i am dreaming up a flamenco act. i plan to make a couple of sets of tandem performers 2 dancers and 2 musicians. i would like to try using a vertical control for the tandem sets. can that work?

I'm not sure that would work. Normally you need a horizontal bar to space the puppets side by side. i.e. something like this http://puppetnet.com/trick_marionettes/tandem_marionettes

the tandem set i am thinking of will not walk. they will sit .A-on a chair & B- on a box drum. Only the right arm, head, & left toe of A will be articulated. B will have a moving head and both arms. I'm sending a photo to my album of a rough drawing of the control I'm thinking of.

I think it should work for you. Makes total sense to me. You might have to play with the tensions set on the left arm and toe strings. That is the only connection I have my doubts about but I also don't know for sure the final movement you are looking for. My thinking is that the pull you want for the arm is going to do more then just tap the toe. In theory if you make the toe string longer (have more slack) the movement in it should be a bit more subtle then the arm.

Thanks for the tip. It will save me some time. The heads just finished drying,so it won't be too long before I can try it out.

Are these marionettes or hand and rod puppets?

Marionettes

    this is the guitarist to be attached to the tandem control.

Nice work. Looking forward to seeing the two together and in action.

the flamenco group so far.