Working with kids and puppet building

[Blink]

Hey Gang,

I just finished running a puppet building workshop with a group of 7 to 10 year olds. In the past I have held many workshops with a variety of ages of children. This I feel has been one of the better ones.

I decided to use the Project Puppet patterns with the students for this workshop. I made some simple modifications to the mouth (used 1/2 inch sheet foam instead of foam board) and I shrunk the pattern about 60% of its original size.

Everything went really well and I think the final puppets are great.

The students are now doing puppetry improve and we will soon be filming video shorts that will be edited and shown to the school/parents. I must say it is amazing to see the wonderful abilities of the younger generation. I am sure I have more than a few potential puppeteers/puppet builders in my class.

Anyways. I hope you enjoy the final puppets as much as I do.

See them here (http://chensational.blogspot.com/2006/04/puppet-building-for-kids.html).

[biblebetty]

wow for first timers they did a great job. it looks like they had a lot of fun.

[pjpiperhop]

Hi Blink,

I just got back from rehearsing 16 of my puppeteers from age 12-19, read your post, and saw your pictures. They are terrific!
Several of my kids are interested in making their own puppets this summer. I had planned to use my Puppet Project patterns in teaching them how to build their own puppets.
It’s great to hear that that it went so well for you. I’ll let you know how I do with my puppeteers in this endeavor this summer.
.

[renegade]

Those look Great !!!
Thanks to projectpuppet.com (http://www.projectpuppet.com) for making such great pattern that can make professional looking puppet like those .
I can't get over how great they look!! you need to film them doing a bit or somthing and throw it up on you tube
kids have the greatest voices!

take care and thanks for speading the puppet goodness...
you just might have inspired the next henson !

[wes]

Awwwww, those kids did such a good job I wish I could do that with my kids. Good job Blink!!

[Blink]

wow for first timers they did a great job. it looks like they had a lot of fun.Hey biblebetty,

I totally agree with you. It was tons of fun.


Hi Blink,

I just got back from rehearsing 16 of my puppeteers from age 12-19, read your post, and saw your pictures. They are terrific!
Several of my kids are interested in making their own puppets this summer. I had planned to use my Puppet Project patterns in teaching them how to build their own puppets.
It’s great to hear that that it went so well for you. I’ll let you know how I do with my puppeteers in this endeavor this summer.Hi pjpiperhop,

I highly recommend using the Project Puppet patterns. Just remember that I had legal permission to use the pattern in this way. It is important to contact Project Puppet and try to do things the ethical way. Perhaps you can come to some sort of agreement for terms of use with the patterns.

I would love to hear about how it all goes. Be sure to let us know.:)


Those look Great !!!
Thanks to projectpuppet.com for making such great pattern that can make professional looking puppet like those .
I can't get over how great they look!! you need to film them doing a bit or somthing and throw it up on you tube
kids have the greatest voices!

take care and thanks for speading the puppet goodness...
you just might have inspired the next henson !Hey renegade,

I will let the kids know you liked them. Yes Project Puppet's products are great. The plan is exactly what you are asking for. Short videos will be made and edited and then put up on You Tube for all to see.

I like to think that if there is anything these kids will take away with them from their school years it is a love of puppetry. I often imagine myself in the future watching some amazing puppetry on television (or something) and saying "Hey I taught that kid!". That would be a great feeling to know that I encouraged him or her to pursue puppetry. Thanks for your great post!


Awwwww, those kids did such a good job I wish I could do that with my kids. Good job Blink!!Hey wes,

There is no reason you can't do it with your kids. This was yet another experiment I enjoyed doing using the Project Puppet stuff. I wanted to see what kids could do. As you can see they are capable of quite a lot. Thanks for your kind words wes.

P.S. I think it is funny that you made your avatar with the four puppets like that. I believe that is the same way Project Puppet will be posting the children's puppets in their gallery.

[intozlight]

We just had a Puppet Workshop over the weekend with 12-15 yr olds. We used the "glorified sock puppet" Pattern. It was a blast.
I'll post pics soon.
Your kids are great. Aren't kids fun?

___________________________
Director Davies
Ripples Puppet Ministry (http://www.ripplesministry.org/)
“I do not see the glass as ½ empty, nor do I see the glass as ½ full, I just thank God for the water…

[Blink]

We just had a Puppet Workshop over the weekend with 12-15 yr olds. We used the "glorified sock puppet" Pattern. It was a blast.
I'll post pics soon.
Your kids are great. Aren't kids fun?

___________________________
Director Davies
Ripples Puppet Ministry (http://www.ripplesministry.org/)
“I do not see the glass as ½ empty, nor do I see the glass as ½ full, I just thank God for the water…Hi intozlight,

Great simple pattern to work with. I didn't want my guys to do any sewing this time aound. We just used the hotglue gun. I'd love to see the pictures of your puppet workshop as well. Thanks, the kids were super during the process. Kids are definately fun.

[intozlight]

Blink,

Finished the web page for our SOCK puppet workshop. Hope you enjoy the pics. I almost didn't put me in it - it was so hot and I was sweating like Miss Piggy lol. But it was unavoidable.
Let me know if you have any questions.
http://www.ripplesministry.org/photogallery/workshop2006/index.html
________________
Director Davies
Ripples Puppet Ministry (http://www.ripplesministry.org/)
“I do not see the glass as ½ empty, nor do I see the glass as ½ full, I just thank God for the water…

[Blink]

Blink,

Finished the web page for our SOCK puppet workshop. Hope you enjoy the pics. I almost didn't put me in it - it was so hot and I was sweating like Miss Piggy lol. But it was unavoidable.
Let me know if you have any questions.
http://www.ripplesministry.org/photogallery/workshop2006/index.html
________________
Director Davies
Ripples Puppet Ministry (http://www.ripplesministry.org/)
“I do not see the glass as ½ empty, nor do I see the glass as ½ full, I just thank God for the water…Hey intozlight,

Are any of these sock puppets being entered into the contest? If so I will not be able to look at them right now due to conflict of interests (being one of the judges). Please let me (and other judges) know before any of us look.

Thanks.

[intozlight]

Yeah,
I might enter one of them - he was not finished in the pics though. If that makes a difference.

[Blink]

Yeah,
I might enter one of them - he was not finished in the pics though. If that makes a difference.Sorry intozlight,

I totally meant to respond to this. I think it is best if I wait until the contest is over before looking. Perhaps after the contest you can start up a new thread and post the pictures again. Anyways, I am glad there are others out there passing on their love of pupptery with the next geneartion.

[aaronmojo]

Those look really great!

A question for you guys about puppet building workshops. I'm starting a business soon and plan to offer these workshops to groups of kids (birthday parties and such) since there's nothing like it here in town. Do you generally bring kids to you for such a workshop, or take the workshop to the kids?

Thanks!

[Blink]

Those look really great!

A question for you guys about puppet building workshops. I'm starting a business soon and plan to offer these workshops to groups of kids (birthday parties and such) since there's nothing like it here in town. Do you generally bring kids to you for such a workshop, or take the workshop to the kids?

Thanks!Hi aaronmojo. I think it can work both ways. There are businesses that are set up to have all of the supplies in their studio and groups show up and have the workshop there.

Other people have travel cases that they fill with workshop supplies and go to the client's location. It really all depends on a number of things (demographics, supply needs for building, availability for travelling/transportation, etc.).

I think if you are doing birthday's then being able to travel is much more advantageous. I know that if I was having a party for my child I wouldn't want to deal with transporting the party to a different workshop location. But again it all depends.

Perhaps you can do some market research to find out who you would be selling your services to and what they might want.

Just an idea. I hope it helped.

[Buck-Beaver]

I think that going to locations is the way to go too, at least at first. You don't want to have the overhead associated with a location if you are just starting out with a business. You'd have to pay rent, utilities, taxes, insurance, etc. it's a real pain. Also, people will pay more for the convenience of having you come to them.

[Anita The Great]

I agree with Buck on this one! Go to the party, don't have 'em come to you. Also, know what you're expected to accomplish there--and make your needs very clear to your clients. Will you need a big space cleared? Can you work outside? What supplies are you bringing? What age will you recommend your work for? All the kind of stuff parents will want to know--and be sure to look into insurance (especially in this day and age). The Puppeteers of America offers a form of performer insurance that I've used before and I believe Theater Bay Area has one too (you can check into stuff online--I don't have those website for you--sorry).

Best of luck to you! Keep us posted on your success!

[intozlight]

I would recommend putting together kit builds where you can control the cost of your supplies. You might want to make several different ones depending on your audience. Be sure to bring a small portable screen so they can play with their new puppets.
Keep in mind time constraints (kids bore quickly) and that the larger the group - the longer it will take.
Also, I would give them a flyer ahead of time to let them know what "other" supplies they might want to bring.
____________
Director Davies
Ripples Puppet Ministry (http://www.ripplesministry.org/)
“I do not see the glass as ½ empty, nor do I see the glass as ½ full, I just thank God for the water…

[aaronmojo]

Thanks, guys, for all the input. I was leaning towards taking the workshop to the kids for exactly what Buck-Beaver mentioned. I really don't want to have to find a nice place to rent, then worry about gussying it up, to say nothing of people not wanting to drive all the way out to a glorified workshop etc etc... Anita, thanks for the mention of the Puppeteers of America. I have their website bookmarked. And Intozlight -- putting together "kits" is another good idea. I'm still working on the final business plan but the goal is to walk away from the soulless corporate world by the end of the year. Gulp!

I'd like to post images of the puppets I'm working on and stuff, if I can. I'm a longtime lurker here, and traditionally I've only done 2-D stuff (illustration and design) but I've always had a thing for puppets and puppeteering. I'm kind of a newbie as puppet-building and it's a real learning process, especially when my workspace consists of the living room floor! Your input and feedback is appreciated! ...Say, anybody else around here in the Northeast Florida area?

[Anita The Great]

Please post pics! We'd all love to see 'em!

[Buck-Beaver]

Aaron, you should join one of the PofA's Southeast Guilds (whichever is closest to you). This URL has a list - http://www.puppeteers.org/reg_se.html

Even if you're not in South Florida, you should get in touch with David Goboff, who runs the Puppet Guild of South Florida. He might be a helpful person to talk to in your area.

[aaronmojo]

Thanks, Buck. I'd seen that site before but I will seek out David Goboff based on your recommendation.

I'll post some images later this week of the puppets we've started with. We're using scraps of materials just to get a feel for how to do everything right now. Lots of trial and error. Mistakes have been made, fingers pricked, blood spilled, and tears shed, etc etc -- but it's coming along!

[Teenager's]

For my Puppetry Club I have taught other Highschoolers how to build puppets....and it takes some of them such a long time just to do one thing, kinda interesting....but I started with building paper puppets to help them with form, then I moved onto fabric and the "Little Blue Boy" Pattern, and then after that we used the Project Puppet Pattern and then for whatever other puppet we needed for the show, we built the patterns ourselves....like an owl...and such...so thats what I did

[aaronmojo]

Buck, I have gotten in touch with Puppet Guild members as you suggested. Those guys are a great resource. Thanks!

On another topic, I'm continuing with my puppet building. My first ("trial run") puppet was a dinosaur, and by the time I was ready to plug the eyes in, I realized that I had succeeded in making a long-snouted Kermit the Frog. Woo boy. So that one went into the trash, considered a "lesson learned," and I'm leaning towards animals that don't have well-known representations in the puppet world (armadillos, various birds, etc). I'll throw some pictures up later tonight and hopefully you all can critique me to death.