Hello everybody! Posted by Southpaw on Nov 14, 2011
Hi all,
Just wanted to take a quick minute an introduce myself. My name is Lee. I, of course, am left-handed (hence the name) and much of the puppetry stuff I do goes under the name South Paw Puppets.
I am from right outside Atlanta, GA. Been making different kinds of puppets since I was a little kid. Like most folks my first toys were either puppets or puppet related (Sesame Street and The Muppet Show). I am the Artistic Director of a local community theatre which keeps me busy. I am thrilled this year that we are producing Avenue Q. If I don't post online much, it's not because I'm rude, it's just that I stay very busy. I skim the forums almost daily and will try to be more diligent about posting as I have time. I of course, love the Muppets and all things Henson/Disney. I'm pretty much much an open book so if you have questions, just ask. Hope to talk to you soon.
Later,
Lee
Just wanted to take a quick minute an introduce myself. My name is Lee. I, of course, am left-handed (hence the name) and much of the puppetry stuff I do goes under the name South Paw Puppets.
I am from right outside Atlanta, GA. Been making different kinds of puppets since I was a little kid. Like most folks my first toys were either puppets or puppet related (Sesame Street and The Muppet Show). I am the Artistic Director of a local community theatre which keeps me busy. I am thrilled this year that we are producing Avenue Q. If I don't post online much, it's not because I'm rude, it's just that I stay very busy. I skim the forums almost daily and will try to be more diligent about posting as I have time. I of course, love the Muppets and all things Henson/Disney. I'm pretty much much an open book so if you have questions, just ask. Hope to talk to you soon.
Later,
Lee
Re: Hello everybody! Posted by JFP on Nov 14, 2011
welcome! it will be fun to hear more from you and maybe see a little of the goings on at your theatre. this is a fun forum!! have a great week-
Kimberly
Joy Filled Puppets
Kimberly
Joy Filled Puppets
Re: Hello everybody! Posted by CJ Puppets on Nov 14, 2011
Hi Lee,
Welcome to the site!
Welcome to the site!
Re: Hello everybody! Posted by Puppetainer on Nov 14, 2011
Welcome! All of your experience, knowledge and enthusiasm will be a wonderful addition to an already vibrant community of artists! Looking forward to swapping ideas and comments!
Re: Hello everybody! Posted by Billy D. Fuller on Nov 14, 2011
Welcome to Puppets and Stuff Lee.................... We have quite a few Avenue Q fans here at P&S. If time permits we would like to here updates about your new production of Avenue Q. Some folks particularly would be interested in how one goes about acquiring the rights to do the show. Would love to see some pictures of your work......... we just Love pictures here at P&S. Do you have a website?
Re: Hello everybody! Posted by Southpaw on Nov 14, 2011
Billy & All,
Hiya everyone. Thanks for the warm welcome. I'll try and answer some of the questions. Do I have a website? The answer to that is no. I know, I should. I just get so busy with some of my projects that I only snap a few pics and move on so I haven't had time to develop one. I am working on adding some pics to this site soon. It is something I will be correcting and working on. I'll have to get my partner to help me build it as I'm not very tech savvy.
Currently on my slate are some Winter Holiday puppets. First will be a couple of elves and then the big man himself, Santa. I may do some others as I have time (yeah, right).![](/images/smiley/icon_smile.gif)
I promise I will keep everyone updated on my progress with Avenue Q. Before that show however, we are going to be producing the regional premier of 9 to 5: The Musical. So my time of course will de diverted to that in spring.
Billy, you asked specifically about how to license Avenue Q? Previously, you had to have a special contract with the publishing company and the owners. Now that the production is available for amateur production anyone can apply for the rights. You simply have to go to MTI (the publisher), tell them about the type of production you want to do, when you expect to perform it, how many your venue can seat, how much you're charging, etc. and they will give you a quote. Then you simply pay for the materials and off you go.
The show is not terribly expensive to license. I think our show for a three week run to license is somewhere in the neighborhood of $2300.00. That doesn't include the puppets.
The puppets are a separate issue. If you plan on the puppets looking like their Broadway counterparts you have to either rent the puppets from MTI, which are not not very good looking, (sorry if anyone here helped make them but for the price, strange sizes, weird eye focus, etc.) or rent them from Rick Lyon. I haven't gotten a quote to rent puppets from Rick but from what I've heard there is only a $5000.00 difference between the two. If Rick is a member here I'm sure he will either confirm or deny. That however was second hand info that a local professional group that had looked into renting from him told me. The MTI show puppets are $15,000 for 8 weeks. Too rich for my blood and unattractive.
Since they don't have a way to license the likeness of those puppets (Rick is the copyright holder to their likeness) we'll be creating our own original versions of the characters. As soon as I start building the oh, um..... 27 or so puppets *whew* I'll let everyone know.
Later,
Lee
Hiya everyone. Thanks for the warm welcome. I'll try and answer some of the questions. Do I have a website? The answer to that is no. I know, I should. I just get so busy with some of my projects that I only snap a few pics and move on so I haven't had time to develop one. I am working on adding some pics to this site soon. It is something I will be correcting and working on. I'll have to get my partner to help me build it as I'm not very tech savvy.
Currently on my slate are some Winter Holiday puppets. First will be a couple of elves and then the big man himself, Santa. I may do some others as I have time (yeah, right).
![](/images/smiley/icon_smile.gif)
I promise I will keep everyone updated on my progress with Avenue Q. Before that show however, we are going to be producing the regional premier of 9 to 5: The Musical. So my time of course will de diverted to that in spring.
Billy, you asked specifically about how to license Avenue Q? Previously, you had to have a special contract with the publishing company and the owners. Now that the production is available for amateur production anyone can apply for the rights. You simply have to go to MTI (the publisher), tell them about the type of production you want to do, when you expect to perform it, how many your venue can seat, how much you're charging, etc. and they will give you a quote. Then you simply pay for the materials and off you go.
The show is not terribly expensive to license. I think our show for a three week run to license is somewhere in the neighborhood of $2300.00. That doesn't include the puppets.
The puppets are a separate issue. If you plan on the puppets looking like their Broadway counterparts you have to either rent the puppets from MTI, which are not not very good looking, (sorry if anyone here helped make them but for the price, strange sizes, weird eye focus, etc.) or rent them from Rick Lyon. I haven't gotten a quote to rent puppets from Rick but from what I've heard there is only a $5000.00 difference between the two. If Rick is a member here I'm sure he will either confirm or deny. That however was second hand info that a local professional group that had looked into renting from him told me. The MTI show puppets are $15,000 for 8 weeks. Too rich for my blood and unattractive.
Since they don't have a way to license the likeness of those puppets (Rick is the copyright holder to their likeness) we'll be creating our own original versions of the characters. As soon as I start building the oh, um..... 27 or so puppets *whew* I'll let everyone know.
Later,
Lee
Re: Hello everybody! Posted by Shawn on Nov 14, 2011
Welcome to PandS! Make yourself at home.
Re: Hello everybody! Posted by Avenueqfan on Nov 15, 2011
Welcome! :O i looooooooooooooooooooooove Avenue Q as you can tell due to my username!
Re: Hello everybody! Posted by Billy D. Fuller on Nov 15, 2011
Thanks for all the great information Lee................. that was very very helpful.
Re: Hello everybody! Posted by Angel in Tx on Nov 15, 2011
I hope you can take pics and show us your versions of the puppets. Welcome!
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