VENTRILOQUISM

Rating:
Summary: One of the more ENJOYABLE and EFFECTIVE "vent" books!!
Review: Well, let's get it out immediately. I have a "conflict of interest." I work with dummies. No, I don't work for (fill in your least favorite company, department or government agency or entity here). DRUM ROLL PUH-LEASE! I am a fulltime professional ventriloquist and I did my own little modest how-to-do-ventriloquism book, but it was privately printed etc. and isn't even in print anymore. ASIDE FROM THAT: This has to be one of the BEST ventriloquism books ever written. Period. When I first started out I read a ton of books on ventriloquism and except for the superb top-of-the-line Maher Studios how-to-do-ventriloquism correspondence course (which is in a class by itself), this was the one that is responsible (or to blame) for me running around with a bunch of dummies (insert another side put-down HERE). WHY? Most books on ventriloquism make one of several huge mistakes. They treat the subject as if it is The Most Mysterious Subject On The Face of the Earth (it isn't and it really is not that difficult). Or they are boring due to the author's extremely favorable impression of himself/herself/itself, which seemingly permeates every page. Or they are "cutesy" with all kinds of little jokes and comments thrown in that might spark a giggle but seem to pad the book and distract from the content. Schindler's book avoids all of these mistakes. It is crammed with content on how to do ventriloquism, blessed with wonderful historic photos, peppered with some good beginners' jokes and good practice routines, and it has a nice, solid explanation of how to "throw your voice" (i.e. you really don't).
I gave my original copy away to an interested kid, then bought another copy later. There ARE some other good books on the subject but I've always felt this was, overall, the most solid, entertaining and serious in my collection. A class act from start to finish.

Rating:
Summary: One of the more ENJOYABLE and EFFECTIVE "vent" books!!
Review: Well, let's get it out immediately. I have a "conflict of interest." I work with dummies. No, I don't work for (fill in your least favorite company, department or government agency or entity here). DRUM ROLL PUH-LEASE! I am a fulltime professional ventriloquist and I did my own little modest how-to-do-ventriloquism book, but it was privately printed etc. and isn't even in print anymore. ASIDE FROM THAT: This has to be one of the BEST ventriloquism books ever written. Period. When I first started out I read a ton of books on ventriloquism and except for the superb top-of-the-line Maher Studios how-to-do-ventriloquism correspondence course (which is in a class by itself), this was the one that is responsible (or to blame) for me running around with a bunch of dummies (insert another side put-down HERE). WHY? Most books on ventriloquism make one of several huge mistakes. They treat the subject as if it is The Most Mysterious Subject On The Face of the Earth (it isn't and it really is not that difficult). Or they are boring due to the author's extremely favorable impression of himself/herself/itself, which seemingly permeates every page. Or they are "cutesy" with all kinds of little jokes and comments thrown in that might spark a giggle but seem to pad the book and distract from the content. Schindler's book avoids all of these mistakes. It is crammed with content on how to do ventriloquism, blessed with wonderful historic photos, peppered with some good beginners' jokes and good practice routines, and it has a nice, solid explanation of how to "throw your voice" (i.e. you really don't).
I gave my original copy away to an interested kid, then bought another copy later. There ARE some other good books on the subject but I've always felt this was, overall, the most solid, entertaining and serious in my collection. A class act from start to finish.