The Dead Guy - Revisited

Every show, it seems like Dangerous finds a "dead guy". The bit has been in my show since I started and the audience laughs - especially the Dead Guy! So for the second time in two months, I was shocked when someone approached me about how I insulted this member of my audience.

It wasn't from the "Dead Guy". I play with people who are having a good time. If they aren't laughing, I'm leaving them alone. The complaint was from someone who "felt bad for him". WHAT?

I asked the woman, did you see how hard the gentleman was laughing? Her reply, "No, I didn't look at him because I felt sorry for him." I wanted to scream, "Its a puppet for God's Sake - a comedy show." But I probed further. She had come in late. She had no idea of the set up, all she heard was the puppet referring to someone in the audience as a dead guy.

I told the woman she should have taken a look at the gentleman to see his reaction. She should have wondered why everyone else was so callous as to laugh at someone who she felt I was degrading. I explained the set up - and she said, "Oh, I can see how that would be funny."

In both complaints, the person who discussed the issue had not seen the set up. So I quickly wrote a finish that addresses the situation. Why is it, that people feel they have to be offended by things that are not directed their way? Why do they feel they need to "protect" and stand up for others who are, especially in this case, able to stand up for themselves? Our country has become overly sensitive.

Other than that - it was an good night in Lebanon. I appreciated everyone who came back to the show. Some had watched me 5 to 6 times this week. I thank them for being there!

I Love My Job!

Another killer night. Three shows, three great audience and loads of laughs! I love this fair and thank everyone who has been returning to the shows again and again!

Adapting

When I was at the VentHaven Convention this year, I learned the importance of a stage monitor. It allows you to accurately hear what the audience does. I've worked with them on occasion, but never really felt the need for one. Until Tuesday night.

With the band so loud, I couldn't hear a music track. No doubt the audience could, the speakers were pointed their direction, but with my hearing problems and the other sounds - I was lost. The audience didn't know, the client didn't know, but I did. I am always my own worst critic. It helps me strive to improve.

So Wednesday morning I went to the local music store and purchased a powered stage monitor. I could have purchased one on line and gotten it by Thursday. While that would have saved a couple of dollars, it would have meant another evening with possibility of a repeat. I could solve the problem instantly - so I did.

Last night included three fun shows with great audiences that overflowed the tent. The monitor helped me overcome not only the band, but the truck pulls that were bellowing diesel exhaust in our direction.

Being on the road means encountering all types of problems. The key to being professional is overcoming them. I'm getting pretty good at adapting...

Another Fun Night

I am really enjoying this fair. The crowds are very hip and so much fun to entertain. Tonight's band was a bit on the loud side, and behind my tent were the tractor pulls. Dangerous thought we had a backup band and that I had eaten Chili for lunch.

Different Audiences

Monday night at the fair was another experience in how audiences differ. My first show fell flat. The audience didn't respond, they just sat and watched. When I started my Human Puppet routine, the first adult selected, refused to help. This created a cascade effect. The "If he didn't want to do it, I'm not going to do it" mentality. I managed to save the moment, it wasn't the first time I've experienced this.

After the show, the audience got up and drifted off to other events. Was it a bad show? They stayed to the end. I'm certain they enjoyed the program. They just didn't respond.

My second and third shows were a night and day difference from the first. The audiences got into the show. Laughs flowed and the crowd packed the tent with standing room only outside. Some of the people from my first show were at these shows too. They must have liked it to come back. And this time they were laughing along with everyone else. After these shows, people stayed to talk.

It was a different moment, a different mindset, a different "audience". A few days ago I blogged about unrewarding shows - the last two shows of Monday night were the ones you love to have.

Vocal Expression

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.

You Could Be Getting Up At 5:30...

Today was the first day of my Lebanon Fair run. I arrived early to set and as I looked around, I felt like my 12:30 show would be awfully empty. I couldn't have been more wrong. The tent was packed, the crowd responsive and the show felt like it should.

As I finished, I looked at the sky behind my audience. It was quickly growing dark. A few minutes after I finished an announcement came on requesting everyone head to the buildings. I tore down my show, sound and backdrop, tossing them into the car, then headed for safety.

The storm was rather intense, but we didn't get the full force of it. Further South, power lines and trees were reported down. Once things slowed, I returned to the show tent and set my show up again for the 2:30 performance. Just as I finished setting, another announcement and another storm. I ended up setting up 3 times today, but only got in two performances.

Tomorrow I was asked to come in early to perform a short show for preschoolers as they eat lunch. I explained that it is tough to eat and laugh at the same time, but the pre-school wants it that way and I was requested to accommodate them, so I will. I mentioned it to my wife who told me point blank the title of this post. I doubt I'll be awake when she leaves for her corporate job tomorrow. I am pretty lucky.