Youtube is a virtual learning experience for ventriloquists. At one time, you were limited to the big names when they appeared on TV. Now, you can see everyone, good and bad, with the click of a mouse button.
There are a lot of talented ventriloquists on Youtube. There are even more bad ones. We all have to start somewhere. My own journey is still progressing, but unfortunately some have ceased to "learn".
Earlier today, I came across a video by a "name" ventriloquist. To be fair, I have never seen this act live, nor met the performer. This is the first video I have witnessed the "name" doing any ventriloquism. I was extremely disappointed. The material was delivered in a monotone, including the jokes. The act was working so hard at not moving their lips, that the material came out as a drone.
Vocal expression does not mean facial expression. Our voices change as we speak, when we are excited, when we are angry or when we are sad. Slight changes in pitch, tempo or cadence, make all the difference in the world. Add to that skillful manipulation and you instantly provide an inanimate object with emotion. A skilled ventriloquist can create these emotions while expressing their own opposite emotions through their face at the same time. It creates separation and gives the character that spark Of life which was just implanted in many at the last VentHaven convention.
I'm hoping it was just a bad performance, but since it was released by the act, I have a feeling it wasn't. In all fairness, ventriloquism is only a small part of their performance. Maybe they feel it is good enough since they display technical skill for the lips. IMHO - It isn't.
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2 comments:
There was a big discussion on Axtell's forum recently about a comment made by Terry Fator about the quality of ventriloquism today. Just as one bad apple can spoil the bunch, one bad vent can give ventriloquism a bad name. Terry wasn't putting down the good vents, jay Johnson, Dan Horn, Ron Lucus. He was talking about the ones that aren't ready to charge for their work as yet , but do anyway. You can't practice law or medicine without passing the test, but anyone that can buy a figure can call them self a
ventriloquist. Sorry, I'm just venting.
I've heard about the discussion athough I have avoided participation until now. Thanks! :)
I'm not knocking bad vents here, we all start somewhere. I do take issue with people who feel they have mastered the art just because they maintain lip control. It takes more than just speaking through still lips to entertain an audience.
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