Las Vegas

Saturday night was the one year anniversary of the Terry Fator show at the Mirage. Terry was nice enough to invite me and Sandi to attend the celebration and honor this accomplishment. I was thrilled to get the chance. Although I have met Terry and seen small clips of his act, I had never seen his complete show at the Terry Fator Theatre until last Saturday night.

It was a fabulous show. I was completely impressed. It could be one of the best ventriloquist shows I have ever seen. His musical talent and ventriloquism come together in a wonderful performance that can be enjoyed by anyone. He is charming and unassuming and his characters are distinctive. He even premiered a new character to the cast that night. A crash dummy named Wrex who sings car songs and has a German leaning accent. Wrex will become a valued part of the group. It is hard to pick a favorite cast member among the throngs. The ads say a cast of thousands... you have the feeling you have seen many more at the end of the evening.

Note to Terry: Way to go, my friend. As a fellow ventriloquist I am very proud of what you are doing. As a fellow entertainer I am inspired by your abilities. Your technique is virtually flawless and your characters are wonderfully inspired. You have given ventriloquism a legitimate seat at the table of high end legitimate entertainment.

As is the way for Los Angeles residents, the first person I ran into as I got off the elevator at the Mirage in Las Vegas was Fred Willard. Fred lives three or four doors down from me. His schedule and mine hardly ever cross so I rarely see him in the neighborhood. We had a great time and I reconnected with this wife and daughter whom I had met 25 years before in, you guessed it... Las Vegas. Fred's daughter, Hope, remembered I taught her a magic trick back then that she has never forgotten.

The best part of the trip was hanging out with my favorite ventriloquist and friend Jimmy Nelson and his beautiful wife Betty who were also personally invited to the Terry Fator Show. Pre-show we walked the red carpet together and then took pictures with Terry in his dressing room. Dan Horn and Clinton Detweiler were also there to round out the ventriloquist representation. Terry's dressing room is a cross between a fabulous lounge, green room and puppet/memorabilia museum.

After the star studded anniversary show there was a party at BB Kings. Terry sang a very long set with the band on stage at the club. I couldn't believe it. After a fabulous show he had the energy to sing with the band at BB's.

Because it was very loud at the party, Jimmy, Betty, Sandi and I soon opted for a quiet dinner at the Japion Restaurant on the other side of the casino, and sneaked away from the Fator festivities. It will be an evening I can never forget. Jimmy Nelson is a most charming, entertaining and classy man. I know now why I always looked up to him and wanted to be like him. He is matched in wit, humor and charm by his wife Betty Nelson. We traded stories and I picked their memories for jewels of real life happenings. I wish it had all been recorded, but no reproduction would do the evening justice. It is just something that happens. It is a chance to momentarily stop time and be at one with a legend, your hero and mentor. It just doesn't get any better. At times like this I realize how blessed I am to be a ventriloquist and how honored I am to be accepted into that exclusive fraternity.

Thanks for the opportunity and the experience last weekend Terry. Unforgettable.

As you were,
Jay