THE EYES DON'T HAVE IT ! ! !

The package from Braylu Creations came yesterday. The stick fits like a glove. It isn't hollowed out but runs strings through the bottom disk. I ordered the Simple Sight eyes and have to admit I was a little disapointed. They look pretty fragile so I ordered some wooden balls and will try to make my own. AHHHH if it was truly simple sight!!!!

PROJECT ANDY

Back in my early teens, when I first tried to learn ventriloqism, I had a Danny O'Day vent doll. I have to laugh as just recently had to throw him away. He had first been stored away in my parents' garage and later in a shed. The heat caused his head to become brittle and crack. It was a differrent model than my latest one. The first was wider and squat ... a distorted Danny. This might of given more room to work and step away from an iconic dummy.

I've decided to not try and modify this Danny's image other than a paint job and keep him a cheeky boy. This is more about seeing if I can handle the simplest of the mechanics rather than the cosmetic aspects. Any other modifications will be minamal. I will repair the moving mouth, cutting the pallete out and lowering it to add lower raised teeth. This Danny already comes with upper teeth so this will allow him to close his mouth shut. The second motion will be sycronized movable eyes. From what I have read in the Kenny Croes blog, the "Charlie" doll heads are a little off due to the monicle. He guts the eyes and then reforms them. The Dannys seem to be alittle more alligned even though one eye is slightly larger than the other. I have ordered the Simple Sight Eyes from Braylu. They have the 1.25" size wich are used for the conversion figures. Braylu makes round ball eyes but not in that size. (I need to recheck Kenny's site as I remember he had some concerns about eyes and clearances.) These are suppose to be easier to install and scratch resistant. They also will work well with blinkers. I bought some bass wood to use as the base, but I found some paint stirrers in the garage and I think they will be worth a try. They look about the right size.

There is one mechanic I would like to try but It may take some Mickey Mousing to make it work ... but then ... that's what this is all about isn't it? I found a local vent club in the area that I joined their discussion group. I found a local builder, Chuck Poole and his website:

http://www.zogmyster.com/

He has documented the building of both a T3 and a conversion figure. A lot of good pictures ... here is Mr. Poole's design for a crossing eye device. It seems very effective and less complicated than a few other than I have seen. as you can see he is using a "braided" fishing line. Even though I bought some nylon line, I may see if the budget will allow a purchase if this. Chuck doubles it so if it breaks it will give warning of a need to repair.

I have some parts and products ordered and should come in sometime this week. I got most of the tools on my list and Little Joe has loaned me his vise. (It smells of brake fluid.) I should be able to start in earnest as soon as I find my tool box with my dremel in it.

Oh yeah ... I've had my first dummy related ingury. While looking for the tool box in my garage late last night, I stubbed my toe, cracking the nail in half. There was oodles of blood spurting from my wound. Luckly Yoko tended the damage (2 band aids) , gave me some asprin and kissed and made it all better.

So after looking at Danny's head, the more I stare ... I am waxing nostalgic and have decided to christen him "Andy"after my first pardner. To do a minamal movement away from being a "Danny" in the paint job I will do lighter skin and red hair. I ordered green irises for the eyes. I don't know why but for some reason when I think of an "Andy" ... I think of a red head. (This will also alieviate the neccesity of sanding down his curl and dealing with a wig.) This is a good thing to limit plans ... usually I make things far too complicated. So here goes ...

PROJECT ANDY.

I'M UP!!

Well I sort of knew it. We went out to a local pub to see the one ... the only Bing Futch and his new dulcimer. Ate corned beef and drank beer. A lot of salt and calories. But I'm only up 2 pounds. Still it's a gain ... I'm 254.

A FOOL WITHOUT TOOLS.

Ever get into something and not be quite prepared ?

That's me.

I am an exception to the rule. The sterio-type is that men have a tool for EVERYTHING!

I have a couple screw drivers, a hammer, a drill and a dremmel tool. To get started I need a coping saw and a vise.

In a perfect world, I would just get what I need. I would make a trip tp Lowe's and load up the Cruiser. I would go and set up a work space and do exactly that ... work. But these are hard times. The money is not there and I'm on a shoe string budget. So here's what I need to do ...

1.) I need to get a coping saw.

2.) I need to get a vise. (Little Joe has one he will loan me.)

3.) From Braylu Creations I need to get:
A.) A control post and springs
B.) Simple Sight eyes/1.25"
this will cost me about $30

4.)Nylon rope/1/8th"

5.) And at least one pound of magic-scupt.

So I need about 5o Bucks to try this and if i can have ANY success I can justify the expence and space.

Here's Danny!!!

My Danny O'Day vent doll arrived today. I think Yoko is starting to get why I am persuing this. He is smaller than I thought. Almost 2" in length and an 1" in width . Things will be real tight . I have a new respect for Kenny Croes. I already had respect for him. Kenny pushes the limit on conversion figures as much if not more than anybody. His are not Dannys or Charlies when he is finished , but new characters with a life all their own. I have Michael Brose's book as well the Fred project and Ray's book witht the DVDs and I think I am learning as much if not more from Kenny's site. It is invaluable.

I e-mailed him yesterday. I did so with a certain hesatation. In the dulcimer community, people are very friendly and approchable. But I had to wonder what the vent community. As first contact, Kenny proved to be a good ambasador. He was friendly and encouraging and answered my questions. He even invited more!!! I highly recommend his site : http://ventintothemic.blogspot.com/ and the man himself!

Thanks Kenny!!!

Gravitational Pull

In a past post, I mentioned I am loosing weight. But I had a rude awaking. Last Thursday I got on the scale and I was 5 pounds heavier. FIVE POUNDS. I could understand a couple ... but 5!!!

Yoko explained to me that our electronic scale is very sensative to movement and when I carried it to my bathroom, that it probably went out of kilter.

Oh well, so today I weighed in at 252 ... on the dot. 3 more pounds to be what I was last week.

Once ... Oh .... about 20 years ago I went to the Suncoast Puppet Festival that was being hosted by the University of South Florida. The big proformer that year was Jimmy Nelson with Danny O'Day and Farfel. I had dragged my then girl friend Lou Shoemaker and caught up with Kim Rivers. I worked with Kim (who's mother had a local TV show where she did puppets and ventriloquism.) on VooDoo and EPCOT's Prominade Players. She was such a talent and hopefully still has her hand in it.

We all sat together waiting for the trio to make ... and I mean make the scene. During his presentation Jimmy called out to the audience to give him a sentence to say. I yelled out, "MANY MEN MAKE MONEY!" Lou looked embarassed.Kim looked at me with that where did that come from. Jimmy Nelson paused, blinked and said , "What ?" I repeated my request and he laughed, and said, "Some one must of bought one our old records." (I got my record with a Danny vent doll that I named Andy.) He then ran Danny through his paces. A magic momment.

Me ... I'm still working on it. "Nany nen nake noney ... Nanny nen nake noney ... Nanny nen ....