I've always loved the Muppet Show, as well as being in the SCa, I want to entertain. I love making people laugh!

Thus, I want to begin YOPS (Ye Olde Puppet show). I've begun research into medieval hand puppets (I'm hoping to do rod puppets muppet style), and will be designing the characters around heraldry creatures as well as human creatures too (My thoughts are the local Heraldric creatures such as Fluffy and Ferdinand would be the hosts, with varous historical figures like Torquemada as the guest stars).

I thought that the 'historical guest' thing could be coupled with puppets singing filksons (Ie, modern songs rewritten to be medieval kind of), with 'live action' features presented at events of stories like robin Hood, King Arthur and the like.


However, my greatest concern is my voice - I speak very clearly and enunciate, howver I no doubt will be playing two characters at once - and I cannot find any real good tips online for how to best change my voice to differentiate between the characters. I have been practicing the accents I can manage (I cannot roll my Rs worth beans, otherwise I'd love to do a scottish accent) but I want to make them contrast MORE.

Any tips and ideas for any of these crazy ideas of mine? I was thinking of also recording 'podcast' shows for the internet too with my Yops.

I have some designs in mind for short kits and stuff. and obviously I will need to get more puppeteers.  But any tips for these ideas?  Thank you!

what fun ideas you have!  I really like the medieval angle and I immediately thought of a walking puppet stage...maybe with a knight chasing a dragon who stops every once in a while to harass the audience, lol..

I do a lot of live voice and can go pretty quick between characters.  Sounds like you have the right idea--practice, practice, practice!  As far as contrast, go with something as basic as high pitch and low pitch, and maybe use different rhythms and accents (like you're already doing)  Sometimes I'll have a "signature" that I'll use to grab the puppet's voice (a character that clears his throat, for example, before he speaks)...and in performance, I always make sure I'm looking at the puppet that's speaking--that sounds real basic, lol, but it does help when you're bouncing back and forth with two different voices...

Horsetuna

Welcome to Puppets and Stuff....................... Stand in front of a mirror and as Esch said Practice, Practice, Practice.

Billy D.

Thanks for the tips! I'll definitely practice and find some voice recording software via my mic so I can listen to them and work on the finessing touches.

I am thinking of doing two different 'types' of show. The podcast/recorded type which will be very Muppet Show like, and the 'live play' one which will have more storylines. 

Thanks for the tips! I'll definitely practice and find some voice recording software via my mic so I can listen to them and work on the finessing touches.

I am thinking of doing two different 'types' of show. The podcast/recorded type which will be very Muppet Show like, and the 'live play' one which will have more storylines. 

Free recording software go to http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ . I use this program all the time and it works great!

To change your voice raise or lower the pitch of your voice. In your normal voice sing la, la, la, then try going higher. Raising the pitch just a couple of notes will change the way you sound. Now try speaking in this higher pitch. If it hurts your throat or you seem to be straining. Start again in your normal voice, stopping before you get to the pitch you were at before. Try talking in that pitch. Once you can talk in the new pitch without straining you can work on adding accents etc. Do the same thing to lower your voice. Remember if it hurts after talking in the new voice, it is either too high or too low for you. Try again, lower the pitch if it is too high, or raise the pitch if it is too low. Your voice is a tool, you must take care of it properly or it will not last. Good luck and have fun!

Sue

Your a Canadian and you can't role your 'R's.....Rrrrrrrrrrooooole up the Rrrrrrrrrrim....eh?

LOL

Sorry A Canadian inside joke.

Daryl H

no, I can't. and I used to work at Tim Hortons' too!

Thanks. I'll practice doing that. I am glad I like doing funny voices. this makes it easier.

then I have to work on projection, as during my live shows I wont have access to mics or amplifiers.

I practice in the car while sitting in traffic...just start talking or yelling at people in different tones or pitch....do not worry about how bad or stupid it sounds or looks...you'll get use to it!!!  once you get comfortable then try having a conversation between 2 characters in the different voices...to find a voice I try to first do an impression of "somebody" then I modify for my own comfort level...Then I goto to my puppets and see which of the voices work for the character!!!! I currently do about 5-6 voices some are unique and some are similar to other puppets I do...The most important advice is play, practice and be comfortable with your voices....

Just my 2 cents worth.......... LOL!!!

Sincerely,


RcdSpoon

Watch some old cartoons. Bullwinkle, UnderDog, Tennesse Tuxsedo, Anything Tex Avery or Walter Lanz. Those voices as a kid was my guidelines.

Also: Try just putting a foreign accent on your speech. You can vary different voices with that and you dont even have to worry about changing your voice too much.

...found this over at YouTube..don't know if it would help but he does talk about a "key" which would be similar to the "signature" thing I was talking about..