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wizardpa Inner circle The New Orleans area 1011 Posts |
Howie, I'm not sure what your character Dan looks like but what might be a good idea is to change the flowers on your cover to a picture of Dan.
I know if I did a coloring book I'd have a picture of Taco my toucan puppet on the cover. Howie, since you are targeting children with your book I'm guessing you have a children's show ready. Is that correct? I would have caricatures of all of my puppets for children to color. Maybe a magicians hat as well. I couldn't see your jokes but I'd have them be puppet related and magic related also. I think you have a fantastic idea with the coloring book. |
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maps Inner circle 1124 Posts |
Just a question Buzz.You have your promotional backdrops and the puppets and the advertising and marketing tools and are investing heavily in creating yr branding.Yet you metioned that you are not yet ready to perform.What happens when someone wants to book you? Will you take the job? If you are not ready to be in front of people when the opportunity comes,will your efforts go to waste? You can't keep declining offers right?
the heart is where the magic begins
Visit my website [www.mascotsandpuppets.com] |
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kidshowvent Elite user 410 Posts |
Buzz, you really need a polished product to sell before you advertise anything. Vent is not a "learn it as I do it" type of thing. Just because they are kids does not mean you don't have to have a good show, or any show. I think your idea about the coloring book, getting the backdrop, getting a sound system, etc. is great...but first you must have a product to sell. I've seen this too many times with beginning vents. Have you a voice for your character?..a solid routine?..what are you going to do to fill the rest of the time? This is just some constructive criticism, not putting you down for your efforts.
Mark markwade@kidshowvent.com |
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Servante Inner circle 1330 Posts |
Mark's certainly right on that, Buzz. If you're putting these books out there (I guess I wasn't sure if you were or if you were just making all the prep to do it), you should have something to offer.
As for kid audiences, they are much much tougher than adult audiences. -Philip |
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Howie Diddot Inner circle San Francisco & Los Angeles California 3288 Posts |
Mark;
First let me remind you that I changed my username because I Goggled myself and my posts from the Café came up talking about my need to practice and maybe someday I will be ready to perform; not the public perception I am working towards. I appreciate your comments and concern and I recognize that you’re not putting me down; or trying to extinguish my enthusiasm. I am immersed in Ventriloquism; I think about it, I have ordered videos and books; I own about twenty five of Clinton’s books on many subjects from methods to routines; Mark, I own your DVD’s; I am living Ventriloquism; I practice daily; sharing my view here has built my confidence. As for now, I am getting my name out, with name recognition it is very important to start early; it will take time to achieve a name as a successful performer; I would prefer to answer the phone and say I am sorry that I am fully booked for two months, please think of me for your next party. The coloring book I posted here is a preliminary version; my plan as we discussed here in the café, is to perform for free at first for experience; the three shows I have already booked at my church and a day care gives me the all important experience and distributing the coloring books at the three shows was my intention for completing it now and see how it’s accepted. What I am not discussing here is the routine; not very many Ventriloquists’ will just hand over, or post the successful routines they have worked hours, months or years writing; so I feel it’s futile discussing it. I have recently made contact with a comedy writer with many years of experience; I have hired him and we are working together on a routine; with the script and utilizing the tricks I own we are writing what I believe will be a successful production. From my very early posts here, I was encouraged to "get out there and start doing it"; I was told that "live practice is the only practice that will hone my skill and timing"; I am moving forward on the advice I was given here. I have not shared about the variety show idea for awhile because it was not germane to Ventriloquism, the production is also in the works; in time I will be a part of a larger entertainment production that I will own. Thanks for letting me write this out to remind me to focus on my work ahead. I am well aware of the need to produce a solid routine Buzz |
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Servante Inner circle 1330 Posts |
Easy, big fella.
In advising the "get out there and start doing it" thing, I, at least (I can't speak for Mark or the others) envisioned the "start doing it" part as writing and doing, perhaps, a show at your church and perhaps another for whatever service club you may be a member of, and so forth...easing into it all and making these smaller unpaid shows a part of your training process...you know, like the old days of vaudeville when performers started in small local houses honing their act...and then began to move up through the system to become headliners. The advice to "get out there and start doing it" had to do with starting with the beginnings of an act, and then begin to expand upon it and advertising it and moving upward with it. If you start advertising it before you've got an "it" to advertise, it could get momentum going before you've got a payoff. Folks're just trying to help, Buzz. That's all. See? Big smile---> -Philip |
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tacrowl Inner circle Maryland 1633 Posts |
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On 2011-03-10 23:06, Howie Diddot wrote: Buzz - How long do you envision that to be? How many years? How many shows? A goal is a good thing to have - but until you start earning consistant standing ovations you won't be ready for the corporate market. Going into a market before you are ready will set your career back, damage any reputation you earn as a performer and hurt other vents who earn their living in the market. Some people point to me as someone who has achieved a lot in a relatively short period. Keep in mind that I have been on stage in front of audiences since I was a kid. I started earning a living as a full time professional magician in 1984. I've done tens of thousands of shows in front of all types of audiences in a variety of venues. I learned to work an audience long before I became a ventriloquist. Once I switched to vent, I started back at the beginning. Small shows. I worked with a mentor who helped me correct problems and taught me things the books and videos didn't. He taught me how to be a good vent on stage. I have done as many as 400 shows a year since and probably did over 1,000 performances before I ever stepped in front of a corporate audience as a vent. I'm glad you are excited about vent. But let me ask you this... What if you promote your name and you suck? The kids don't pay attention, the adults think its a kiddie show and the whole performance goes down the tubes? (My first few did.) You've promoted your name and someone, who saw your promotional efforts and thinks "Wow, this guy MUST be good" - sees one of your first shows. Suddenly they realize you are a beginner and the word gets around. By not letting your program propel your reputation, you may be setting yourself up for failure down the road. There is nothing wrong with getting your ducks in a row. Pushing them into the pond before they can swim is another thing... Tom |
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ColinDymond Special user Gloucestershire, England 675 Posts |
I'm sorry if this sounds like a put down but I really don't think that your colouring book looks proffesional. It looks like some random bits of clip art with your name on it.
I would have a picture of you or your character on the front and some other drawings done by the same artist on the other pages. I would get some help with the layout and the type face to make it look like a proffesional piece of work. If you are going to do it do it right! I'm not trying to knock what you are doing but too often I see people say "That's great" when it's not. If some one said they could design you some puplicity material for $500 and then showed you that, would you buy it? If the answer is no then maybe you should find someone and pay them to design you some proffesional material.
Colin Dymond
www.aceofdiamonds.co.uk |
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Howie Diddot Inner circle San Francisco & Los Angeles California 3288 Posts |
Philip;
HA HA I am starting small, with a performance at my church and daycare. I am not distributing the coloring book anywhere yet, just printing it for the church and day care; in a few months I will distribute to the general public. I have my first show booked at the church, it will probably be horrible LOL, it will be my first, I will learn many things from this show; I don’t think the 3 year old kids will remember that I was bad and never hire me again. I will learn to use my music, tricks and timing in this performance. Then I will go from there. I have talked a lot of big ideas here; I am just posting and letting you know that I am producing the items I am telling you about, and not just talking and wasting time here. I talked about the MP3 Tech, I have it; the PA system, I have it, the background, I ordered it, the figure curtain is being constructed by the curtain maker; the magic tricks and the music I have will extend the show and make it more entertaining it’s all working together. I will have a professional looking production with well written material and most of all I will have fun working Dan. |
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Dickens & Dave Inner circle North Central Florida 1813 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-03-11 10:19, tacrowl wrote: I like that.
http://dickensndave.bravehost.com/index.html
"Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest." |
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Howie Diddot Inner circle San Francisco & Los Angeles California 3288 Posts |
Colin;
It’s a simple coloring book with various designs to hold a child’s attention; it’s designed for a three year old and maybe a parent helping to hold the crayon while the kid draws. It was not produced as a slick 4 page brochure designed to attract parents to hire me. It was designed for the intended audience. As I said in a earlier post, the drawing of me and Dan for the front cover is coming very soon. Buzz |
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Howie Diddot Inner circle San Francisco & Los Angeles California 3288 Posts |
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On 2011-03-11 00:52, maps wrote: Maps; I am starting small, with a performance at my church and daycare It will still be a month before I really advertise, then for some reason I am still not ready, I would prefer to answer the phone and say I am sorry that I am fully booked for two months, please think of me for your next party. I am well aware of the need to produce a solid show |
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Howie Diddot Inner circle San Francisco & Los Angeles California 3288 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-03-11 11:04, blueshawk1 wrote: Thank you; I like what I am planning as well. It’s a lot of fun for me now; my plan is that my first show not look like my first show. |
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Howie Diddot Inner circle San Francisco & Los Angeles California 3288 Posts |
I may be wasting my time here now, I live by the ocean in Half Moon Bay California and the news says I will die soon from the oncoming Tsunami
who wants my new equipment? |
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Servante Inner circle 1330 Posts |
I think you're safe. So far Hawaii's not in terrible shape yet, either. Just step back and stand on a chair.
:-( Okay, I misunderstood. I thought you were distributing your book before you had a show. My fault. I apologize. And you ARE starting small. good. That video you showed me elsewhere...yeah, that guy's not very good...but he had the kids laughing, so the material must be strong. I guess. The figure he's using there looks like one of Clinton's...at least fromt he distance. I hit some other videos with him and he has another figure that's not very well made. These posts are always a bit tough because it's hard to discern TONE without the occasional emoticon. I thought you sounded angry, and I didn't want you to be angry. You really have energized us quite a bit. There used to be days when nobody said anything here in the vent room. Not so these days. And, again, I can't begin to tell you the advantages you have with some of the legendary folks here (myself definitely not included) who are advising you. -Philip |
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wizardpa Inner circle The New Orleans area 1011 Posts |
When it comes to ventriloquism I'm probably a toddler. It will almost be 2 years when I started getting into it after many years of wanting to. My first attempt at a routine was probably 3 minutes long at the beginning of my magic show. Now slowly, I'm adding more and more ventriloquism into my show and gaining more confidence the more I do it. So when it comes to advice I'm just a novice, but one of the best things I can advise you to do Howie, is to get a video camera and video your practices and performances. Do both close ups and far away videos. You do not have to spend hours editing your video. You are just trying to learn from it. I find it much, much better then practicing in front of a mirror, though I do that before I make a practice video. You can easily tape over any previous performances.
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Dickens & Dave Inner circle North Central Florida 1813 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-03-11 11:29, Howie Diddot wrote: How quickly can you get it shipped (I wouldn't want my new equipment getting wet).
http://dickensndave.bravehost.com/index.html
"Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest." |
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Servante Inner circle 1330 Posts |
I think I discern his^ tone.
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Howie Diddot Inner circle San Francisco & Los Angeles California 3288 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-03-11 16:24, wizardpa wrote: Wizadpa This was discussed when I first came to the café I already had Dan and we were in my first post discussing the figure table I was going to place him on. I have a Sony video camera that Tom, Philip, Mark and Dave made me buy, it is placed next to a full sized wall mirror, I can look into the mirror as if it’s the audience and perform and video my practice. I do this every evening. I am getting better every day. When the Magic backdrop arrives I will set it up and start to post my progress on youtube, complete with music, but no dancing girls. I refuse to publicly perform to the world until it is perfect. A bunch of kids in a room, eh! |
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Howie Diddot Inner circle San Francisco & Los Angeles California 3288 Posts |
Philip, Tom Mark and Dave;
I have more time now and was thinking about my first show with kids during my breakfast. I have the Executive Production Case to start the show, plus a giveaway I have the Axtell magic board and the FX board; with vent scripts from Axtell. I have music I have songs to sing for kids I have Dan I have what I have written so far; I think it’s very funny I have at least 50 finished scripts from Clinton’s books that I can piece more together I have coloring books and crayons to give out and draw with I think I will get at least 20 to 30 minutes from all that, plus I have 3 weeks to buy more tricks and think up more things to do AND… At the church and day care, I have understanding parents that will not judge me I think I have a show!!! what do you think? Buzz |
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