Something New
As part of our “Back to the Basics” series we want to cover a very important topic of how to focus your puppets eyes where they need to be. We have all seen beginner Ventriloquists facing an audience and their puppet looking all over the place with no earthly idea what they are looking at.
It is very important that the puppet be made to look alive so that we can create the illusion of the puppet being real. If the puppet is talking to you, he/she should be looking at you.
If the puppet is talking to a specific person in the audience, the puppet should be looking straight at that person. In the same way that you expect someone talking to you to look you in the eyes, your puppet should be doing the same thing.
The next question that arises is, “How do I know where my puppet is looking”? Good question. Obviously you can’t run around in front of your puppet to see where he/she is looking.
You certainly can’t see the puppets eyes if they are not facing you. Well, there is a very easy solution to this problem. From your vantage point, you can see the puppets nose. Look where the nose is pointing.
That is also where the eyes are pointing. With a very little bit of practice you will get very good at being able to give a quick look at where the nose is point and to make a very fast adjustment so that the puppet is looking where he/she is supposed to be.
We will talk more next week.
Steve and JET
I love your advise. I use every bit of it and its made me a better ventriloquist. Love you guys involvement in the community. Still using the puppet you made for me. Its still going strong.