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Question: What is the difference between a normal hand puppet and a ventriloquist's dummy!?
I am selling a gorgeous monkey puppet on eBay just now and describing it as ventriloquist's dummy too - just wanted to make sure I wasn't breaking the trade descriptions act or anything!. The monkey is 3ft tall and hangs around your neck - you move it's mouth via a concealed opening under his jumper at the back - so I think it could be used for ventriloquism - what do you think!? Thanks janiceelizabethWww@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
You are describing it correctly!. Because you can operate its mouth from within plus the operator (ventriloquist) is visible to the public, there you go!. It is for a ventriloquist!.
If the mouth wasn't operate from within but for any other external method or the operator was not visible, then it would be an ordinary puppet!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I would go with a mouth puppet: most people who think of ventriloquist dummies expect something that looks like the traditional dummy (ie!. hand carved wood or some form of clay)!. However, they're all pretty much the same thing: a puppet that has a moveable mouth!.
Check out Axtell!.com or http://www!.ventriloquistcentral!.com/ for info on vents!. A glove or hand puppet doesn't usually have a moveable mouth, and so most people equate it with Punch and Judy - type designs!.

While there are terms used by puppeteers and makers, we don't all agree on or use the same ones - especially as each puppet design is unique, and so one puppet could be under a number of different descriptions!. (In other words, if you get it wrong, people aren't going to care that much!.!.!. unless you call it a marionette when there aren't any strings!. That really annoys me)Www@QuestionHome@Com

"The monkey is 3ft tall and hangs around your neck"

now you know how katie holmes feels lol

yeah, i think youll be fine advertising that as a ventriloquist's dummy

as long as you have a pic of the item and a good description it should be fineWww@QuestionHome@Com

does it "talk" by pulling a string!? because that's typically how you define a ventriloquist's dummy!. but it would be fine the way you have it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

yes, of course! if it can be used as a ventriloquist's doll, then it can described as one my dad uses one all the time!. Hope that helps!Www@QuestionHome@Com

A mobile lower jaw!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I dont know, but they both scare me!.!.!.!.!.omgWww@QuestionHome@Com