Hi guys! I finally got the courage to make some puppet videos and post them on my account :D I really hope to hear from some Avenue Q fans but more importantly some fellow puppeteers! enjoy  

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?kbu9GSgshbI" target="youtube">YouTube Video</a>

Hey there,  you had some really touching moments on screen with the puppet alone as well as the interaction with your friend......great job with the expressions on your puppet.  Keep it up....wish you had a longer filming time that would help us really see the character connect with us, but sometimes we have to do with what we have and you did very well....can't wait to see more.

Daryl H

  im glad you like it! I was hopeing to impress someone who really knows puppetry, thank you.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?7jHFSL-fCSI" target="youtube">YouTube Video</a> hey sorry about removing the video, there was some random glich that occured and i couldnt play it on my computer, so i didnt want to take a chance with it glitching on everyone else's

Your manipulation of Nicky is great!  You have the voice down also.  I kept wondering in the second video why your friend looks almost blue.  Then  when you did the improve it all kind of made sense. Your improve skills are good.  I know the first video didn't really "go" anywhere but It shows that you are comfortable with the charecter and manipulation of the puppet. Pretty impressive that you manipulated Nicky and handled the video camera at the same time.   Keep those videos comeing.

Nice performance! did make that puppet?(Its really cool!)

Why yes miguel i made Nicky, in fact he was my very first puppet! Im so proud of him that i bring him anywhere that has a familiar crowd

Cool!
What pattern did you use?

I made my own pattern that splits down the head, the neck and hands are machine sewn. I used draping for nickys head

Hey...cool one. I like your idea of using
your own hands for the puppets..I have
done this for many of my rod puppets...

Cheers
 
Bhanu

Hey i just want to throw this question out there, does anyone know how to make the foam give a puppet cheeks? My puppet just has two small dimples from the fleece and it looks wierd to me when his mouth opens, i would like for the face to be fuller on the sides. Ive seen so many puppets that have this feature and i dont know how its done

I'd just take a circle of 1" foam and sculpt it into a cheek with scissors and maybe some soft dremelling and then glue it on the face under the fleece...something like that you're looking for?

sort of, heres a pic of the broadway nicky
:http://www.flickr.com/photos/utperformingartscenter/3459084091/
thats what i was going for when i built him

I think you where talking about using the Project Puppet Glorified Sock Puppet pattern in another thread where you not?  The pattern for that puppet creates what you are looking for to some degree. What creates this effect is the fact that the pattern is created with the mouth open. When you close the mouth the extra foam at the corners folds into this "cheek".  Nicky has a second layer of fabric to make his "beard" which accentuates this even more.  Could be they even added a bit of foam underneath as esch mentioned above.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/utperformingartscenter/3459084091/