Ahhh yes ! The automatons of Robert Houdin come to mind. Ever see the pastry shop he created in miniature, where the bakers are rolling out the dough, placing the goodies in the oven, and the chef meeting the spectator at the front door with a tray of pastries ? Incredible piece of machinery. It was featured in the special on A&E about magic hosted by Ricky Jay a few years back. I don't think that hurt the bakery industry.

:)

Mark

I am getting ready for the grand finals of our TV talent contest dubbed as the Tournament of Champions early next year God willing, I am using an Axtell hands free chimp with two regular Axtell apes

I'm using the animatronic puppet to add a kicker ending in the routine... not rely on it solely But that kicker ending will be so crucial...so the animatronic puppet is very important in the routine.

Tom, no problem. I fully appreciate where you are coming from, having read many of your postings. Louis would also agree with me (I think!), as his head is screwed on very well.

I was just trying to make the point the point that to take that particular Y/tube clip is not a good example, as Louis was actually 'set up'to take the fall he took. As a matter of interest, it has done nothing but good for him in the commercial world, and his Toucan is in big demand - being used in the way that it should be. Louis is no fool, and what happened to him with the producers of BGT is wholly unfortunate.

Mark, that is exactly how it was - you put it far better than me. Thank you.

However, let's not let my comments get in the way of the purpose of this thread. I never intended it that way - I was just trying to put that clip in proper perspective.

Best wishes to all.

Dave

I got my Axtell Hands Free Chimp...

Thanks Lou

Here's Chimpoy

http://wanluthemagician.blogspot.com/200......imp.html

Wow ! Congratualtions Wanlu ! You must feel like it's your birthday.

Hope you have TONS of fun with Chimpoy....

:)

Mark

Thanks Mark I feel great!

...but I can't use the chimp yet in my gigs and other tv shows...I'm saving him for the grand finals of the tv talent contest as a kicker to my routine.

In no way is animatronics a substitute for Ventriloquism. I highly recommend learning vent and am one myself. It will totally free you up to do any routine and respond totally impromptu. However for those that want animatronics I have made that available and why not? It's absolutely magical when a character is interacting in your show and not being touched by the performer. It's just another tool. Both Ventriloquists and Non-Vents use the Hands-Free Puppets in their work.

Here's the difference.

HANDS-FREE VENT PUPPETS (Remote Control)
http://www.axtell.com/remotevent.html

HANDS-FREE MAGIC PUPPETS (Fully Animatronic)
http://www.axtell.com/remotemagic.html

Here is a routine that I did in England this year. I use both VENT and MAGIC in this. The first puppet is a hand puppet and I'm using vent. Then I switch it for the animatronic one to free up my hands for the Drawing Board. I could have done vent on both voices but for demonstration purposes I pre-recorded both voices (Bird and Board) and just acted with them in the second half as would a non-vent.

http://axtellpuppets.blogspot.com/2009/0......009.html


Ax

I tried using my Axtell hands free chimp as my figure's puppet...tried the routine twice last weekend and it went well...

I actually worked out an entirely new routine through the help of the chimp...proving my point that the hands free system can enhance a vent routine.

So did Lou sell you his Chimp Wanlu? Looking forward to seeing a clip of your new routine!

I don't see animatronics as a threat at all. It's a novelty that can enhance a show and as Dave said, there is a market out there for animatronic greeters and puppets who can deliver a sales message. That's where these characters really shine.

If I did a stage show I would love to have an animatronic character chatting to the audience during the interval, controlled by a hidden operator.

Animatronics will have to advance a great deal before they can replicate the animation of a skillfully manipulated puppet!

By the way - here is a link to the other thread Dave was talking about:

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......&start=0

Yes John...Lou sold the chimp...I think he wants to buy a new hands free character

I used the chimp last weekend in 3 gigs...in the first, I used it as an individual puppet, used a patter that has something to do with my act "Ventrillusion" and it went quite well but the audience reaction was not as strong as I was hoping it would be. In the next couple of gigs, I used it as my figure's puppet and got great reaction from the crowd

I plan to use it as my figure's (Nicolo) puppet as he pretends to be a ventrikolist But I need to fix some problems with the fob which is not really a problem for Steve and his staff

I also have plans to use the chimp in a TV show...I won't be in the show as a ventriloquist, only the chimp will be in it.

Personally I don't think animatronics will ever replace ventriloquism. When I watch a good vent act, I don't only suspend my disbelief but at the same time admire the talent of a ventriloquist speaking with two different voices, one without moving its lips, and actually reacting with it. That's what got me into ventriloquism. And in what concerns robots, they only cause suspension of disbelief.

"Is vent obsolete"

I did a big dollar corporate MAGIC show on the weekend, it came through an agent.

The client didn't know me, I got the job because they approached the agent asking for a magician who also did ventriloquism!!! Go figure.

I've never heard of that before, but I think it shows that people really appreciate and enjoy the art of ventriloquism.

Cheers
Billy