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davidakicreations New user Preston 42 Posts |
I've been wondering this for a while now, the question is;
What style/type of dummy/puppet do you guys prefer? Hard or Soft. Dummy or Puppet. Big or Small. The list is endless, but describe to me, your favourite type of puppet. Could even be your dream puppet. Check out my channel for FREE ventriloquist lessons for beginners and advanced: http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidAkiCreations?feature=mhee Like and Subscribe for future updates. |
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bearT New user Chesterfield UK 23 Posts |
My personal preference is soft, probably because I've never had a hard (no rude jokes please) and quite large, and I quite like primates
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Dickens & Dave Inner circle North Central Florida 1813 Posts |
I've had a few soft figures over the years, but I never really got into them except for one that I have. I still see a lot that I like, and I enjoy watching other people use them, but for me personally, I prefer to use a classic hard figure. Exactly why that is, I can only guess that it's the image stuck in my head, a vent with a hard figure and it doesn't feel right to me personally unless that's what I'm using.
As far as big or small, I used to prefer figures that were on the upper end of "full size", usually 40 to 42 inches, but I've gotten so I prefer little smaller figures now, 38", maybe even 36", and I have no explanation for why that change either, it's just sort of happened without me planning it or thinking about it.
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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robholland New user 79 Posts |
I get some great reactions from both: soft and hard. Both have their advantages. I like the movement and expression of my soft puppets, but I like the blinking, upperlip sneer, moving eyes etc. of my Selberg to give the figure more expressions and feelings. Soft puppets are more easy to handle and of course a LOT cheaper
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george1953 Inner circle Mallorca (Spain) 5943 Posts |
I think both are only as good as the operator. Any duumy8puppet with character shoud be good. I have an Axtel ostrich for the larger venues, and a mask for closer up audiences. Lately the mask seems to play better, not sure why ?
By failing to prepare, we are preparing to fail.
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davidakicreations New user Preston 42 Posts |
I think because some audience member know the victim, I mean, participant, it makes the mask routine funnier .
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george1953 Inner circle Mallorca (Spain) 5943 Posts |
IfI can i( always use someone like the MD of the company I am working for, it makes it even funnier. The employees kove to see the boss on stage.
By failing to prepare, we are preparing to fail.
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MagicalArtist Veteran user Hobart, Indiana 378 Posts |
Hard figures have a great history, dating back all the way to the time when ventriloquists first thought of the idea of "throwing" their voice into a puppet or figure. Soft puppets became popular due to the influence of Jim Henson and his Muppets.
Both hard and soft puppets have their advantages and disadvantages. Soft puppets don't break but they can wear out. Hard puppets don't wear out but they can break! Plus, you don't want to leave them in a hot car, as the heat can melt the glue that holds some of the moving parts in place. |
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Aussie Special user Australia 623 Posts |
I prefer hard figures. They have a realism in their appearance that I don't see in soft figures, they fit into their clothes better and a well built figure will last a lifetime.
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Dickens & Dave Inner circle North Central Florida 1813 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-02-19 13:02, MagicalArtist wrote: Depending on the material they are made out of, the figure's head may melt, I've heard of that happening. Quote:
On 2013-02-19 17:22, Aussie wrote: That's another thing I like about hard figures, a hard figure can last a lifetime, and I like having one steady partner that I'm identified with, not to say I don't use others, but it's like Bergen, it was always Bergen and McCarthy, yes, he had Mortimer, and Effie, but it was Bergen and McCarthy. With a soft figure, keeping the same one your entire life, I would think, would be a bit more difficult, unless maybe you made it yourself and could keep making new ones as one wore out. I mentioned earlier I did have one soft figure I did like using, never my main figure, but I liked it so much, I bought a dozen of them to make sure I would always have that character available.
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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Steve at The Dummy Shoppe Elite user 479 Posts |
Dave,
As a quiet defense of soft, I can say that we keep a full working set of patterns for every puppet that leaves here. Even though we don't do duplicates for the mass market, we can easily make a duplicate of a given character when needed by the original purchaser. Even though not every maker keeps a full set of patterns, with permission from the original owner of the design, JET can pretty well duplicate anyone elses work. We just got another signature character in house last week from a well known member of this group who had been having the devil of a time getting this character copied for his use. I won't mention his name, but I will let him do a review on the finished puppet if he chooses when its done. When you compare the cost factors between hard and soft, I think there might be good economics in soft. Soft can easily last twenty years with minimal care and maintenance. Therefore, if you replace one every 15 to 20 years, you may only replace at most twice in your lifetime and still have no more in the character than in a hard figure. I say the real argument should remain the preference of the Vent, the type of character (human, animal, or creature) and the preference of the Vents general audience. Steve http://thedummyshoppe.com/blog |
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kidshowvent Elite user 410 Posts |
Although I feel both hard and soft puppets are equally effective, I too have gone the route of the soft puppet. I have three Verna figures made for me over 15 years ago and all are like new. Granted I take good care of them, but when you get a well made product it will last. I have soft puppets made by Verna, Bev Ciperly (Puppet Life), MAT Puppets (Mary Ann Taylor), Axtell, Wanlu, and am very proud of my newest one..a soft puppet made by my friend JET (Steve and JET at the Dummy Shoppe). I expect many years of use out of all of them, and I know I will get it.
Because of the types of shows I do most (kidshows) I turned to soft puppets early on in my career and it was without a doubt the best decision that I ever made. I love a good vent figure but my heart belongs in the soft puppet camp. I also owned a Jack Coats, Foy E. Broown and a Don Bryan figure but I personally felt more comfortable with a soft puppet. Also I didn't worry nearly as much when I had to fly across country doing shows when I used the soft characters. My advice...enjoy WHATEVER suits you the best!! Let your own performing style be highlighted by the puppets you use! Mark markwade@kidshowvent.com |
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Dickens & Dave Inner circle North Central Florida 1813 Posts |
Steve,
You are right, the preference of the vent is what matters, what kind of figure they like working with. And like I said, while I thoroughly enjoy watching vents who use soft figures, my personal preference has always been for the classic hard figure, I've always been stuck with that picture in my head of the vent with the classic hard vent figure - what can I say, I'm old.....
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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Steve at The Dummy Shoppe Elite user 479 Posts |
Yeah Dave, but old is a good thing. Consider the alternative.
By the way, thanks for sending your lifetime buddy to the museum. I'm sure that a bunch of us will enjoy seeing him there. Steve http://thedummyshoppe.com/blog |
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Dickens & Dave Inner circle North Central Florida 1813 Posts |
Thank you Steve, I do hope everyone will enjoy seeing Hannibal there.
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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jlevey Inner circle Montreal, Quebec, Canada 2076 Posts |
I had always enjoyed and preferred a hard vent figure, dating back to the time when I was 13 and fell in love with the Jerry Mahoney and Danny O'Day figures that were popular at the time (circa 1968). But about two years ago, I began to observe that there were often a few young children in my audiences (ages 3-5 especially) that seemed uncomfortable and even "scared" by by hard vent figure, in spite of the fact that his voice and personality was meant to be kind and friendly. A few of them seemed to think he was SO real, after all he was the same height as many of them. Even having one scared child was one too many for me. So I ended up reluctantly selling and shipping off my beloved "Ollie --a French marshall Tribute figure, to Singapore, to a talented vent and fellow Café member that was sure to appreciate and use him to great effect. I then purchased two great soft figures from Mary Ann Taylor (who came highly recommended by Mark Wade and Tom Crowl). mary Ann was a pure pleasure to communicate with and did a fantastic job on creating these two figures. One was a small chicken-like figure, that I named "Sweet Henrietta Hen", intended especially to entertain the "little ones" (ages 3-5). The other was a little boy figure, with more "spunk" than the chicken, that I ended up calling "little Antonio". Also as intended, I specifically entertain my older audiences (ages 6 -adult) with him. Having two distinct characters --one sweet and gentle (and funny) for the young children and the boy puppet for the older crowds, seems to work well for me (and my audiences).
If you would like to see a few photos of these figures, we invite yo to visit our children's site at: http://www.monsieurmagic.com and scroll about 3/4 down the page. To view my "old" hard vent Marshall tribute figure figure, "Ollie", visit the same site, then click on the video clip of our show. ...Happy Venting! Jonathan
Jonathan
Max & Maxine Entertainment Magicians with a touch of comedy! ___________________________________ www.maxmagician.com www.mindreadershow.com www.monsieurmagic.com |
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kidshowvent Elite user 410 Posts |
Jonathon, I'm really glad you contacted Mary Ann Taylor and that she performed in her puppet making to your expectations. I have another person to recommend as well if you are looking for a great soft puppet. It's JET Puppets available from the Dummy shoppe (my good friends Steve and Jet Swanson). High quality like Mary Ann's puppets and Jet also has a great eye for detail. You won't go wrong with either of these two fine puppet makers.
Mark markwade@kidshowvent.com |
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Aussie Special user Australia 623 Posts |
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jlevey Inner circle Montreal, Quebec, Canada 2076 Posts |
Thanks Mark.
Best wishes, Jonathan
Jonathan
Max & Maxine Entertainment Magicians with a touch of comedy! ___________________________________ www.maxmagician.com www.mindreadershow.com www.monsieurmagic.com |
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robholland New user 79 Posts |
Hi Jonathan,
On your site, I saw a video of you using your hard figure. He looks really funny and not scary at all. I have the same experience with a boy figure; even a 9 year old girl thought he was a ''scary looking figure'', but I thought it was a nice, cute and friendly boy. It really surprises me! Anyone has an explanation for this? (maybe a new topic ?) Rob |
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