Ventriloquism and blending in

[Leslie Langford]

O.K. - now that I've got your attention (LOL!) - I just had this random, stream-of-consciousness thought that popped into my head this morning that I thought I'd share, so bear with me here :doh::

Most of us crossdressers who go out in public on a regular basis are more preoccupied with blending in as opposed to actually passing 100%, as we realize that for many of us, that is the Holy Grail that only a very few of us can achieve on a consistent basis. So, we focus more on blending in by making sure that we dress age-appropriately and in styles that most GG's would also adopt, make sure that our hair (wigs) and make up are as authentic as possible, and try to emulate typical female mannerisms and voice patterns to blend in as much as possible. And as many of us here have found, even if we are not totally passable and are "read" on occasion, if we show sufficient self-confidence and successfully project this female image, then people will invariably respond to us in kind and before they even realize it themselves, they subconsciously start treating us just like any other woman.

So in effect - isn't what we do not unlike the art of ventriloquism, where we know intellectually that it isn't actually the dummy who is mouthing the words, but we still subconsciously buy into the concept? What happens here is that the ventriloquist is so skilled at manipulating his/her puppet's image and creating the the illusion that it is a real person cracking all those jokes and double entendres that we accept that at face value without even realizing it.

So, maybe there are some parallels between ventriloquism and blending in while crossdressing. Just don't call me Charlie McCarthy...:doh::heehee::eek:

[wearingtanpantyhose]

Wow. An interesting, profound comparison. In the sense we are trying to make people believe something we are not, I agree.

[Roberta Marie]

Interesting. Now I just have to figure out which one is the dummy, Bobbi or Rob!

[Lorileah]

I prefer to call it smoke and mirrors. Diverting the attention in another direction while I pull a rabbit from my...hat.

[Karren H]

Since I don't care if I pass well.... I always yell... "Look over there.... A flock of mud turtles" before I sneak into the women's rest room!!! Works every time.... And I don't want to blend in... Else I'd be wearing those horrid jeans everyone so loves! Lol. And I'm not going to say at home so I'm stuck going out... I've discovered that if you act like you belong there... Dressed as you are and make is seem so normal... Then you have changed reality and you push that reality on everyone you come in contact with... Imho.... Normal is not a constant... Nor should it be...

[AllieSF]

I agree with Karren. I do work on my femme mannerisms and voice, but not a lot nor enough. Once I finish my transformation, my only concerns are that my lipstick is fresh and the skirt is not tucked into my panties and I do not have toilet paper stuck to the bottom of my shoe when exiting a woman's restroom. Interacting with others while dressed is one of my prime motivators, and being me results in great and natural, almost normal, conversations. I know that I do not fool them so I don't try to over do it. I also think your ventriloquist analogy is an interesting way of looking at it.

[Suzette Muguet de Mai]

Hmmm interesting. If we become engrossed in the moment, we lose site of everything around us we become tunnelled in vision and hearing. It is something that is done that attracts and focusses the attention onto something that we may have that does not allow others to look for faults that we may display. Something like a predator and its prey, waiting for that signal that alerts the predator to target its prey. If we "blend" into the group of others we gradually disperse into the background, if we attempt to stand out by dressing different or simply being different we will be targetted by the predators. So if we concentrate less on the physical and more on the mental attitude we can mask our faults through manipulating those that attempt to target us by manipulating their concentration to something else where we control the audience and they do not control us. Hmmmmm interesting.

[StaceyJane]

hummmmm....
Did you know I once met Jeff Dunham 20 years ago before he was famous. He was about to do a show for preeteen kids at a summer camp he used to work at and I was currently working at.

Also I think you are right about how others perceive us.

[Jorja]

And you don't have to have a hand stuck up your backside.......... unless your into that kind of thing :D

[Leslie Langford]

Good one! - I was just waiting for someone to make exactly that type of comment. You win the prize, Jorja! Great minds clearly think alike...! :doh::eek::D

[Kate Simmons]

I always preferred Mortimer Snerd myself Hon.:heehee: You are right of course, the ventriloquist projects an illusion and so do we. Heck, we can even be poets and don't know it.:)

[sissystephanie]

Now that my late wife is no longer around to really turn me into Stephanie, I no longer even try to pass! Nor do I try to blend in! I just dress enfemme, but look masculine! those who don't like it don't have to look at me!! I guess I am projecting an illusion, a man dressed as a female!! Well, that is me!! Sorry if you don't like it!!

[Eryn]

So in effect - isn't what we do not unlike the art of ventriloquism, where we know intellectually that it isn't actually the dummy who is mouthing the words, but we still subconsciously buy into the concept? What happens here is that the ventriloquist is so skilled at manipulating his/her puppet's image and creating the the illusion that it is a real person cracking all those jokes and double entendres that we accept that at face value without even realizing it.

An interesting concept you have there. Somehow I'm thinking of The Wizard of Oz:

"Pay no attention to the man behind the makeup."

Of course, we can also insert a bit of Twilight Zone, remembering the episode where the dummy ended up controlling the ventriloquist. That also might parallel some people's goal, with their female persona moving to the forefront permanently.