Re: Puppetry Jobs Posted by Shawn on Feb 04, 2012
Well applying to Henson is a good step. 
I would also suggest opening up the Yellow Pages and looking for puppetry companies in your area and contacting them. For example there is a company here in Kansas City MO that often hires puppeteers and actors called StoneLion Puppet Theater. Not all cities have companies that do enough work that allows them to hire but it never hurts to know who is around locally. Even if they are not hiring you should keep in contact with other puppeteers in your area.
Check out local children's theaters also. They often use puppetry in their productions.
From time to time we get folks who post about an opening here but not that often. So keep you eyes open here and at other puppetry sites for such opportunities.
I would also suggest opening up the Yellow Pages and looking for puppetry companies in your area and contacting them. For example there is a company here in Kansas City MO that often hires puppeteers and actors called StoneLion Puppet Theater. Not all cities have companies that do enough work that allows them to hire but it never hurts to know who is around locally. Even if they are not hiring you should keep in contact with other puppeteers in your area. Check out local children's theaters also. They often use puppetry in their productions.
From time to time we get folks who post about an opening here but not that often. So keep you eyes open here and at other puppetry sites for such opportunities.
Re: Puppetry Jobs Posted by Na on Feb 04, 2012
www.puppeteers.org
The Puppeteers of America have a bulletin board on their website. I highly recommend visiting it, as they often have news about internships and other jobs there. It's updated frequently. (I wish we had something like that here!) www.unima-usa.org might have some job info too, but at the very least they'd have info for local companies - even a 'Yellow pages' for puppeteers. (Or is that PoFA?)
Having read about jobs for Henson via Muppet Central, you'd be very lucky to get a slot - so keep looking in the meantime.
I've spent a lot of time in the arts career/advice area and one thing I can recommend is just visiting companies/venues/shows and trying to meet the people face-to-face. Volunteering for a company will get you an in, allow you to meet the people running the company, and show your dedication and skills. It may not be paid work - or even an internship - but everyone needs volunteers whereas not everyone can afford to hire an intern.
By far, the best advice is to use a multi-pronged 'attack'
Meeting people face-to-face will mean they're more likely to remember you; applying for advertised jobs/internships will get you more chances of finding a role suitable to your interests; finding and keeping up-to-date with industry news will mean you can approach people with a better understanding of what they're doing; etc. It all helps.
PS. Welcome!!
The Puppeteers of America have a bulletin board on their website. I highly recommend visiting it, as they often have news about internships and other jobs there. It's updated frequently. (I wish we had something like that here!) www.unima-usa.org might have some job info too, but at the very least they'd have info for local companies - even a 'Yellow pages' for puppeteers. (Or is that PoFA?)
Having read about jobs for Henson via Muppet Central, you'd be very lucky to get a slot - so keep looking in the meantime.
I've spent a lot of time in the arts career/advice area and one thing I can recommend is just visiting companies/venues/shows and trying to meet the people face-to-face. Volunteering for a company will get you an in, allow you to meet the people running the company, and show your dedication and skills. It may not be paid work - or even an internship - but everyone needs volunteers whereas not everyone can afford to hire an intern.
By far, the best advice is to use a multi-pronged 'attack'
Meeting people face-to-face will mean they're more likely to remember you; applying for advertised jobs/internships will get you more chances of finding a role suitable to your interests; finding and keeping up-to-date with industry news will mean you can approach people with a better understanding of what they're doing; etc. It all helps.
PS. Welcome!!
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