| Walking briskly through the attendees at the | | | | you must practice. Finally, you must practice, again, and |
| ventriloquist convention, phillip and his camera captured | | | | again. |
| numerous once in a lifetime moments of adults and | | | | 2. What is one thing every Ventriloquist must avoid? |
| kids performing with their "dummies." Never meeting a | | | | Not practicing. |
| stranger, he greeted attendees at convention 2007 | | | | I recommend the following rules which have helped |
| with enthusiasm. It's easy to understand Phillip's | | | | me: |
| expertise with the camera; he's a professional wildlife | | | | (1) Avoid memorizing; and |
| photographer for a South Carolina magazine. | | | | (2) avoid getting lazy. |
| Curious about his participation in ConVENTion 2007, I | | | | 3. Is this Ventriloquism stuff something that is here to |
| thought it would be interesting to learn more about this | | | | stay? Yes always. |
| photographer and his connection with ventriloquism. As | | | | 4. Can someone work successfully as a Ventriloquist |
| we spoke on the telephone one evening, he told me | | | | successfully if they are in a crowded niche? Yes, be |
| about his own "dummy" named "Hog-Eye Jones," an | | | | different and keep current with the times. |
| army guy named after his dad because of a unique | | | | 5. What has Ventriloquism done for you? It has |
| ability Phillip's father possessed to see hogs where no | | | | allowed me to make people laugh everywhere. |
| one else could. As he recounted the details of the | | | | 6. What trends to you currently see in Ventriloquism? |
| story, I knew this story completed another important | | | | Three trends I have observed are: styles in clothes, |
| connection in the world of understanding ventriloquism, | | | | hair, and different performance backgrounds. |
| ventriloquists, and their "dummies." | | | | 7. What was your first job(s)? Vent Haven contest; |
| 1. What is one thing every Photographer and | | | | National Guard Christmas party, and an Eastern Star |
| Ventriloquist must do? First you must practice. Next, | | | | Banquet. |