We all get in a rut from time to time. How do you stay motivated when you hit a wall with your ventriloquism? For me, I watch vents on YouTube whether it be the old legends like Bergen, Winchell or Lewis or the new jacks coming up to remember why I love making puppets talk so much. Or I take an acting, comedy or writing class to get my craft to the next place and find new ways to create and get around my blocks. What do you do?

For those of you who are multi-lingual, how many languages do you perform in? And those of you who have had to perform in a different language they didn’t know, how did you learn? Let’s hear your experience

For me, I was 13. My stepdad was a magician. He took me and my brothers to his friends house. They were showing us their magic and I clocked 2 figures. Animal from the Muppets and a Pelham ventriloquist figure. I started playing with them and my Stepdads friend said I was a natural and gifted me the Pelham, who I named Willy. For years, I did it in secret because boys didn't play with dolls. Then at 16, I was at college and had to do a 5 min talk on any subject. I did a 15 min show and it went down a storm. Unfortunately Willy was stolen from me and when I replaced him, I found Oliver. But I'd lost my confidence. One of my children needed glasses but didn't want to wear them, so Oliver needed glasses. As soon as he put them on, something changed. I haven't stopped venting since. Oh and my lovely wife, she managed to find another Willy so he's back in my collection and I performed at Venthaven with him in 2022.