In Kentucky, we’ve been in the Junior Open Mics since 1:15 PM. The kids do a great job and this is a real highlight of the conVENTion. It is a preview to the future of our art. The one thing I hear most often is how original the kids are. So while we are watching the future stars of ventriloquism, we wanted to share some concepts to help you become more creative,
I’ve asked Steve Petra to provide some clips from his 2013 Lecture “Let’s Get Visual”. In this first clip, Steve reveals how he uses information and fun facts to write routines for his educational shows:
Picking out interesting facts and creating material around them breaks up the monotony of set-up/punch-line jokes.
In the next clip, Steve shares some audience handling techniques inspired by Jeff Dunham. Pay close attention to Steve’s reasoning behind each move. This is solid gold for any ventriloquist – not just kid show workers!
Bothe of these clips are from Steve’s DVD. If you enjoyed them, you can purchase Steve’s “lecture notes” (the whole DVD) on his web site.
Share Steve’s insights with your friends on FaceBook, Twitter and anywhere else you connect with the world!
Brilliant. Makes you think about things in a show in different ways, and see things you might not have seen before. Steve seems like he thinks of all the details and how they affect his show.
Wow! Steve Petra is really funny. I love the unexpected bit at the end of his tiger routine.
Steve is a friend of mine, and he is one of the most creative people I have ever met. His mind is working all the time , and faster than the speed of light. He is naturally funny and fun to be around. He takes his subject and does his homework, learns all he can about the subject and then process’s that into a show, routine, assembly program. Watching him work is an education in how to perform , especially to the children’s audience. He is the most original performer I know, everything he does is a surprise. He is a master.
This is another great video from Steve Petra. I’ve you don’t have it yet, I highly recommend it!
Thanks Steve for letting Tom share these. I haven’t read Jeff’s book but it is now on my list (along with Steve’s DVD). I can relate to what Steve is saying about different audiences respond differently to different parts of the show. I think that is half the thrill of live performance – responding to and working *with* the audience rather than just firing jokes *at* them. I did a show earlier this week where the kids LOOOVED the fact that my puppet Dudley’s eyebrows moved. It became a running gag, and the kids thought it was hilarious.
I really loved the tiger bit and how dry facts became a comedy routine. This is a great idea. I don’t know that I’d do a whole show that way but sections like this in an education show would work really well.
It’s on my list. Clips like this makes you want to see more.