I've been only using the Axtell Bird Arm Illusion for a year but it always gets a great response. It's now the most popular part of my show, but there are always some kids who want me to know that they know it's not a real arm or bird. Do others run into this and have suggestions for handling this?

I also use a Vern puppet and arm Illusion in my kids show as my main stay character and have been for 8 years. It always gets a huge, huge reaction. I do a complete show with magic and vent and the kids always say that the bird was their favorite part.

If the child is so dead set on making everyone know that the puppet and the arm are not real then you give it to them straight. I look right at the child and say, "yes, you're right; he's a puppet." Then I have the puppet look at me and say "I am?"

This throws the kid off balance and ends the disruption right there. It doesn't do any harm to the other children's reactions from the puppet.

This is the only way to combat this that I have found that works fast and for sure. The child has no rebuttal to that.

This is a much better option then to let him continue to disrupt the show and egg the other children on into an anti-puppet session.

You may also want to invest in the animated arm illusion where the fingers move. I don't have this but it seems like it would add an extra dimension to the illusion.

Anyone out there use it?

Thanks for the suggestion, Jimmy. It sounds like a good way to go. In my mind I'm not trying to fool them with the illusion. But it does help to sell the bird being alive.

I also do a magic act and do a routine with Vern and the Magic Drawing Board. They are always the favorites.

Where can you get one of these from?

Thanks,

Roslyn

Steve Axtell makes and sells them. He has a patent as well. Here's a link:
http://www.axtell.com/

Oliver,

Thanks for the link. Just had a browse around the site and oh boy was I impressed.
The moving arm illusion looks awsome!

Roslyn

Roslyn,
Yes, the moving arm is very cool. I have that one. I'd also recomend that if you buy the Vern puppet, buy the $149 latex version. I bought the $49 vinyl Vern to learn ventriloquism. When I started performing with it the response was so strong I decided to buy the latex puppet. I couldn't believe how much better it looks. You'll love it.

Oliver

I don't really do vent. I use puppets all the time, but never learnt how to give them a voice of their own. Are there any decent videos, dvds or books available?

Roslyn

Axtell has pre-recorded routines you can use that are very good. It takes a lot of patience and practice to get your timing in synch with the CD. I started learning that way, but decided my time would be better spent learning ventriloquism. It was worth it.

I like Steve Taylor's 3 tape set the best. Available from Axtell also.

I learned from a book... "Kolby King's Ventriloquism Made Easy." Not the best resoruce for vent but it worked for me! Lots of practice!

Everything Ax makes is a home run!

Thanks guys,

Roslyn

Hey Jimmy V---I talked to you at Vent Haven last year with Fritz---anyway I agree you can't beat Axtell's stuff---That Kolby King book really has all you need to know it is just compressed---------cheers!----Jimo

Don't forget about Maher Ventriloquist Course. Their Millenium Edition include Mark Wade's video or DVD.
Please check:
http://www.maherstudios.com/course.htm

I learnt from older version of Maher Course.

Regards,

Budi Ha Ha

Has anyone got the Axtells McCaw/ parrot, or have you seen it close up, whats your views, than you.

I have seen it and tried it at IVA Festival 2001. It is very life like, but the consequences is the beak also small. You can manipulated the beak, but maybe not too convenient.

Hope this helps.

Budi Ha Ha
(Proud owner of several Axtell products)

I use the standard bird arm illusion. I have never had anyone yell out that it does not look real. The illusion is incredible. I am interested in the moving arm illusion but not sure if it is worth the asking price. The movement seems like it would be very minimal and not really noticeable by the audience. They seem like they are so fixated on the puppet and the routine that the hand moving slightly is not really a big deal. Actually, I find that kids today have an entirely diffent take on vent acts. Todays modern electronics and robotics is familiar to kids. They see a vent and automatically start coming up with modern technology as the method. It just doesn't have the "magic" it used to before all this technology stuff arrived. It's still entertaining, which is why I use it, but the younger kids are not as impressed because of these advances.

Consider the Arm (as wonderful as it is!) as merely your puppet STAGE. A puppet stage that is dressed as a castle is hardly taken for a real castle...it just doesn't matter...the arm gives just enough pause to rinkle the brow and draw a smile...in that it is perfection...no one who is taken by the fantasy of a puppet come to life will give a hoot. (unless it's an owl of course )

The moving fingers adds a lot but it then becomes more than your stage...it's another puppet!

That's pretty cool too!

I bought the moving fingers version because I thought it would enhance the illusion, but I never even turn it on. Save your money. You don't need it.

Oliver

You are right Oliver about the moving fingers version, I too think you should save your money on this one.

Emmett

Another point on the Bird Arm, I have seen some people use the Bird Arm just the way they get it without resizing it to match their other arm. They have one arm 4 to 6 inches shorter than the other and it looks silly. Take the time to make it match your other arm and position the fingers so that they look natural for you.

I thought the arm looked a bit fat and puffy and made a cast of my forarm using the gauze and plaster. Eventually I will replace it with a foam-rubber cast of arm and hand. The arm will have a tuxedo sleeve and the hand will be painted to match mine. That way I don't need to put on the cloth gloves.

The Compleat Sculptor (www.sculpt.com) has a great selection of mold-making and casting supplies. Another good source is smooth-on.com.

Oliver