I've seen plenty of solo performers who were not ventriloquists and put on a full shows for libraries and events. It's pretty common in that segment. I've also seen other solo performers who mix up songs and out front stuff with monologues. The Kevin Clash example is a great one though!

I only use puppets in video, which obviously doesn't require ventriloquism, but I still consider myself a puppeteer. I did however have a ventriloquist dummy as a child and was determined to be able to do it. I never mastered it, so now I just hide off camera.

My best friend when I was a kid was my Vent doll. I'll bet my grandma made him 100 outfits I'm starting to do video now with them.

Perhaps you've pinpointed my (and maybe your own) innate sense of why ventriloquism seems necessary  to feel like I've succeeded as a performer. Like you Wheels, I was obsessed with Ventriloquist dolls for years as a kid and saved all my pocket money to buy what was a pretty poor Charlie McCarthy knock off. I still have him although he doesn't get much of a work out these days. I think even as a puppet builder now I'm subconsciously building puppets I intend to use as vent figures rather than moveable, performing puppets.

I've been re-watching entire series of Muppets, Fraggles (instant lobotomy!!!  ), Labyrinth, Dark Crystal, Thunderbirds etc to reacquaint myself with the type of puppetry I think I initially feel in love with, in an attempt to combat this stupid mind set. So far to no avail!  I'd love to see any discoveries you've made of successful solo performers if you're happy to share.

Let me just chime in here - I am a performing ventriloquist but I teach teachers how to use puppets in their classroom and I always tell them. "You don't have to be a ventriloquist but you do have to have a different voice and have realistic movement with your puppet.  And if a child asks you why you are talking when the puppet talks just tell them that the puppet needs a little bit of help."  My feeling is that the only reason they are asking is that they are trying to figure out whether it is ok to pretend that the puppet is real - every child needs to be able to access the part of their brain that requires play and they are basically asking permission to play. As long as you never call yourself a ventriloquist you have nothing to worry about. BUT do remember the character development - that is why Wayland and Madame were so successful!

I would like to add , that i am not a ventriloquist but Axtell proviveds downloadable routines that can be played along with a script for performing . They have the puppets voice on the trax all you have to do is learn the routine. It's quite simple for performing without vent skills. As well as great little skits.
http://www.axtell.com/axtrax.html

These are a couple pics of the puppeteer in plain view of the audience. I rarely saw any of the kids making eye-contact with me, they were always shifted a little bit to the right, where the pupeet was.

No.  One of our puppeteers often puts on a black robe and hood, then performs with a huge puppet.  The children are not watching him, they are watching the puppet.  Many children's entertainers never use a stage (Joe Scruggs, Darcie Maze).

I completely agree that you DONT have to be able to do ventriloquism to be a solo puppeteer, just take a look at the puppetpeople and you will see some of the most amazing walk around puppets being operated by performers wearing those black smocks and hoods (like Mspuppet mentioned) and they look awesome. also the puppet doesn't even need to talk to provide a fantastic performance, take a look at Taylor mason and little Paco, the puppet never really talks, Taylor makes little sounds and manipulates the puppet and its hilarious!!
however if you are talking about performing with a puppet and you are worried about people seeing your lips move, then worry no longer, as the puppet will have peoples attention and they wont be looking at you really, Ive seen plenty of performers like this and its never been a problem.
I'm a ventriloquist, but Ive known for years that its not a vital part to be able to talk without moving my lips, it does help though and people will respect the skill, but its not needed!!!!