Newbie... Posted by Scarecrow on Aug 10, 2009
So, I just joined obviously :D  I just found this site searching for puppetry information and considering what I was actually finding, I figured a live forum was more useful than 99% of what I found (albeit, I wasn't searching long :D)

Anyway, a little about myself. My name is Christopher. Ever since I was very little I've been a huge fan of puppets. Fraggle Rock was a favorite of mine (though Jim Henson's Storyteller was the greatest thing Jim Henson ever did and sits as the highlight of my video collection... though the Dark Crystal and Labyrinth are up there too). When I was about 9/10 years old I made my first puppet show. I adapted Jurassic Park into a puppet show using a puppet stage my mom had built for me. I drew the back drops and all the characters and dinosaurs and glued them to popsicle sticks. For how old I was, while it was pretty goofy, I must admit I was pretty impressed with the way it came out as far as the art and all. The script was probably crap as I hadn't seen the movie yet... anyway, it was like 25 cents for the show or something like that. I still have all the stick characters in a basket somewhere and the stage up until a few years ago. The stage I used many times with actual puppets. I had all the Lamb Chop puppets and then about 10-15 other puppets I had bought over the years when I was little. I would film music videos with the puppets singing or whatever on my little Tyco Video Cam :P

Oh and I did some puppetry in Church for pre schoolers.

I've found I STILL love puppets and I've become slightly better than average at the ventriloquism deal (talking without moving the lips anyway... finding good voices is a little more difficult). I have thought about investing in a real ventriloquist dummy because I've always wanted one when I was young but... I'm not very good at scripting such things and usually people expect those to be funny and I'm really not that witty.

ANYWAY... like I said my love of puppets I found has reemerged over the last few years so I was kind of looking for information and such and try some of this for fun again... building puppets and all that. Most puppets out there are not stylized or have enough character in them for my taste and I would love to just make my own. And just out of curiosity sake... do schools actually have puppetry programs anymore or something like that? I know puppetry is a disappearing art form but just curious...
Re: Newbie... Posted by Chris Arveson on Aug 10, 2009
Hey Christopher, Glad you joined us. Welcome to our own Puppetry University. There's so much that can be done, and there are some incredibly knowledgeable folks here.
Re: Newbie... Posted by Billy D. Fuller on Aug 10, 2009
Welcome to Puppets and Stuff...................... I'm glad you found us. Why not explore the world of ventriloquism by building your own vent puppet or vent doll. They are numerous members here that would be glad to help. Here is a site to look at:
http://www.puppetsandprops.com/

Billy D.
Re: Newbie... Posted by Shawn on Aug 10, 2009
And just out of curiosity sake... do schools actually have puppetry programs anymore or something like that? I know puppetry is a disappearing art form but just curious...

I am not sure if all of these are still current but there is a listing of Universities and Schools that have puppetry related courses or programs over at The Puppetry Home Page.

One that I did double check is the University of Connecticut.  They offer a BFA in Puppet Arts.

Update:  West Virginia University also offers a BFA in Puppetry/Creative Dramatics.
Re: Newbie... Posted by LJ on Aug 10, 2009
My son is entering his last year at West Virginia University in the Creative Dramatics/Puppetry program.  He has absolutely LOVED it!  He has gotten a fabulous education and has had a wide variety of experiences. He really likes how the program gives you a good education in theatre as well as puppetry - makes the graduate more marketable after graduation.
I will be posting pictures of the latest puppets he has made as soon as I get the pictures taken!
Re: Newbie... Posted by miguel on Aug 10, 2009
Hey    to P&S
Re: Newbie... Posted by Sandra on Aug 10, 2009
Welcome to PnS, you will see,  you will love it here!!!!
Yes, you could build a already made puppet, but like Billy said, maybe you will get th bug and want to make your own. Alot of people can help you here. Wanlu is the ventriloquism that comes to mind, maybe he can help you out. Just and idea.
Welcome again!!!
Re: Newbie... Posted by StiqPuppet Productions on Aug 11, 2009
It sounds like we have some things in common the love of puppets since childhood.....I am glad you took the time to subscribe and can't wait to see any projects you will be working on.....we love to help out any way we can so just ask and we will try to help you.

Daryl H
Re: Newbie... Posted by VampireWombat on Aug 12, 2009
Welcome to the site. Hope you enjoy your time here.
Re: Newbie... Posted by Matt on Aug 12, 2009
Welcome to Puppets and Stuff.

After looking at West Virginia University's program I am actually thinking about applying.
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