Sile Michaela Ventriloquist

Ever since I was a child, I wanted to make people laugh. I would do impressions of my in-laws at family gatherings and they loved it. Their enthusiastic laughter brought me so much joy. I was influenced by impressionist Rich Little and comedian Foster Brooks. My family and I would watch them perform on the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts back in the day. We also watched a show called Laugh In with comedians Rowan & Martin. One night in 1972 me and my mother were watching Laugh In with special guest stars Willie Tyler & Lester. I was so impressed with their performance that I decided that I wanted to become a ventriloquist. I asked my mother for a Lester doll for Christmas.

My mother ordered the Lester doll from the Sears Roebuck Catalog as a Christmas present for me. On Christmas morning, me and my brother crept downstairs to see a bunch of presents under the tree and our stocking filled with goodies by the fireplace. I rushed to see what presents where for me and there it was! When I opened it, I looked to see how my new Lester doll worked. I found a piece of string behind its head which opened and closed its mouth. When I pulled the string, I noticed that no sound came out. I thought maybe there would be a voice box or something built in. My mom explained to me that I had to "throw my voice." I had no clue what throwing my voice meant. She tried to teach me how to do it but it didn't take.

I had been doing stand-up comedy (as well as being a professional drummer) in the 1980's early 1990's part time. In 1992 I tried becoming ventriloquist again. My partner at the time had an old hound dog puppet that I called Buford. Buford had a old southern accent and I practiced a lot; However, at the time being a vent didn't pay the bills and my life's circumstances would not allow me to continue.

Fast forward to 2019. I was watching ventriloquist and actress Nina Conti being interviewed by puppet creator and entrepreneur Steve Axtell from the 2009 Venthaven Convention on YouTube. It brought back those feelings I had when I was seven years old watching Willie Tyler & Lester perform on Laugh In. I wanted to try again because they say "The third times a charm." I went online to find Steve's website and bought my first puppet called Vern. I later renamed him Shoo the Chicken Hawk. Shoo was technically my second puppet if you count Buford and I've since bought seven additional puppets from Steve Axtell and I haven't looked back.

My future plans are to continue ventriloquism and continue to practice the art. I make videos each week and write my own material. I perform locally at open mics to try out new material and I do booked gigs. As a former professional stand-up comic and an improvisational performer, it definitely helps. There's also a desire in my heart to make people laugh again as I did as a child and young adult.

Síle

I use a wireless microphone headset.