--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was in third grade I taught myself…" description: "\"When I was in third grade I taught myself ventriloquism... What's hard is to learn to be an entertainer and make people laugh. I was a few years out of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/jeff-dunham-6937_clubs_when-i-was-in-third-grade-i-taught-mysel_1037458.jpg" --- # When I was in third grade I taught myself ventriloquism… ![“When I was in third grade I taught myself ventriloquism... What's hard is to learn to be an entertainer and make people laugh. I was a few years out of college before I felt I had enough material. Then in 1988 I moved to L.A. and started to do some shows at comedy clubs.” quote by Jeff Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/jeff-dunham-6937_clubs_when-i-was-in-third-grade-i-taught-mysel_1037458.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/jeff-dunham-6937_clubs_when-i-was-in-third-grade-i-taught-mysel_1037458.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/jeff-dunham-6937_clubs_when-i-was-in-third-grade-i-taught-mysel_1037458.jpg) > “When I was in third grade I taught myself ventriloquism... What's hard is to learn to be an entertainer and make people laugh. I was a few years out of college before I felt I had enough material. Then in 1988 I moved to L.A. and started to do some shows at comedy clubs.” [Jeff Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dunham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑teaching performance skills requires perseverance, material development, and finding the right audience to succeed. **In simple terms:** Learning comedy needs practice and material. Key Takeaway Create and test material regularly. Themes creativity performance career development Mood humorous determined Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - open‑mic nights - writing workshops - online video platforms Key Concepts ventriloquism stand‑up comedy audience engagement Questions to Reflect On - What material resonates most with your audience? - How do you handle stage failure? A Different Perspective Comedy success also depends on timing and market trends. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clubs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clubs/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comedy club](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-club/) [Entertainers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertainers/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Making people laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-people-laugh/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Third grade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/third-grade/) [Ventriloquism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ventriloquism/) ## Related quotes > [I think it started with both the shows and the box set from finishing White Material. I think we were also pretty desperate to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-a-staples/i-think-it-started-with-both-the-shows-and-the-box-set-from-finishing/) [Stuart A. Staples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-a-staples/) > [I have to do films for myself, films that make me learn. I also have to be an entertainer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthi/i-have-to-do-films-for-myself-films-that-make-me-learn-i-also-have-to/) [Karthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthi/) > [I was a kid in the third grade ... saw a dummy in the toy store. In the '60s and '70s there were a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dunham/i-was-a-kid-in-the-third-grade-saw-a-dummy-in-the-toy-store-in-the/) [Jeff Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dunham/) > [But the mechanics of learning to 'throw your voice' are pretty simple. Anyone with a tongue, an upper palate, teeth, and a normal speaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dunham/but-the-mechanics-of-learning-to-throw-your-voice-are-pretty-simple/) [Jeff Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dunham/) > [I think maybe one reason why ventriloquists are looked down on is because it's very difficult to be funny. I think what happens is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dunham/i-think-maybe-one-reason-why-ventriloquists-are-looked-down-on-is/) [Jeff Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dunham/) > [It's strange because even in the vaudeville days, ventriloquists were never the main attraction. They were the guys brought out to stand in front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dunham/it-s-strange-because-even-in-the-vaudeville-days-ventriloquists-were/) [Jeff Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dunham/) > [Channeling is just bad ventriloquism. You use another voice, but people can see your lips moving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/channeling-is-just-bad-ventriloquism-you-use-another-voice-but-people/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [I looked into studying psychoanalysis, wrote to the governing body and was about to start the year where they psychoanalyse you, four times a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-conti/i-looked-into-studying-psychoanalysis-wrote-to-the-governing-body-and/) [Nina Conti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-conti/) > [To Forget Venice is a tour de force of ventriloquism. Elegant, contemporary, and wry, the voice at its center is also capable of disarming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chase-twichell/to-forget-venice-is-a-tour-de-force-of-ventriloquism-elegant/) [Chase Twichell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chase-twichell/) > [Ventriloquism kind of helped me find my voice. It's really helped me come out of my shell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darci-lynne-farmer/ventriloquism-kind-of-helped-me-find-my-voice-it-s-really-helped-me/) [Darci Lynne Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darci-lynne-farmer/) > [Ventriloquism today is in a slump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-winchell/ventriloquism-today-is-in-a-slump/) [Paul Winchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-winchell/) > [What has been so great out of all of the success is that I inspired so many people to take up ventriloquism, especially little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darci-lynne-farmer/what-has-been-so-great-out-of-all-of-the-success-is-that-i-inspired/) [Darci Lynne Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darci-lynne-farmer/) > [My puppets are far more liberated than I am. Ventriloquism is a useful way of expressing myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-conti/my-puppets-are-far-more-liberated-than-i-am-ventriloquism-is-a-useful/) [Nina Conti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-conti/) > [That was my goal going on 'AGT,' was to keep ventriloquism alive and get it more common, to put it out in the open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darci-lynne-farmer/that-was-my-goal-going-on-agt-was-to-keep-ventriloquism-alive-and-get/) [Darci Lynne Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darci-lynne-farmer/) > [I always loved putting on shows - when you're the youngest of seven and five are older sisters, you've got to get noticed somehow!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wenham/i-always-loved-putting-on-shows-when-you-re-the-youngest-of-seven-and/) [David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/) ## More by Jeff Dunham > [As humans we like to laugh at our fears, we like to whistle in the dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dunham/as-humans-we-like-to-laugh-at-our-fears-we-like-to-whistle-in-the-dark/) [Jeff Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dunham/) > [“Jeff: Are you married? Bubba J.: Yep. Jeff: Your wife pretty? Bubba J.: Ye... no! Jeff: What's the difference? Bubba J.: The light.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dunham/jeff-are-you-married-bubba-j-yep-jeff-your-wife-pretty-bubba-j-ye-no/) [Jeff Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dunham/) > [“That afternoon I ordered an information packet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dunham/that-afternoon-i-ordered-an-information-packet/) [Jeff Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dunham/) > [When I was eight years old, I got a dummy for Christmas and started teaching myself. I got books and records and sat in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dunham/when-i-was-eight-years-old-i-got-a-dummy-for-christmas-and-started/) [Jeff Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dunham/) > [“Look, I know I didn't finish school but that frickin' says 'Sa ntah ah nah!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dunham/look-i-know-i-didn-t-finish-school-but-that-frickin-says-sa-ntah-ah/) [Jeff Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dunham/) > [I used to pick Priuses out of the grill of my Hummer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dunham/i-used-to-pick-priuses-out-of-the-grill-of-my-hummer/) [Jeff Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dunham/) > [“jose jaliopinio on a stick" do you like bmw's (big mexican weman)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dunham/jose-jaliopinio-on-a-stick-do-you-like-bmw-s-big-mexican-weman/) [Jeff Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dunham/) > [My goal in any show is to make people laugh. That's the No. 1 thing. Everything else pales in comparison to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dunham/my-goal-in-any-show-is-to-make-people-laugh-that-s-the-no-1-thing/) [Jeff Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dunham/) > [The magic in performing as an entertaining ventriloquist happens when the characters come to life and the interaction between the separate personalities on stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dunham/the-magic-in-performing-as-an-entertaining-ventriloquist-happens-when/) [Jeff Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dunham/) > [ \[In my bio\] is no drunk driving, there's no DUI's, there's no possession of cocaine, none of that stuff so you know, I don't… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dunham/in-my-bio-is-no-drunk-driving-there-s-no-dui-s-there-s-no-possession/) [Jeff Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dunham/) > [A lot of my best stuff is just ad libs on stage, and that's one thing that I've gotten back to at the live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dunham/a-lot-of-my-best-stuff-is-just-ad-libs-on-stage-and-that-s-one-thing/) [Jeff Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dunham/) > [Even going to college, getting my degree in Radio TV and Film, as I was approaching the time when you have to decide on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dunham/even-going-to-college-getting-my-degree-in-radio-tv-and-film-as-i-was/) [Jeff Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dunham/) > [In 1980, when I graduated from high school, my goal was to be on 'The Tonight Show' with Johnny Carson at least once before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dunham/in-1980-when-i-graduated-from-high-school-my-goal-was-to-be-on-the/) [Jeff Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dunham/) > [I'll come up with an idea for a character, and I'll write some jokes and make sure that that character is going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dunham/i-ll-come-up-with-an-idea-for-a-character-and-i-ll-write-some-jokes/) [Jeff Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dunham/) > [I'm guilty of being fascinated by gadgets and toys and technology, but any penny that I spend, I try to make it be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dunham/i-m-guilty-of-being-fascinated-by-gadgets-and-toys-and-technology-but/) [Jeff Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dunham/) [Explore all 96 Jeff Dunham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dunham/) ## More Clubs quotes > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [So I went to a club the other day, which is timely because my self esteem had been hovering right around 'normal' and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/so-i-went-to-a-club-the-other-day-which-is-timely-because-my-self/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [There's nothing like the energy in a small comedy club room or a small theater when it's going really well. I can see everybody's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/there-s-nothing-like-the-energy-in-a-small-comedy-club-room-or-a/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) > [In my former life I was in insider, as much as anybody else. And I knew what it's like, and I still know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/in-my-former-life-i-was-in-insider-as-much-as-anybody-else-and-i-knew/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [ \[Could you show us how Lana Del Rey dances in a club?\] That would be illegal. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-del-rey/could-you-show-us-how-lana-del-rey-dances-in-a-club-that-would-be/) [Lana Del Rey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-del-rey/) > [The good Bishop of Assisi expressed a sort of horror at the hard life which the Little Brothers lived at the Portiuncula, without comforts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-good-bishop-of-assisi-expressed-a-sort-of-horror-at-the-hard-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The first time I went to Abbey Road and put those headphones on, I discovered I had two voices. I no longer had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cilla-black/the-first-time-i-went-to-abbey-road-and-put-those-headphones-on-i/) [Cilla Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cilla-black/) > [I just started writing for my own amusement and occasionally singing in little clubs around Los Angeles. Then I wrote 'The Rose,' and through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-mcbroom/i-just-started-writing-for-my-own-amusement-and-occasionally-singing/) [Amanda McBroom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-mcbroom/) > [The clubs, that's easy to cut out, because I know when the season ends I can look forward to going out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usain-bolt/the-clubs-that-s-easy-to-cut-out-because-i-know-when-the-season-ends/) [Usain Bolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usain-bolt/) > [Raves when it was safe to be free & wave your hands in the air, like you didn't even care! Not scared to break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/progrezza/raves-when-it-was-safe-to-be-free-wave-your-hands-in-the-air-like-you/) [Progrezza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/progrezza/) > [Well, the coffeehouse audiences never know what they're going to get, and all the comics are different, as opposed to when you go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/well-the-coffeehouse-audiences-never-know-what-they-re-going-to-get/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [I assume my stance, and take back the club, low, slowly; at the top, my eyes fog over, and my joints dip and swirl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/i-assume-my-stance-and-take-back-the-club-low-slowly-at-the-top-my/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [A new club is like having a new girlfriend – you don't have feelings straight away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-owen/a-new-club-is-like-having-a-new-girlfriend-you-don-t-have-feelings/) [Michael Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-owen/) [Browse all 2,237 Clubs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clubs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was in third grade I taught myself ventriloquism... What's hard is to learn to be an entertainer and make people laugh. I was a few years out of college before I felt I had enough material. Then in 1988 I moved to L.A. and started to do some shows at comedy clubs.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeff Dunham" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dunham/when-i-was-in-third-grade-i-taught-myself-ventriloquism-what-s-hard/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Clubs" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dunham/when-i-was-in-third-grade-i-taught-myself-ventriloquism-what-s-hard/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/jeff-dunham-6937_clubs_when-i-was-in-third-grade-i-taught-mysel_1037458.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/jeff-dunham-6937_clubs_when-i-was-in-third-grade-i-taught-mysel_1037458.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/jeff-dunham-6937_clubs_when-i-was-in-third-grade-i-taught-mysel_1037458.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I was in third grade I taught myself ventriloquism... What's hard is to learn to be an entertainer and…” — Jeff Dunham", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jeff Dunham", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dunham/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I was in third grade...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dunham/when-i-was-in-third-grade-i-taught-myself-ventriloquism-what-s-hard/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dunham/when-i-was-in-third-grade-i-taught-myself-ventriloquism-what-s-hard/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```