I AM DOING A KIDS BIRTHDAY IN A LIVING ROOM OR BACKYARD

Not using a microphone can I still do a show, how close should you be to your audience? Joe C. Bellmore NY

You are a performer and your voice must be projected to reach the last person in the audience. In the back of the room or whatever. So, the more loudly you speak, the larger the audience you can effectively entertain without a PA system, and the greater the separation between you and the closest members of the audience. The acustics within the room has alot to do with this, too, of course, but the general rule is the same. With a PA system (very valuable to the ventriloquist) you can "spread" the room. Without, you need to "shrink" the room.