How to Be a Ventriloquist
Posted on March 30th, 2009 by Marck
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Whether it’s a children’s party or a high-budget magic show, ventriloquism is part of a magician’s many tricks and talents used to amuse and entertain spectators. Ventriloquists can make anything “speak;” while they often use dummies and dolls for the trick, they can throw their voice to make it seem like a voice is coming from nowhere. If you want to learn how to become a ventriloquist, here are some tips to keep in mind.
Project and Channel Your Voice
Ventriloquism is all about projecting your voice to make it seem like it’s coming from somewhere. Good ventriloquists go beyond the usual trick of speaking through the side of their mouth; instead, they make it seem that the doll or dummy is the one actually doing the talking. Here are some tips to help you project and channel your voice to an object:
- Throw your voice, not your words. Remember that the key is to make it seem that the doll or dummy actually has a voice. Practice in front of a mirror; using the right breaths, sounds, and delays in speech, project your voice to the dummy. Coordination is very important in ventriloquism, so that the performance will look as authentic as possible.
- Draw your voice from the gut. One way to avoid getting “caught” during performances is to draw your speaking voice from the diaphragm, instead of from the throat. If you literally speak from the gut, you can create many different voices outside of the usual speaking voice you have when you use your voice box.
- Speak with your mouth closed. While it’s easy to pronounce vowels and simple words with your mouth closed, forming long words with your mouth closed get a bit tricky. To pull off complex words, many ventriloquists use substitutes for certain speech sounds when they speak with their mouths closed. If they’re willing to teach you, professional magicians can help you learn the tricks of the trade.
Look for a Good Dummy
Ventriloquism, like magic, relies on two things: distraction and misdirection. The ventriloquist’s dummy is more than just a prop. A dummy, doll, or object distracts the audience enough to make them concentrate on the prop, and not on the ventriloquist. The dummy does not have to look very sophisticated, but should be able to draw the focus of the audience away from you. You can build your own dummy, or buy one from a haberdashery shop or a novelty goods store.
Write Good Material
All the talent in the world does not count for much if you’re not able to make your audience feel good about your performance. While most ventriloquism acts are all about comedy, you can make new takes on your performance by adding drama, action, suspense, or even serious bits to your routine.
The key to good ventriloquism is good material. Instead of repeating routines you’ve already seen from other performances, try to invent new ones. If you can’t seem to pull off a whole new different idea, innovate and make your own take on existing material. You’ll always have a heckler or two in the audience, but good material can keep most of the audience pleased enough to ask for an encore.
Ventriloquism is one of the oldest and most popular performances in magic and variety shows. With these tips and the right material, you and your ventriloquist dummies will be well on your way to fame, fortune, and superstardom.
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