Haha, Hey guys! So It's been a while since I posted a video of Jim. It seems my production of videos have went from every day, to once a week.. And now they are about once a month. I know sticking to certain things can be hard, and it takes time to make it in any kind of job. But I just wanna thank anyone who has supported me! It means a lot. People don't realize that even a single view means so much, and just one click of a button can change someone's life.

I haven't been working as much due to hardly any support for Jim. People love him and like watching his videos, but it just hasn't been enough to get me motivated. So if anyone can just give me tips on how to keep a crowd, or what they think of Jim, or even watch and subscribe to the channel will mean so much! I know a lot of people on youtube do this, but I take puppetry seriously and would like to make it a career. A TV show of Jim is what I am aiming for.

But enough of that! Here is Jim's latest video. Maybe it will make you happy about your valentines day:P
Please subscribe and share, and your opinions are welcome! Thank you!
 

I'm into the third year of The Patsy Hoolahan Show.  I was ready to quit after the first but "pagestep" Phillip, here encouraged me to hang in there.  I consider him the first real fan.  He told me it would take 3 years to get an audience on youtube.   It's seems like it's just been coming alive in the last year.  I only have 125 subscribers but I have some strong fans now that comment on everything.  I put a tremendous amount of PR work into this though.  I subscribed to virtually every puppet channel out there and made lots of comments.  My first few episodes were weak, but I began to edit the shows to keep them moving and interesting.  I'm putting much more into this than I'm getting back but it's great practice incase something bigger comes along in the future.  Your production is important as well as how you design your channel. 

  I'm putting much more into this than I'm getting back but it's great practice incase something bigger comes along in the future.

That is a great quote, and probably sums up all dreams and ambitions. 

That's right.  Today I found out about an organization near me that is asking anyone to submit short independent films.  You can win 2000.00.  So maybe I will submit something.  Another thing about youtube is that even if you remain small, your work is seen all over the world.  So you never know.

Hey there. I'm not familiar with Jim as a character but wanted to show my support so watched this a couple of times. I have to start by saying I can make puppets but I can't perform with them - respect to you for this ability and for being brave enough to take this on.

If I were to critique the clip as you're asking, I would make a couple of suggestions. As I was unfamiliar with the character, I had no context and didn't know he was by nature self deprecating. The opening where you set the scene, preempt his outburst and give context to same is long at 2.5mins. If I weren't watching to support you as a fellow P&Sian, you probably would have lost me as I was waiting for something to happen. When it did, it was great, but realistically I wouldn't have stuck around long enough as a youtube viewer to get there. I am working with some consultants on some media for my workplace and they tell me that the average attention span of a youtube viewer is 2mins. You need to bait the viewer in the first few seconds and keep your piece short and sweet. I admit this wouldn't necessarily apply to someone with a pre-established fan base but I would suggest in this instance, perhaps making the whole clip a little more concise and delivering the context earlier would reel people in.

Otherwise it was great. I really like Jim as a character and I think he's someone who in this instance, people can relate to - we've all been alone on Valentines Day right?!! I can't really comment on the camera shots and mouth movements etc as I don't have the knowledge but to a novice performer like me, those things looked great and I could only dream of achieving the same success as you in my attempts. I really hope the fan base for Jim continues to grow and you find the motivation you need to keep going.

Great!. I can totally agree with comments made.  You DO have a certain 'spark'. As The Director has said, it does take a lot of effort and long term commitment to make progress.  What is important at this stage is that you have that 'something' which shows through in Jim's performance. Technical things and audience base, etc, is a long road, but just DO ALOT of stuff, no matter how good (or bad it is), make it, then make another, and then another, and  enjoy the trip. You will have your really  DOOOOWN days, where you take your stuff and dump some in the garbage (had one of those a few weeks ago)... but then after a few weeks of determined, I'm done with this...your fingers get itchy again, and your wife is in a better mood, and you keep doing it. It appears that after 20 years of doing this, someone has offered me 100bucks to do a clip!!!! wahoooo(first paid job ever). I am so excited. We start filming as soon as I get the script  half done... anyhow, Put yourself on the list of  successful puppeteers (like Patsy, and the Booze band bros- how are you going guys? and the loki show (come on now, you know Chloe wants to see some more of Loki,) and all you other  cool creators) Your style  will develop and  your skills will grow and you will find an audience, slowly but surely.

As you guys can see, I haven't been on in a while! I was ignorant to get back on the website and see the support of P&S! So I'm so sorry!  But Thank you guy's so much! It really means a lot to me,You have no idea! Haha. And Yes, I will agree (And it's rather sad) That you have to get people's attention in the first few seconds of a video or a song. Take Jingle writers (Commercial music composers) For instance, They have to get your attention and get a song that will last in your head all day in only a 15 second time span. But you guy's are awesome! I'm thankful for all of your support and I'm getting back on the train! I've always been told that I do have that "Spark" and I'm so thankful for it! The on;y problem, Is that I need to play my cards right. And you guys are getting me there, and it's just so awesome! I will be forever loyal to you guy's! Thank you! 

I agree with Lizzie on the pacing. had it been cut down to a 30-40 second clip it would have had a better shot making the rounds on valentines day.

2 minutes attention span on YouTube? Maybe 5 years ago or for already established acts. Hey I did the same thing with Rotten Puppets.. I made 3-5 minute videos that I loved, some did better than others, etc. but in the end it didn't go too far after 3-4 years.

I'm working on a kids idea now and it's going to be 30-60 second clips TOPS until there is an established audience.

Keep it up!!!


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I'm working on a kids idea now and it's going to be 30-60 second clips TOPS until there is an established audience.

So, in your opinion, would it be better to have multiple 30-60 second web shows versus a single 2-5 minute "clip" show?  Was thinking of going similiar to Robot Chicken to better stagger certain "acts." 

Pulling out soap box....

Ok must really reduce everything to a quick flash?  Is that really the audience you want that is here today and gone 10 mins latter because they are bored and moving on to the next fad?  What happened to creating something that has good story and substance.  Why must we all be in such a hurry to get nowhere?

.... putting away the soap box.


Ok just had to get that off my chest.   I think there is a place for shorter 30-60 second spots and may even be a good place for some people to start.  Actually if you plan really well you could end up with a much longer show by combining 30-60 second clips. Even Sesame Street is made up of a lot of short bits really so the idea is not that new.