Las Vegas Backstage Talk

Nov. 7, 2010: Jeff Dunham & The Business of Ventriloquism

by Michele LaFong

Everyone’s been calling me.  “Did you see Jeff Dunham on the Joy Behar Show on HLN last week?”  The answer is “yes” and I thought he did a good job. I know how difficult it is to perform an interview while creating two personalities. A lot of the regular guests don’t even have one, but that doesn’t stop their lips from moving anyway. A lot of my friends and fans were surprised that Jeff Dunham’s throat was moving so much.  They told me that they never noticed that with me.

Well, that’s the advantage to being a female ventriloquist.  We don’t have an Adam’s apple…well most of us don’t anyway. Ventriloquism is powered by the diaphragm, just like it is for singers. When I’m “throwing my voice” I do whatever I have to do to “pull it off”.  I use my diaphragm, my IUD, my PMS, whatever I can muster at the time. It ain’t easy.  I give him credit.

Meanwhile, I couldn’t believe that Joy Behar had asked Jeff if he thought that the art of ventriloquism was a dying art? This was right after she had announced that Jeff Dunham made over 22 million dollars last year and was the #1 top selling comic. I wonder if Joy Behar is aware of Terry Fator at The Mirage having a hundred million dollar contract after he won a million dollars as a ventriloquist on America’s Got Talent?

Thanks to those who have paved the way, I’m much more in demand lately too.

I have a private party at Pierro’s in LV tomorrow. I’m hosting The Global Gaming Expo Nov.16 at The LV
Convention Center from 12-4pm and several new doors have opened to me including books, radio and televison.

Please don’t forget to catch me Tuesday Nov.9 on KLAV am 1230 at 8pm-8:20 for interview on The Psychic Medium Spasoff Show.

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