Starting an Entertainment Business If you've got the drive and the talent, you can earn a profit by putting on a show.

Spencer Horsman's business partner is a dummy. That'sOK, though, because Horsman could hardly call himself aventriloquist without Dexter, his right-hand man. Horsman, 16, whohas been performing with Dexter since he was 8 years old, is soadept at making Dexter seem alive that the duo has been featured onLate Night with David Letterman, the only ventriloquist act to everappear on the show.

Like Magic
The idea for Horsman's business appeared like magic when hereceived a hand puppet for his 8th birthday. But magic had littleto do with the hours of practice it took for him to learn the artof ventriloquism. After a little help from videos by professional"vents," along with strategically placed business cardsin his father's magic shop, Horsman began getting jobs aroundthe Baltimore, Maryland, area where he lives.

Spencer attributes his success to business skills likeprofessionalism, management and networking, but his vent skillsaren't too shabby either. Shortly after honing his craft,Horsman placed second in the International Ventriloquist Contestheld in Kentucky. The judges, professional vents themselves, wereobviously impressed with the 8-year-old's puppet-handlingskills and the quality of his jokes. Incorporating a few magictricks didn't hurt either.