PUPPET COrN, the Midwest's newest and hottest Puppet Convention Pre-registration discount is on!  Register now at www.PUPPETCOrN.com and save $50 a person off the normal $200 rate!  But only if you book early!!

 

PUPPET COrN Puppetry Convention takes place in Des Moines, Iowa and runs May 15-17, 2014.  This three-day convention includes national and international puppet celebrities from the fields of Marionettes, hand and rod, Ventriliquists and more.  The cost  covers all three days of the convention,  10+ lecture/workshops on topics like performing, training and business aspects of puppetry;  history, two PUPPET SLAMS, Free Pizza & pop Party, Free Gifts, a Flea Market, vendor tables, Fun contests, and a Grand Gala show with performers from both PUPPET COrN and the Magic convention (Abracorndabra.com) going on at the same time!    I (PuppetSmith Art's) will also be hosting a game that I think will be a riot!

Guest performers include:
PETER & DEBBIE ALLEN -  the owners of PARASOL PUPPETS
PIX SMITH - the owner of DALLAS CENTER FOR PUPPETRY ARTS
JACKIE MANNA - Ever wanted to be a Ventriloquist? YOU WILL AFTER SEEING JACKI’S LECTURE!
STACEY GORDON - Her puppets have been featured in music videos, commercials, and on ABC’s The View.
LARRY LAFONTSEE - With theater credits reaching back to the mid-sixties, work in commercials for radio and television, character voice over, acting stage work in drama, comedy, and musicals, he has stretched his talents to include costume design, set design, and of course, puppetry, both performing and fabrication.
PAUL GRANT – Hysterically funny, this visual artist will bring to life one of his many cast of characters in the Saturday evening public Gala Show “NO STRINGS ATTACHED” – THIS IS AN ACT YOU WONT WANT TO MISS! EXCLUSIVELY at PUPPETCOrN!
STAN ALLEN - Performing at the "No Strings Attached Gala", A legend in magic with a famous routine starring his rabbit "Stew". Yes, puppets AND magic!
DAVE HERZOG -  Chicago’s most famous puppeteer, is a true MASTER MARIONETTE ARTIST.
PAUL GRANT - Bringing his hilarious “HUMANETTES” from Las Vegas!
SURPRIZE GUESTS - We have more guests speakers as well.  I can't say yet on who, but if we get enough pre-registrations, I believe one guest who we have lined up is so spectacular, he alone would be worth the trip to the con!  But to get him, we need those pre-registrations!!!

Contemplating on it.  It would be a 12 hour drive. 

I understand.  I just got back from vacation that was a 17 hour drive!  I think this con is going to be a blast.  ESPECIALLY if he gets enough pre-registrations to afford the 'special guest' I mentioned.  Can't say who, but I believe he will be someone non-puppet people will want to come to see!  I'm trying to get the boss just to okay it, because I'm sure it will sway many to come.  But that's easy for me to say with his money! lol

I noticed a lot of classes were TBA.  For someone new to puppetry and interested in the tv/film aspect, will there be plenty for me to do/learn? Is it friendly to newbies not familiar with the puppet scene?  Lol, sell me on this over a big Comic Con closer to home that weekend :D. I am very interested, just need to convince myself.

The classes are TBA because he has other guests he wants to sign on, but is waiting to get a better idea from the pre registration numbers.  But yes, it will have classes for new and veteran puppet people.  I know there is going to be one on learning ventriloquism from a lady that is suppose to be super at teaching the tricks.  Also, I took a class from Larry on sculpting for puppets. It was awesome! 

One thing for me, is there are comic cons all over.  I have 2 on my schedule as well as 2 horror cons.   I could have lots more if I wanted.  But there aren't a lot of puppet cons.  So if its something one is interested in, it comes down to learning and growing vs lecturers from writers or actors.  I can see those on You Tube.  I can't get the hands-on puppetry work unless I pay thousands to go to a school for a week.  Not to mention getting to see them perform at the gala! 

The boss is planning on this con every other year (the 'off years he does a clown convention along with the magic con).  There are a lot of comic conventions in the next two years...

  I can't get the hands-on puppetry work unless I pay thousands to go to a school for a week.

You know, that did it.  There is a Beyond The Sock Puppetry Workshop close to here that I really want to attend, but it is almost $1400.  Nathan Fillion will have to wait.  Not sure if I will make the $150 or the $175 sign up, but I plan on being there

I look forward to seeing you, and hopefully others.  I'll have a booth and don't miss the game I'm hosting.  I think we are calling it "The Great Puppet Relay".

I want to support what Arthur said about puppet conventions even though it seems he has already convinced you. The price for this convention is really good compared to what it may cost to go to others and those others like he said are not as often.  In fact like this one most happen every other year.  Now granted that may mean you can find a puppet convention each year but will it be close to where you live.  

I may actually try to make it up to this one since it is so close but because of other commitments I have to wait and see if I can get away.  Might even have to make it a one day trip and not be able to attend the full convention but would be nice to see some of you in person.

OH!!!  And I forgot to mention.  If you pre-register early with 4 or more local guild members from your area, the cost is only $99 EACH!!! This is limited to the first 200  people that take this offer and they must each write "Guild Member Offer" with their guild on top of the form.  But really?  That's $33 a day!  Heck, my "pay" to help work this con is that I'm getting it for that rate and you don't have to work!! lol

hmmm...the Puppetsandstuff guild? :D  We got 3 others coming