The bright spotlights blinded my vision to such an extent that I couldn't tell what I was looking at. However, I wasn't going to let that stop my act.
I'm a ventriloquist. I perform at a place called Barbary Coast on Michigan Avenue every night from 8:00 to 8:30. It’s not the most ideal place, but everyone starts somewhere. I’m always on before the Midnight Ladies (they’re a dance group who dance specifically for men). I always did my act in front of a big crowd because they were the main attraction. Sometimes, I pretend they come to see me and my dummy Zeppo.
I could never tell how many people showed up every night because there were so many lights pointed at my face. I relate it to performing in front of a wall. You can’t see how people react to your jokes. That’s important to me because it lets me know if my material is good. Unfortunately the only reaction I get is when the audience laughs by telling the payoffs to the jokes. Why is this unfortunate?
It proves that without Zeppo, I don’t really have an act. I’ve heard many stories that the best ventriloquists suffer from multiple personality syndrome. That’s why they’re so good at changing back and forth between voices. All of the greats from Paul Winchell to Edgar Bergen suffered from it. From what I’ve read they developed it over a period of time. Slowly, as their acts grew in popularity, they developed the condition. I bring this up because something strange has been happening the last few nights during my act....
zeppo and i
by Jack McMillan