So, my normal pattern is to come up with a new idea, struggle with it, and walk away.  But I can't seem to shake puppets!  My last project, focusing on a single puppet's vlogs, only lasted a couple of videos.  I struggled with none of my friends or family really caring or being supportive, and I decided to once again quit.  But I can't stay away.  Created this and have decided to move forward with something, whether anybody watches or not.



I don't know why I keep coming back to these characters.  Not a good builder, not good with filming them, and struggle with laziness and apathy to really work towards learning.  But I keep coming back.  Curious if anyone else struggles with this and if there are any tips on overcoming.

I feel your pain, it is addictive.  I have stopped and restarted several times and feel the loneliness of not having anyone around who can understand how I feel. For me since I did multiple puppets shows I had to coerce others to help me and was constantly looks for another "helper".  For a short time I found another puppet freak and we enjoyed some perfect collaboration, until she moved away. I had to reinvent how I did puppets according to how my situation and availability of  helpers changed over the years. I envy anyone who can pull off a one man show successfully.  I think that is why I enjoy coming back to Puppets and Stuff so much, you all understand and give much needed moral support to keep us going.  It won't always be easy but I would say be open to changes, there is a reason you are drawn to puppets, hope you find your reason.

Well said, and interesting background Snail. This is something we enjoy regardless of what others think. The process in itself is fun. It is extra fun when you can actually find others of like mind, and like you, I marvel at how some groups manage to mobilize a whole heap of people and get some amazing stuff done. It has taken us 13 yrs here to get a group of 3 together.... and I tend to have a major crisis every 5 years or so, where I throw stuff out and quit... but it usually  does not last longer than a few weeks before I get itchy fingers again....and then I have to replace what I just threw out.

I haven't been able to build or perform for over five years now, but I still read every post here, and keep dreaming of a day when I can become active again. I have about four shows blocked out in my head, I want to move from Hand-in-mouth puppets to rod puppets and continually seek information on how to build different kinds of mechanisms.

The only people I have any kind of relationship ship within puppetry are internet friends whom I have never met in the real world. I must admit, I would love to have some nearby folk who share the joy.

Part of what attracts me to puppetry is the ability to create an entire universe. Most of the puppets I build were created for a specific role in a specific show. Often, though, they get pressed into service for other parts. I tend to think of the puppets as actors with their own existence separate from the show, complete with personality and back story. That just increases the personal fun for me.

Then there is the creation of the physical puppet, inventing the voice, giving it particular behaviors. In addition, I love to create the show itself, and think through how I might act out particular actions, given the limitations of puppetry. I like coming up with music, sound effects, all the pieces that come together in a show.

I'm not much on making videos. I really love live performance. That is true, for me, beyond puppetry. I would far rather watch a live stage production than any movie. So I don't feel any push to learn editing software, or creating a studio or any of that. I do like the idea of set design and lighting, but that works for live performance as well as video. Most of the shows I have done involved some long distance travel, so there was the added challenge of creating an illusion that could fit into a small space for packing, and stay light-weight within international baggage limitations.

Meeting the challenges are part of the addiction to me. Every time I have felt I met the challenges I put before myself, then I just raised the bar for even greater challenges. It's all a part of the fun.

I agree there are lots of challenges to solve, a never ending fun puzzle!  The more you are successful at little ones the more you have confidence to move on to bigger ones!

I tend to have a major crisis every 5 years or so, where I throw stuff out and quit... but it usually  does not last longer than a few weeks before I get itchy fingers again

After the first time, it now gets thrown in a closet out of sight :D  But yes, my crisis is a ridiculous pity party because it gets extremely frustrating.   But then I will look at the characters and think its not their fault, and pick them up again.  Rinse and repeat.

I envy anyone who can pull off a one man show successfully.

I haven't seen many, outside of magic and ventriloquism.  There are several puppeteers I follow, all of which have a small group that helps pull things off.  The one area I enjoy are comic con's, walking around the floor and interacting with people is fun.  But I get way too many disappointed looks when some find out I'm not a ventriloquist.  Sort of sensing a pattern there.

I'm not much on making videos. I really love live performance.

There is nothing like watching a kid's face light up when interacting with your puppet.  For me, the videos were supposed to result in live gigs.  I just haven't gotten there yet.

I think that the reason this hobby is so addicting is, well in my case anyway, because it makes the kid in me smile. I have always been a sucker for puppets of any kind. Learning to build them just brings peace and joy in me that nothing else sees to bring in equal measure. Its a fun hobby and the world in the state it is in does need this as well. At least that is my two cents on the matter. Anybody feel this way about it as well?

I came back after 10 years, and I have to thank all my fans and my family, and part is for this forum. I can't build them, something in my head stop me, but I started videos from puppets that friends gave me or puppets I bought from partners.

For now I'm making video for the web and a company call me one month every year to help them in live shows because they don't want me to leave puppets, I have to thank everybody.

Also I have to think that I do all the things I like to do, one day I'm a ghost hunter, the other I'm developing a video game, the next one I'm making a puppets video, and my daily job, I'm a craftsman making wood Mexican (day of the dead) skeletons for museums, hotels, stores and so on.

This is a great life, I have to keep it up.