Howie,
Since you have coloring books to give out, I might suggest a real good inexpensive trick that works great for children is the Magic coloring book. I would suggest to get the largest version of it. Also I like to do along with it the Disappearing crayons and the appearing crayons. It is also very easy to do.
Chris

Way to go Buzz!You have been working very hard and I wish you success! The planning stage is always fun and actually going out there and doing it is very exciting! I have been making puppets for others and myself and visualizing my vent act.
I've designed some really funny bits for my puppet/figures and making some unusual puppeta and figures for myself.I wish I have someone to talk to in length about it.
Now being diligent and disciplined to practise is another story.But you've made wonderful progress and have shown dedication to what you want to do and we applaud you for that.
Now if ever the tsunami hits and you're giving away yr equipments,you can send Dan to me for safekeeping in my museum.

Wizardpa,

I will look the tricks up now, it seems since we were not washed away this morning I will still be performing my act.

I need more tricks in my routine to amaze the children of San Francisco

I defiantly want to keep the focus on ventriloquism.

Wizardpa,

Thanks again for the advice

I tried to look up the coloring book; can you send me the link to the largest coloring book since I don't know what size the largest one is

Also I can’t find the Disappearing Crayons and the Appearing Crayons

Thanks
Buzz


BTW Philip and Dave, I just need to buy 3 more little things

Maps;

Thanks for the kind and encouraging words; I have been working and spending hard.

You and blueshawk1 are both excellent with designing and carving figures, I have no patients with close up work, I admire both of you for your craft.

I practice daily and video my progress, as soon as my set is complete, I will post to youtube

I am so sorry to inform you that I didn’t die this morning when the 2 foot tsunami reached our shores and got the sand on the beach wet; so Dan will continue to live here with me

Buzz

I am sure all of us are glad that you are well and we are looking forward to seeing your youtubes.
Even if a tsunami hits,just hang on to Dan and he'll keep you afloat!

Maps;

I am excited about completing the sound system; quality sound is so important and even on my first performance I want to have the sound queued without any hitches be heard clearly above the noise of kids and look professional to the parents.

Dan is a modern man, a 21th century figure, not a stick of wood in him. Not a floater; he is my buddy and I would do everything to protect him

Well, I wouldn't want this to get around, on accounta it'd make me look like an old softie, but I'm glad you weren't swept away by a huge wave.
And I'm glad you're working hard on your vent...You know, using that Sony cam we made you buy. Since you've done that, as instructed, we've released the hostages.



-Philip

And Why don’t you admit that not only did you make me buy the Sony video camera, you insisted I perform my routine very soon; then all you guys told me that without a PA system and a MP3 with a backdrop, I’d fail as a Ventriloquist; and then you PMed me that any Ventriloquist that does not own an Executive Production Briefcase is an armature.

I am glad you saw fit to release the hostages, you’re a fine man


BTW thanks for the comment that you are glad I'm still alive

My pleasure.

:)


-Philip

This is one of those replies that I get hesitant to post, even as I start to compose it. I truly admire Howie's (Buzz's) enthusiasm and his passion for getting "it" right before performing. But I'm reminded of myself many, many years ago and the lesson I learned the hard way; about over-preparing to fail.

Believe me, I know the oft-chanted phrases of "a man without vision will fail" or "In failing to
plan, you are planning to fail". Both of these statements carry truth. But what about over-planning?

I call it the "playing bid-ness-man syndrome". I can't really write an entry without telling a story; this one will be no different.

Back when I had dreams of being a big star, I was 17. I practiced everyday, my technique was flawless,
my jokes were funny and I was ready to get "out there" and start the auditions. There was little doubt that I could succeed, all I had to do was a "little planning" and "I have to look professional".

I went to the bank to open a business checking account, so I could cash all those checks that the
clubs would be showering me with. I found a graphic designer to design a really "cool" logo. I visited the
printers and had stationary and business cards printed. I had brochures and posters made. And because
every popular performer sells T-shirts to adoring fans, I had 50 printed up, just to get started. Now I
was a "bidness man". I had no gigs, no money, but I was in "bidness".

The "bidness" never went anywhere. I told people I was a performing ventriloquist and a stand-up comedian when I met someone new, but all my friends and relatives in town saw me do nothing more. The short-lived celebrity-hood of my childhood days of performing at every breakfast, luncheon and dinner for every organization in town, every library show and every charity function ended...I was waiting for the big time and the big time never came. Once I started waiting for everything to be "just right"...it all went wrong.

Fast forward to "present-day Dave"; I almost made the same mistake when I decided that I had waited long enough to perform again. I got a Facebook page, a MySpace page, a Twitter page, and I started talking to people online, I said I was "getting back into Comedy". I wrote funny stuff as status updates, I commented funny stuff to my "fans" and I started talking about performing. But, I never performed, because I just did not have 55 minutes of "headliner" material written yet. Finally a comedian friend of mine said, "Do you have 3 minutes?" I said, "yeah".

"Good," he said, "You're doing 3 minutes Tuesday night for me" It was a BAD three minutes. (I had 1 good minute.) He said, "You need to write another two minutes. Can you come on stage next week and just introduce everyone and do your NEW 3 minutes?"

I didn't need a set of business cards. I needed to perform; good or bad, and I needed to write more. I didn't need a new dummy, or a new mike stand, I needed to stop playing "bidness man, and get to doing some "show bidness".

After 6 months, I'm still "just getting back into comedy" as my schedule permits--and when I post a YouTube video; there's an audience, not me in my bedroom. And the video includes warts and all. And when I don't have a gig; I say, I don't have any gigs or I'm not ready to have another. I'm not faking gigs, "booked already" or "doing private shows".

So, all you new performers out there; Practice. Plan. Get Perfect.

But don't wait for perfection before you do your first set. Do your first set and then critique it, perfect it, and then do another set.

Again, I am hesitant to post this, but hell, y'all don't where I live, so I'm not skeered.

Dave Robison.

PS Warts and All, but no Ventriloquism. R-Rated and NSFW
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv-7f6EOfdY

So does that mean I'm not getting that equipment?

HA Ha!!! Dave, I do know where you live. Mobile, Al. It's on your profile page.
Anyway, I agree with you 100% Dave. It seems I am always learning something at my live shows, that I never even thought of while practicing.

I am sad to inform you that with all the preventive actions taken by the California Highway Patrol, the Sherriff’s Department and the California State Disaster Preparedness Department stationed along the coast, eating donuts and drinking coffee while redirecting traffic with flairs and barriers, by closing all highways fronting the ocean and closing all beaches and spending multi millions of tax payer dollars in the process, Dan and I have survived the two foot wave that hit Half Moon Bay at 8:09 AM yesterday morning.

I am alive and well, this means the equipment is not being passed out; I have lived for the duration of this horrible disaster, maybe during the next disaster, and we have many in California, I can renew my offer and disperse my stuff to my friends.

Keep it. Use it. First, get the material together and, you know how to get to Carnegie Hall, right?

-Philip

Dave;

Never hesitant to post in one of my threads, I welcome any and all comments concerning my progress in Ventriloquism.

I understand your post completely; the planning part before you performed was disappointing. You over planed and failed to attract the big clients you were aiming for.

I am not planning my Ventriloquist career on making it big and being the best known performer on the west coast.

I would like to perform for corporate events, but I am not going to be depressed if I never get that far. I am purchasing the equipment now because I want to.

I have the funds to purchase anything I want without draining my bank account.

I don’t want to go on stage and say to myself, “ I wish I had brought what I needed to make the show better”

I want to project a professional image in my routine from day one.

I want music and sound effects to enhance the show

I want tricks to amaze my audience

I want to be heard clearly, over the noise and laughter of the audience

And lastly as I have said here before, I am doing this so I can go on stage and play with my stuff, and I’ll have plenty of stuff to play with on stage.

If all I ever do is be in demand to play with my stuff on stage at charity events, hospitals and fundraisers at no charge, I will have achieved my goal, and in my mind I will be a success.

That's okay, I didn't need it anyway if it didn't get wet. If it got wet, I could have sold it, and when the new owner found it was no good, have them pay to ship it back to the manufacturer and have the manufacturer send me a brand new one.

A brilliant idea, where did you come up with a great idea like that?

I am giving attention to every detail of my production. Down to dressing my figure in nice clothes, having professional looking equipment and removing every diversion that would distract from my performance.

No one is going to hire me on the strength of having a coloring book, or a PA system with a MP3 player or a backdrop; but they may hire me because every detail regarding my production shows creativity and professionalism.

Wizardpa;

I just looked at your coloring book routine on youtube, it's very nicely performed and you talked me into purchasing the book and crayons to include in my routine.

I have emailed the vendor we looked at and I am waiting for a reply

Buzz