Episode 298: Allison Wonders: Ventriloquism, Comedy, and Creating Personal Connections

All right, so we are officially live. Okay, you guys, well, you are in for a special treat on this.

Impromptu live stream because guess what happened? So I did a TedX talk and it is done. But the person that helped me write the talk, deliver the talk, is with me today. And we. She's so amazing. I'm gonna have you introduce yourself in a moment, but I wanted to talk about you for a minute because I did say I would do the ode to Allison.

She was like the most, is the most like supportive, encouraging, helped me like get out of my head and just like at every moment was like there for me. Even when I was like freaking out like four days before. She's like, stop practicing, it's gonna be great. And, and so, and then, and then she basically came up after and said, okay, now I'm ready to do the thing and let's do it. And so we had a call scheduled today. And so then all of a sudden when I heard what she was looking for, I'm like, okay, well we kind of have to go live then. That's okay. So, okay, Allison, I'd love to have you share just you what you do and then we can kind of get into what we're doing here today.

Ok, I just want to start by saying that I worked with Stacy and the whole time she's talking about my people, my people, my people. Do the thing, do the thing. And in the back of my mind I was like, oh my God, I need my people and I need to do the thing. But I was busy doing one of my things that I love, which is speaker coaching. That is my business. That's what I do. I love it. I work with speakers all over the world to help them Write and deliver TEDxS and keynotes and any kind of speech. But beyond that, the thing that I really want to do that I'm a little stuck on, which is why I think I'm here, is I am a ventriloquist. I can't even say it. A ventriloquist.

Yeah, that's right. A real ventriloquist. And I have a show. I have a one woman show. It's a 45 minute to an hour show and I do it live. And it is not for children. It was not for children.

It is an adult show. But cute. It's cute. Adult. It's not raunchy, it's clever. Very clever. So yeah, I shared with Stacy that I am, you know, I gotta practice. I gotta practice because I want to get good and if I don't practice, then I'm never going to go anywhere. So Stacy said, okay, here, let's meet. Let's meet my group.

You ready to go live?

And I said, yes. And he said.

You didn't ask me if I wanted to go live.

Well, it's not about you.

It is about me. I'm the one who's having trouble practicing because you are too lazy.

See what I'm dealing with?

This is the truth. She leaves me stuck in her bag all day long when I could be.

Out in the world.

Why are you doing this to me?

I don't know. That's why Stacy's here. To help us.

Oh, my gosh. I love this. I love this so much. You know what I love about this? I love that.

I mean, honestly, everything I do, it comes back to, like, finding your voice, right? And it's like being able to, like, tap in and was what I was saying to you earlier, right, where.

But I've seen you earlier where it's like when you are tapped in so much to, like, what you're doing, you know, and what things mean to you and what you care about, like, it's just like the world opens up to you, right? Because you're able to, like, you're able to, like, fall into that message, right? And the. And the fun and the ignition that happened. Ignition. I don't know if that's word, but whatever that happens when you do that.

Look at what she said. I want the world to open.

She's won't do it. She's stuck in the mud.

But I'm not stuck now because Stacy made me come here and do this.

And now the world is going to open up.

Yes. That's what Stacy said. She said if we do this, the world will open up.

Well, she looks like a nice lady.

So cool. Oh, you got some people coming on, so yay. All of them.

Neil says, very cool.

So awesome. So tell us, like, what? Oh, wait. Shadow voice? Like Veena Conti's monkey? Do you want to answer that?

What did she say?

Nina Conti's monkey.

Oh, yes, I do know Nina Conti. Yes, she's amazing. She's amazing.

Yeah, but you know Nina Kante.

Okay, enough.

She practices. That's why she's so good.

Okay, I'm practicing now. In front of people. In front of two people on Facebook.

But you're looking at yourself.

I know. I did a lot of looking at myself.

Oh, yeah.

Yay. Okay, well, awesome.

You know who's here to. Delisa's here. You guys met from her wanting to do the one woman show too. So that's cool.

Yeah. You didn't follow through with that either.

Okay, enough. Seems to be my alter ego.

Yeah, that's so, so good. Thanks for opening that up. So I'd love to hear, like, what do you. Because, like, we're in the collaboration group, right. And so the idea of that is that we're, like, supporting each other to reach our goals and then also collaborating to help each other, you know, stay in momentum. So what do you think? What do you think has gotten you stuck with, like. I know we talked about my people being the thing, but has there been anything else that's been kind of, like, on your mind that's like, held things so static, and then now where everyone can help you, like, push forward?

You know, the way that it's always really worked for me is when I've had a. Like you said, like, when I have a show or I have a thing to do. Like I used to do Facebook Live. I mean, I used to do stuff, but I just haven't. And it's like kicking myself into gear. So I think having things to do, having. And I never really thought much about doing it online, but I forget how great online could be.

Cause there's so much to do here. Look, you got a whole window to.

The world, so, you know, maybe I just need to just start doing stuff, but I need help because I still have. There's a part that. That just doesn't do it. It's not like a gym that I can join. Right. You know, it's.

It's.

It's like a. This is a solo practice, so I have to really figure out how to.

Yeah, you bring up such a good point. Because, like, you have this, like, thriving business, right? Where you're helping speakers get their message out, whether it's TEDx, talk on the stage, the platform, corporate, all that stuff, but that's all that the.

She can't even get her own voice out. Oh, here. Do you get where she's coming from?

I do, but what's going on?

Is it a childhood thing?

Probably. You need therapy, Maybe.

Oh, wait. Oh, we got to check in with everyone. So Michelle said, this is so much fun. And then Delisa said, I'd love to finally see you in action.

Okay.

Thank you. Thank you.

Okay.

Okay.

Do I get to talk to you? Can we. Can I play?

Yeah.

Okay. So what is your name?

My name is Blue Dream.

Blue Dream.

Blue Dream.

Yeah, that's what I said.

Yeah.

Yeah. And only certain people know where my name comes from.

Oh, do we get to be those people?

Well, I mean, do you want to tell them? No, you have to see the show.

Okay. You have to see the show.

Yeah.

I'm Blue Dream. Nice to meet you.

It's so nice to meet you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And so how did you come about Blue Dream?

Oh, nobody has ever asked me that. Okay. This is so great. You can go now.

I can?

No, no, seriously, go on, go.

No, I can't.

I can't go. Okay, she's. Look, her nails are not moving. She's practicing. This is so good for her. All right, you can come back. Well, she used to work with kids.

I did.

And that's when she got me.

I did.

And she used to move her lips.

Yes.

I would move my lips.

I would move my lips. And then one day.

One day.

Why are you repeating me?

I don't know. Because when you're a ventriloquist, you're supposed to talk back and forth.

Okay, then one day.

One day.

Okay, you already said that. One day she did a stand up comedy show and she dropped me and she moved her lips.

I did.

He made me talk like this, which is so stupid. And then she got off stage and the ventriloquist gods came to her and they said. What did they say? They said, shut your mouth. That's what they said.

And I did. That's it. That's our story. So he was my very first dummy.

What? Sorry, did you just call me a dummy?

Well, that's what they're called.

Well, I'm no dummy.

Okay? That's my story.

This is literally like the best day ever. I'm just telling you right now.

Well, I have about five more friends.

You're not going to call us dummies?

No.

Oh, my goodness. So what do you think, Blue Dream? About this one woman show? What are your thoughts about it?

Oh, my God, I am hilarious.

You should see me and the other ones.

Oh, they're awesome. And you know what? I'm going to tell you all a secret.

Okay.

Go ahead.

She's pretty damn good, too.

Aw, that is so sweet.

Yeah, you really are.

Thanks.

The one. I should practice.

Sorry.

So do you get jealous, Blue Dream? Do you get jealous of the other. The other ones? Yeah.

Now?

No.

Yeah, Yeah. I can only take so much.

Yeah. Yeah. Oh, my phone's ringing. I'm busy. I'm on a Facebook live.

Can't talk right now.

You're gonna be scared to book anything.

Okay, wait, watch this, watch this. We're gonna Try. Hello?

Hello?

Hello?

Hello?

I don't know how to do it, but people know how to, like, pretend like you're on the phone. Hello? Who's there? This is true with mom, but takes a lot of practice to get good at this.

That's so amazing. Oh, my gosh. I'm just loving this so much. Okay, so Blue Dream, how badly do you want to get out there and be able to show the world who you are? Because, like, just so you guys know, watching this is going to be eventually an in person, one woman show. And you've done this before, so it's like you're just, like, wanting to really get into it and be able to make it consistent and all that stuff. So I would love to hear from you and have you tell us what it would mean to you to get back out into the world and Me.

Or him first Blue Dream.

Because, you know.

Okay.

Because he's his shit.

Here's the deal. Unless she's got her hand up in my business, I go nowhere. You know what I'm saying? You're picking up what I'm putting down, so I have no worries unless she gives it to me. So, you know, clearly I want a list. So that's my. That's what I gotta say.

So good.

What do you gotta say?

Yeah, you know, this is so fun. That's what I want to say. I love this. Thank you, Stacy.

My people do the thing.

I don't know what she did, but we're here.

You know, we could do this all day long.

I could.

I feel like I could, too, honestly. This is so fun. It's like, so much fun.

And it's.

And it's work.

Yeah. Yeah.

How do you get to.

How do you get to, like, bring in the other. The other people? Like my.

My other characters?

Yeah, the other. I didn't know what to call them. Yeah, they're the characters.

The other friends. They're called friends.

Yeah, but, you know, I'm not friends with any of them. And she sticks me in a bag.

I do.

Yeah.

No, no.

And we're not together. Sorry. Oh, she could put another one. On the other hand.

That's a lot of work. You know, I. Yeah, they're all separate. I have a lot of them. I also have a very adult puppet. I have Marge and.

Swami. Who are the voices in my head. Marge is the chairman of my Itty Bitty Shitty committee.

Yes. He does not have that right. The Itty Bitty Shitty Committee.

Exactly. And I have Mother Earth who drinks a little too much but of course. Right. Not going really well for her.

Yes.

She's drinking a lot.

Oh, yeah.

Who else do you got?

I got Cecil. He's an old man.

Okay.

I got Barbie. She sings.

What else?

I forget. Oh, and then my surprise puppet at the end.

Oh.

So how long is the actual show that you're gonna be doing?

So my show is about an hour.

It's an hour. Okay.

Yeah.

And do you want to be, like, in Atlanta, like, doing it all over Atlanta, or is this something you want to do, like, all over? I would love.

Yeah. So my ideal vision.

Yeah.

For all you thousands of people who are on Stacy's live stream watching.

There's two.

Okay.

Thanks a lot.

Technically, we have six now.

Oh, my God, We've tripled.

Yes.

Okay. My ideal vision for myself is I love doing it in small, intimate venues and homes. I like doing it with people, actually. It's funny.

I like doing it with people who.

Know each other because they're kind of connected before I show up, then I do my thing, then. Then I leave, and then they get to stay versus going to a theater where, like, people just show up. You know, they come and then they leave. There's just something about coming into or just I want to disrupt the theater kind of. Look, I don't really want to be, like, on stage and everybody's seated. That's not my. I'd rather be in some place where the chairs are all over and the couches and it's a little cozy. I really love doing it in people's homes.

Okay.

Okay.

So question for you. Maybe Blue Dream. I'm not sure, but Allison's here, and she's the host of the. Actually, her community is the Tarot Forgive Me Flow travel. I think she's going to be doing, like, tarot card parties. And we have other people that are doing other kinds of zoom parties. You know, like between. I'm just thinking, like, Bible verses to. Let's think of everyone going on. Oh, coffee chats. There's networking ones. Like, would that be something? That Blue Dream. And maybe some of the other friends would want to come to where they come in and then they're on, like a zoom, also with a bunch of people almost like, treating it like a home.

What do you think? She scares the shit out of me.

Like, she just comes up with stuff, and all of a sudden, what are we supposed to do?

We're supposed to say, yes, yes, yes.

Yes, yes, yes, Daisy, yes. Okay, so. So that is where I would. Now we'll go to that Direction. So everyone that's here and anyone that's going to watch it on the replay.

Millions and millions and millions.

Six to 20, maybe 30.

So I'd love to know, we could put this on your new YouTube channel. And who knows, that could now fund your whole venture. Right?

I would love to know, like, what could we, as a group, the collaboration group. I love this. By the way. Thank you so much for, like, trusting me with this. I just absolutely am so excited right now. What could we do as, like, you're my people, you know, in this collaboration group to help you keep it going? So one idea was, anyone that has a community, it could be to come in the zoom. And basically you're creating this space of fun, you know, and going from there. And then two, doing this Facebook live stream, going into the group, and maybe we can just talk about what would be the most helpful for you.

Yeah, just scare the hell out of her, you know, just like, really just go hard or go home.

Yeah. This is super fun. I mean, and I don't have to do my act. My act can be separate, I think. I love this playfulness and I love to be improvisational, because then it. I love. That's part of what I love to do. So. Yeah. So fun.

So fun. Don't make me go back in the van.

Please, Stacy. Don't let me go back in the bag.

Well, I just had a huge idea, Blue Dream that actually will make it where you will never go out. Back in the bag is Michelle just said, how about podcasts?

Well, but you can't see us, so.

Technically there's video podcasts. There's like, YouTube podcasts and things like that.

Oh.

Oh, she's really going hard, isn't she?

Yep.

A podcast. What the hell are we going to talk about?

I don't know. We could just come up with subjects and we could talk, but they know.

You'Re just talking to yourself.

Kind of an illusion.

I like it. Well, can Stacy come?

You might need Stacy.

Oh, Michelle said she has a video podcast, so you already got your first. Your first one, so.

Oh, yay. I love it, Michelle. Thank you.

So brilliant. So do you think, because I know you're good with the calendar link, maybe that would be the easiest thing, is for you to create a separate calendar. I don't even have one, just so you know. So, like, don't do this if it doesn't feel good, but you're good at this because this is how we scheduled all of our sessions. If you had, like, a specific link just for this. Then that could be easy for people to. To book you and your other friends. Friends book us on what?

What are you talking?

Like, no, like, to schedule, like, a time where, like, you can go on their podcast or go in their community, pretty much. So the calendar link, which. It just could make it more efficient. What is funny that I'm saying this because I don't have one yet, but it. It's just because I'm not that organized to, like, do that.

I can help you.

It's very like you. Really? Honestly, I've tried. Like, I have. I have them all set up, but I can't ever keep up with it. But anyway, that's a story for another day. But we're talking about you right now, so that would be great. That might be potentially good, because then. So just so you guys know, because Allison's not on Facebook that much, and so that's why I was trying to figure out an easy way for her to, like, do it. And then I'm like, great, let's go live in the group. You see, it's not like you have to be on Facebook. We could just be on Zoom. But then people on Facebook get to see it. And so that's where the calendar link might be easier, because then at least they're, like, booking it that way, you know?

So who's coming to. Who's coming to click my calendar?

That's right, because you have to go on their calendar. Thank you for. For verifying that. Yeah. Because you have to actually go on theirs.

But maybe I will start it. So should I start a podcast?

Oh, my gosh.

Yes. I can't even make this stuff up. It's just so good. It's just so good. Yes, Allison, you should start a podcast. Yes.

Because who has a podcast with a puppet?

I. You know, that is even better. Right? Like, that is literally like. Yeah. A hundred percent. Yeah.

Okay. Oh, God.

All right.

Are we deep? Are we done yet?

Yeah. So I was about to help you set up your podcast.

Oh, no. Set me up. What are we doing? How do we start?

Well, so there's a. I have a podcast platform where we could do it right now, and it might be good for people to see it if you're open to it.

Okay. And then she's gonna go, yeah, okay. It was so nice to meet you. Oh, my goodness.

Don't let them go.

Michelle.

Hold on. Michelle says you.

Theme.

So good. So good. Oh, my gosh.

Stacy, Stacy, Stacy. What. What are you made of that you do this to people? O is I Mean, what I love about you is I called. I set this Zoom up for information, right? I wanted to get information because I don't have the information to get to do the thing. And instead we do the thing. You know, I'm like, yeah, all right.

It's so true. Yeah, no, it's great because, like, the sooner you get to move, right? Like, when you're ready, it's like the fastest you get to be in this. And I love that you're open to playing. So we're going to go ahead and we'll go to callcast. That's the platform that I use to set up all podcasts. And it's like the best thing in the world. Let me just put the link in the chat here. And I think you should also do a video one. This is just an audio one. But I at least want to do this for.

Just. Just for like. Because this gets it out to all the platforms, like Spotify and all this.

Yeah, but does it. I mean, to do a podcast with a puppet and they can't see her?

Honestly, like, I think that's why I like it. I mean, I think you should also have a video podcast, YouTube, and you could start there if you want. We could just, like, plan on you doing the YouTube podcast. And then so maybe we'll wait on Call Cast. Because.

Yeah, I think the YouTube would be better for me because I need to see. It's more fun. That would be so weird to not see and play.

You would still see because you. You record. So what happens is you do record on a video, so you just do it just like this. So, for example, I could actually take this recording and I can upload it to my podcast, right? And then I can also upload it to YouTube. So you get to use it in a lot of.

I think that's a great idea for you to do.

But. Yeah, but start. So start with YouTube. But for now, what I would just do is every time you're talking, you're doing this. Just do it on Zoom. It's like the easiest thing. So that way, like, at least you have a. Unless someone has you in their group and they might have you on like Streamyard or Restream or something like that. It works the same way that. Where you'll get access to the recording.

But you suggest using Callcast.

Well, Callcast is just for the. If you want to go on all the platforms, like it's Spotify, Apple, Pod, Addict, whatever it is, all that stuff. But. But what I really suggest is start with the Thing that. Because everything can be done. So here's an example. Let me slow down. Cause I got really do the thing activated, and I don't want to overwhelm you. So I'm going to slow down a little bit.

You need, like, a little thing and you press and it's like.

I know when I get someone that wants to play, it is, like, over. It's like they're like. Or I should say just beginning.

Yeah.

But the. The way my do the thing strategy is you do whatever feels good to start. So when I started my podcast, I, like, I wasn't comfortable even being on video yet. So I. I have like 80 episodes with no video. And then once I started doing video, I still recorded, I think another 30. And then it took me a year before I got on YouTube. But what was great was I got to upload all of those episodes that were not being uploaded, and then they got to be uploaded to YouTube. I just got a VA to, like, do that. So as long as you're getting the video, you could do it either way. So I think my question now is. That's my long way to ask you this question, is what would be the best way for you to start? Would it be to start with, like, YouTube or would it be to start with a. Like a podcast that you would, like, stream out to, like, all the different, like, YouTube. Okay, let's do that then. So that is just. Just creating the YouTube channel. And then same kind of thing where you're doing a zoom and then you just upload it straight there.

Okay. I mean, I think I know I have a YouTube channel. So just. I think that's a great. Because I. Nobody may ever see it for a while, and that'll get me kind of going.

Yeah. Yeah, that's what's great is you get to like. Well, you've already found your voice, but, like, you get to find your voice in public, too, where it's like, you get to. Yeah, no, I love it. That's great. And then.

And then do you. Can you take that YouTube and take it to, like, all the different Facebook and the TikTok? I mean, I don't even want to get involved in that. Yeah, that's just YouTube.

And then why don't you. How do you want people to reach out to you for you to go on to their. Into their groups?

Okay, well, now that we're up to 8 to 20,000 people that are watching right now, because AC is magnetizing this for me. I magnetized. I magnetized her. Let's Just start there.

Yes.

They can reach out to me at coaching wonders. Gmail.com. c A E H I N G W O N D E R S at Gmail.

Amazing. I'm gonna put that in the chat. This is so fun. Okay, cool. So we're just. For accountability sake, we're following through with what we talked about. So we're. We're doing the. Well, number one, you did the thing. Because we're here.

We're straight to the thing. Do I get, like. Do I get an award? You need to have something. You got to have a beeper on your end. You should have, like. I have a clapper.

Yeah.

Like, I have this for people when they do it with their audience. You need some kind of, like, dig the thing.

Like. Yes, yes, yes, I do need that.

Lotion or a balloon. Let me just.

I feel. I feel like I need to do that right now.

Hold on. Right, because we're doing the thing now. Worry. Some kind of. Some kind of, like.

Here we go. Let's see what happens here. Okay, Ready?

Yeah, I'm ready.

Okay. Oh, here we go.

No, if you're sharing, like, towering it.

Hold on.

You're also.

No.

Okay, I'll work on it here. How about this?

Oh, you could have a. You could have applause, background.

Oh, yeah, you did it. Okay, cool. I feel like we need it, though, right before we get off the phone.

Totally, 100%.

For me and my performance and you and your thinging this.

Seriously. Oh, here we go. Here we go.

Okay, here we go.

Oh, I can't hear it.

Oh, you can't?

No, I heard the other one. All right, well.

Oh, well. Yeah. All right, well, so good. Yeah. So you did the thing. Congratulate yourself. And then the.

And then the second thing is you'll do the YouTube thing, but people will reach out. I'm going to tag people. Oh, my gosh. You'd be great on Madeline's podcast, too. And I don't know if she has a community. I don't know if she's bringing people in there. And just so you know, pretty much the majority of the time, anyone that interviews you, you would have to ask permission. But typically they're open to you, also uploading it to your channel. So then you both get the exposure. You just have to ask them and make sure it's okay. It's great, because anytime you get to double your stuff, you know, it's like, it's better because then you're not spending as much time on that, so. Well, thank you.

Thank you.

You're gonna stay on. We're just gonna get off live. I can talk to you, so. Okay. All right, you guys, thanks for joining. It was fun. Real time, getting to see this get born. I'm excited. Oh, what's the show name?

The Alison Wonders Show.

Perfect.

Yay.

All right, bye, you guys. Do the thing. Opportunity. Create it.