Hey P&Sians,

I wanted to share with you my newest puppet and establish whether I'm alone in these personal victories.

Since I first started making puppets, there have been many I've loved but with the exception of my first puppet, they haven't excited me in the way I'd hoped. I love the anticipation involved with creating a new character, watching it develop and sitting back on completion and analysing it's integrity or what I might have done differently. But this guy was different. I can't pinpoint if it was the length of time I'd thought about building this guy, mastering some techniques I had been too afraid to try before or just sheer attraction but finally I experienced that feeling I first had after completing my first puppet. So I guess I wanted to share and say huzzah - happy making indeed! But I guess it got me thinking, as puppet builders, do you find the process becomes monotonous after a while or do you relish every second and every character? Does the build itself excite/inspire you or do those moments come on completion?



Lizzie (overly excited puppet builder   )

Very nicely done! I love this guy!

I understand what you are saying. I always enjoy building a puppet for the most part but I would say that once completed sometimes I often am not overwhelmed by the results. Then ever so often I really get excited about how things turn out. Not really sure why that is since the others are not "bad" puppets they just did not satisfy as much. There have been a few builds I've done that I really did not enjoy and typically that has been when I've had to build something I really did not want to.

Very nice as always.  Your puppet designs are so creative.  I was looking back at your gallery, with the exception of the mermaid and "Lizzie" they all have this sadness and vulnerability to their faces.  Some of their bodies are 'broken' as with this guy others are diffently creative from the average creature.  Maybe it's the Mom in me that wants to comfort them. Especially that poor little pony.  Somebody was really mean to it.

Don't you feel or see a part of you in each puppet? If you look at a body of work, you can start to see a glimps of each on of us at different stages in our lives.  Just like a painter or sculpter.

Back to your question. For me it's about time and pressure.  I have this love/distaste relationship with custom builds. I love the end results especially if I learn new techniques during the build, but the amount of time allowed to build and pressure I put on myself to please the client can try to steal the joy of creation. Running a small business keeps my hands in so many pots that sometimes i forget how amazing this gift is. Growing up I'd say I was not creative at all.  I can see glimps in my past, but when I get to the end of a custom build I am always amazed at what God has taught me.  I do look...usually after I've shipped them and think about what I could have done, but I use that to improve the next one.

We build so many "basic line" puppets that it does become monotonous. Cut this, sew this for stock.... This weekend we had the opportunity to see a team perform with some of our puppets as well as other types and it really energized me. Sometimes we forget what an impact they can have not only on the audience, but the performers..

Julie

I am so pleased to hear I am not alone - particularly given the respect I have for the two of you as builders. I know what you're saying Shawn. I often feel guilty when I look at a puppet that I find 'underwhelming' and perhaps a little resentful that I dedicated so much time to a project that wasn't in my eyes worthy. It also makes me question whether in fact I am any good at this or whether those occasional characters that inspire me are sheer flukes. And that frustrates me!

Julie, you're so right! I actually said a little prayer after this one of thankfulness for my gift. Do you find being in business and having your livelihood in some ways depend on your success, detracts you from building? Does it stifle your creativity or is it a joy to do what you love day in day out (even if it is occasionally monotonous). I'm so pleased you got to see the impact your puppets have had on others. I can only imagine how truly awesome that might be. Congratulations!

First rest assured that you are good.   I know what you are saying but it is just self doubt. Peaks and valleys. Just like life with out them things become boring.

Great looking puppet!

I have a similar experience as Julie with commissions. I find the deadlines and the pressure to get it right very stressful - but I also enjoy the creative process far more than I do on my own. I think having someone to bounce ideas off or keep your designs 'on strategy' helps me a lot.

For me the boredom or frustration comes when I'm working on stuff that I'm not particularly interested in and am just trying to do so it gets off my plate. I don't resent time spent on a puppet unless I know outright it's not going to work, or I'm not going to learn from it.

What stifles my creativity is the small business stuff: 90% of my time at the moment is fiddling with site design, answering emails, fixing old stuff, marketing. I really spend little time being 'creative' these days (no matter how it appears). That's what frustrates me more than the monotonous of similar builds - the inability to build at all.

EDITED TO ADD: Actually I'm sitting here looking through my web stats... and I realise the thing that stresses me out the most and bores me with puppetry is the idea that I have to compete with all the other businesses to make a sale. I don't mind having competition, rather I get sick of having to constantly battle against misconceptions about puppetry and the inevitable fact that people want X, Y or Z puppets but rarely want shadow puppets. Or they want shadow puppets, but only if they involve free patterns.

It's exhausting fighting the never-ending internet craze of "if it exists, I must be able to get it for free".

Yes, yes, yes....be assured you are excellent at your craft.  I think it's like everything in life....commitment to push through the boring and find new ways to excite yourself about projects.  Challenge yourself with a new technique, style etc.  Keep learning.  It's when we plateau it can become monotomous.

. If you are building for clients it's only natural that some things will interest you more than others.  I have quite a few folks say, "I'd love to come work for you, it must be so exciting".  The truth, everyday is about the small stuff.  Cutting, sewing, organizing, glue, packing, cleaning, paperwork etc....the exciting part is hearing or seeing a client when they receive their puppet. Performers go through the same thing. Ever little detail of their craft is worked on behind the scenes, hours of practice, details in sets, staging etc. Then the performance and everyone says, Wow. It makes it all worth while.  It helps me remember to appreciate everyone who does a good job in their respective fields whether a excellent waitress, talented chef, gifted construction worker or creative artist.  I can't think of one profession that is all about the exciting stuff.

I think it's important to have interaction between us and our clients. It helps us remember we are not just producing a product.

Yes, sometimes the day to day becomes overwhelming, but mostly it's my fault.  Life gets in the way and I have to remember to schedule things better. I tend to be a people pleaser which can get me into time trouble.  I have to remember to be faithful to all my customers, not just the last minute ones. LOL In business you need speed, quality and customer service. They have to work together. If one gets out of balance the others suffer.

I tend to be more of the business owner first and creator second in personality. Just my opinion is most folks in our profession are creators first.  In a perfect business world the creative folks would hire a business manager and there would be more puppet business, but most  of the time that's just not feasible at least just starting out.  The business owner in me keeps me driven to improve and find ways to help our customers and staff.

Where your treasure is, there will be the desire of your heart. Where we spend the most time, money and effort is where our passions lie. Life can distract us with other things good or bad, so we must maintain commitment to it even in the 'boring' times.

Julie

You are great Lizzy, your puppets have such style and personality, I love this new fellow.  Yes I love some more than others, as a performer I love the ones that have more movement options. You pour so much emotion into a creation you can feel drained and low afterwards.  I don't make puppets or do shows for praise.  I love to wait by the door and hear the kiddos retelling what the puppets said to their parents, priceless to hear it from their perspective. There were times I wondered if all my work was making any impact, a couple of parents sought us out to tell us how their children talked about the puppets all week and slept with a picture of our puppets everynight. That put the wind back in my sail.

You all have such fabulous and grounded perspectives on your work. I am so grateful to have joined this site and have your input. What a fabulous group of people we are! Funny how I can relate in some way to each of your different and quite varying approaches and experiences. I suppose what this has identified for me is that I am among fellow sufferers of the occasional monotonous run! I am very much an amateur and really value how readily you share your knowledge.

You all seem to garner so much inspiration from seeing your puppets in the hands of others. How did that come about for you? The puppets I've sold have mainly been to children or to people who want them as characters, not for their puppetry functionality. Did you get started by gifting then to puppeteers? Or by creating a performance with people not yet exposed to puppetry? Or by studying the craft and being involved from a performance perspective first?

Julie, I love your approach! I admit that unlike you, I am a creative soul first and foremost. For that reason, I could never dream of developing a business from my fluctuating creative urges but wow, much respect to both you, Na and everyone that has made this craft their life for doing so.

Na, you are exceptional. Your puppets are amazing and I'm sorry there are so many people out there who are trying to get a freebie as opposed to appreciating your work. If I can help spruce your wares through my networks, let me know. It's amazing how many teachers I know and they all seem to want puppets for their classes (random untapped market!)

Thank you also guys for your kind words. In those times of self doubt, it's lovely to know others have faith in you. I aspire one day to reach your respective calibers

You all have such fabulous and grounded perspectives on your work. I am so grateful to have joined this site and have your input. What a fabulous group of people we are! Funny how I can relate in some way to each of your different and quite varying approaches and experiences. I suppose what this has identified for me is that I am among fellow sufferers of the occasional monotonous run! I am very much an amateur and really value how readily you share your knowledge.

You know, I've been trying puppets for the past 10 years now... and I very much still feel like an amateur. I think that's why a lot of us go back to the well, there's just too much to try or learn or do to every really get bored of it. I think probably everyone has their moments of being in a rut, and it's better to just come back to it refreshed after a break.

You all seem to garner so much inspiration from seeing your puppets in the hands of others. How did that come about for you? The puppets I've sold have mainly been to children or to people who want them as characters, not for their puppetry functionality. Did you get started by gifting then to puppeteers? Or by creating a performance with people not yet exposed to puppetry? Or by studying the craft and being involved from a performance perspective first?

For me it's more the challenge of the build rather than the use of it. Which sounds strange, but I like figuring out how to get from A to Z - I guess the thrill of handing it over for me is when it 'does what it says on the box'.

Mine is not most people's paths so I really don't fit with the rest of the questions. I 'started' by doing a puppet show with some friends, and then trying a bit of everything, with commissions, products and patterns. The patterns were more popular, so that's where I've got most of my sales experience; and therefore little actual customer relations/feedback.

When making sales: AVOID AVOID AVOID lots of free stuff. It's ok to take one or two projects on, but if you do it lots people undervalue you and worse you undervalue yourself. I did that majorly when starting off working professionally in theatre, taking lots of volunteer/profit share jobs hoping they'd lead to something more. They mostly don't. Do offer stuff for the right circumstances, but don't agree to it because you're too kind hearted to say no. That's something that's taken me ages to learn and I still struggle with it.

As for the rest, there's no one right way to figuring it all out. Having experience doing shows helps build puppets for professional use because you get to know issues that are only discovered in rehearsal or through understanding how people move, etc.

As for who you sell to: yep, the majority of puppet sales are going to go to parents and teachers. Here in Australia I've gotten used to the idea that the puppeteers tend to make their own stuff, or at least have a circular door when it comes to commissioned puppets. You have to have some serious talent, plus a well-known presence to get other puppeteers to buy your stuff. (For instance, Richard Bradshaw and others know me as "the girl with the website", not "the girl who makes puppets")

Having said that, there's no reason you can't offer things that have a family appeal... It's taken me a long time to get used to the idea that if I want to continue, I have to stop myself from being "adults only" puppets.

Na, you are exceptional. Your puppets are amazing and I'm sorry there are so many people out there who are trying to get a freebie as opposed to appreciating your work. If I can help spruce your wares through my networks, let me know. It's amazing how many teachers I know and they all seem to want puppets for their classes (random untapped market!)

Well thank you! Particularly because I have just had a really *** crap day and proved my point above about wasting it on trying to fix mundane computer issues. So the compliments are especially nice to hear today

To be honest, this goes back to what I was saying above. The problem with puppetry tending towards open source is that you want to feed back into it, but then you run into issues of ensuring people value your time and money. As I said, my path is way different than other puppeteers and so I've got a rather unique set of problems when it comes to sales. The internet tends to view information as "I can get that anywhere for free" whereas customers of real world products tend to view products as "I can get that cheaper". It's a tough place to market and I can understand why so many newspapers lose so much money because of it.

Anywho not to ramble on...    But don't worry about spruiking! There's some things afoot that will change a lot of this for the better, and for the moment it's best not to market stuff while I sort that all out.

Oh, going back to what I was saying above: a lot of the time when teachers contact me they are either wanting puppets to perform and can't afford the prices I quote, or else actually want patterns or information on how to teach classes... Not so much untapped as difficulty in getting people to a) buy shadows, which are less popular; b) pay the prices that I need to cover my costs; c) buy the right product. I've actually had someone buy a bunch of my shadows in order to reverse engineer them so they could teach puppet making to their students... and then request a refund because they couldn't figure out how to reverse engineer them...

One big thing that keeps me coming back has always been the supportive community. So things like this I've learned to deal with thanks to the help and advice from others here.