Muppet Audition Tape: Talked to Kevin Clash! [Archive]

Ryan

07-03-2002, 01:26 PM

Hey Guys!

I made an audition tape for JHC, and I had some questions. And my Dad talked to Kevin Clash on the phone!

He asked him a few questions for me. But first, my dad said "If My son was on the phone right now, he'd have goose pimples!" LOL. Of course, Kevin just busted up laughing. He advised me to send in the tape, even though I'm too young (14). He said if I was good enough, He'd invite me to the next Muppet Workshop/ class to teah me some stuff. He (Kevin) said he wants people he can teach, not people who already know it. That is great for me, because I know how to do good lip synch, but I have porblems with cameras, and reading the script, etc. He also advised me to send another tape when I'm 18-19. He also told my dad he would most likley keep me on file if I'm good, so please cross your fingers for me!

If anybody is interested in seeing my audition tape, email me at ryan200012@netscape.net

Thanks guys! :D

MuppetQuilter

07-03-2002, 02:47 PM

Hey Ryan, that's great! :D

Very exciting! Let us know how it goes....

Janice & Mokey's Man

07-03-2002, 02:54 PM

Yeah RYAN (great name!), congratulations!!! :D From phone conversations with Mary Costa, I kinda know how you feel! ;)

Except I'm sure your dad was much more calm inside than I was, lol.

Warrick

07-03-2002, 05:00 PM

Man thats great news !

Can you pass the adress that you are sending the tape along to, to me please ?

How did yuor Dad speak to Kevin Clash, Did he just call Sesame Workshop and ask for him ?

See ya

Beauregard

07-04-2002, 02:15 PM

What kind of things did you put on the tape?

Was it your different puppet voices or imitations or what

Beauregard

Ryan

07-04-2002, 05:22 PM

Warrick:
I'm sorry, still looking for the address. He called JHC in NY.

Beauregard
I'm still working on the tape. Here's what I put on it so far:
(All Lip Synch)
"Tap Your Troubles Away"- Gilda Radner, TMS 1978
"Everything Old Is New Again" - Anne Murray TMS 1979
"One Way"- Debbie Harry 1980
"The Way I've Got to Go"- Cotterpin, FR
"Why?" - Mokey, FR

BTW, I'm doing skits with MY voice tonight, I'll let you know how they turn out.

There'll all with my puppet, Candy (Full Name: Candice Lewellen Fortesque) made for me by Terry Angus.
You'll see her pic tomorrow on the new site! (that's a little innocent plug, there ) ;)

fluffmuppet

07-04-2002, 05:28 PM

WOAAHH! Can I get the # for JHC????
That is sooo cool! Your sooo lucky!

I'm the same way you are, too as in, I'm excellent with diction (or referred to lip-syncing) but I suck at scripts and I'm a little nervous sometimes in front of an audience..heehee. *sweatdrop*

Someday I'll get used to it! Sommmmdaaaay!

That is sooo cool! I mean, with lip-syncing to songs, that is sooo fun to do! I always put a song I know on, and sit in front of my mirror with one of my puppets and just amuse myself, LoL! I'm a nut!

BorkBork

07-04-2002, 05:31 PM

Ryan, i wish you the best of luck! Hope ya make it there someday.

/Anders

Ryan

07-04-2002, 06:51 PM

Thanks to everyone! I apprieciate the feedback.

Fluff-may I call you Fluff? :p

I'm not sure if I'm able to post it in a public place. You can find out a lot of info by emailing or writing to Henson.

fluffmuppet

07-04-2002, 08:53 PM

Oh, okay! Thanks for the info!
:) :) :) :) :)

Ryan

07-04-2002, 11:07 PM

Thought I'd just tell you what happened with the demo-tape. Overall, it turned out pretty great. Except for these few things.

1. During the Debbie Harry number, Candy's hand gets stuck on my ceiling fan rope (turns on the fan). I was trying to swat it out of the way, but it got stuck on her. I ad libbed it, and it came out pretty funny. I'm sure Kevin willl love this. BTW, the tape is set up like Candy is auditioning, so there's a somewhat semi - story going on. I think it came off well.

2. Flubs and Bloopers: Let me just say I went through several. With stuff falling, flubbing my lines, falling myself, ;) , It was very hectic, but also really fun.

3. I didn't work with a monitor, so sometimes I go out of shot, but it's not too bad. :)

Overall, I think it's an OK tape, and I have a feeling I'll be invited to the workshop. I'll let you know If I get anymore news. I plan on calling again Tuesday, but I dunno. I'm really nervous about talking to Kevin. I'm afraid I'll sound stupid! :o LOL

Fozzie Bear

07-05-2002, 01:31 AM

Hey Ryan,
Sounds great!

ALL--
The phone numbers and addresses is at "Company" under henson.com.

FOZ

MuppetQuilter

07-05-2002, 10:23 AM

Of course you're nervous-- perfectly understandable. But don't worry about sounding stupid. You have a reason to be calling. Remember, though you may not be a professional with years of experience, you and Kevin are both puppeteers. You want to be a professional puppeteer. His job is to find people who will be professional puppeteers. You want to learn more and improve your skills-- he wants to teach what he knows. You aren't asking him for a favor, you are asking him for an opportunity, one that he is perfectly able to give. Just remember, you are a good puppeteer and you have the potential to be even better. Kevin can help you. Kevin wants to help young puppeteers. This is a professional conversation. You aren't bugging him for an autograph. You are contacting him at work about work-related business. You can do this!

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

--Annika

Sir Didymus

07-05-2002, 10:26 AM

That is very exciting! I know how you feel, cause David Goelz asked me to join Muppets when I'm 18! Let us know when you hear anything else!

Sir Didymus

fluffmuppet

07-05-2002, 06:48 PM

Originally posted by Sir Didymus
That is very exciting! I know how you feel, cause David Goelz asked me to join Muppets when I'm 18! Let us know when you hear anything else!

Sir Didymus

Cool, how'd that happen? Wow, being asked to puppeteer from the mouth of the one and only master of Gonzo!

I'm thinking of also making an audition tape myself, and even my family thinks this is a good idea..I just hope I get as far as you have gotten already, Scooter! Wow, that's soo terrific! Congrats!

:):):):):):):):):):) !!

BorkBork

07-05-2002, 08:33 PM

Fluffy, i know that you will go far. Your muppetbuilding skills are excellent.

Ryan, i really hope for the best, i think it's a great opportunity to be taught by Kevin!!!! :D

Best of luck!

/Anders

scarylarrywolf

07-06-2002, 06:35 PM

Wow! Hey, I went to Muppetfest last year and Kevin Clash saw me with my puppet and told me I had good lip sync; he told me three times to send in a tape!!! So, we're doing the exact same thing this summer! :) Way to go, buddy!!!

BTW, what exactly are you doing for a plot? I think I'm being too elaberate.

--"Scary" Larry Wolf

fluffmuppet

07-06-2002, 08:35 PM

He's a telant scout, am I right? Kevin Clash?
What kind of things does he want on the audition tape?

BorkBork

07-06-2002, 08:37 PM

Kevin is a muppeteer. Amongst others he does Elmo and clifford :)

fluffmuppet

07-06-2002, 08:41 PM

I already know that :) , I just read about him and they said he's also a talent scout, so I guess he looks for people with puppeteer abilities, I suppose?

Wow, I wish I got to go to Muppetfest, that is so lucky!

Buck-Beaver

07-10-2002, 11:09 PM

I think Kevin Clash's official title is "Puppet Coordinator" - from what I've heard he does some of the workshops the Muppets do to find new puppeteers from time to time, reviews tapes of potential puppeteers and sort of acts as a "puppet captain" on alot of the Henson sets.

Rickly might be a good person to ask for more specifics on this.

doctort13

07-13-2002, 11:29 AM

I applaud the young puppeteers for following their dreams! Keep it up. I am closing in on 40 years on this planet and just now getting "started".
I have always loved puppetry, but got sidetracked with work, music, and publishing a zine. Last year I woke up, joined Puppeteers of America, joined the Cincinnati Puppetry guild, read a bunch of books...and with any luck (and lots of sweat) I'll be performing at a regional puppetry retreat in November.
I have sketched a number of characters, written two short puppet plays, and now
practice lip-syncing along to music. Next step, build the puppets!

Follow your dreams on to Puppet Power!
t3rry

D'Snowth

08-10-2003, 04:39 PM

That's like, so cool man! Are you auditioning for Sesame Street, or the non-sesame muppets? I'm thinking about joining with the Sesame muppets.

moke'schocolate

11-05-2004, 09:33 PM

I envy your dad. I wish I could talk to Kevin Clash. I wrote him two letters, and he hasn't answered a single one.

Erine81981

11-05-2004, 10:21 PM

This so cool to hear this. I would love to do some tapes but don't know what to do but put on a pretty good show. Thats about it. Could someone help me in knowing what I need to work on? I know pretty much how to lip-syncing to music. I do that all the time. That pretty much what I do w/ all my puppets. Most of the puppets I have are monsters. GreenBean, Bluefur and Orangeston. There most of what I bought of ebay. I look up Monster Puppets and this is what I get. Kind of neat. I've always wanted to send in tapes but didn't know what I need to do and since I'm not really good w/ getting in front of a camrea and all and doing lip-syncing and voices. I get too nerves. So if someone could help me out here and all I would love to have some info on some stuff to do for the audition tape?

Whatever

11-05-2004, 10:39 PM

That's like, so cool man! Are you auditioning for Sesame Street, or the non-sesame muppets? I'm thinking about joining with the Sesame muppets.
I heard that Sesame St only films 6 weeks in the year!

Iokitek

11-06-2004, 04:41 AM

I know Kevin Clash as the voice of Splinter In the TMNT movies. But I just found out he also did Captain Kangaroo. I just can't find out what it is he did for that show exactly. Anyway I never saw it either :p I just heard alot about it.

Muppetsdownunder

11-06-2004, 08:37 AM

This thread is great, hearing about peoples experiences with puppeteers. I don't think I'd ever be good enough to warrant sending a tape in but I guess theres always time for improvement. I know someone who had an audition with kevin clash and now has a leading role in a production here in Australia.

SesameKermie

11-06-2004, 10:05 AM

Muppetsdownunder

11-07-2004, 09:16 AM

Thats good to hear theres some older people starting aswell as I sometimes worry I'm too old and not talented to get anywhere with it and im only 19!

moke'schocolate

11-16-2004, 09:55 AM

I wish I could get Kevin Clash's e-mail address so I can communicate with him :excited:

Kuriboh Man

09-28-2007, 12:42 PM

It's a coincidence, I want to work for the JHC too. I'm Trying to make a tape also. Here are some of my Ideas for lip-sycnhing to audio songs (Dedication to the Muppets of of course).

-African Alphabet (SS,Kermit)

-Mr. Bass Man (TMS Floyd, Scooter)

-Mahna Mahna

-Comedy Tonight (TMS Muppet Monsters)

-You don't want my Love (TMS Jim Henson Trio)

-To Morrow (TMS Jim Henson Trio)

-Rainbow Connection

-Grease Theme

-Mooning over you (Grease)

-Eveyone makes Mistakes (SS Big Bird)

-Teenager in love (TMS Connie Stevens)

-Monster in the Mirror (SS Grover)

-Happy Together (Original Version)

-Kokomo (Original)

-California Girls

-Tick Tock Sick (I have heard a sound clip for the song on DC memories.com)

The only sketch i'm doing at this time is Inchworm But with a different tune.