Each year the convention offers a Junior Open Mic session to give young vents a chance to perform in front of an audience and receive different types of feedback. In addition to getting the experience of a live audience, each performer is given a critique sheet from three professional vents and a videotape of the performance. This will help them learn more about stage-presence, microphone skills, vent technique, manipulation, and material. It's much more than just did the audience laugh at this bit. In this way, we hope to encourage these up-and-comers to continue to improve their skills and enjoy this amazing art they've endeavored to learn.

Here are the performers from the 2005 session and a little bit about them. We hope to see each and every one of them back again next year.

Hannah L. & Whiskers, Urbana, IL

-This was Hannah's 5th ConVENTion and her 4th Open Mic appearance.

-She has performed library shows, a Halloween show, at an Animal Expo, and attended Second City Boot Camp.

Meghan C. & the Tooth Fairy, Westminster, CO.

-Meghan is ten years old and was introduced to vent by her father the day she was born, November 30, 1994. Happy Birthday, Meghan.

-She has attended the past five conventions and performed in the last four.

-Her performance this year was called Attack of the Tooth Fairy. It grew from questions she had about the Tooth Fairy, such as: how many teeth does she collect every year? Where does she live? Is there more than one Tooth Fairy? Do they retire? What do they do with ALL of those teeth?

Dave C. & Grandpa, Upper Darby, PA.

-Dave is 16 years old and will graduate to the Senior Open Mic session next year.

-He started vent at age nine and was inspired and strongly encouraged by his father Dave C, Sr.

-Grandpa, a MAT puppet, was originally his dad's but today they share him.

- Dave counts Jimmy Nelson as his vent idol.

Lydia B. & an angel, Mary, & Jesus

-Lydia is 16 years old and will move on to the Senior Open Mic session next year as well.

-She started vent at age six and was taught by her father.

-She mainly performs Gospel vent and is an Honors student. Her performance was called "A Song for Jesus."

Madison F. & Tony, Selma, AL.

-Madison is 13 years old and in the 8th grade. He's been doing vent for three years after his mom bought him the move Magic.

-He learned vent through the Maher Home Course, and Tony is first professional figure from Maher.

-Madison performs in children's ministry and birthday parties.

-He says, "I am in the process now of having my own self designed figure professionally made that I plan to copyright. I love ventriloquism and hope to make it my life's work!"

Rachel K. & Ketchup

-Rachel is 16 years old and will be our third Junior Contestant to graduate to the Senior Open Mic session next year.

-Currently a high school junior, she started vent in 8th grade and performs mainly at church and school.

-Her performance focused on the story of Jonah.

Cameron H. & Joe, Woodstock, Ontario, CA.

-Cameron is 13 years old.

-At the time of his performance, he'd only been performing vent for ten months. He's been learning from professional vent Yvette Campbell.

-Cameron warned the audience, "Don't throw objects, we'll throw them back."

Adam D. & Max, Commerce Township, MI.

-Adam is 14 years old, and this was his third convention, but his first Open Mic performance.

-He started at age nine when he received a Charlie McCarthy dummy for getting good grades and sites Richard Paul as an influence.

-Adam enjoys operatic singing and school plays and performed a song called "The Curse" during his Open Mic performance.

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Pictures That Talk

During the convention last year, Bob Rumba conducted a workshop entitled "How to Make Pictures that Talk." Bob is the master of creative promo shots. Volunteers from the audience stepped up on stage and Bob helped them craft humorous photos. Each month we'll feature a couple pictures from that session.

Mary Kingsley & Martha McHaggis, Edmonton, Alberta, CA

Mary writes: "Martha has only been part of my family for a year now. I asked Mary Ann Taylor if she would make up a puppet that was a no-nonsense, older Scottish lady, but friendly and full of fun. We came up with a face that had some of Mary Ann's previous character features but also had her own special brand. Martha is a big hit with the senior market because they can relate to her many ailments! In the photograph, she is delighted to have a good hand of cards, and whilst Martha is always very 'straight,' she enjoys winning anything over her friends."

"While I have enjoyed watching ventriloquists perform, it wasn't until 1997 that I took up the noble art and added it to the musical show that my husband and I perform under the name of 'Peter and Mary.' Growing up in Britain and now residing in Canada, my first trip to Las Vegas was not until February of 1997 where I was hoping to find a suitable ventriloquist puppet to begin practicing. On the morning I was flying out, quite by chance, I found out about the 'Movie and Magic Hall of Fame' (no longer functioning) with its huge ventriloquist figure and puppet collection run by Valentine Vox. Literally sprinting along the Las Vegas Boulevard, I managed to pop into the Hall of Fame store, met Valentine and bought a video on vent basics by Paul Winchell. May of the same year saw me back in Vegas attending the first Vegas Ventriloquist Convention, and I haven't looked back since. Whenever possible, if our gigs allow, I always enjoy attending both the Vegas and Kentucky conventions. A wonderful time for getting together with people of all calibers who enjoy the art of ventriloquism and sharing so much comeraderie."

"'Peter & Mary' have been performing together professionally for over 30 years working in many varied venues from cruise ships, community concerts, resorts, schools, malls, children's festivals, and many corporate shows for both adult and fa