Ventriloquism is a popular form of entertainment. Jeff Dunham introduced Achmed The Dead Terrorist and shot to world-wide fame. Ventriloquist Terry Fator was voted winner of America's Got Talent. Terry now headlines his own theatre at the Mirage in Las Vegas. Ventriloquist Paul Zerdin followed in Terry's footsteps, winning ACT in 2015.
The visibility of ventriloquism spurred demand for this type of entertainment. That led to many people learning the skill and hanging out a shingle. Comedy ventriloquists started popping up everywhere. The number of ventriloquists still pales in comparison to magicians, jugglers and clowns. But the number of good comedy ventriloquists is even smaller.
It may be hard to imagine, but the term comedy ventriloquist doesn't always mean funny. These part time standup comedians grab a few jokes from a joke book, string them together and call it ventriloquist comedy. Then they don't understand why the audience isn't laughing.
Some even steal routines from famous ventriloquists and try to present it as their own. They don't realize the nuances of presenting the material. While their audience may laugh, the comedy seems superficial.
There is a popular story of a ventriloquist who went to a puppet maker and asked for a puppet funnier than Jeff Dunham's Peanut. This story represents the disconnect between performers and entertainers. The performer thinks the puppet is funny. They think the jokes are funny. They look for an easy way to create their act to perform for an audience. Entertainers simply want to entertain.
So what makes a ventriloquist funny?
First, the entertainer needs to be funny. They have to think funny. They have to see humor in the way things happen. This allows them to be creative and share a unique point of view with their audiences.
Timing is the key to all good comedy. The pause, the expression and the gesture all enhance the spoken word. A good comedy ventriloquist understands manipulation and interaction with their character affects the audience.
The good comedy ventriloquist realizes it isn't the puppet. Instead it is the character the ventriloquist creates. A strong character has depth and background. It creates an opposing force that can play off the personality of the entertainer. Contrast creates comedy.
If you are looking at ventriloquist comedy acts for your next live entertainment event, contact our office. A co-founder of the International Ventriloquist Society, Tom knows most of today's top ventriloquists. If Tom's program is not the right fit for your audience, he is happy to make recommendations.
