Welcome to Puppets and Stuff!  You've gotten some good advice already where you can buy puppets. We also have quite a few members here who make them and sell them. If you browse around I am sure you'll end up finding them. Most folks who sell puppets have a link in their signature like Clewer Puppets does or if not you might see the small world icon under their name and avatar that shows up next to their post that is a link to their site.

Not all but some puppeteers not only perform but they also make their puppets. That might be an option for you. The beauty of that is that you can get exactly what you want and it is unique. Often it will cost you a lot less in the long run if you continue in this as a hobby.

I have to correct you on something first. I am surprised someone did not catch this already.   The type of puppetry you are looking for is called "Hand" or "Hand in Mouth" not "Rod" puppetry.  A rod puppet does not require you to put your "hand" up into the puppet.

I couldn't find the full version of the audition but I did find the puppeteers channel on YouTube!

That is really cool! He is good!  It'll be interesting to see how far he can go.

I am so jealous.   Good news about it going on tour though! I'll have to keep my eyes open for if and when it comes to KC.

What if we decide to join you last minute?  Let's see it is about an 8 to 10 hour drive so I would have to leave the evening before or really early.     Have to give this some thought... really would be so cool to meet some of you.

Hey Daryl! Always good to hear from you.  I'll have to keep an eye out for the new Halloween puppet!

There are two of them. The firs is the Puppeteers of America (PofA) http://www.puppeteers.org and the second is Union Internationale de la Marionnette (UNIMA) http://www.unima-usa.org

I've never belonged to UNIMA but did belong to PofA at one time.  PofA has local guilds in many cities that have events and meetings on a regular basis. I can be a good way to connect with puppeteers in your area. Both have publications that they send out to members that has news in them about puppetry.

Hey I didn't know it could print out the entire series like that! Pretty cool.  I well lead you guys back around to the normal viewing of it though. http://puppetnet.com/trick_marionettes That way you can get the cool effect of the roll overs I did on the color renderings of some of the pictures. I really need to flesh those out more and add the few remaining pages... that site has been that way for years.

Billy... not sure you still have a username/pass combo over there anymore. Heck not sure I can remember my own now.

How do you test the quality of your other works of art?  I wouldn't worry too much about this really.  I have the feeling your skills are up to it. Strong stitching and clean work should give them a good product. 

In regards to if a professional would expect to do maintenance.  If they don't then they are crazy!  Would you buy a car then expect for it to last for ever if you did not take care of it and do regular maintenance!  Sorry I guess I am getting on my soap box a bit but I really hate the idea that folks think a puppet should last forever. The fact is that they won't. They are made of materials that wear down. Yes if you take good care of them they can last years but if you are using them really hard they are just going to have to be replaced at some point. 

Ok practical information. Do you make your stitching clean and strong perhaps reinforcing any stitching that may have stress on it? The mouth plate gets a lot of work out so if you use solid materials there then they should hold up. Things like leather or casket rubber would hold up better as hing points for mouth plates instead of fabric but I've had heavy cottons last for a long time as hinges. 

Again I really don't think you have anything to worry about. You are confident in the quality of your dolls right.... the you should be confident in your puppets!

I'll have to check the videos later when l am on my computer, but the pics look awesome!