Product Description
Indispensable, step-by-step guide tells absolute beginners everything they need to know to become a polished and entertaining ventriloquist, including how to develop the art of speaking without lip movement, how to perfect dialogues and special effects, how to use props, write and memorize scripts, plan a show and much more.
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Customer Reviews (8)

A MAJOR disappointment
I purchased this book for my daughter's 9th birthday from Amazon along with a ventriloquist dummy and several ventrioquism DVD's.The book is such a major disappointment.

The author is too busy using the book as a means to push his religion and finding Jesus to offer anything of substance.

This very thin book is filled with fluff.He tells the reader how to record an engagement in their calendar. In another section the author even writes out the alphabet not once, but twice for those poor folks who are not sufficiently familiar.

A real dissapointment!

An awesome book!
Ventriloquism Made Easy, by Kolby King, is a well written book, which "covers it all"! This is a MUST-HAVE for anyone who is seriously considering taking up ventriloquism! Kolby takes you through the basics of ventriloquism, in a well written, fun-filled book, that is WELL WORTH READING!!

Save Your Money, Folks!

This book teaches ventriloquism about as well as a three-page pamphlet teaches nuclear physics.Sure, you will learn a trick or two, but I'd hate to perform with only this knowledge under my belt!

And why, WHY do some authors insist on injecting their personal religious beliefs into what are supposed to be secular works?Evangelize in a book written to that purpose, please!About 2000 years ago someone said something about praying quietly and privately in one's own room . . .

If you want to be a ventriloquist, there are plenty of sources far superior to this pap.Look for them.

not worth it
Has only a tiny section on the really important stuff about the hard letters.The rest is padding.I'm going to look for something more serious.

Great
I think that this book is great for beginers because it teaches basic stuff to advanced stuff.If there was anyone that was interested in becoming a ventriloquist this is the right book for you. ... Read more

Product Description
The art of "bellyspeaking" isn't for dummies.

The Complete Idiot's Guide(r) to Ventriloquism teaches everyone to speak from their bellies, create and substitute sounds, use all the registers of their voice, and create diversions to attract the listener's ear-whether they invest in a fancy puppet or create their own figure out of a sweat sock.

•Includes tips for making, manipulating, and talking with their dummy and for it-both at the same time

•Advice for getting an act together and taking it on the road-getting gigs, getting paid, and how to improve performances

•How to write dialogue and jokes and rehearsal techniques ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

ain't no dummy
this book is the best I have read on ventriloquism. Very detailed in techniques for speaking, animating figures, script writing, joke writing, etc. Highly recommended.

Wow!
I knew I wanted to learn ventriloquism, but I didn't know where to start.So I purchased a few books and was left clueless about many aspects of the trade.Then Amazon suggested this book by Taylor Mason.I saw him perform live a few years ago with Bill Gather and he was fantastic.Then I saw him on TV a few times so I decided to get the book.

You can tell in the introduction that Mason is a highly educated man.The book #1 is well written.Some of the other books I got on the subject are written by Ventriloquists attempting to be authors, Taylor Mason is a Ventriloquist who is also an author.

#2 Everything else about the book is amazingly informative.I could go in more detail but really why bother.If you want to learn Ventriloquism then you MUST buy this book.I've read others, looked online, bought the videos but nothing compares.

When I practice I can easily find information if I need to review!

And he gives advice for writing scripts and actually getting into the business.

The Ulltimate Book on Ventriloquism!
While I am a practicing ventriloquist, I am always looking for ways to improve my craft.I have read many books and watched, "How To", Videos over the years and I have to say, this book has loads of information in it and I did pick up some good pointers to add in my own pursuit of excellence. This Book is all inclusive and I believe a must for any aspiring or even for the accomplished ventriloquist!

I would recommend this book, especially to beginner Vents, as it covers not only the craft but how to get the all important, "Stage Time" and how to sell yourself, once you have attained the degree of proficiency you will need to actually begin to perform for people.

I could not put the book down until I completed it and I expect I will use it as a reference for many years to come.It is that chocked full of excellent information.

Good luck to all who read it and take up Ventriloquism!
Joe Radle Ventriloquism
This book is the Holy Grail of ventriloquism books on 'how to do it books". After taking several courses and reviewing several DVD's, this book has everything and more then can be found any where on the web. The author is to be commended for doing an outstanding job in reveiling the best how to book on the market today. The one who purchases this book will not be disappointed. A great book!If I could give out stars it would have 5 stars plus.

Love it!!This book rocks!!
This ease of learning how to become a ventriloquist via this book is amazing. I have tried unsuccessfully for years to learn by books, friends,comedians etc and nothing worked until now.
Not saying I'm an idiot but.....This booked rocked and I highly suggest it, worth every penny!! I now play with dummies!!! :-) LIVE!! In front of an audience!! ... Read more

Product Description
Originally published in the 1930s, this is a comprehensively detailed guide to ventriloquism by a master of the art. The first art relates to the mechanism of ventriloquial voice, and describes the principles on which the art of ventriloquism is based and the correct methods of applying those principles. The second part is devoted to imitations of animals, birds and musical instruments. The third part deals with ventriloquial entertainments with figures. It contains information as to the construction of figures, mechanical appliances for working them, and suitable dialogues between them and the performer. Contents Include: How Do You Do It? Human Vocal Organs Mouth and Teeth, The Nose, Jaw Exercises, Throat and Neck Exercises, Tongue Exercise, Rubbing Head Voice Exercise, Chest Voice, Head To Chest Voice Exercised, Humming and Female Voice, Grunting and the Male Voice The Far-Distant Voice, Pronouncing Words The Ventriloquist Without the Figure, Friends Outside the Window, The Returning Roysterer and the Policeman The Sleeping Child A Distinct Novelty Cow, Donkey, Lion, Dog, Puppy, Pig, Horse, Cock-Crowing, Hen Chuckling, Little Chicks, Parrot Trombone, Cornet, Saxaphone and Basso, Clarinet, Banjo, One-String Fiddle, Harp, Xylophone, Violoncello Fireworks Bluebottle Fly Personality of Your Figures Buying Your Figure Repairs Short Dialogue Smoking and Drinking Performing in a Room For Stage Work Girl Dialogue Dialogue Page and Footman Ventriloquial Sketch Mrs. Brown's Tea Party Instructions For Working the Miniature Ventriloquial Figures Ventdollie Dialogue for Boy and Girl Figures ... Read more

Product Description
With Instructions For Using And Making The Ventrilo. ... Read more

Product Description
Ventriloquism, the art of "seeming to speak where one is not", speaks so resonantly to our contemporary technological condition.We now think nothing of hearing voices--our own and others'--propelled over intercoms, cellphones, and answering machines.Yet, why can none of us hear our own recorded voice without wincing? Why is the telephone still full of such spookiness and erotic possibility?And why does the magician's trick of speaking through a dummy entertain as well as disturb us?These are the kind of questions which impel Dumbstruck, Steven Connor's wide-ranging, relentlessly inquisitive history of ventriloquism and the disembodied voice.
Connor follows his subject from its early beginnings in ancient Israel and Greece, through the outcries of early Christian writers against the unholy (and, they believed, obscenely produced) practices of pagan divination. Surprisingly, he finds that women like the sibyls of Delphi were the key voices in these male-dominated times.Connor then turns to the aberrations of the voice in mysticism, witchcraft and possession, and the strange cultural obsession with the vagrant figure of the ventriloquist, newly conceived as male rather than female, that flourished during the Enlightenment. He retells the stories of some of the most popular and versatile ventriloquists and polyphonists of the nineteenth century, and investigates the survival of ventriloquial delusions and desires in spiritualism and the 'vocalic uncanny' of technologies like the telephone, radio, film, and the internet.
Brimming with anecdote and insight, Dumbstruck is a provocative archeology of a seemingly trivial yet profoundly relevant presence in human history.Its pages overflow with virtuoso philosophical and psychological reflections on the problems and astonishments, the raptures and absurdities of the unhoused voice. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

How can this volume possibly sell for $96.00?
Does it come with a ventriloquist dummy... AND a ventriloquist?

HUH?
This book is an example of psuedo-intellectual overthinking of the highest order. It's dense, wordy and unreadable in every way. Why would any writer spend what appears to be LOTS of time and energy on this of all subjects: Ventriloquism's effect on CULTURE?!

The resultant product amounts to little more than an uninteresting mess.

Skip it.

cultural ventriloquism suddenly verrrry interesting
I enjoyed this text, recommended by a colleague, for other reasons, but thought of it immediately when the possibility of George W. Bush's use of a wire and "ear" during the first debate with John Kerry began to surface on the internet in the last day or so.Talk about the "vocalic uncanny"!Is "wiregate" merely(!) a part of the trend of increasing technological possibilities for problematizing the relation between voice and body?
Are you talking to me?
Is this thing on?
Steven Connor should write the next chapter.Meanwhile, read his deft connections and analysis of diverse phenomena associated with "cultural ventriloquism" and think about the (allleged) voice in our president's ear, and what that does to the (alleged) significance of his speech as he (allegedly) addresses the citizenry.
Is ventriloquism more acceptable if we are in on the trick?
Are we in on this (alleged) trick, anyway?I mean, we all know how packaged and predicted and rehearsed the responses to the questions posed in the debates are anyway--but a line has been (allegedly) crossed here, and that's the line Connor's book charts.Good stuff, and timely.
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Customer Reviews (1)

great instructional/reference book
One of the few books ever published on the subject. This book features over 100 pages of detailed (yet easy to follow) text, illustrations, photos and diagrams on the art/craft of ventriloquism. Great for beginners (of any age) and for those who already some intermediate skills in the craft. ... Read more

Product Description
Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Ventriloquism As a Hobby
I was so pleased that Kessinger Publishing chose to republish this book.My dad, Sydney Vereker, wrote this in 1937 during the depression.It was a hard time for the family and my father with only a fifth grade education decided to write a book about the one thing he knew everything about. It seemed that as a young lad in England he was an assistant to a ventrilogist during the height ofvaudeville.The book inspired many ventriloquism clubs that corresponded with dad for many years after it was published. ... Read more

Product Description
A MUST HAVE for ALL Ventriloquists !52 Complete routines !Will suit various puppets !A massive number of topics are covered ! You will find something for all tastes and occasions, ranging from : school; holidays; music; space; general; my dog; family; religion; TV; jobs; on strike; love; hobbies; cheekiness; mother-in-law; and many, many others. Even if you are just searching for new gags to use in your present routine, this book is jam packed full of a variety of great items. The dialogues have been written in such a way that they will suit any kind of vent doll and personality. ... Read more

Product Description
1904. Being a thoroughly reliable guide to the art of voice throwing and vocal mimicry by an entirely novel system of graded exercises. By ventriloquism, we mean the art, the act, or the practice of speaking or singing in such a manner that the voice appears to come, not from the person himself, but from some other place, as from the opposite side of the room, above or below, etc. A ventriloquist is the performer, the actor. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Useful to learn Ventriloquism
A (unchanged) reprint of an old English book from 1883. Many good tips and a thorough explanation. To actually learn how to do it will still be hard work and practice.
Some of the language may now be considered racist in this 'politically correct' world. But to call people with a black skin 'African Americans' as an other reviewer does is a bit silly as in this case they aren't even American.
All forms of ventriloquism are explained as well as how to put an entertaining show together.

Reprint of very old book
I threw it in the garbage, it refered to african americans throughout the entire book as the N word.I realize at the time the book was written that was an acceptable practice.But it made me feel sick to see it in print, and it made me ashamed I would not want anyone to see that I owned the book.I could have resold it on ebay, but my preference was to destroy it. ... Read more

Product Description
Learn how to throw your voice. Make your hand talk, your shoe sing, and your mother-in-law shut-up! Everyone will be tongue-tied when you start talking to the lamp shade and it talks back! Ventriloquism, as taught in this book, is easy to learn if you follow a few simple rules. Anybody can do it! And it's so fun that once you start, you'll be talking to yourself for hours. This book explains how to use standard puppets as well as novelty figures such as balloon animals and gym socks. Includes 22 complete comedy dialogs to get you started. All outrageously funny. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

How to insult others and let your hand take the blame.
I really can not say anything that others more eloquent than myself have already said. Ventriloquism seemed like a very difficult and mysterious art form before reading this book. Not anymore, the craft is broken down into clearly explained steps that are really quite easily accomplished. As any performer knows it is not the song that is sung, or magic trick that is done, or the joke that is told, it is always "how" it is performed, that is what sets apart the practitioner from the artist. This book will set you on the path of becoming an artist.

You never knew ventriloquism was so easy!!!
If you're thinking about starting ventriloquism it's not as hard as you think, especially if you have this book. I never realized that the techniques of ventriloquism were so easy! You don't have to have a "gifted" mouth to do it. This is a MUST HAVE for any beginning ventriloquist. An EXCELLENT easy to follow teaching aid.

Good starter book...
This book seems to cover the basic instructions to learn ventriloquism.Still the best way to Carnegie Hall is practice, practice, practice.

Good book for basics
Any book with Steve Axtell on the cover gets my attention.Ax is one of the driving forces in puppetry, and would not pose for a cover on a whim.Bruce & Paul, the authors, have collected all the basics needed to start practicing vent.Lots of good tips for beginners on performance, sample scripts, and all around valuable info.

Good Intro
This is an easy to read and use book and a great activity to do with your kids, particularly if they have any speech difficulties. You can get started with a sock puppet if you like, so it's also inexpensive. ... Read more

Product Description
This easy-to-follow manual, designed especially for aspiring amateur ventriloquists, offers expert advice from an internationally renowned performer. Edgar Bergen reveals the secrets of his trade, sharing helpful tips on "near" ventriloquism, the doll-dummy, hand puppets, shadowgraphs and cardboard dummies, staging and entertainment, "distant" ventriloquism, and much more. 48 illustrations enhance this definitive guide from a master of the art.
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Customer Reviews (4)

Old school book for the modern age
From the get go, when you open the first page you can tell this book was written long ago.It is full of good info on the art of Ventriloquism, and handpuppets or stage performance.I think given the age it was written, you must take the jems of knowlege and try and apply them to today as best you can.I did like the brief history on the art, also Edgar Bergin, was the top of his day.His daughter should be proud of him. I thinkif you can look past the time this was written, you will enjoy the read.

Change the title to "Bland"
If you want a book written for an eighth grader about ventriloquism here it is. Seek out better, i am sure it is there to be found.

How to be a ventriloquist
For about five bucks you can't go wrong.It has some useful tips on ventriloquism for beginners, but there's not a lot of info in this book.I would suggest picking up something else in addition to this book.

Bergen and McCarthy, Our History and Art of Ventriloquism
Edgar Bergen takes us on a personal voyage through his world and beyond, Ventriloquism. Bergen tells us "there is no deep, dark mystery about Ventriloquism" and exposes the secrets andIllusions of Near and Distant Ventriloquism, figure making as well as the start of his showbiz companion Charlie McCarthy. A book well worth reading and a history worth knowing. ... Read more