Hey guys, for all of you within driving distance of Detroit, the OWS regional is scheduled for Nov. 14-15 in Canton. I can hardly wait!! I just found out that I will be teaching several classes there.

Should be a good festival.

Sue

What kind of classes are you teaching?  I might just be there.

What kind of classes are you teaching?  I might just be there.

Right now I am scheduled to teach a blacklight class, one on transitions between bits, and a third on Twisting balloons. These may change as we get closer to the event and things are finalized. I do hope you make it, to Detroit, the festival is a good one to attend.

Will OWS post the schedule as the date nears and do they have any puppet building workshops that you know of?

You can send for a more detailed schedule upon registration Or if you are considering to register.
http://www.onewaystreet.com/current_events

here is the one Sue is in
http://www.onewaystreet.com/product/mi2/fall

I also noticed OWS has really updated there site they have a forum now........... how cool! I did want to add and I have posted this before. when I went to one of these OWS events I was dis-appointed because you could only register for one class because they were different classes going on at the same time. So to really benefit from it I would have had to take more than one team members and had one attend each class. They really do a good job......... I was just dis-appointed I could not take more than one class.................... and they had the competetions scheduled at the same time the classes were going on. So I just went to that and did not take any classes.



Billy D.

Yes they schedule classes during the competitions time because not everyone wants to watch the competitions. You don't have to register for the classes in order to go to one. You can go to any of the classes they offer but unfortunately only one at a time. With the event being a Fri. evening and all day Saturday they have to limit the classes offered to those they feel will benefit the greatest amount of people.

Because of the limited time available, classes at Regionals are not construction classes, they may have a demo class as an option. The classes tend to be geared more toward the performance side of puppetry rather than the building side.

Taking a number of team members and having them attend different classes is really a good idea. After the Festival everyone gets together and talks about the classes they attended and gives their perspective. Great tool for teambuilding. Learning to hear what someone else thinks.

Still I recommend attending if you can. As a puppeteer and builder I really appreciate both sides of puppetry. If a puppet looks great but isn't easy to use or is heavy, the puppet won't be used as much. I think everyone has that ONE puppet everyone hates to use. As a builder/designer, I can understand that and strive to have every puppet I build lightweight, easy to use and look great.

Oh yes I was in no way suggesting that you not attend................ just the excitment and enthusiasm of everyone when you get there is worth going. I loved it ! I just wished I could have taken a couple of the classes, but as you said taking several people this gives you the group rate and everyone takes a class it makes it a fun project when everyone gets back home. I plan on attending again the next time they are in S.C.

Billy D.

Alas, I'm not much of a puppeteer, more of a puppet builder.  I might come anyway and try to get the puppet co-directors at my church to attend so we can bounce ideas off eachother for what to do at church.  By then, they may have their team in place and need some basic training for them.

T

Alas, I'm not much of a puppeteer, more of a puppet builder.  I might come anyway and try to get the puppet co-directors at my church to attend so we can bounce ideas off eachother for what to do at church.  By then, they may have their team in place and need some basic training for them.

Great idea! I do encourage you to have as many of the team attend as possible.

Just got the schedule for  the Festival. I will be teaching a workshop on Ballooning and one on what to do between songs and skits that will tie your program together. And I will be one of the judges for Creative Ministry Competition. And on Friday night we will be competing in the song division. YES! It is coming closer and closer. I can hardly wait. It is going to be great!