Some might say that it is " hand crafted " instead of saying "professionally made" I was ask one time......... if the puppet I had for sell was TV ready. I had listed it as a professionally built puppet. I was shocked that I could not answer the question so I ask Shawn. He said if my puppet was free of visual mistakes like dabs of glue, visible seams, or anything that would show up on camera then it would be considered "TV ready". So being professional includes top quality craftsmanship.......... from start to finish.
 

I like that Billy, a little quality control goes a long way............

Well said Billy.  I really don't know the answer to "professional."  I have purchased puppets that have been labeled "pro," and the quality was awful. Others have been superb.  
My reference was to the mass produced ones, which are not really well built (for professional uses, by that I mean easy to manipulate and that will stand up to a lot of use). I tend to try to stay away from stuff that most likely is produced in sweat shops in 3rd world countries.  

Like many here, I've dabbled in everything from construction to retail management and everything in between.  I've settled down a little but I'm still a self-inflicted busy guy.  I'm a teacher full-time (Film Studies, Media Studies, Filmmaking, etc), an indie-filmmaker, a writer (published one novel as well as several self-produced short film scripts), and I design custom Converse (www.artandsoledesigns.com).  Add puppet-making to this list and that's pretty much all I can handle.  This is all squeezed into time spent with family, of course, and my son, who just turned 8, has started to show an interest in building puppets as well.  

I have a friend who always asks, "Don't you ever just sit and watch TV?".  The answer is "Yes", but I'm usually doing something else at the same time.  I often find myself thinking of what else I could be doing when I'm not doing anything.  

Currently I'm building puppets for a short video I'm planning but now that school is starting I'm not sure it'll come together as quickly as I'd hoped.  Eventually real life has to take priority, though I'd love to do something like this as a career if there was a way to make a steady income.  Ah, to dream.  But I often think if you the stuff you do to get away from your 'real job' becomes your real job, will it still be fun?  That's always my worry.

Love your shoe designs... how fun!

I'm a Security Officer

How did I miss this thread?

Anyway, I was a dentist, for 25 years, in a cold weather state. Hated both. Moved to a warm weather state for a change of occupation. Spent 10 years with a wholesale plumbing company then 10 years as substitute school teacher. Finally, 3 1/2 years as a photographer at Walt Disney World. Now, retired, but at my age, with the aches and pains, it's hard to be too involved in puppetry, but I try.

While involved in puppetry I have been a pastor for the last 16 years. Now I'm a customer service representative for a cable tv company. Who knows what I'll be doing tomorrow...?

I am currently unemployed. My last job I was a private investigator but that only lasted a summer. I am an art school dropout but I am planning to go back one day.

I'm a security officer