Ventriloquist Central Birthday Bash Review – Ray Guyll

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Ray Guyll and Dan Willinger at the Ventriloquist Central Birthday Bash 2011

Master figure builder, Ray Guyll sent in his review of the Ventriloquist Central Birthday Bash:

Wow, what a great weekend. I can’t remember when I’ve had as much fun with a group of vents as I had this past weekend. Margaret Davis summed it up very well (I don’t recall ever seeing her without a big smile beaming and lighting up the room) and I really don’t have much to add except that the gathering reminded me of the gatherings that W.S. Berger would host yearly. The group was just the right size for sharing ideas, stories, etc. There were no “prima donna” or “holier than thou” attitudes and everyone was accepted as an equal. Experienced and inexperienced vents interacted equally and it was my observation that we all learned from each other.

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Posted in Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central | 1 Comment

Ask the Pro with Ventriloquist Bob Abdou – Always Be Prepared

ventriloquist central ask the pro with bob abdou

Here’s today’s advice from ventriloquist Bob Abdou:

Next month I’ve got a lot of shows lined up and I’m nervous I’m going to forget something. What things should I take with me for back up?
– Ventriloquist from Kentucky

Good Question and as the Boy Scout motto says: Always be Prepared!

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Collecting vs Performing Ventriloquist Figures

After having the crowd come and see the Ventriloquist Central collection there were questions about figures used by performers and how both my collection and the Vent Haven Museum have taken away the chance for some performers to use the figures of old. I found that to be a rather profound statement because if anyone wants to use an old figure they can. All they have to do is buy one.

The problem is, in my opinion, that you should never choose the figure first if you are going to perform. Rather in your mind you must decide the character and develop just how he or she will move and the voice you will give that character and then you will ultimately know what that character should look like. Then the hunt begins.

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Posted in Dummy Collecting, Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central, Ventriloquist Figures, W.S. Berger & Vent Haven | 1 Comment

Chuck Jackson Basswood Figure For Sale

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I am pleased to offer for sale a really fine and early Chuck Jackson figure for sale. This figure is carved basswood and retains its original paint and original wig. He stands 42″ tall and because he came to me undressed I have put him in the outfit you see pictured which will come with him when sold.

He has slot jaw (with perfect pitch point), side to side self centering eyes, winkers, blinkers and raising eyebrows. The winker/blinkers were not used very much and therefore have not changed or I should say faded with time so the buyer may want to recolor them. The leather is in perfect condition.

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Posted in Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central, Ventriloquist Figures, Ventriloquist Marketplace | Leave a comment

Ventriloquist Central Birthday Bash Review

ventriloquist central birthay bash margaret davis

I was going to write up a review of the Ventriloquist Central Birthday Bash but when one of the attendees, Margaret Davis wrote this and made my job a lot easier. Enjoy this review!

Started off with a bus taking us over to Dan Willinger’s house…not at all what I expected, not sure what I expected. Dan’s place is a beautiful two story stone house…walked in the front door and BAM! This house is loaded with some of the most beautiful antiques I have ever seen in my life. Museum quality, really breathtaking. So… before he got the Ventriloquist Figure Collecting bug he was a big antiquing FREAK. But onto his collection…It rivals VentHaven, he has great figures and most of them he knows “their” story. I could have stayed all day just looking at them…I did find a couple of favorites.

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Posted in Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central | 2 Comments