Lets address some of the things that make your character unique. These will be the things that make your puppet memorable to your audience.
We have discussed before how you want to avoid the use of words like “Ummm” or words that indicate that you have forgotten where you are within your act. This does not however mean that your puppet needs to avoid the word.
For your puppet, the word “Ummm” might be a perfectly natural “tic”. It can be like Rodney Dangerfield complaining that he gets no respect. Think about it. You cannot hear the phrase “I get no respect” without thinking of Rodney Dangerfield. I know that he was not a Ventriloquist, but what he did was exactly what each of you need to establish for your character.
Jeff Dunham lets Achmed use the phrase “Silence – I Keel You”. That line is distinctly Achmed. It is impossible to hear that phrase and not think of Achmed.
Take some time. Think carefully what your character needs to do. Does he need to use words like “Ummm” to reflect that he is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Does he need to scratch his chin while reflecting on a situation?
He/She can find several things to do that makes him/her unique and memorable to the audience. Burp? Hiccup? Scratch?
You be the judge of what you need to do, but when you begin to use these distinctive little “tics” remember that you should be looking for the ones that can be your puppets signature and will have him remembered.
Thats all for now.
Steve and JET
Thank you! We ALL agree.