2009 FCM Ventriloquism Lectures Schedule

We have a wonderful line up of ventriloquism lectures scheduled for this summer's Fellowship of Christian Magicians conference in Marion, IN on July 13-17 on the campus of Indiana Wesleyan University.  You'll spend a week lectures and workshops aimed at improving your ventriloquism in nearly every aspect.  You can count on returning home equipped and inspired with new ideas and techniques.  

Here is our schedule:

Monday, July 13th

1:30pm Randall Munson   "Ventriloquism for Dummies"

4pm David Turner   "Character Building and Creativity in Ventriloquism"

Tuesday, July 14th

8:30am Mary Porter "Adventures of a Real Live Puppet & Her Ministry"

11am Rory Johnston "Writing Vent Routines that Work"

1:30pm Steve Taylor "Humoring Your Dummy"

4pm Steve Parker "The Little Things that Count for Client Satisfaction

Wednesday, July 15th

1:30pm Bob Shimer "Walk Around Vent"

4pm Joey Brummett "Sound Systems, Remotes, and More"

Thursday, July 16th

8:30pm Ken & Chris Lock "Improvisation & Theater Arts for Vents"

11am Bob Shimer "Using the Internet for Vents"

1:30pm Steve Parker "Advanced Ventriloquism"

4pm Dave Mitchell "Ventriloquism Dave's Way"

Friday, July 17th

8:30am Mary Porter "Bible Stories by Mary & Suzi Q"

11am Ken & Chris Lock "Ventriloquism Here and Now: Clips to Learn From"

FCM 2009

I just got the word from Fellowship of Christian Magicians annual convention coordinator, Barbara Varro, that we can expect a full slate of ventriloquism lectures again in July of 2009. I look forward to serving again as lecture coordinator and putting together a wonderful team of teachers to help everyone, from novice to accomplished vents, improve and aspire to improve.

Ventriloquism is growing-- Terry Fator of America's Got Talent fame, has signed a $100 million dollar contract in Vegas. Ventriloquists in other talent competitions are placing high in the standings. It seems that the art of "belly talking" has once again captured the imagination of people longing for entertainment. It is a skill that anyone can learn. Pastors and church workers would do well to add this as yet another tool in their belt to enable them to inspire and entertain.

FCM Convention 2008 - Fun & Inspiring

The Fellowship of Christian Magicians (FCM) annual international convention was a success again this year. It was the 50th meeting of the FCM and the facilities at Indiana Wesleyan University, about an hour North of Indianapolis couldn't have been better. Each year it seems that new buildings are popping up on that beautiful campus.

The ventriloquism section at FCM enjoyed 14 lectures during the week with an average attendance in the 20s. Dave Mitchell's lecture was packed with over 30.

In 2009, the puppets and ventriloquism section will likely be combined. There are many natural areas of overlapping and it promises to double the numbers for many of the lectures.

The most inspiring part of the ventriloquism lectures this year was watching new students discover that they could do ventriloquism. Some picked it up immediately, and nearly everyone was plugged in to the lectures, seeking to pick up and develop their skills. I look forward to encouraging them in the months to come and see them perform next year!

FCM 50th International Convention

Christian ventriloquists will enjoy a fun filled week at the Fellowship of Christian Magicians annual international convention held near Indianapolis, IN. This year will be the 50th year of this grand convention that features week long tracks in ventriloquism, magic, balloons, clowning, storytelling, puppets, and so much more. Held on the campus of Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, IN, the convention allows vents to sharpen their skills as well as pick up talents in other areas that will enhance their performances. Our family loves this convention because there is ventriloquism for me, chalk art for my wife, juggling for my son, and all kinds of top notch performances every night to entertain and inspire.
The convention runs from July 14-18.

For ventriloquist junkies, it is possible to score a triple play by attending IFEST in Illinois (July 7-12); FCM in Indiana from July 14-18, and VENTHAVEN (July 16-19).

For more information on FCM's year of jubilee 50th convention, visit fcm.org.

Country Figures & Church

A few of my figures are decidely "country." Ida Claire is a soft spoken woman with Southern charm. Slim Chance, a cowboy, is also "country." The interesting thing, is, however, how well these two characters lend themselves to use in church. My church is in Virginia, but I suspect that these two characters would play well no matter where they would find themselves. It seems that there is a little bit of country in everyone.

Speaking of country, on a trip last Spring to Nashville, I came to understand and appreciate the country music genre. Prior to the visit, I thought country music was about dead dogs, cheating spouses, and runaway trains! Sitting in a session with a prominent Nashville song writer, the light finally went on inside my head and I saw country music in a whole new light. Country music is about telling the story. These country music writers are gifted at painting pictures in our minds in about 4 minutes using nothing more than music and words. Ventriloquists should learn from these folks. Their music is about real people and real situations people face. Good ventriloquist routines should be as well.

As Paul Kingsbury and Alanna Nash have pointed out in their 2006 book, Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Country Music in America, country music is "corny sometimes and the puns are encouraged and savored" (p.8). That too is something any ventriloquist can appreciate. Kingsbury and Nash continue, country music is concentrating on communicating common experiences and on storytelling.

What story are we telling with our ventriloqust figures? Beyond entertainment, ventriloquism has the power to inspire as well as inform as we tell our story. Christian vents understand their work as an opportunity to tell His story. We should be good stewards of the opportunities that we are given to bring a smile and to inspire thoughts and actions.

So, what's your story?

Do You Celebrate the Season or the Reason?

Sometimes it is important to pause and examine how we spend out time, talents, and treasure. While very "into" Christmas, I have to suggest that we spend a lot more time celebrating the season of Christmas than we do celebrating the reason for Christmas. Which consumes you- the season or the reason? Which one should? It is worth thinking about. . .

Christmas Stocking Talks

Thanks to Clinton Detweiler, ventriloquist figure maker extraordinaire (see his blog at www.newsyvents.blogspot.com), I have added a talking Christmas Stocking to my assortment of characters.
Leotardo (related to the Spanish word for stocking), has captured the imagination of the children in our church. While speaking with a bit of a Spanish accent, he talks about the origin of hanging stockings by the fireplace, and answers all kinds of questions about the North Pole.
Thanks Clinton for the constant creation of new and novel creations to entertain and inspire.

Ventriloquism is Back!

It has been a good year for ventriloquism. David Letterman's "ventriloquist week" was a hit, not once but twice. Jay Johnson won a Tony award for his one man ventriloquist show on Broadway. Then last night, Terry Fader, a singing ventriloquist, won the $1 million dollar top prize in NBC's America's Got Talent competition.

It is great to see that even in today's high tech world, that this old fashioned, low tech art can still captivate and touch hearts.