IMPROVING THE VENT IMAGE, or ARE WE REALLY LIKE THOSE CRAZY PEOPLE IN THE MOVIES?


The public image of ventriloquists is a topic that often comes up among amateurs and professionals alike. Internet vent lists and discussions among groups at the conventions all decry how many see us as psychotic people who believe our figures are real and may even control us. In the entertainment world, vents are often at the bottom of the barrel in respect, and jokes are made about us. Why is this? What can we do to change it?

The obvious reason given by many for our poor image is how we are presented in movies and on television. Nearly every time there is one in a plot, the vent is an abnormal person who believes his dummy (more on the "d" word later) is real and sometimes takes orders from it. I personally find these shows funny, and can understand why writers do this. It makes for an interesting and easy story, and the audience already has a perception of vents as crazed that feeds into the plot. This continuation of the psycho vent stereotype doesn't help our cause.

There are also stories circulating at conventions about certain people who obviously have real mental problems and believe that their dummies ARE real. Every community has a few people on the fringe who make it look bad, and the vent community is no different. Yet, these are few and far between, so can't be responsible for the image problem.

I believe that a good part of our difficulties come from ourselves. Before you dismiss this, please keep an open mind. Having discussed this topic with both pro, semi-pro, amateur and other vent enthusiasts, several issues seemed to of concern to everyone I talked with. You may agree or disagree with some of them, but mull them over as food for thought.

I've seen little kids ask if the dummy was real and told that it was. IT'S NOT REAL, FRIENDS! Kids spend time in the early grades learning about fantasy vs. reality, so don't mess with their heads. Don't let them go back to their homes wondering if their toys are going to start coming alive in the middle of the night. Sure, part of our art is making the character look alive, and while we are on stage or promoting our acts we talk about them as being real. But getting down to brass tacks, it's a skillfully made puppet that doesn't do anything unless we make it move. If it was real, we wouldn't have a job, it could go out on its own without us. Take the credit for being a good performer and tell them its not real but you make it look that way. Not only will you be telling the truth to the child, but you'll let have them and the adults listening to your explaination appreciating your talents more.

What if you were in a public place like an airport and a total stranger came up to you and forced you to hug a doll he was holding and act like it was real? I would find this strange and think the person was a kook. Yet many vents find this not only normal but believe everyone else finds it fun. Much of the public doesn't, they think we're nuts! They will smile while the vent is there, but make negative comments afterwards.


This issue of bringing characters out at appropriate times also extends to conventions. We enjoy seeing and showing our partners to others at vent gatherings, it's a part of why we are there. However, confronting strangers in hotel hallways who are not associated with the convention has gone to the extremes. Some pro vents have become concerned with the constant forcing of dummies on unsuspecting hotel guests. I'm not talking about just seeing us walking around them, but the continual stopping of hotel guests and making them hug or talk to figures. After seeing this happen numerous times at one convention, I started listening to the comments made after the vents left, and they were often not positive. Rude, pushy, and weird were some of the things said. One upset person, after politely smilng through one encounter, walked away saying she couldn't walk two steps without someone sticking a dummy in her face. Part of the charm of vent gatherings is seeing vents and their characters, but we need to use more discretion in the public areas. Accosting someone with a dummy is never in good taste, whether on the street or in a hotel lobby at a convention.

Once I saw a vent go ballistic after a show when someone referred to his character as a dummy. "It's a ventriloquial figure, not a dummy!" he nastily shot back. Join the real world. It's a dummy. That's the term the public is familiar with, and it is not meant as a slur. Sure, "vent figure" sounds better, especially if you have big bucks invested in one. The offense that some take when it is called something else, however, is a mystery to me. I've been complimented on how I work the dummy, the mannequin, the puppet, you name it. I don't care what they call it as long as they enjoyed it. Why make a big deal out of it and have the person trying to compliment you feel bad? How does it make us look in their eyes?

Above all, if we want to have an image of talented entertainers, not psychotics playing with dolls, we must act the part. Be professional in everything associated with your act, from the way you handle the business end of it to the way you behave following the show. They must like YOU as well as your characters. Resist the temptation to bring the dummy out after you're completely finished performing. Leave them wanting more is an old show business adage which is true. Make its appearance special, not something that is common. Create that desire to see you work. Why should anyone hire you if they see you performing for free any time someone is standing in front of you? My puppets are rarely seen in my home. They are tools I use as part of my business. If I'm not working, they are stashed away. Some vents like to leave their dummies sitting out for visitors to see, but those outside the business find those unblinking staring eyes creepy. The very nature of what we do, making a puppet appear alive, is odd enough. Making people uncomfortable around it doesn't help our image. Keep it in the case.

We can't change movie or television scripts depicting weird ventriloquists. They are easy devices for writers to use and will always be with us. Therefore, we must take it upon ourselves to improve our image. By taking care in how we appear to the public, treating our art with respect and appreciating the uniqueness of it, we can begin to dismiss the negative perceptions and instill an appreciation for the work that goes into what we do.