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How to Build a Ventriloquist Puppet With a Lot of Movement

A ventriloquist dummy doesn't have to look realistic to demonstrate the art of ventriloquism. You can make your own ventriloquist dummy puppet head that will let you move the eyes and mouth as you practice the art of ̶0;sending̶1; your voice to an inanimate object that is mimicking a human being speaking. Supplies from a hardware store, a hobby shop and from a beauty salon will be needed, as will tools commonly found in most homes. Making the dummy doesn't require any special skills.

Things You'll Need

Mannequin dummy head
4 metal rods, 1/2-inch diameter, 10 inches long each
Ruler
Pencil
2 jiggle pupil eyeballs
Bonding glue
Chattering teeth
Wig, short or long-haired

Instructions

- 1
  Stand the mannequin dummy head on a work surface with the front facing you. Push a metal rod through the parts of the dummy̵7;s head where the two eye sockets are located. Stop pushing the rod when it exits out the other side. Twirl the rod a dozen times clockwise to enlarge each hole before pulling it out of the dummy̵7;s head.
- 2
  Measure the width of the mouth indentation on the dummy̵7;s head. Make a dot at the halfway mark at the top and bottom of the indentation. Push the metal rod through each dot until it exits out the back. Twirl the rod a dozen times clockwise to enlarge each hole before pulling it out of the dummy̵7;s head.
- 3
  Place the two eyeballs on the work surface with the ̶0;jiggle̶1; pupils facing down. Apply bonding glue to the back of each eyeball. Press an end of one of the wires against the back of one of the eyeballs. Hold the wire̵7;s end against the eyeball for two minutes. Repeat this procedure with another wire and the other eyeball.
- 4
  Place the ̶0;chattering̶1; teeth on the work surface with the back facing you. Apply a dab of bonding glue to the top center of the teeth. Place an end of one of the wires against the glued top. Hold the wire against the teeth for two minutes. Turn the teeth over and repeat the procedure just completed with another wire. Let the glue set overnight.
- 5
  Push the wires attached to each eyeball through one of the two holes in the eye part of the dummy̵7;s head. Stop pushing the wire through when it exits out the back.
- 6
  Push the wires at the top and bottom of the teeth through the corresponding holes in the dummy̵7;s head. Stop pushing the wires through when they exit out the back. Cut a vertical channel above the wire closest to the dummy's head and below the wire closest to the dummy's neck with a utility knife.
- 7
  Apply bonding glue to the inside of the wig that will be placed on the dummy̵7;s head; a short-haired wig if the dummy is to be a boy and a long-haired wig if the dummy is to be a girl. Place the wig on the dummy̵7;s head and press down. Hold the wig against the head for two minutes. Let the glue set overnight.
- 8
  Push the eyeballs and teeth up against the dummy̵7;s head. Test the movement you can do with them by moving the wires back and forth for the eyeballs to make them track what the head is aimed at, and the wires up and down for the teeth to make them open and close.

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