Where can I learn how to be a successful puppeteer?

May 18, 2008 7:08 PM

Where can I learn the skills needed to be a successful puppeteer? Are there places in where Miami can I take classes? Are there quality books or websites on the subject?

I checked out this thread, which was full of great resources -- but I'm hoping that there are more resources out there on how to bring life to a puppet once it is created.

I'm specifically interested in working with hand-rod puppets (think Muppets or Avenue Q), but I welcome information about marionettes and other forms of puppets as well.

posted by JustKeepSwimming to media & arts (3 comments total)

Not Miami, and perhaps a bit beyond what you're looking for, but UCONN has BFA and MFA programs in puppetry.
posted by contrariwise at 8:41 PM on May 18, 2008

My background: I did puppetry on a regular basis for about 10 years. Some shows were for mixed adult and child audiences, and others were for children specifically. I created about 8 characters and wrote my own material. Some of the puppetry was used in conjunction with a magic show I performed, and other times it was for church-based activities. I did not use any rod puppets, and most of the puppets were operated from behind a puppet stage. I was mostly self-taught, but I did study some books from the library and learned from other puppeteers. I don't remember the titles of the books I studied, but for what it's worth, here's a few ideas/recommendtions that might help get you started:

If you don't own any puppets yet, but a few inexpensive ones at a toy or novelty store. Study them and experiment with different voices and characters.

Practice in front of a mirror, making the puppets mimic your mouth and head movements. Puppetry is essentially acting, but acting through a character. It's challenging and rewarding to express emotion through the movements of a puppet. Done properly, it's magical. But the real key is you just have to practice, practice, practice until your control of the puppet is second nature.

Some specifics to keep in mind:
- Don't "chomp" the words. Instead of opening the puppets mouth when the word starts, many people "chomp down" as each word is said. Instead, pay attention to when and how far your own mouth opens with each word in a sentence.
- Animate the puppet's head and body to match the cadence of the sentences. Since a puppet has no facial muscles, you have to compensate for the lack of real expression by putting energy into the movements of the head and body.
- Be aware of where your puppet is looking. Make sure your puppet makes "eye contact" with the audience, or whomever he is interacting with. Doing this gives your puppet life. Neglecting this will make your puppet seem dead or blind.
- The puppet should not die when it's silent. It's easy to let the puppet droop into lifelessness when it's not talking. Keep the puppet alive, reacting, listening, looking.
- Watch and mimic the DVDs of puppets. Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, Avenue Q, ventriloquists like Terry Fador, and anyone else who interests you. Move your puppet along with what you are watching. Don't worry about copying to start learning, you'll soon develop your own style.
- Have your puppet "sing along" as you listen to CDs, or "lip synch" as you watch a television show or movie. Even if you are watching something you are not familiar with, learning to "lip synch" and act along with the dialogue is a great exercise and helps you anticipate what your character should be doing. This is something you can do any time you sit down to watch TV or a DVD. The more you operate your figures, the more natural they will become to you.
- This may sound a little weird, but I don't mean it a weird way: When you are working your puppet, believe it is real. If you can not suspend your own disbelief, neither can our audience. Believing in your puppet will cause all kinds of subconscious changes in the way you operate him and (if you interact with him) the way you respond to him and look at him.
-Practice with NO puppet at all from time to time. Just use your bare hand, and see how much expression you can get out of it. (Senor Wences, anyone?)

Lastly, don't get too bogged down into thinking you have to have an expensive and detailed figure to learn or perform. Yes, it helps the audience to connect, and gives an immediate cue to the audience as to the character, but it's not necessary (again, see Senor Wences). Just last week, I saw the aforementioned Terry Fador live at a local theater. For the first time ever, the airline lost one of his bags. 2 of his main characters were in it. One was "Emma" a girl who sings "At Last" in a perfect imitation of Etta James. It's his opening number. He explained his predicament, and did the routine with one of the sock puppets that his sister makes. It was just a normal sock puppet with yarn hair. And it was awesome.

I hope this is helpful in some way. Sorry I don't have anything to offer about rod movements. MeMail me or respond here if you have any specific questions. I'll do my best to answer.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 9:24 PM on May 18, 2008

Just watch being john malkovich. That should be all the learning you'll need.
posted by thewood12 at 9:49 PM on May 18, 2008