Ventriloquism

performance art · illusion · puppets · entertainment

Voice Throwing Magic. Ventriloquists train their voices to come from a puppet or dummy instead of their own mouth, making the puppet seem alive and able to talk. It looks like pure magic, but it's actually a skill that takes lots of practice to master.

Barely Moving Lips. The key to great ventriloquism is keeping your own lips almost completely still while you're speaking. If your lips move too much, the audience realizes the voice is coming from you, and the illusion breaks.

Ancient Performance. Ventriloquism isn't new, it goes back thousands of years to ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome where performers amazed audiences with this exact same trick. People have always loved the mystery of a talking puppet.

Comedy and Characters. Most ventriloquists make their puppets into funny characters with big personalities that tell jokes and have conversations. The puppet and the performer act like they're two different people talking to each other.

Still Popular Today. Ventriloquism appears on TV shows, in theaters, at parties, and at theme parks all around the world. Modern ventriloquists keep this ancient art alive by performing for new audiences.