I use ventriloquism to entertain children and adults. I work in the Church, in jails and prison, Las Vegas, and just about any where! As a volunteer for the Prisoners For Christ Outreach Minsitry, I was asked to do a show for children at a juvenile institution and have been performing ever since. I have been blessed to use this extremely enjoyable talent to teach and entertain with very rewarding results. My act consists of fun, clean humor and generally always has a message. I work primarily in the Puget Sound area of Washington. For the geographically challenged, that is in the Seattle area in the Pacific Northwest.

I have performed for adults and children. I do banquets, Sunday School classes, church services, corporate shows, institutional shows and school shows. Just ask! I can also claim fame to performing in Las Vegas, at the Harrah's hotel. But, I have to be honest! It was at the Open Mike session at the Internation Ventriloquist Association (IVA) Fest! Still, performing in front of a room full of other ventriloquist and a few reporters is a tough room to do! It was great fun. Yet, my toughest crowd has been a room full of three-year-olds!

My History In Vent

I started doing ventriloquism (vent) as a young child, like many of my fellow vents. Like them, I watched professionals on TV, like the "Ed Sullivan Show" and Saturday morning and after school shows. Paul Winchell had the "Mahoney - Winchell hour" and Jimmy Nelson was doing the famous Nestle commercials. As a kid, I received a Danny O'Day Juro puppet and the Jimmy Nelson LP record, "Instant Ventriloquism." However, without a mentor, I did not do so well! (I literally thought my voice was supposed to come out of the figure!)
Later on in life, I still really enjoyed ventriloquism. I was watching Ronn Lucas on TV and hearing about a newcomer, watching him on Avis TV commercials, Jeff Dunham. I still had Jay Johnson ringing in my ears from his time on the hit TV show, "Soap." I was in college and gave it another go. The book Ventriloquism for the Total Dummy came out, written by a man who was to become my friend, Dan Ritchard. (Funny thing, after Dan's book came out, the "Dummies" books later hit the shelves!) It came out during the "Juggling for the Complete Klutz" craze, the how-to book that launched a book company. I got a Wrinkles dog puppet and gave it another shot. But, the hectic life of a college student/dad/worker just didn't work. I was a full-time student, working full- or part-time, and raising a family! Three of our four kids were born at this time!* So, I put ventriloquism aside again.
Ronn Lucas	Jeff Dunham	Jay Johnson

Then, in 1999, my youngest son, Jeremiah (one of the twins) and I were in the library and I saw the video, "Paul Winchell's Ventriloquism for Fun and Profit." I asked Jeremiah if he wanted to see a childhood hero of mine. "Sure," he replied! We took it home, had a good laugh, and Jeremiah said to me, "I could do that!" "Do you want to learn ventriloquism?" I asked. "Yeah, that could be fun!" So, we took it up. We bought some books and video, checked some out from the library, and learned ventriloquism.

It was at a Prisoners for Christ Christmas party that the director overheard that I was learning ventriloquism. He was so excited that he insisted that I perform in prison! Maybe I didn't hear him correctly and he meant I should be in prison for performing ventriloquism! I don't know! At any rate, I did an audition in the PFC offices, and I don't know how I got through it! I was shaking so bad, I could barely hold the puppet! I think it was Thomas! Next thing I know, they have me booked in a juvenile institution with one of the best chaplains I have ever had the pleasure to work with, Greg Bolden. Jeremiah and I did out thing, and that was it... we were hooked!

The rest, as they say, is history, and covered in this site. I did over a hundred performances in institutions and ended up going semi-pro. Maybe soon, full-time pro. I love performing and making folks laugh, and some times, think, when they least expect it! the laughs are the best "drug" one could ever have! Ask any comic!

I'll end this with a huge "THANK YOU!" for visiting my site! Please, call me if I can be of service!