Yes Hi I am looking for any info on what I need to get started out making puppets, like books or DVDs and where to purchase materials and so on. And is there anywhere I can take classes in Massachusetts??         Thank You

Elvis, Welcome to P&S.     Its great to have another resident of massachusetts as a part of the gang.  I live in the Pittsfield area.

Regarding sources for puppet building instruction I've personally found that some of the best sources are free on the web.

Sean Johnson gives a great tutorial that describes the entire process as he builds one of his puppets.  This is a link to that tutorial http://swazzle.com/blogs/2006/03/puppet-building-tutorial-ratchet.html

Project Puppet has a great tutorial that I found helpful in learning to fabricate a puppets here is that tutorial http://www.projectpuppet.com/blog/2007/04/adding-facial-features-to-your-puppet-characters-tutorial.html

Project puppet also posted a tutorial on the construction of posable hand and arm rod http://www.projectpuppet.com/blog/category/puppet-tutorials

And there is also a wealth of puppet building info right here on puppets and stuff.  If you can't find it in one of the forums just as and some one will help.  I've personally posted three puppet building tutorials here which tyou might find helpful.

As to the issue of puppet building classes I don't know.  I know there are some very active puppeteers in the Boston area perhaps one of them can answer that question.

Once again welcome and keep us posted on your puppet building projects

 

Welcome and thanks for signing up......I think that Jon has covered it all as far as ideas.....if you need more ask Jon said just ask away and someone (or usually, many) will give you ideas.   

BTW we love pictures of puppets that are made......

Daryl H

Hi Elvis,

welcome to P&S... as our beloved friends Stiqman and Jon said: fire away those questions... a lot of usefull answers will come to you
Good luck with your projects!

BTW HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU   
Johian

Welcome to Puppets and Stuff........looks like you got some good links to start you off.

Billy D.

Did someone say Massachusetts? I am in Boston. If you are in the Boston area I would highly recommend joining up with the Boston Area Guild of Puppetry. Guilds are a great way to learn from people that have been doing the job for a long time. As far as Ventriloquism I haven't heard of any classes but that doesn't mean there aren't any.  You should probably check out steve axtell's website he has lots of great stuff about vent also don't underestimate the power of the library. The Boston Public Library has a bajillion books on everything.

I hope that helps let me know if you have some boston questions as to where stores are locally.