Na... airfare between our two countries was pretty steep, the last time I looked. I think you're doing the right thing for now, building a presence on the Web. Keep doing as much global networking as you can online, and then you'll be better prepared when you make the leap and come here, or maybe you'll find opportunities that allow you to work from Australia, without all of the expense of intercontinental travel. I have a Kiwi friend who has friends and family who have gone to Australia because there is more work available there than in New Zealand. So you may be better off in Australia than you might think.

There may be more opportunities here than there, and you might be able to take advantage of them and carve out a niche for yourself in the US, but it has gotten increasingly harder for international visitors to get long-term visas lately, especially ones that allow them to work here legally. We have friends who spent thousands of dollars multiple times to try to bring people here to work for them legally, only to be turned down time after time. My wife also worked a Saturday job for years at a private language school teaching English as a second language, but they finally had to let her go because ever since the attacks of September 11, 2001 the government here has made it much harder for people to get US visas so the language school finally stopped offering Saturday classes and cut way back on their weekday classes a few months ago.

My wife and I have lived and worked overseas ourselves, two years in France as volunteers for our church, and two in Taiwan teaching English conversation in private schools. I'm all for finding opportunities to work and travel and see a bit of the world, though my health doesn't permit that anymore. Just do all the networking that you can ahead of time. There are people here and on other puppetry sites and mail lists who make a full time living building and selling puppets. I'm sure that you are in communication with them already, and you've probably already asked them how the market is here for handmade puppets these days. A lot of people here don't seem to have as much disposable income now as they did a few years ago, and I worry that puppets might not be at the top of a lot of people's "must have" lists these days.

So I'd be the very last person in the world to discourage you from having adventures and seeking your fortune, or at least a new life, on the other side of the world - but please do everything you can to plan to get the most out of it. You strike me as a very intelligent and self-motivated person, and there are still opportunities to be found here AND there, whether "there" is the Melbourne area, or on the other side of Australia.

 

Ron G.

PS
I spent way too long writing this, before your most recent post. Thanks for clarifying - I think that some of my post still applies.

Na, It sounds like you're wanting to spread your wings and see where all your education, skills and dreams can take you.  Right now there are certainly fewer opportunities in any given area but at the same time the worlds economy isn't dead.  So if you can afford it, come and look around.  Perhaps meeting with some successful puppeteers here in N. America will give you some ideas for continuing on in Melbourne, and who knows maybe some other opportunity will open up.  You never know until you check things out.

Naomi, anyway, I would like to go to the US one day too. I would like to see how the things are, how people live there, how the time passes by, how everything looks like. Ah, I envy Americans they are able to get anything they want over there - for instance everything for their puppets

But getting even a tourist visa is quite a strange process, or maybe just here, I dunno. It's really a lottery who will get it and who won't. You may be unemployed with no property in Poland that holds you in country (if there is a fear that somebody will not return and stay in the US illegally to seek for work) and you would get it while anybody else may have the family in the country, may have very good paid job and two cars in here and that person can not get visa even after 4th attempt.
I do not know how does it look like in Australia, but here that is kinda silly thing.

But maybe I'd get visa one day and I'll visit you, my fellow puppeteers and you, Naomi. 

Na... airfare between our two countries was pretty steep, the last time I looked. I think you're doing the right thing for now, building a presence on the Web. Keep doing as much global networking as you can online, and then you'll be better prepared when you make the leap and come here, or maybe you'll find opportunities that allow you to work from Australia, without all of the expense of intercontinental travel.

Thanks; I'm definitely continuing on the local side of things, and am now signing up my website on various free business directories, etc. But as I'm still keen to attend the festival in Atlanta, I don't think a side trip to the US will hurt     (As a side note, I was very lucky last year to save quite a bit of money, and can afford a short trip even in the current financial climate. Of course, assuming that I don't spend much of that money from now until then)

There may be more opportunities here than there, and you might be able to take advantage of them and carve out a niche for yourself in the US, but it has gotten increasingly harder for international visitors to get long-term visas lately, especially ones that allow them to work here legally.

I do appreciate that it's difficult, so for now I'm only considering a short holiday trip. I'll look into what sort of arrangements need to be made to do so.

A lot of people here don't seem to have as much disposable income now as they did a few years ago, and I worry that puppets might not be at the top of a lot of people's "must have" lists these days.

Ironic; I've just had my best-selling week of all time. Granted, it's not a lot (about five sales), but it seems things may be hitting Americans harder than it is Aussies.

You strike me as a very intelligent and self-motivated person, and there are still opportunities to be found here AND there, whether "there" is the Melbourne area, or on the other side of Australia.

Thank you for the vote of confidence!

Na, It sounds like you're wanting to spread your wings and see where all your education, skills and dreams can take you.  Right now there are certainly fewer opportunities in any given area but at the same time the worlds economy isn't dead.  So if you can afford it, come and look around.  Perhaps meeting with some successful puppeteers here in N. America will give you some ideas for continuing on in Melbourne, and who knows maybe some other opportunity will open up.  You never know until you check things out.

Actually, my main reason for the trip is because of the Perth festival. I really enjoyed attending, and found that since leaving university I've not had a good opportunity to be part of a large event where I could learn practically (without signing up for another three-year course) and amongst like-minded people. I think in particular I have been detached from the local puppetry community, and because of that, am somewhat plateauing in my learning (don't get me wrong, you guys are great, but I also need some guidance from people who are physically next to me). I think the more I go and see - particularly as there's not much for adults here - the better off I will be.

Naomi, anyway, I would like to go to the US one day too. I would like to see how the things are, how people live there, how the time passes by, how everything looks like. Ah, I envy Americans they are able to get anything they want over there - for instance everything for their puppets

But getting even a tourist visa is quite a strange process, or maybe just here, I dunno. It's really a lottery who will get it and who won't. You may be unemployed with no property in Poland that holds you in country (if there is a fear that somebody will not return and stay in the US illegally to seek for work) and you would get it while anybody else may have the family in the country, may have very good paid job and two cars in here and that person can not get visa even after 4th attempt.
I do not know how does it look like in Australia, but here that is kinda silly thing.

But maybe I'd get visa one day and I'll visit you, my fellow puppeteers and you, Naomi. 

I think I understand what you mean. Perhaps I'll be lucky; I do have cousins who live in Maryland and NY, so it may be possible to have some sort of support in heading over.

Ok, so I needed to reply to all of that before continuing.

After some time to think about it, this is my idea for a plan of action:

I would like to come over in July for the Atlanta festival, with perhaps some sight-seeing time set aside. As mentioned above, I have family on the same side of the US (Marlyand and NY), and though I've not met any of them, I'd like to drop by... There's a great story for another time.

Anyway, I'm currently checking out all the info for the festival on their website. I'd like people's opinions on the following:

Is it better to get a POA membership so I can get the cheaper registration for the festival? Is membership limited to those in the US? Can I apply for a scholarship with the festival?

Do you know if they have a newsletter or email update, so I can learn about the schedule of events, etc when they're announced?

I'd love to do a workshop or something, what do you think about doing that? Or should I just go hassle-free? Actually, I'd love to be involved in the Puppet Store as well. ... Or I could volunteer  ;P

Do you guys recommend staying at the Campus, or should I look at booking other accommodation?

As I understand it, once you pay registration, you then select workshops and other activities to participate. Is that correct? You get a schedule and just select what you want to do? Is that the same for attending performances?

Is there anything else people can recommend doing while I'm there, in terms of puppetry or events that the festival runs? Keep in mind I'm going to plan as much as I can around workshops and stuff, but will make sure I have plenty of time for sightseeing and so forth. (If anyone else is planning on attending, I'd love to meet up too!!!)

... That'll do for now... I'm sure I'll think of a bunch of other things.

I don't have any answers for you Naomi, just some comments. I live about an hour north of Atlanta, and it would be cool if I could meet up with any of our members who will be attending the festival next year. I don't get around too well these days but it might still be fun. I wouldn't be able to attend the festival itself, and the people who are attending will be extremely busy, but who knows?

Also, I lived in the state of Maryland for seven years growing up, as well as the state of New York for almost three years all together. Small world.

The Georgia Tech campus is great, and staying there would be very convenient to the festival, obviously. I don't know if there would be an economic advantages to finding a place to stay off-site, like the Hampton Inn next door, or someplace a little farther away. I wish we had the space to put you up, but then again it might be kind of weird to stay at some Internet guy who is almost twice your age's house - and you would need your own car here to pull it off.

Having said that, I am really excited for you. I miss my days of globe-trekking.

 

Ron G.

PS
Though the economy is slowing down here now, if you stumble upon or attract the RIGHT buyers, there is still money to be made here.

Na Its hard for everyone right now. I am not sure a move here would improve your current state or not. Recently I spoke with a very old friend of mine who has been a puppeteer and builder for years named BJ. He is a real pro and been in the buisness a long time. He told me how very hard the last year or so has been and how so many people we both new have gotten out of the buisness because of it. He himself is having a tough time and what little work thats left has become a cut throat fight for work with people who used to be good friends. Now that is california but I have heard of this all over.

Now that being said there is still work here but it will take time to build a client base. Please don't think I am trying to discourage you I am not, just want to help you with your decision by telling you things I know of. I do wish you all the luck in the world.

Jay(drpuppet)

I'm sorry for not updating this thread before now, but holidays and lots of puppet making caused me to put this aside for a while. Thanks everyone for the advice. I decided that I would take the last of my savings (scary!) and attend the festival, with perhaps a side trip to Washington DC. My family may be going to NY in September to meet long-lost family members, so I may even get to come back.

Anyway, I've made registrations for the festival and booked accommodation. More is explained in this thread:

http://puppetsandstuff.com/community/index.php/topic,4152.0.html

Hmmm.... well the economy here is not good, as has been stated.  Obama has not helped it for sure.

Personally, if I was unemployed and did not have real good prospects, I would take my money and job hunt or try to get some training that would make me a valuable employee. I would not take a trip. Just my 2 cents.

Thanks MsPuppet; you've missed a few details that aren't contained in this thread. For one, I am steadily building my business here in puppetry; for two, I received a grant just on Thursday to attend the festival from UNIMA Australia; three, I hope that buy attending I can build skills and improve my business further. Four, my family might be going too, and costs will be reimbursed as it's for my dad's work (which will aid my finances a bit if I travel with them).