I have never been to a VentHaven convention. I'd like to go one year. It's a long way from where I live, but it would be fun to meet so many of the ventriloquists, vent figure builders and fans in person that make this great art form prosper.
Like last year, Dan Willinger and Steve Hurst work together to bring us a virtual VentHaven convention experience. Go to Ventriloquist Central to play the audio and video clips of convention activities.
This funny-lookin' guy is now officially looking for someone who'll play the straightman (or woman) while he gets all the laughs. Find out more of his story by visiting his Ebay auction.
I watched a wonderful documentary titled "Show Business: The Road To Broadway". It's a behind-the-scenes look at the launching of four Broadway musicals; Wicked, Avenue Q, Caroline Or Change, and Taboo.
Though the film showed only isolated scenes of each musical, Avenue Q was my favorite (which features Muppet-like characters-big surprise). Two things about the documentary made the deepest impression on me.
First, there were several scenes showing New York Broadway critics having dinner together and discussing (often ripping) the four shows. I was surprised they socialize frequently. (And my gawd they can be cruel in their comments).
Secondly, I was amazed at how similar the backstage activity and dynamics are to community theatre productions of stage shows. Of course there's a difference in talent and production complexity, but I easily recognized the anxiety, frustration and joy.
Show Business: The Road To Broadway is fun to watch and probably available at your local video store.
My most popular character to date has been Mr. Winkle. I recently shared with you the steps I take transforming a toy Charlie McCarthy head (my armature) to a completed Mr. Winkle. Here's a composite of all the steps.
If you've read the ventriloquist forums in the last few days, you may be aware that the late great Paul Winchell's website has been taken down. It's been replaced with links for buying ventriloquism-related merchandise. I checked with GoDaddy.com to see if paulwinchell.com was indeed taken and it is. It lists the creation date as July 2, 1997 and curiously, the expiration date as July 2, 2009. In addition, it gave the name of the company that owns the URL, the address and contact information, which I'll pass along to anyone that asks.
However, it's too bad the original Paul Winchell site has been removed. It really was a nice tribute to a great man.
I've toiled over how to construct the best pulley system for the crossed-eyes cord to pass over. I've tried a plastic spacer, plastic spacers glued to plastic washers to make a spool (didn't hold), a second screen door pulley (like the one on the right for the jaw) and so on. The best I've found is a brass tube over the wood dowel. It's quiet and smooth. I still use a plastic washer to keep the brass tube away from the Magic-Sculpt, which I will use to secure the jaw-and-crossed-eyes pulley system.
I always appreciate tips from "Vent Into The Mic" blog readers. Here's a nifty trick for accurately and consistently marking a wood eyeball for drilling the hole that accommodates the self-centering spring. (I use wood ball knobs, round with one flat side.)
- Purchase a clear plastic photo holder. Get one that stands straight up at a 90-degree angle.
- Put a dab of paint on the side of a wood ball, set it flat-side down on the platform portion of the photo holder and press it against the side of the clear plastic photo holder. The half-way point of the wood ball will touch the clear plastic and leave a mark.
- Then drill a small hole in the clear plastic at the mark.
- Now press an unmarked wood ball against the hole, push a pencil tip through the hole on the other side and mark the wood ball. That's your drill mark!
I found a pair of wire rims that fit okay. The glasses do add the right touch, but I wish I could find an even smaller pair.
I think Mr. Farley needs a pair of wire frame glasses to complete his "look" (no pun intended). Small child frames are difficult to find, but I'll rummage through the used glasses bins at some thrift stores and "see" what I can find. (There I go with the puns again ).
This old fellow is a chronic worrier. Mr. Farley might be worried he won't find a new home. Soon he'll be looking for one. Know anyone who might take him in?
Here's a first look at "Elmore". He's a country bumpkin, farm fresh and as cracked as an egg that's been sat on too long. Soon he'll be looking for a chicken coup to call his own.
Ever notice what astonishing feats can be accomplished completely by accident? There ought to be a Circus of the Unintentional. It would be so entertaining. Problem is no one could predict or schedule the performances. An example?
If you offered $100,000,000 to an NFL field goal kicker if he could hit the upright, he'd kick the football a thousand times and not be able to do it. But how many times have you seen a guy do it unintentionally? It happens all the time!
DOINK!
Such is my experience when I'm making figures. Especially stringing the mechanics. "Okay, Kenny... here's your challenge for $100,000,000...
...as you're attempting to simply slide the cord down the inside of the neck, lasso the scissor handles, catch it around both ears, wind the string around the interior circumference three times, and knock over the bottle of glue with your elbow. And for a BONUS payment of $1,000,000, get it tangled in the teeny-tiny eyeball springs.
Betcha can't do it! "
Hah! I've done it a thousand times!
