “alive.” Beginning ventriloquists will often freeze when their puppets talk. They are busy concentrating on the puppet's lines and what it will say. You will see the reverse of this too. The puppet will freeze or become “lifeless” while the ventriloquist talks.
Finally you need to add the technical skill of not moving your lips when talking for the puppet. Lip control takes years to master and constant practice to maintain. Ventriloquists need to learn how to make sounds like “P” and “B” without moving their lips. Diction must be practiced so the ventriloquist puppet can be understood.
The skill most ventriloquists have trouble mastering is comedy. What good are the skills if the ventriloquist can't make people laugh? Top comedian ventriloquists are in demand and well paid for their talents. Two ventriloquists are on the list of Forbes Magazine's top grossing comedians.
If you want to hire a ventriloquist for your next event, contact our office now.
