I'm the puppet director/maker/master at my church and this month will be our 4th show.  Through trial and error I have learned alot. For instance some props need to be supported by more than a hand and end table. If they look too big eventually they will hit the floor.  Nobody hogs the stage because we all change puppets atleast twice. For the last time you are not sitting center stage because I have to keep you two separated.  If you fight with puppets on stage one more time you are off the team. Needless to say I'm a little overworked and exhausted by the time it's over. But when I bring up the rapping bible and he raps the B-i-b-l-e song, it's worth it. A little redhead girl 18 months old with a ponytail on top her head starts to sing the song to me. They are awestruck at the puppets. My godson cries when we close the curtain for a scene change.  PLEASE share some of your issues with me. I need some puppet therapy.   

Have you ever attended a One Way street workshop (or any other for that matter)?  You can learn a lot there.
Sounds like you need a prop rail (or lighter props), maybe some team rules (no fighting with puppets...), etc.

We all get frustrated at times. My team gets frustrated with me too - I am a perfectionist. However, when they see a team with lousy lip sync, flipping their lids, and popping up and down in the stage, they tell me how glad they are that I insist on every performance being professional.  Our big thing is "God deserves our best, so let's make Him proud!"

Blessings to you!

I agree, the OWS workshops are great but are geared for groups of people or teams. I went and did not realize that all the classes are going on at the same time so while I was watching the puppet team competetion............... i missed out on the Dowel Rod Presentation class I was so looking foward to.

Here is a link to Salt Light Ministries.................... They have a nice program. I'm sure they would be glad to share some tips with you. The more people you meet that are doing the same thing you are the better you will become. Sharing knowledge is great.
http://saltandlightmin.org/home/videoclips.asp

Billy D.

Here is a link to Salt Light Ministries.................... They have a nice program. I'm sure they would be glad to share some tips with you:hug:
http://saltandlightmin.org/home/videoclips.asp

Billy D.

thanks for this link Billy - I'd never seen this done before - looks great!

TSCARLETG hope you get some good feed back - only think I can say is I usually just do puppets with my husband and we work well together but ocassionally we've brought others in and although it works well it's definitely more difficult!

Helen

 Thanks for all the great suggestions. Oh yes I know and LOVE One Way Street.com .  They have a personal interest in my credit card seeing how it gets used there. We are planning to attend a conference next month.  We built a huge stage almost to the T of the one in the book "Puppet Ministry Made Easy" so my small child size snare drum took a little tumble.  Howerever, since I have a small, yeah I'm talkin' small team (4 including me) I have learned sometimes less is more.  Even though Sesame street could have a puppet band we are better without the instruments. 

Have you checked out Puppet Production Ministries based out of Desoto Texas? That is who I got my original training from.