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Monday, March 30, 2009

STORY TELLING CONTINUED


Many years ago the town cryer or storyteller would roam from town to town, shouting the stories of the day, the newspaper was alive. Through this person the towns people learned current history, the children were entertained. Many people would argue over situations until this town cryer came and told what the people thought to be the real facts. But the town cryer was soon to be part of history as well, when the printing press became affordable in the smaller towns and newspapers were soon replacing the cryer. The rich were the only people who could afford such a luxury as a newspaper so still the cryer shouted his stories, to those who could not buy a paper. Soon though the newspaper, road signs, books, brochures, food cartons, writen constitutions and others were being writen and it was becomming manditory to learn to read and write in most countries. . But wait , no they didn't, but history said they did, cast aside the oral story telling, for shame. . The casual storytelling at bedtime, around the dinner table in the parlor, even at parties were still being told and retold, but the respect was all but gone for that mighty tool of the town cryer.

The school libraries, the scout campfires, the school teachers all kept the tradition of the storyteller alive. The children sat wide eyed and agog as they were told the stories that were told their parents parents. The children kept the memory of the storys fresh in their minds till the story teller returned again to tell another story to the school children. This made it easy for the children to learn to recall important facts, and the teachers picked up on this. So to help children recall important facts teacher would tell important facts to the children in a story form, some of the children drew pictures in their minds to easily recall, some developed photographic memories. Some children wanted to tell their own stories or write their own stories. The 'once upon a time'...perked the ears and imagination, the 'This happened to me'... excited the desire to tell their own stories. So the storyteller once again started roaming the towns and retelling the stories.


WHAT IS STORY TELLING?

Telling orally a story for the ears of others to enjoy. This isn't reading a story from a book or even sharing a story from something you might remember, but to actually look into the eyes of your intended and to magically build a story, what he sees he recreates as an actor would, with voice and gestures and draw a series of mental images like the film for a movie, the listeners of these stories lean in to be sure they don't miss one single word, they are eye fixed to the story teller, they might have a smile as something funny is related or a tear to something sad, they might be wide awake with excitement or fall asleep from the soothing voice of the teller, should the teller speed up slow down be more explicite or I had enough , just finish already, boredom. The thinking grows in the listener the touch of the emotions of all concerned.

There will be more regarding the story teller in some future notes, if you have anything you might wish to add to these notes please feel free to leave a note of your own.
N Jay

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

THE TOPIC IS STORYTELLING-EDUCATIONAL-MORAL AND ENJOYMENT REMEMBER THOU SHALT NOT'S LAST A WHILE BUT ONCE UPON A TIME'S LAST FOREVER.

Lets consider the primary reason for any storytelling, it's educational, but let us not forget that storytelling is an art and its primary purpose is entertainment, opening new doors to the things around them whether for educational, fun or moral purposes, or all of the above. The job of the storyteller is to enlarge and enrich the childs imagination and hopefully stimulate the child to open up to questions, regarding subject. What shall we attempt to accomplish by telling stories in the class room, at a library, a fair or anyplace children gather to be entertained: It builds character and what is a ventriloquist and his vent figure doing with storytelling.. The younger audience seems to listen to a vent character well before listening to a storyteller without a figure, because the children relate to something close to their own size and the figure makes it enjoyable by adding some levity to it, the older children listen because they see fun in it and get a few laughs when the figure plays a few tricks on the ventriloquist, By substituting wrong words in the body of the story the children help correct it by shouting out what should be the correct word.Other areas of interest is, you can teach them interesting facts from all and any direction,lets pretend, birds and the bees, wind and the rain, lets end bullying, the arts and sciences, fairy tales, history of our country and foreign countries, children of far away places. You can mold and shape childrens minds by opening their eyes to things like butterflies in a once upon a time story, when you tell a story to a youngster you are like an artist painting a picture on canvas, or a photographer taking picture osf points of interest so be sure you have the right camera and the right film or those pictures may not come out quite like you expect them to be, so be sure that your relating of a story to children is clear and understandable, unless your character attempts to rearrange that illlusion, the pictures on the childrens minds must be vivid and sharp images. I have just barely touched on what I want to share with you all in being a storyteller to the children and I know you all must have a story you want to share. but as a skit including you and your vent figure.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

I WASN'T FEELING WELL BUT ITS TIME TO MOVE FORWARD

I have not been feeling well the past few weeks and due to thatmy Blog has also been sick, with little or no entries, well that is about to change as I will prepare to enter new stuff for all my dear friends, so please except my opologies and lets move forward.
got any ideas for new information to share.
Lets do a question and answer column....
Lets go somewhere in the world and see what makes them laugh, be him clown, magician, ventriloquist comedian juggler..
What makes children laugh in different parts of the world?
and now you lets bring forward stuff you want toi see.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

OK LETS DISCUSS I FEST THE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF CHRISITAN PUPPERY AND VENTRILOQUISM

I must admit I never been to a single I Fest convention, not because I didn't want to go its because I haven't been to any vent convention yet, well at least not till this year. But I am about to attempt to tell you as much about it as I possibly can, This is where some of you vents who have attended can assist me in what I might omit, accidently. The city that the convention is held in is Bourbonaisse, IL. next door to Kankakee. The college is Olivet Nazarene University. The faculty is great but unseen durin the convention. I will not attempt to compare the 2 conventions but just let those who have never attended in on some knowledge. I am aware of people who go to both so they are fairly similar. Housing is not great but food is delicious. The local motels are a better choice for staying. But you will save a few dollars in car rental if you stay on campus. You can go to www.onewaystreet.com and pull down a listing of the schedule for the conference. It starts early and ends late. About half of the people are local and go just for the last few days, but there are almost 500 people there all week long. (Mon. afternoon to Saturday afternoon). It is alrger then Vent Haven, the instructors there are top of the line. Such vents as Judy Bush, Dennis Lee,Tim Cowles www.dummyworks.com, Jim Adams, Steve Parker. The glue that ties them together is the belief in Jesus Christ and the gospel. Each Morning begins with a church service. But first lets have breakfast. Then you have a choice of 1 of 3 sections to choose from, puppetry, team leaders and ventriloquism, each one lasts 60 mins. ranging from beginners to advanced. There are certificates in musical,novelty, junior vent and senior vent. The competition is held during the evening with all other vents in attendence. Each chapel meeting has 2 15 min routine. one by a seasoned vent and another by a novice, or team. The performers range from Liz Von Seggen,Duane Laflin. You must make it a point to get to this convention and the Vent Haven convention to compare for your self, not which is better, but which offers you the lessons your seeking.

WHATS IN STORE FOR FIRST TIMERS WHEN THEY GO TO THE Vent Haven CONVENTION

I will be going to the conVENTion this year for the first time. I am also new at ventriloquism. The hotel across the street (Hotel 8 ) is only about $55.00 a night. There is a great deli up the street a few blocks. Hotel 8 has refrig in each room so you can bring or buy food at the super market on DIXIE and have a great meal every day. There are 2 cafe in the Drawbridge Hotel one is always open, food is good and it is great to mingle. You will want to bring plenty of business cards because you will meet new friends you'll want to trade cards with. I checked planes and decided to take a non stop flight from Miami to Cinn. Trains took too long and buses were very unconfortable for a 30 hour trek. I really didnt want to drive. I checked campground. About $10. a day but I had to rent a car and pay gas round trip 1/2hr each way a day. It They also give you a continental breakfast every day of your stay, all you can eat. Take you puppet with you always, you don't want to trust it alone in the room. You can share and learn morewhen you bring your charater.Your will want money for books and dont buy a puppet unless you have one in mind already, and I do. I learned that the hard way many times! Do you want a bird puppet.. or something else besure what it is. Be sure to make use of the hospitality suite you will get to meet many new friends here. They serve drinks and feed you as well. If you decide to use the Hotel 8 its just about 1/2 block away across a parking lot and across a small street.

TERRY RECEIVED MIXED FEELING FROM HIS OPENING NIGHT PERFORMANCE WITH HIS IMPERSONATIONS OF FAMOUS SINGERS AND FUNNY STUFF



Whats in motion tends to stay in motion. The family style show has an equal and opposite action. Terry's show is the safest and cleanest show on the strip at the Mirage. Terry spent a year at the Hilton and is now at the Mirage in the Terry Fator Theatre which holds 750 seats. The lighting is state of the art, the stage can be changes to a game show set. Itsa like one big party before Fator takes the stage. His cast consists of Wilson and impersonating turtle.. He must be a long distant cousin to Kermit, The singing cowboyWalter T Arsdale, Vikki, soul singer Julius, rocker stoner Diugieand Maynard Tomkins the Elvis impersaonator. Doesn't he know any Presley songs? Terrys songs range from Garth BrooksRod Stewart,Etta James,Louie Armstrong, Axl Rose, and Elvis. Terry tells funny jokes and yodels, but its a bit old and the guests are just being kind, they groaned as a few jokes dropped to the floor with a loud crash.
Terry dresses in a red leather jacket as he does a Michael Jackson 'Bad' piece, that also didn't go off too well using his cowboy puppets to do Garth Brooks, Friends in Low Places. The Vikki Puppet vamped off stage while Terry and The Commodores sang 'Brick House' Did we get lost in time what year were we in what decade was this anyway? Terry also does the human puppet bit with a guest from his audience. Terry does Sonny and his Cher puppet, the guest from the audience. Funny stuff. Lou Ferrigno was the lucky recipient of the cher wig in Bob Mackey Gown and the remote mask doing 'I've Got You Babe'. As a vent I would see this as a cute act while others were being kind, while other see it as appropriate and patriotic. Terry is certainly talented, you can't take that away from him, he's likeable and professional. The show is well timed and polished to a glistening shine.
This was opening night and opening night comes with its full share of jitters and goofs, I am sure that when the show has gained some speed its sure to be a winner. Be sure to see this show when your in Vegas, you'll be pleasantly pleased.

THE KING OF THE LATEX PUPPET, THE WALT DISNEY OF VENTRILOQUISM WAS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND HERE'S WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY


THIS WAS AN ARTICLE THAT WAS WRITTEN IN THE NORTHERN ECHO

Discribing who, to me, is one of the finest soft puppet makers in the world. This was the article taken directly from the news paper to be rewriten and re thought out. Much of what you will see here is the article, some of it changed as my thoughts prevail.
With the hopes of becoming a performer in 1979, Steve made his own puppets and performed his shows at local churches. Someone wrote a piece for him in his local newspaper and his mom had the bright idea of taking the clipping to Jim Hanson. Jim wasn't to happy with the puppets Steve was making, they were to similar to his own and warned him to come up with his own ideas. It might have been harsh but it was sound advice, and due to that sound advice Steve now has his own company in California 'Axtell Expressions' The Walt Disney of Ventriloquism (these are my own words) he has performed for schools, theme parks big stage events on B'way. Much of Steve's puppets have appeared in movies (Planet Of The Apes)On TV- as well as for Terry Fator on America's Got Talent. Britains Got talent, The Mirage for Terry's show. B'Way-For Jay Johnson's Broadway show 'The two and Only'
Steve will be making his movie debut in South Shields as part of the 6th Int'l Magic Fest. His dreams of performing full time were stopped when he married, so instead he put his heart and mind in designing. It all began in a garage in Ohio, and it became the world leader in soft colorful puppets. The top Ventriloquists in the world run to Axtell for their needs, as well as the missionaries and sunday school teachers. The new product on Axtell's market iare hands free puppets. Technology has moved forward at a rapid speed and what can we expect from Steve in the near future? Can a Vent think and have it transposed into thoughts which are then transposed into speech. Yes anything is possible.
This visit to Tyneside has marked the first time Steve has lectured and performed in Europe. Look forwar to Steve making an annual trek to the land on the other side of the pond.

Monday, March 16, 2009

WHAT A WELCOME JOHN PIZZI WAS AT OUR THEATER


The evening of March 15th at approxamately 8:45 John who headlined for that evening followed a wonderful opening act, a singer Steve Leeds who went over very well singing songs from the crooners of the 40s-50s-60s and 70s. Names like Sinatra,Martin, Davis, Martino, T Jones and Engelbert.
John opened with his baby daughter, followed by his grumpy old man characters and Andy. Insulting every nationality, color and creed, I see him as the Don Rickles of Ventriloquism. I was his target when he came to the gay insults, and knowing his act well was sort of expecting something like that directed at some one, I was front row dead center and a perfect target for him. If you are looking for a sidesplitting funny man, he is a must see. I wanted the chance to be able to see him back stage, but I was refused, because he told his agent he didn't know me, but he knew me enough to insult me...Did he go over board some say he did, I didn't think so.
It shows to go you that the proof is in the act... John's lips were moving about 50% of the act but he was entertaining and most of the people liked him. Right he was not excepted by everyone, but those people have to get a life. HE WAS FUNNY!!!!! And enjoyable... Thank you for a wonderful evening John. There will be more to follow regarding this show.
The above picture was taken last night at the show in Kings Point.
A PIECE OF TRIVIAL INFORMATION JOHN'S FRIENDS WERE CREATED BY SELBERG AND PAWLOV, DO YOU KNOW WHICH IS WHICH?

Saturday, March 14, 2009

AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Life is a challenge … meet it
Life is a gift … accept it
Life is an adventure … dare it
Life is a sorrow … overcome it
Life is a tragedy … face it
Life is a duty … perform it
Life is a game … play it
Life is a mystery … unfold it
Life is a song … sing it
Life is an opportunity … take it
Life is a journey … complete it
Life is a promise … fulfill it
Life is a beauty … praise it
Life is a struggle … fight it
Life is a goal … achieve it
Life is a puzzle … solve it
My entry-N J
Life is fun.... play with it
Life's a joke.... Laugh at it
Life is a friend.... be honest to it
~Author unknown

IT TOOK ALMOST A LIFETIME FOR A CHILDS DREAM TO COME TRUE SO NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS

I never took a picture of him but we did, together. One of my dreams was about to come true. I now really felt the part of a Vent and I was an adopted papa. I was about to have a portrait done of my Pal and myself for the first time. I wore my favorite blazer and he wore one that was made to look exactly like mine. It was a burgandy colored blazer with big black buttons. The pants were Black the shoes where shiny new. I was about to become cinderfella. Am I imagining this or is this for real. I felt like a new person a prince in his new regal garb, being ready to be presented to his pricipality. This was the first time we were to wear these new clothes and it made me feel special. My adopted son, a royal, a ventriloquial figure named C J, wearing the same clothes , which I bought for him before I even knew he was to become part of my life. Today we've ventured out as a team, a couple, a father and his son, two princes of the realm, a ventriloquist and his figure.
Back to the photographers studio, my photographer Sydney Snodgrass had me stand behind C J as I placed him in the big chair for our portrait, the photographer adjusted the back drop and lights and focused the camera to enhance the picture. "Take a deep breathe, both of you" he said, as he snapped the first picture, of course I let out with a big laugh as to realizing he made a funny and he knew it. I was courious as to how many times Sydney has done this, photographing Vents and their pals? So of course with my curiosity I asked him "how many Dummys have you photographed?"...he of course gave me a look of wonderment and I had to readjust the question. "How many wooden dummy's have you taken pictures of?" This was his first but I know I will have to see to it that its not his last. Syd said that the pictures would be available to be viewed on the internet sometime later that evening. But 3 hours after we had left the studio I received a phone call telling me that the pictures were now ready for viewing.
How excited I became to be able to see the first pictures of my pal, buddy, business partner in studio pictures- 72 pictures in slide show format. I felt the magic of being a kid again You couldn't believe how filled with love I felt at that very moment... I must admit that when I left the studio I was a different person then when I first entered.
We laughed and chatted during my photo session, I am so happy that I listened to that tiny voice in my head that was still kindled in my heart, my desires for ventriloquism and I am so glad I did. I have new hope and asperations at a time when most people are getting ready to retire I am getting ready to start a new life. This has renewed my courage and forward moving desires to perform for the younger world. Now I ask you have you had similar feelings before you decided to get involved in the world of Vent? Tell us about them, As a reader of this Blog I know you've got stories to tell. njay254@aol.com
So I emplore you to never let your dream fade away, always look forward to its fullfillment, not its could have been, if only... Yes there will be obsticles in the way, but get over them, climb them, go around then of pass through them but most importantly is get past them When the power of desire is fueled the wonder of the lord makes them happen. Be happy in your life for you only pass this way just once, make the best of it.Am I happy to enter the dooras of childhood again, more then you can imagine, remember age isn't a barrier, you are your own worst enemy. So don't get in your own way.

THERE ARE MANY WAYS ONE PREPARES FOR THEIR PERFORMANCE WHAT IS YOURS?

Something I do once in a while is run head first into a wall, it relaxes me, I have almost missed a few shows due to this exercise...., don't try this kids I am a professional... hahaha!!!! Seriously I like to sit alone just before a show privately sit in a corner facing it and meditate for about 10 min. then do some deep breathing exercises and wriggle(a new word) my face, nose and lips.It loosens everything up and makes me feel silly, good feeling for a kids show, Say the magic Mark Wade word SHAY to get into contrast voice...What do you like to do.... E mail me your method of relaxing and i will enter it here. or respond to comment.
N J

A DRIVER GIVES UP HIS PUPPET FOR ILLEGALLY DRIVING IN A HOV LANE....WRONG!!!!

BELLEVUE, Wash. – You forgot to buckle up, dummy! A commuter who put a homemade dummy in the passenger seat to sneak into the car pool lane was caught Wednesday near Seattle. But it wasn't because a cop realized the passenger was fake. Instead, the State Patrol trooper noticed the dangling belt buckle on the passenger side and suspected a seat belt violation.
Patrol spokeswoman Christina Martin told The Herald of Everett that the driver acknowledged trying to beat traffic by using the HOV lane.
He created his passenger by draping a rain jacket over plastic piping, topping it off with a Halloween mask of Gandalf, the "Lord of the Rings" wizard, a beard and a baseball cap.
The trooper issued a $124 ticket and confiscated the dummy.


My reply to this is : I can understand the $124. ticket for illigal driving But I would be darned if anyone would even think that they would take one of my children, thats how I envision this situation, would you give up your child to some one, even a cop for illegal driving, I think not, and neither should he have.
N Jay

Thursday, March 12, 2009

ANOTHER FINE JOB BY TONY BORDERS 2006 WITH A FEW CHANGES BY MYSELF TO FIT PASSOVER

F: Oh, boy! I love this time of year!
V: Why is that?
F: My favorite holiday is coming up!
V: Really?
F: Yes! My favorite holiday is Passover! I was born on passover!
V: Wow!
F: I was a suprise in an egg matzo box
V: I thought they were crumbs.
F: That's what people think, your a crumb!
V: So you must know a lot about Passover.
F: I know a lot about Passover!
V: What do you like best about Passover?
F: I like the lights on the menorah and the 8 days of gift giving. And people singing songs of lights...
V: That's not Passover! Does anyone know what holiday that is? (pause) That's right! That's Chanuka!
F: Oh, yeah! That's the festival of lights! Now I remember what Passover is all about!
V: Good.
F: On Passover I get a cake, and they put a candle on the cake, and I spit on the candle and make a wish!
V: That's your birthday!
F: I told you I was born on Passover.
V: And you don't spit on the candle.
F: Yes, I do! That way no one else wants any cake! I get it all for myself!
V: Passover is is ....
F: Wait, wait, wait! I know now! On Passover we have fireworks and everything is red, white, and blue!
V: Kids do you know, what holiday that is? pause... Yes, the fourth of July!
F: When is that?
V: It's on the 4th of July.
F: That's lucky! If it was on August 2nd it could be confusing!
V: Let me tell everyone what happened on Passover.
F: Give me a hint! (Stares at your face.) I got it!
V: I didn't say anything!
F: On passover we all wear a scary mask!
V: No!
F: And we ask for candy!
V: No!
F: And we say, "Boo!"
V: No!
F: And if we don't get any candy we say, "Boo-hoo!" (starts to cry)
V: What's the matter?
F: You didn't give me any candy.
V: It isn't Halloween.
F: Then why are you wearing that mask!
V: Let me tell everyone what Passover is all about. If the ground Hog sees his shadow after three days, he'll go back in the ground and we'll have 6 more weeks of bad weather.
V: NO! I'll explain it to you later! (Put puppet away and ask for a volunteer to come up and explain what happened on the first night of Passover. Keep in mind that most kids under 3rd grade may not know.)

THE HOLIDAYS ARE UPON US AGAIN

St Patricks day, Passover and Easter are fast approaching so We at ventriloquially yours would like to send each and every reader a happy holiday message. For St Patricks day we are presenting to our community here in S Florida John Pizzi and friends, wish you were all here to see him do his stuff in our 1283 seat theater. I have a request from some readers asking me to shout out to those vents who will lend a hand, if anyone has a skit they would like to share for the upcoming holidays with me and the readers, it would be so welcome. I am sure that many of you seasoned pros have at least one skit of each holiday to share. send it to njay254@aol.com
Thanks again to all my readers, they are the best in the vent world.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

CLINTON HAS MADE ME THE PROUD ADOPTED PAPA OF HIS LUKE


CLINTON
I PROMISE TO TAKE SPECIAL CARE OF C.J. GIVE HIM LOTSA LOVE, EVEN THOUGH HE WILL HAVE SOME SNAPPY COMEBACKS, I THINK HE IS GOING TO TRY TO TAKE OVER AFTER A WHILE. HE HAS ALREADY MADE NEW FRIENDS AND HAS RESTED FROM HIS LONG TRIP, WE ARE PREPARING TO TAKE PICTURES OF HIM AND THE GANG, JELLY BEAN HIS COUSIN FROM THE COUNTRY, THEY WILL TRY TO STAY OUT OF EACH OTHERS SHADOW, AND THEY HAVE DECIDED ON BEING FRIENDLY RIVALS, AXTELL'S VERN/MY LOONEY TOONS LOUIE, MY PAL SNIGGLES, THE GOAT, THE FUNKY MONKEY, MRS BARKLEY A TEACHER WITH AN ATTITUDE FROM THE 60S AND 70S, THE CENTENNIAL BEAR, QUACKERS THE STUFFED DUCK, AND NEW FRIENDS WILL BE BROUGHT INTO THE FAMILY WHEN WE GO TO THE CONVENTION THIS YEAR. I AM IN SEARCH OF A STORY TELLER, AND I AM ALSO LOOKING TO SAVE A FEW DOLLARS OFF THE REGULAR SALES PRICE, I THINK I SHOULD BE ABLE TO DUE TO THE CONDITION OF THE ECONOMY. IF ANYONE CAN HELP ME WITH A SKIT FOR A TEACHER WITH AN ATTITUDE, SORT OF SASSY, FROM THE 60S AND 70S

Dear Clinton: I have decided to call your "Luke" "C J" after his father and his adopted father. I am working on a skit for him, and the name might change after I take my first look at my new boy, when he arrives. Today is Friday the 6th, so he has already been traveling a full 2 days and must be tired and hungry. His friends are waiting his arrival. I know he will love his new home, so thank you and a further message will be sent upon his arrival. N J
* * * * * *
Dear N J: "CJ/Luke" should be delivered to your door today or tomorrow. He was excited to be on his way, and I build a great deal of patience into all my characters, so he should be in good spirits when you meet. And my guys (and gals) are trained to rest and meditate as they travel so they arrive refreshed, eager to go to work. Should he get bored enroute, he is traveling with a book on ventriloquism which he can read. As for food - all the nourishment needed is a bit of your daily tender love and care. Clinton

Friday, March 6, 2009

A NEW FRIEND WILL BE COMMING

N JAY AND JELLYBEAN JOEY ALONG WITH MS. BARKLEY, SNIGGLES, THE FUNKY MONKEY AND HIS NEW FAMILY ARE WAITING PATIENTLY FOR THIER NEW FRIEND WHO SHOULD BE MAKING HIS APPEARANCE VERY SOON AT OUR FRONT DOOR FROM THE WORK SHOP OF CLINTON DETWEILER, HIS LUKE CHARACTER WILL BE OUR NEW CJ NAMED AFER CLINTON HIS DADDY AND MYSELF HIS ADOPTED DADDY AND WE WILL CALL HIM C J. ONCE HE GETS HERE PICTURES WILL BE DISPLAYED SO PLEASE BE PATIENT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT AFTER SUCH A LONG TRIP HE WILL NEED HIS REST AND HE WILL BE MIGHTY HUNGRY. MORE TO COME FROM US SOON.

IT WAS MAGIC AT ITS BEST WITH DOUG HENNING

DOUG HENNING WAS BORN IN WINNEPEG HE GREW UP IN ONTERIO AT THE AGE OF 14 HE PERFORMED HIS FIRST SHOW FOR A BIRTHDAY PARTY OF A FRIEND AND WAS BLOWN AWAY BY THE EXCITEMENT OF HIS AUDIENCE. HE SOON WAS PERFORMING ON LOCAL TELEVISION IN TORONTO. SHORTLY AFTER GRADUATING FROM McMASTER UNIVERSITY HE WENT ON TO STUDY MAGIC FROM A GRANT AWARDED HIM. HE TRAVELED AND STUDIED THE TALENTS OF THE GREATS. THE IDEA WAS TO BRING MAGIC BACK TO THE GLORY DAYS.


HENNING WORKED AND WORKED TO PERFECT HIS CRAFT AND HE DEVELOPED A LIVE THEATRICAL SHOW COSTARING JENNIFER DALE CALLED SPELLBOUND. WITH MUSIC BY HOWARD SHORE. CONBINING A STORYLINE WITH HENNINGS MAGIC WHEN THE SHOW OPENEDF IN TORONTO IT BROKE BOX OFFICE RECORDS FOR THAT CITY. HENNING REWORKED THE SHOW AND BROUGHT IT TO NEW YORK AND RENAMED IT THE MAGIC SHOW SONGS BY STEPHEN SCHWARTZ IN 1974. THE SHOW RAN FOR 41/2 YEARS AND HENNING WON A TONY NOMINATION, FOR HIS WORK.
IN 1975 HENNING REWORKED HIS SHOW AND BROUGHT IT TO TELEVISION VIA NBC AS DOUG HENNINGS WORLD OF MAGIC. A LARGE FOLLOWING WITH 50 MILLION VIEWERS, AND FOR THE NEXT 7 YEARS HE CONTINURED HIS ANNUAL SHOW AND WINNING 7 EMMY NOMINATIONS.
IN 1976 HE CREATED HIS OWN PRODUCTION COMPANY AND RELOCATED TO LAS
HENNINGS BIGGEST ATTRACTION WAS HIS COSTUMES AND ENTHUIASM, MADE OLD TRICKS LOOK AND SEEM NEW AGAIN. HIS SECOND WIFE DEBBY DOUILLAD WAS HIS COSTAR FROM 1981 AS WELL AS HELPED HIM DESIGN THE STAGE AND COSTUMES
THE BROADWAY SHOW MERLIN PRODUCED AND STARRED IN 1983, WHICH WAS BASED ON THE CHARACTER FROM TIMES OF KING ARTHUR.
DOUG ALSO WROTE THE BOOK HOUDINI:THE LEGEND AND HIS TIME. ALONG WITH CHARLES R. REYNOLDS.
DOUG HENNING PASSED ON TO THE MAGIC IN THE HEAVENS IN 2000 FROM THE AIDS EPEDEMIC.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

I WANTO TO LEARN MAGIC GOT ANY IDEAS

LEARNING MAGIC COMES FROM BOOKS AND PRACTICE, READ ABOUT MAGIC, PUT IT TO PRACTICE, LETS START AT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY, BOOK STORES, MAGIC SHOPS AND BUY THE BOOK THAT FITS YOUR REQUIREMENT. LIBRARIES HAVE BOOKS AND DVD'S ON MAGIC. THOSE BOOKS CAN GIVE YOU THE HISTORY ON JUGGLING, SLIGHT OF HAND, BEST OF ALL THE BOOKS FROM THE LIBRARY ARE FREE. BUT SOME KIDS LIKE TO START THEIR OWN LIBRARY WHICH COULD BE A GOOD IDEA AS WELL. A GOOD BEGINNERS BOOK GIVES YOU THE FOUNDATION AND TEACH YOU SEVERAL TRICKS AND STIR THEIR INTEREST TO GO FURTHER INTO THE WORLD OF MAGIC.

NOW THAT YOU HAVE THE BOOK, PRACTICE THE MOVES AND THE STORY, WHAT I MEAN BY STORY IS THE PATTER YOU HEAR THE MAGICIANS TELL WHEN PERFORMING THEIR TRICKS. dON'T FOCUS ON THE MOVES ALONE AND FORGET THE PATTER, THIS GOES AS WELL WITH CLOWNING, JUGGLING, VENTRILOQUISM AND PUPPETEERING. DOING THIS WILL MAKE YOU MORE PROFICIENT IN YOUR PRESENTATION, AND LEAST THE TRICK WILL BE MORE ENTERTAINING. IF YOU HAVE A COMPUTER GO VISIT YOUTUBE AND WATCH THE OTHER GREAT MAGICIANS DO THEIR STUFF AND LEARN FROM THEM. YEARS AGO WE DIDN'T HAVE ALL THIS READY KNOWLEDGE AT OUR FIGURE TIPS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT. MAGICIANS NEVER TELL THE SECRETS OF THE TRICK..
THE MAGIC SHOP IS WHERE YOU MIGHT WANT TO BE BECAUSE ALL MAGICIANS FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER VISIT THERE, ASK QUESTIONS, THE SHOP ITSELF HAS A MAGICIAN ON THE SPOT AND HE OR SHE WILL BE MORE THEN HELPFUL.BUYER BEWARE OF THE MAGIC TRICKS THAT ARE COSTLY FOR THE BEGINNERS, LEARN THE CRAFT BEFORE YOU PUT TOO MUCH MONEY INTO IT. FIRST BUY THE BOOK, THEN THE DVD. THE BOOK IS FILLED WITH MUCH KNOWLEDGE AND CAN TEACH YOU THE SKILLS REQUIRED THEN BUY THE DVD AND LEARN THE TRICK BY WATCHING THE EXPERIENCED MAGICIAN. YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE TRICK BEING PERFORMED AND EXPLAINED, YOU WANT THE BIGGEST BANG FOR THE DOLLAR. DON'T FORGET THE MAGIC NIGHTS AT THE SHOPS THEY ARE GENERALLY ONCE A WEEK, A JAM SESSION PRESENTING THE LATEST TRICKS.
HEY DON'T FORGET THE CLUBS AND GROUPS THEY ARE FILLED WITH GREAT IDEAS, THEY MIGHT EVEN INTRODUCE YOU TO WEBSITES THAT CAN HELP YOU MOVE FURTHER FOREWARD IN YOUR SEARCH FOR THAT TRICK THAT WILL PUT YOU OVER THE TOP. YOU WILL MEET OTHER NEWBIES AS WELL AS SEASONED PROFESSIONALS.
LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST ATTEND CONVENTIONS, THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST PLACES TO MEET ALL TYPES OF MAGICIANS, YOU WILL LEARN WHERE SOME OF THE BETTER SHOWS ARE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PURCHASE SUPPLIES AT A REDUCED RATE., YOU'LL BE ABLE TO VIEW DIFFERENT ACTS. YOU'LL LEARN FROM LECTURES, ONE ON ONE INFORMATION AND GET A CHANCE AT OPEN MIC NIGHT. MOST OF THESE CONVENTIONS ARE HELD IN NICE HOTELS .

HERE IS ANOTHER PART OF THE SHOW YOU WANT TO PRESENT ALONG WITH CLOWNING AND VENTRILOQUISM

Telepathy is easy to develope, many of use it without training. Are you aware that you can sense the presence of the "dead" and it is very common, and many of us have an excellent medium power, follow these steps and you might even amaze yourself.
Step One Learn to hypnotize and , Mesmerize by themselves or together. to be able to do this you'll need to gather life force, when you have gather enough of this life force, you will then be able to start learning to mesmerize. The mana will flow through your hands along yourt line of vision into a subject, carrying with it well made mental pictures or thoughts of the subject.
Hypnotizing is used to make the subject relax, to sleep, and so on. If the shock
of mana is sufficient, and the thought-form cluster made with enough
power, it can break up and replace complexes in the basic self of the
subject. If there are spirits fastened to the subject, and if he has been
brought to turn over a new leaf so that he will refuse to respond to the
promptings of the spirits, they may be driven out of him and hypnotically
commanded to stay away, after first being broken away by the Mesmeric
shock of the mana you have projected.
Be warned that if you project a surcharge and hurtful mental pictures
to or at a subject, and these fail to be accepted by his low self, or are
blocked from action by his High Self or by his spirit friends who may be
watching over him, the force and the mental picture will rebound, often
with greatly increased power, and lodge in your own basic self, making it
the victim. Use the evil eye or spell-casting methods at your peril. Also
be warned that all about you are witting and unwitting magicians who
may be consciously or unconsciously projecting mana and mental
images at you-- weak or strong, good or bad.
Begin at once to practice becoming hurtless and helpful in your
every thought and deed. Learn to radiate good and helpful and loving
thoughts and do all you can to do good. In this way you will soon build a
permanent wall of radiation around you which will act as a great magnet,
of which you are the center. It will attract the good by its positive pole
and repel the bad. If you suspect that many bad thought-form clusters of
sickness, bad luck, etc. or many spirits of an evil nature, are already
bothering you from former projections against you by magicians, or
because you have been bad enough to attract to yourself equally bad
spirits, begin at once to use this affirmation frequently:
"GOOD, GOOD, GOOD! I AM GOOD. I think only
good and helpful thoughts. I do good and eject all
hurtful deeds I try to find and throw our daily any
thoughts of hate, anger, greed, jealousy, and the
like. I now prove my unwavering determination to
swing completely over to the side of GOOD, by
DOING some good deed, no matter how small,
before continuing my day's activities."
THE ASPIRING MAGICIAN will do well to remember that most of his
or her daily tasks are performed to help others to some degree. If each
task is approached and blessed as a SERVICE or a good deed lovingly
done for others, the good will be true coin of the realm.
Step Two STRENGTHEN YOUR WILL. This is a continuation of the step you
learned to take earlier. After you become proficient in the use of the
Mesmeric force or low mana, begin to strengthen your middle-self WILL,
or mana-mana. You must first take on a fair surcharge of low mana
because, without this being present in your body, the middle self
(conscious mind) cannot get enough of it to make up a batch of strong
will power. This power is developed by daily use of exercises of holding
your mind and full attention on something for as long as you are able.
Make a mental picture of the face of a loved one and hold it before your
minds eye without allowing the face to change in any way. When it
"slips" and begins to change or fade, rest a minute or two. Accumulate
a little more mana, and try again. Keep a watch by you and note how
long you can hold mental pictures. At first you may find a few seconds
your limit. When you have practiced daily for several years, you will be
able to hold the basic self to the task as long as five minutes, and will by
then have developed will power strong enough to create, by a few
minutes of this concentrated attention on a mental picture, POWERFUL
THOUGHT-FORM CLUSTERS which can be projected by the
Mesmeric method described in Step One.
If you wish to know whether you have a strong will now, test with the
Biometer (Note: this refers to the scale used for psychometric analysis
readings described in Max Freedom Long's book "Psychometric
Analysis," and the accompanying scale for measuring vital force.) Tests
made at intervals will show whether your practice is getting results. Be
warned that if you develop your hypnotic or middle-self will without at the
same time developing the ability to become GOOD and BETTER day by
da, you will soon have a very unbalanced biometric pattern and it will
begin to cause you much more breakdown and trouble.
Some imitation magicians- those not having been trained thoroughly
in Huna- use their hypnotism openly. Beware of these unless you have
obtained their signature, written with their own pen and with ink, and
have tested it on the Biometer to learn whether they are "black" or
"white" magicians. The black will show a perfect will-pattern but almost
no personality circle, or, if a circle shows, it will be counter-clockwise
and usually far from round.
In your own work as a budding magician, avoid the use of hypnotic
suggestion as something apart from the Mesmeric element. Use
Mesmerism as in Step One, with the hypnotic will simply as an adjunct to
aid in creating the very strong mental picture of the GOOD condition
which you wish to implant powerfully in the basic self of those whom you
help and heal. NEVER ADMIT THAT YOU ARE A MAGICIAN, just say
that you have a natural gift for healing and will be happy to try to use it
if the one needing help will turn over a new leaf, etc.
Helping others to turn over a new leaf and to become ready to be
healed is the GOOD DEED at its best. Remember this always.
TELEPATHIC OR PROJECTED MAGICAL HEALING is an important
part of this work. Contact must be established with the ones to be
helped. A hand-shake will string an aka thread between you which will
make it possible for your basic self to make contact at any time. Or the
basic self can follow the aka thread that is fastened to a signature
written in ink. This contact is telepathic in its nature, and you can send
with Mesmeric force a mental picture of healing which has been
constructed through the use of your WILL. Practice will enable you to
become more and more powerful as you go along. Also, results build up
slowly if the magical treatment is repeated over and over.
Step Three RUBBING ALADDIN'S LAMP. No magician should be without a
good Aladdin's Lamp. Go to a junk shop at once and buy one. Take it
home and accumulate as large a surcharge of mana as you can. Then
build up your will to a high point of concentration and create a mental
picture of what you wish to have the Genie of the Lamp do for you
when you rub the Lamp and he appears to do your bidding. Millions of
people in the past twenty centuries may have rubbed a Lamp without
getting the slightest response. Their trouble has been that they did not
know that the "oil" needed to fill this type of Lamp is not oil at all, but
is a large surcharge of mana. So build up your surcharge, make your
mental image, and then rub your Lamp. If you don't have a Lamp,
remember that it is only a symbol-- the symbol of LIGHT. Just think of a
genie who embodies all the goodness and so all the LIGHT you can
imagine. Then rub something! Rub your hands together and affirm:
"I am now calling to the Spirit of Light who
remains ever aware of me and ever ready
to come to me at my request when I fill myself
full of the mana which is the force or oil which
enables the Lamp of the Light to become lighted
and cast its rays down to enlighten me on this
darkened level of being. I affirm with full faith that
I now believe that my call has been heard and
that the Spirit of Light above me has come and
stands ready to receive the oil to be used for
helping and guiding and illuminating me and those
whom I will help. I now send flowing upward along
the connecting shadowy cord a strong flow of mana.
With it I send my carefully and powerfully constuct-
ed mental picture of the condition which I ask be
brought about."
Many aspiring students have given up at this point because they
could not see the Spirit of Light. This is greatly to be regretted, for the
Spirit is always there and will always accept the oil and begin shedding
helpful light. A daily replenishing of the Light which stands before the
altar of your Innermost Being may be needed if the request you make
demands much magical work. All experienced magicians know that the
instant and complete performance of a task by a Spirit of the Lamp is
possible only at rare intervals. They are content to work for many days
to get the full task completed.
BE WARNED at this point that if you attempt to use the magic of the
Lamp without first purifying yourself with many lustrations and
fumigations, drawings of signs and magical circles about you, there will
be grave danger that you will evoke the spirit of a dead person-- a spirit
just as uncleansed and tainted with evil as you may happen to be. If you
are greedy and plan selfish gain, the spirit may be equally so and may
take your surcharge of mana and turn to bite the hand that feeds it.
Keep in mind the fact that all fumigations, incense burnings, washings,
and rituals of cleansing are, just like the "oil" and the "Lamp," merely
symbolic. These things, when read about by a magician in a book of
instructions tell him that a cleansing of his thoughts and heart is
indicated. Go back to Step One and check what was revealed to you
concerning GOOD.
Down the centuries magicians have written out their knowledge in
the form of "evocations" and "incantations," also "invocations."
Invariably they have veiled the inner meanings. For this reason the
student must take care not to be caught in the foolish trap in which so
many have been caught. In the semi-secret orders in Europe and
America even today, they are drawing magic circles, performing strange
physical rites, making fumigations, compounding absurd mixtures of
frog's eyes and the leaves of plants gathered in a cemetery on the night
of the full moon, and so on. Rare books containing rituals and formulae
bring hundred of dollars, and men and women gather to study and to try
to use them, always ending with nothing accomplished.
If the student has seen such books, and there are many of them,
dating from the times of early Egypt on, be warned that the long
repetition of invocations with the exact pronunciation of Names of
Power are quite useless to the uninitiated. The magicians of all ages
have piled one absurdity upon another in their writings, all for the
purpose of causing the greedy outsider to waste his time, if he is that
foolish, trying to perform rites which cannot be performed, and to learn to
pronounce unpronounceable "names" without number. The famous
"Seventy-two Names of God" are part of this blind. So are the endless
names given to supposed gods and demons and spirits, good or bad.
LOOK BEHIND THIS VEIL OF SECRECY FOR THE THREE
ELEMENTS WHICH ARE SYMBOLIZED IN ALL TRUE MAGIC! Watch
for the veiled mention of the three selves and their three mana forces.
Watch for the inner cleansing rather than the outer. You can call a spirit,
be it bright and good and helpful, or bad and strong and dangerous,
provided you have made a contact with it and so have established an
aka thread along which you can send a telepathic call-- a flow of mana
with the picture of its hearing and coming to you. But just to know the
name of a spirit and to speak it is a waste of time. There may be a
thousand spirits bearing that same name, and besides, with no contact
already made, your call will be empty. Be warned, however, that if some
spirit happens to be near, be it good or bad, it may hear and accept the
call, taking all you have to offer, if it is bad, and perhaps in the end
taking your body away from you. Evil spirits may remain bound to the
earth for centuries, and may become most wise in the matter of doing
evil for and against the living magician who is even a fraction as evil.
You have read of "sympathetic magic" in which like produces like-- a
sprinkling of water causing a rain, and the pouring out of an oblation of
wine to the gods bringing about an outpouring of good things to you in
return. This is also a blind to veil away the ignorant. Like brings like
only when a powerfully constructed mental picture is presented with
much mana to the Spirit of Light so that on this likeness the Spirit may
construct for you a reality. The old fertility rites supposed to bring
increase in crops and flocks were of use only if they served to picture
the desired things and to furnish through emotion some mana to
empower the gods.
Step Four AMULETS, WALLS OF PROTECTION, ETC. Having you that all
drawing of magic or ritual circles, pentagrams, and such things belongs
to the outer or symbolic side of magic, it needs to be said that a few
physical things can be used by the magician as points around which to
build mental pictures or images with a mixture of aka substance,
thought-forms and mana.
TO MAKE A RABBIT'S FOOT EFFECTIVE, for instance, it is not
enough to preserve such a foot and carry it on your person. The foot
must be gazed upon and concentrated upon a few minutes each day
for a number of days, and the student must picture the foot as a center
about which he is building layers, day after day, of that plaster made of
thought, mana and aka substance. As all mental pictures are made of
these three ingredients, and as a mental picture is as enduring as any
strong memory (which is, in actuality, constructed of these three
elements), the picture of a radiating center of GOOD surrounding the
foot of the rabbit soon becomes a very real thing. But the foot must be
encased in thoughts of GOOD FOR ALL, not just for its owner, or it will
be valueless. THIS IS A SECRET WHICH FEW KNOW. To become a
center which will attract good and ward off evil, the foot must be used in
connection with the bringing of good to others as well as to the owner,
and it must be used when possible to ward off or remove evil in the
same way.
ANY OBJECT, LUCKY PIECE, OR AMULET may be treated in the
same way. Shrines are centers into which GOOD has been poured in
this way by a saint or magician and made strong and enduring to radiate
back to the worshiper all the good he radiates to it in worship. Such a
center may be filled daily with fresh mana, and the good spirits may be
invited to come to it daily to obtain enough mana to give them power to
perform good deeds on the mental and physical levels. Like birds
coming to refresh themselves in the bird bath in your garden, and then
going to clear out hurtful insects, so the good spirits will soon begin to
come, taking the water of mana and looking to see what requests you
have left with the mana for them to fulfill. Your requests are mental
pictures of things you desire the spirit friends to bring about if they can.
Pour a mana surcharge into your magic center, along with the mental
pictures of good conditions desired for yourself and friends. The spirits
will soon be coming daily to take the mana and to assist. But try not to
disappoint them by forgetting to leave mana and good requests for them
daily, otherwise they will soon scatter and go elsewhere. Just as a
center of good can be made in this way, a center of bad may be
established if one is not careful. The student who makes a rabbit's foot
center with the desire to get more than he gives, is guilty of breaking the
first rule of magic-- that of being greedy and hurtful to the extent that he
wishes to take things from others so that he may enjoy benefits. Keep
cleansed yourself. Keep your center clear of all things not fully GOOD
for everyone. You cannot steal and hold good things for long. Payment
must eventually be made. On the other hand, one can buy almost any
good thing with the coin of good thoughts accompanied by good deeds.
A "wall of protection" can be built around yourself or a loved one in
the same way with the help of the Spirit of the Light. Put only good into
the wall and it will allow only good to pass in and out through it... And so
ends the lesson. Here is MAGIC for you... for the taking.

Monday, March 2, 2009

HEY YOU WANNA BE CLOWNS LEARN HOW TO BE A REAL CLOWN OR ADD CLOWNING TO YOUR ACT

Slap Happy the new clown was skeptical about making a penny vanish by folding it inside a yellow banana, a yellow banana he thought how on earth, and then putting it inside his large pants pocket. Did he follow directions, I think not because if he would have listened closer when the clown master told him in a yellow bandana, not banana a little more closely the trick just might have worked a whole lot better, and so would the skit have.

If you are fond of making practical jokes and one-liners, making people laugh with you antics and magic shows and all that crazy stuff, then you might want to learn how to be a clown. You can learn how to become a clown right in your own living room at your own leasure. When you have worked your craft maybe some of your neighbors will hire you to be the guest during their kid’s birthday party. There are many websites that offer directions on becomming a clown for free. Yes, you’re right, why buy the book when all i need is a computer or a library, and yes your right but you also need a mentor, someone to show the hows and pratfalls, which can not be learned by reading. There are several sites that do offer some clown tips and tricks from how to paint your clown face, what kind of costumes you need to wear or what tricks or anecdotes or wise-cracks you need to utter to make everybody laugh. They’re free because they’re limited, ideas on how to entertain everyone is fine but there is more. So remember to make the cake correctly you need to buy all the ingredients and learn all the directions, not just some, you need to buy the whole shelf if you want the best performance, protection or whatever else you need to make your training the best. It’s just the same as trying to learn how to become a joker or a clown. With an investment, say, for a book that teaches how to be a clown, you can get unlimited ideas and there are many different kinds of clowning. There are ideas for kids’ birthday parties, different “motif” for a school trade fair. Why, you might even learn how to be a clown during Halloween and don’t forget that Halloween is just around the corner, so be careful of the next corner you turn you might run smack dab into Halloween, oh and wait then there is, Christmas and entertaining your relatives during Christmas Eve before the hour of 12 strikes. Who know, you might even become famous for your “endeavors”. So, what is the best way to learn how to be a clown? The ideal place to learn is your own home, at your own pace and time and with a little help from some books, and a mentor and there are many out there, read all or as many as possible and work the craft but read the book before you buy the item, buyer beware, some times you get more then you bargain for. Be the best clown you can be, smile big joke funny and simply entertain the kids by clowning”. The best part is, you can surprise the kids like during Halloween or Christmas as well as other holidays take the craft to the streets as in bazaars, carnivals trade shows, and watch their eyes opened wild with amazement to find out that the best clown they have seen in their life is no one else but their dear old Dad, grandpa, uncle or neighbor. Now, wouldn’t that make your heart inflate with delight, too?

The amount of enjoyment one can have when clowning and making someone laugh is endless, oh you vents don't forget to add clowning to your show, come dressed as a clown, have your pal dressed as a clown as well and the kids will be laughing before you tell the first joke.