Getting a Dummy

By Alan Semok, aka The Dummy Doctor

Here are a few very biased and hardheaded rants (from a dummymaker's perspective). These were written in response to question on the Ventriloquism List:

WHAT MATERIALS SHOULD IT BE MADE OF

Anything that is durable...more important than what it's made of is "does it look good and convey the character you want?" These days figures are made of carved basswood or jelutong, fibreglass reinforced resin, plastic wood (which is NOT the same as "composition"), papier mache, neoprene & filled latex rubbers, or various new polymers & resins.

Many vents argue in favor of wood, and equal number swear by fibreglass or other materials...it's purely a matter of personal preference. Any good figure regardless of what it is made of will hold its value or increase in value if it looks good and is mechanically well constructed. (McElroy figures made in the 1930's from Plastic Wood have sold for as much as $10,000.00 in recent years! Good, vintage Frank Marshall basswood carved figures have lately sold for around $2500.00).

RECOMMENDATIONS ON CURRENTLY ACTIVE DUMMY MAKERS

Some colleagues I hold in high esteem are: Tim Selberg, The Maher Studio, Brandt Gilmer, Jerry Layne, Craig Lovik, Greg Classen, Ray Guyll, Capt. Dick (Wightman), Conrad Hartz...have I left anyone out??

GOOD USED VINTAGE FIGURES FROM THESE OLD TIMERS OFTEN TURN UP

Frank Marshall, Insull/Davenport, John Carroll, Revello Petee, Kenneth Spencer, Glenn Cargyle, Brian Hamilton. Even if they're in bad shape, they can usually be spruced up and put to work.

PRICES FOR DUMMIES

For a good NEW figure, the range is pretty wide...anywhere from around $500 to around $7000.00, depending upon whether it's a stock model or custom built, and depending upon the number of mechanical effects installed. The material from which the figure is made can sometimes (but not always) be reflected in the price.

BOOKS ON DUMMYMAKING

William Anderson and Ray Guyll have both written excellent pamphlets about dummymaking. Paul Winchell's "VENTRILOQUISM FOR FUN & PROFIT" gives EXCELLENT instructions on making a dummy. Also, any decent book on puppetry can get you started. I won't say it's easy, but it is imminently satisfying to perform with a dummy or puppet of your own making.

OTHER RELEVANT INFO ON BUYING A DUMMY

Regarding "Sticker Shock" --Remember that by the time you take the cost of the figure, subtract the cost of materials, and divide that number by the number of hours of labor involved in the building of a vent figure, the resulting "hourly wage" for the maker can be shockingly low considering the specialised nature of the work (a plumber makes far more per hour).
I think it's safe to say that most figuremakers today will gladly accept a return and offer a refund (within a reasonable time) if the dummy doesn't measure up to your expectations...this is not an unreasonable request to make of someone creating a figure for you and you should insist on it.
ASK FOR REFERENCES, and contact those references to see how the figures have performed for them in the heat of "battle" and what "quirks" develope over time & constant use.
PRACTICE,PRACTICE,PRACTICE!! The fanciest most expensive dummy won't get you more work if you don't have good technique, good material, and good presentation. If you're good, the dummy will pay for himself in a remarkably short time.

Alan Semok
The Dummy Doctor