I've been asked to build a Rolling Stones/Mick Jagger-like lip puppet.  Just the lips, which can be worn about the waist sort of like a talking belt.  And the customer has asked if it's possible to make the mouth operate using strings as opposed to hand-in-mouth.

Any thoughts on how to accomplish such a task?  I think I can handle the construction of the mouth, but the operation method has me stumped. 

She wants to have her hand at her hips and the lips will lip-sync to music.

Any thoughts, ideas, or help on this idea would be very very much appreciated.

Thanks.

Just like any puppet I think you want the mouth to be built in the open position. The top lip should be anchored to the "belt" so it is stable. Then you lower lip could have wire run thorugh it from side to side that can also attach to the belt but not static but in a "hinge" sort of connection. Something as simple as looped end of wires through a screw eye that bolts to the belt or even just another wire loop locked into the belt. Now if you can rig something like rubber bands to keep the mouth closed you can then attach a string to the lower lip going around the wire in it that would pull it open. Make sure you keep the rubber bands accessible so they can be changed since the can wear out.

This is all just the top of my head and I am sure it needs some more thought but might be a starting point. Another thing to think about is maybe cable controlled with a hand break. Same idea as the other but you would skip the  string and use the cable to close and open the mouth.