I still get the calls where the first thing out of their mouth is How Much, but a close second is What do you do?

When I say I am a ventriloquist, or that I do ventriloquism, it is amazing how many times I get _what is that?

If I mention puppets, they say Oh, it's a puppet show.

It is very frustrating and I haven't come up with a concise description yet.

Neale, it's funny but one prospective client of mine also asked me that question... What is ventriloquism?

When I asked her if she had a chance to watch in youtube the videos of Jeff Dunham and Achmed ("I kill you!"), she said yes and she absolutely loved it!

I told her that's ventriloquism.

I was booked right on the spot!

We're on the other side of the planet, but Jeff has quite a following here, too!

So, Neale... wanna try the "Jeff Dunham" definition?

Good question Neale! I haven't had heard that yet. Perhaps its because the markets I work are already familiar with vent. Maybe its the way I promote or, as Ony pointed out, its simply due to the popularity of Jeff & Terry Fator.

Be interesting to hear what others have to say.

I don't want to use another vent (any other vent - not just Jeff) to explain what I do. Don't want to set myself up for comparisons.

IMO, in the advent of youtube and vent DVDs we cant help but be compared, directly or indirectly, to other vents--especially to current well-known vents like Dunham, Lucas, Strassman, Johnson, etc....

That's why we have to strengthen our acts and show our own unique personality in our performances.

Folks in our neck of the woods to the most part know what vent is.

Depending on the age they know of Senor Wences..to Peanut..(sometimes they know the figure rather than the vent. Depending on your ability..I am sure (like me) you have been told that your as good, or better than those on T.V.

Myself sometimes I get asked why my puppet sings better than I do? Anyone else?
For about a year now, I have been working with 2 puppets at the same time. It boggles me how some folks do 3 or 4 in the same bit.

Still waiting on the vent mask(Knowles...) but it hasn't been the 7-10 business days...Yesterday during a workshop I tried an old bit of having a student operate the mouth while I provided the voice...similar but the timing mishaps(of words, sounds and the mouth movement)...cause interesting and challenging humor...

One of the students gave the following explanation..(from Young Frankenstein...IT's ALIVE..with appropriate dialect)