Why would someone buy a conversion figure(doll)?
By Larry Harris | February 1, 2009
I keep racking my brain as to why someone would spend their hard earned money on a conversion figure(doll) when for about the same amount of money they can have the real mccoy?
I have seen these items listed on EBay with the Magic Sculp covering the Goldberger “Charlie McCarthy” heads and I just shake my head and wonder why.
When I first got into ventriloquism in 1993 I almost made my first figure one of the conversion figures without knowing it and when I questioned the seller if it was made from scratch something in what their rely with respect to a “semi pro” figure scared me off. Now I understand exactly what was being sold.
There are folks that sell these type of figures and indicate that they are indeed conversion figures and that is fine, but in my mind that does an injustice to the figure makers out there who are creating a masterpiece from its inception.
I think I am right with all the used conversion figures(dolls) that are listed on EBay 24/7. I think folks are realizing what they have bought and now want a real figure.
This is my take on the subject and I just wanted to express my viewpoint.
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Doing Vent in Hard Times
By Larry Harris | January 31, 2009
I have communicated with folks on some of the ventriloquism E Mail lists and I hear comments ranging from “Go for it” to ” Hate to tell you now is not the time.”
I am going to put my own spin on this topic. People need to laugh and especially now. I believe that now is exactly the right time to put yourself out there. I intend to do just that. There are only a handful of vents in my area and I am going to use shameless self promotion to do this.
During these tough times I think all of us have to see what works for them during the biggest economic downturn since the great depression, which brings me to Edgar Bergen. Bergen was at the top of his game during the Great Depression. I know this was a different era, but yet some interesting similarities.
So lets all of us get out there and bring some smiles.
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Instroducing “Skidmore J. Lush”
By Larry Harris | January 31, 2009
It has been a long time since I have posted to my blog and I wanted to introduce my new character, “skidmore J. Lush.” This is my new character, made by Dan Payes, who I think may be the hit of the shows I do this year.
He could be the new face of the GOP. Could the they do any worse than “Skidmore”? I doubt it.
“Skidmore” may indulge in liquid refreshments a little much, but I think he has a bright future and I can’t wait to hear what he has to say next.
“Skidmore” is a learned man who is an expert in a lot of areas besides the obvious and I hope folks enjoy this character as much as I will enjoy working with him.
Here’s to another Steeler’s Super Bowl win!!
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Aunt Dottie
By Larry Harris | July 13, 2008
Sometimes you just have to do it. I had met women several years ago in my old neighborhood who was not the most pleasant person in the world. She was a spinster that never married and it seems for good reason. This gal was a retired Supervisor for the old telephone company before it became Verizon. It got me thinking that what if I created a character that could cuss like a sailor and is a card carrying member of the women’s auxiliary.
I had wanted to pay homage to the late Col. Bill Boley and his “Aunt Fanny” for some time. I loved what he could do with the old gal and I told him so once when we corresponded.
I could not find any figure that seemed to fit the bill so I contacted figure maker, Bill Anderson to create a starter head for me that I would finish myself. This was two years ago and I have finally finished the process. I have added an early picture of “Dottie” before I reworked some things including added a nice hat I found at the Salvation Army thrift store.
I love creating these fringe characters and I look forward to working with her. I went to a local flea market yesterday and saw some country women that gave me some ideas on mannerisms for my new character.
Characters are always a work in progress as one constantly works to refine the personality of the character.
I think this one is a keeper.
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Something About the Goofball Figure
By Larry Harris | July 12, 2008
There is something about the goofball figures that have always attracted me. A lot of Ventriloquists use these types of figures to do fill in or for an encore.
I prefer to have some well scripted routines that really get in to the depth of their stupidity in order to examine the logic behind their thinking.
With the presidential election this year, there is a bevy of material that I will be using and my main goof, “Elwood T. Krankshaw,” will be in fine form. Check out the picture and you will be able to see the utter foolish expression on his face. He is the perfect campaign advisor.
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Character Development
By Larry Harris | July 8, 2008
This article is meant to serve as a guide to the aspiring ventriloquist as he or she works on developing the character of their little partner.
One thing that I suggest not doing is trying to make a personality fit a puppet that you bought on an impulse without figuring out what the character is going to be first. Too many figures end up sitting in one’s closet or on EBay because someone made a purchase on impulse.
Here is what I do. I figure out what kind of character I am looking for and set out to either build or purchase just that character. For example, I had this idea in my head that I wanted an “old man” figure. I didn’t want a grumpy old man, but a character that was a real ladies man. In this case I took my time and finished a starter head made by Bill Anderson. The character came out exactly how I envisioned he would and the personality I had for him fit to a tee. You see, I knew an old fellow that thought he was a real ladies man or so he thought. This guy was a real “good time Charlie,” a real free loader. I had just the routines ready to go for this guy. In this case it worked to a t.
If you by a stock figure that you happen to see, you better have an idea of what kind of personality traits your character is going to have. I knew a long time ago that I was looking to have a character in my act that was kind of a simple character with a balding look to him. The character I had in mind was a retired government worker with a terrible habit of sucking his teeth and also had a very opinionated daughter who was unmarried because no one was good enough for her. Even into her forties she lived at home with her parents.
To develop a character, my advice is to just observe people around you and then act to find a character that fits the kind of personality you want it to have. The worst think you can do is to buy a figure because you think it looks cute.
If you are going to buy stock figure, and there a lot of them to choose from, take my advice and buy wisely. The worst thing you can do is to buy a figure that turns out to be the wrong look for the personality you are looking for it to have. If you are not sure when you take it outside the box, sit it in a chair by your bed and get used to it and work on the character of your little partner.
If you have the money to get a custom made figure and have selected the person you want to create your figure, check their references before you send any money. If they demand payment full in advance that should be a red flag. Reputable figures makers will usually ask for a deposit up front and payment when the figure is ready, but be prepared to wait up to a year as a quality figure just doesn’t get slapped together.
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Dan Payes – Thinking outside the box
By Larry Harris | August 25, 2007
I wanted to post this blog because I feel that more than any figure maker is working outside the box to create a look that is not just another cheeky boy.
I must admit that I am somewhat biased because I own several of Dan’s figures and I feel that Dan’s figures come with a ready to work look about them.
I have included a picture of one of Dan’s figures as an example of just what I mean. The fellow I have pictured looks like an average Government Worker Schlep. He grabs his coffee first thing in the morning and then proceeds to read the racing form before settling in for about 30 minutes worth of work before heading off to lunch for about 2 hours. The same routine gets repeated in the afternoon. Yes, this fellow is based on someone I knew that is a retired government loafer. Yes, there are quite a few folks that work hard in the government, but not this guy.
Getting back to Dan, I guess what drew me to his figures is that unique look that lend themselves to such endless comical possibilities.
Just my thoughts on a Saturday morning. By the way, notice the white socks effect on this fellow. I love it. “Government White Soxer.”
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Developing Side Splitting Comedy With Amazing Characters
By Larry Harris | August 18, 2007
I have been observing the world around me and what I find particularly humorous. What has always fascinated me to no end is the back and forth give and take that Jerry Stiller and Estelle Harris had on “Seinfeld” for years. To me, “Frank & Estelle” were “Money” to coin a phrase from Guy Fieri the great host of “Diners, Drive-ins & Dives.
I enjoyed the humor these two marvelous actors brought to the small screen that I created two characters, “Max & Estelle Kornbaum,” based on this wonderful couple.
I found just the figures I needed sitting in my closet. For you see, Dan Payes had made both of these figures for me 4 years ago, but I had been trying to carve out a good act when it suddenly dawned on me why not bring some of this banter to my act.
Max & Estelle are the type that have a lump son still at home in his early 40’s and a daughter still trying to snare a Husband at the age of 35. She is very picky and really shouldn’t be. Yes, I do have the daughter waiting in the wings with a character still in development. She is a charmer. She will be hanging out at the Jewish Community Center Singles dance on any given Sunday night. Trust me.
Back to Max & Estelle, a Friday night dinner isn’t complete without the nasty Kosher veal breast that tastes like yesterday’s road kill. I think one can see where my humor comes from.
There is so much out there to work with all one has to do is think outside the box. That is the main reason I use Dan Payes figures is because Dan does just that.
I have posted a picture of Max & Estelle for your enjoyment.
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
After Prom 2007
By Larry Harris | May 25, 2007
Well I worked another After Prom last weekend and check out some of the photos. Yes, these figures are from the great Figure Maker, Dan Payes. They were the life of the Party.
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Humor – Write your own. Start Now by Al Stevens
By Larry Harris | February 26, 2007
Write your own. Start now.
I’ve been down the canned script route different times, different ways. A
scripted ventriloquist dialogue can be funny only when the dialogue matches
the figure’s character and fits the relationship between the figure and the
ventriloquist and when the ventriloquist knows how to deliver the material.
The same dialogue can bomb in the hands of an unskilled ventriloquist or in
a situation where the material fails to match the act.
Take the typical Bergen/Snerd dialogue. No one other than Bergen and
Mortimer can make those lines work. Only Mortimer can say those simple
things and make people laugh. Mortimer says, “Tsk. Ya don’t say,” and the
audience laughs. It’s not the line. It’s Mortimer.
My favorite resource is (drum roll) life. People say and do funny things. Be
always ready to write down the funny things you observe. They won’t always
match your current act, but you never know when something you see today will
match a character you develop in the future.
Keep your funny bone awake and alert at all times. A pretty young woman in a
convertible gave me the finger the other day when I inadvertantly cut her
off. That’s the beginning of a premise because it’s an anomaly (or was in my
day). I’ve been working on it ever since, and a dialogue is shaping up.
My act today typically comprises three characters and runs up to an hour.
The material consists mostly of original jokes I wrote based on things I’ve
seen and my own (odd) sense of humor. The balance of the material uses jokes
I have been told or have read that I adapt to the character that uses them
and that I’ve recast into the dialogue format.
I am often surprised when the setup to a joke gets a bigger laugh than the
punch line. Later I’ll realize that the premise, in the hands of the figure
itself, is more ridiculous, consequently funnier, than the joke itself. When
that happens, I’ll sometimes keep the setup and drop the punch line from the
bit.
For example, I read a joke where an old guy didn’t tell his family about his
new hearing aid. He said he changed his will three times since getting it.
One of those senior citizen Internet jokes that keeps going around. My old
man figure has an old timey hearing aid. I tried using that joke, but needed
a way to explain how he could fool his family. So I asked him, “What do they
think that thing is stuck in your ear and hanging on your belt?” He said,
“They think it’s my iPod.” That was just part of the setup, but it got a
big, unexpected laugh. Why would a man in his nineties have an iPod? The
punch line about changing his will was so subordinate to the iPod setup that
it got maybe a small chuckle. So a mildly amusing joke I heard somewhere but
couldn’t make work led to a totally different one that always goes over
well.
My “doodley-squat” bit (which you could see on youtube until I deleted it)
came about the same way, except that I didn’t need an audience to tell me
that the joke I was trying to make work wasn’t funny in the dialogue genre.
It was too complicated. But while trying unsucessfully to cast it into a
funny bit for my old man, I heard him say, “we didn’t have doodley-squat,”
and the whole bit just came spilling out.
Keep in mind that only you know your figure well enough to write funny lines
for him. For a professional comedy writer to write an effective veny script,
the writer would have to spend time viewing the vent and his figure at work.
Canned scripts just don’t work in my experience. I have a sizeable
collection of script books. The scripts are okay for getting an occasional
joke to fit a situation, but I can’t make any of them work in their
entirety. Maybe it’s just me.
There are a lot of how-to books about standup comedy writing, and all of
them have something to teach. However, the subject of comedy dialogue
writing has been mostly overlooked because comedy dialogues (SNL skits
notwithstanding) are a relic of the past. Nowadays, only (or mostly)
ventriloquists use comedy dialogues, and the market isn’t big enough to
support the publication of a book about how to write them.
One notable exception is “Bill DeMar & Tom Ladshaw’s Ventriloquial Script
Sourcebook,” a definite must-have for anyone who wants to write comedy
dialogues. I got it when I started to do my own writing and learned a lot
from it. It has some canned dialogues, but the main thing you learn (by
example) is the format and pacing. Don’t even think about starting without
it.
By permisson from Al Stevens
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »