Even though you want to keep your puppet constantly in motion to keep it looking alive, you also want to go one step further in order to help capture his/her personality and give him/her some unique traits that will endear the puppet with the audience.
Back in the old days, movie actors would have habits that they would use on a regular basis. John Wayne had a particular walk that he used on a regular basis. It became known as “his” walk.
Some movie stars would also use cigarettes/cigars as their trademark habit. Telly Sevalas had his round sucker that he was always sucking on. Today if you see an actor with a lollipop type sucker, you almost automatically think of “Kojak”. (If you are old enough to be of that generation).
There are a number of things that you can pick from for your puppet to have a “habit”. He/she can pull on an ear. They can rub their tummy. They can scratch their head. They can sniff their nose.
The only thing that puts a limit on what the puppet can do is your imagination. A habit, unlike something you do just to keep the puppet looking alive, is something that the puppet becomes known for doing.
The puppet does a “habit” on such a regular basis that the audience almost gets so used to it that they will perform the habit along with the puppet.
Pick a couple of things that you want your puppet to do as habits, and practice them on a regular basis so that the puppet can do the “habit” without you even thinking about it.
Thats all for this week. See you next week.
Steve and JET
I really enjoy your tips every week. I hadn’t thought of giving one my puppets a special “habit.” This is good food for thought.
Interesting! I never thought of it as a habit, but Doug The Talking Dog likes to bite tambourines. When we perform with children, we bring our clown car full of drums and percussion instruments for the children to play WITH our ventriloquist dummies. Children are invited to play the Irish Bodhrán, Tahitian Toeré, Trinidadian mini-steel drum and many other percussion instruments also available for everyone. ATTENTION CHILDREN: Doug the Talking Dog will not bite you. He only bites Mommies and Daddies. However, he may try to bite your drumsticks, tambourines, or maracas that we distribute to everyone.