The Villages Daily Sun

THE VILLAGES — Mike Palma shuffled oversized cards in an onstage version of three-card Monte, sometimes awing, sometimes amusing members of the Ashland Social Club with his card tricks.

“I do nothing, but I do it very well,” Palma said.

Don’t believe it. Palma’s shtick blends magic, comedy and ventriloquism.

That’s right, ventriloquism.

“Not only can I throw my voice, I can catch it, too,” Palma said before saying “hello” into a plastic cup, then “releasing” it at arm’s length.

The Ashland audience was suitably impressed.

Of the three audiences he normally performs for — children, nursing homes and retirement communities — retirement communities are Palma’s favorite.

“Retirement communities were, for me, the way to continue what I enjoy and get the response that I want,” Palma said.

Palma grew up acquiring his skills from his father, a semiprofessional, self-taught performer who started with magic tricks from novelty stores and emulating Paul Winchell and Jerry Mahoney after seeing them on television. Pictures exist of Palma holding his father’s dummy when he was a ripe 3-year-old, but it wasn’t until his college years that he began to cash in on his unique skills.

Standup comedy was the rage, and the many comedy clubs near the St. Petersburg campus provided a venue for performers who could hold an audience.

“I was something of a novelty,” Palma said.

After a two-year performing career, Palma was hooked. Even as he launched into his “day” job as a physical therapist, he looked for a way to continue performing. From his home base in Belleview, that meant kids, nursing homes and retirement communities.

“I learned quickly that I couldn’t do the same material I’d been doing in the comedy clubs,” Palma said.

He adapted his material and the bookings started coming in.

In addition to throwing and catching his voice at the beginning of his act, Palma also works with a dummy, Eddie, whom he describes as “a typical wisecracking, smart-aleck kid who always gets the best of you.”

He has a drunk guy, an old lady and an Italian wiseguy in development.

“He’s going to take a little time,” he said, of the wiseguy.

Unable, at first, to afford a professional dummy, which start at $500, Palma decided to make his own. Now he makes professional-grade dummies and sells them to other ventriloquists.

He does some carving in wood, and creates a clay mold of the head, from which he can make many casts. After 10 years of manufacturing the dummies, Palma has a keen understanding of why the professional-grade figures are so pricey.

“The time is where the cost comes from,” Palma said. “Everything, including the levers and controls, is handmade,” Palma said. “The parts are not something you can run down to Lowe’s or Home Depot and pick up.”

Time, to Palma, is a valuable commodity indeed. At this point, the hours he values most are those he spends with his sons, Michael, 11, and Anthony. 9. The three take karate lessons together.

“The thing I like about the karate is that it is our time, we’re together,” he said.

Performing at his son’s schools has built his status with the boys as well.

“The kids come up to them and say, ‘Hey, your dad’s cool,’” Palma said.

Glenda Sanders is a features writer for the Daily Sun. She can be reached at 753-1119, ext. 9245, or at glenda.sanders@thevillagesmedia.com.