How long have you been a puppeteer?

[beforemyway]

How long have you been a puppeteer? How did you first get started? why did you first get started?

[Frogpuppeteer]

ive loved puppetry all my life bit really didnt think of it as a career till about 2 years ago,what started me was a competition i was part of and did a song with my puppet team i had forgoten how fun it as and started my own official team for my church im trying to get a comercial deal now for a local cable show i have and perform many characters and have great puppeteers

[scarylarrywolf]

I made a bunch of paper bag puppets when I was a little kid and have some home videos of me performing them, but I'd say I seriously got started with puppets when I was 10. That's when I made Scary Larry and I just kept building other puppets and giving Larry face-lifts/body-lifts. I carried puppets everywhere (to the store, the zoo, the YMCA, you name it -- I took puppets there) and pretty soon people got the idea that I was the "puppet kid". So I did puppets for a couple churches and got a few extra gigs through knowing the children's ministry coordinators. Recently I got involved with a local puppet theatre (not doing their shows, but acting as an adjunct puppeteer for other gigs they get called to do), and I work on my own indie puppet films.

Frogpuppeteer: Hey pal! I'm thinking of doing a commercial pitch locally too -- can you tell me how you're going about it? You could just post here or else you know my e-mail

Thanks!

[Buck-Beaver]

I've been a puppeteer for about 11 years now, nine years professionally. I remember occasionally fooling around with puppets as a kid but didn't really get serious until I was about 16 in high school and we started making videos with puppets.

[D'Snowth]

I got my first professional job in August. Well, actually, I volunteered. As some of you know, I intern at my local PBS station. Well, we were getting ready for our "Friends of Sesame Street Club" pledge drive. And during the pledge drive, we always use costume characters, human characters and puppets. When I overheard that their usual puppeteer couldn't make, I stood up right then and there and said "I'll do it!" So that lasted for only a week, and my puppet became a big hit, they want me to film some little educational skits and promos with him. Now if only I were finished with high school and college, and maybe I could be up there with Caroll Spinney, Kevin Clash, Steve Whitmire, and all the other Sesame Street Muppeteers.

[goshposh]

i have been a puppeteer for about 10 years performing at church and school and a couple of birthday parties. i write my own stuff, build my own puppets (with help from my mom). now i'm going to uconn and majoring in puppetry. i want to either work for the jim henson company or start my own company or do both.

[Buck-Beaver]

I got my first professional job in August. Well, actually, I volunteered. As some of you know, I intern at my local PBS station. Well, we were getting ready for our "Friends of Sesame Street Club" pledge drive. And during the pledge drive, we always use costume characters, human characters and puppets. When I overheard that their usual puppeteer couldn't make, I stood up right then and there and said "I'll do it!" So that lasted for only a week, and my puppet became a big hit, they want me to film some little educational skits and promos with him.
That's awesome D'Snowth! Congrats. Sounds like the beginning of a career to me. Do you have tapes?

[scarylarrywolf]

Now if only I were finished with high school and college, and maybe I could be up there with Caroll Spinney, Kevin Clash, Steve Whitmire, and all the other Sesame Street Muppeteers.

Hey buddy, it sounds like you ARE up there with those guys when they were your age! :)

[Frogpuppeteer]

hmmm...hey larray sorry took so long i have short segments i filmed with my puppets for the next town over i am taking them to my cities local tv station to see if they like them ......ps today is my b-day

[SesameKermie]

Well Happy BDay Frogpuppeteer!

Sorry for the muffin

Jason

[bobhopesite]

Happy Birthday! :excited:

[Jonathan]

You guys might like reading this:Rick Lyons Note to Just starting Puppeters! (http://www.lyonpuppets.com/puppeteer.html) If you dont know who Rick Lyon is He has worked on Sesame Street, and Preforems Trekkie Monster, Nicky, and one of the Bad New's Bears on AVENUE Q! :)