I only have one ventriloquist friend. I should have more but there aren't enough of them in the New York variety scene. Having a puppet is cool but seeing someone talk without moving her lips is even cooler.

I can't remember when I met Carla Rhodes. I just remember being excited that there is someone still doing ventriloquism. She had a Keith Richards dummy and a Mick Jagger dummy. The Keith Richards dummy had a bag of cocaine sewed to his hand. She's performing June 25 in "JOY: The Show" hosted by Gabe Pacheco at Sal Anthony's Movement Salon.

What or who inspired you to be a ventriloquist?
When I was 9 years old, I saw Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop on television. I was instantly hooked!

Did you use a book or an audio set?
I went to my local library (this was one of the few things to do out in the sticks) and checked out the 1950's gem "Fun With Ventriloquism." I read this book obsessively and watched Shari Lewis obsessively - and viola! A ventriloquial prodigy was born.

When did you start doing comedy shows?
I started performing professionally when I was 13 (1995ish) in a local magic shop. They had a fancy stage and put on a magic show every weekend. I also got to watch from the side of the stage, which was pretty fascinating. I could decipher a lot of the magic tricks. I'd also help a lot of the magicians setup... My favorite thing to do was help a guy load doves into his coat! When I was 15, the local comedy club let me perform there every week. Fun times!

How many dummies do you have?
Counting my boyfriend? Hey-o! I've got quite a few but my act mainly focuses on Cecil Sinclaire, a cantankerous 1920's gentleman. I perform a lot of times with doppelgangers of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, too.

Has Keith Richards met Keith Richards?
Yup! It was one of the grooviest things. I got to meet him a few times. He was so sweet! Meeting Mick Jagger was pretty rad, too! There are photos on my Website, www.carlarhodes.net

You're in a documentary about ventriloquism?
I've appeared in a few documentaries. When I was 16, an English production company followed me around for a week or so. They showed my mundane life in the Southern Indiana/Kentucky area (including a scene of myself working in a candy store) and followed me to a shindig in Las Vegas. It aired on the Learning Channel and all over the world. Some guy from Paris wrote me and wanted to marry me! More recently I've appeared in a documentary about artists interesting living situations (I used to live in a ridiculously tiny East Village studio), which aired on Canal + in France. Some cool dudes are currently making a documentary on puppeteers. Cecil and I are featured in it. It'll hopefully be out later this year.

How do other ventriloquists feel about you?
I'm sure they think I'm totally radical and innovative. Don't 'cha agree?

When you watch other ventriloquists do you immediately become critical or do you abandon everything and watch the magic?
I love anything to do with puppets. I think it's such a great art form. I mainly judge ventriloquists on their material... I like clever and surreal stuff.

Can you throw your voice?
Yes! I learned to do this from a dusty copy of Edgar Bergen's vinyl LP.

How does an argument with two ventriloquist play out?
If I was arguing with Cecil it probably wouldn't end too pretty. He'd most likely pummel me with licorice or feed me to an alligator.

Have you ever had a heckler?
Yes! I love when people heckle Cecil because I enjoy ad libbing. It keeps ya on your toes. Ok, I only adore a little heckling... It can get distracting.

Do you embrace animatronics?
Animatronics are to ventriloquism to what moving pictures were to vaudeville!