Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2006 23:07:26 -0500
To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] puppetry peers


Its a tough profession,
I believe in days of yore puppeteers rate just below the slug farmer  
in terms of social rank. Always trying to rise above the slime.

Finn
On Jan 11, 2006, at 7:05 PM, William Hennes wrote:

> Yes, but you could say this is true of any profession.  Good  
> workers, bad
> workers.... Local theater, a Broadway show....
>
> I have seen bad animation, I have seen great animation.  I have  
> seen great
> looking puppets with off timing puppetry.  Great puppetry, with not so
> appealing puppets.  I guess my question is, who sets the standard?   
> I think
> this a thin rope to walk on.  It is the eye of the viewer, and they
> determine the value to them.  If a puppeteer sells tickets to his  
> show, and
> the viewers enjoy it, but others in the profession my not see his  
> or her as
> professional, and complain.  I think in that instant the customer  
> is the
> validating point.  Validation from ones peers can be very  
> subjective to what
> they think is right compared to their values.   The animation and  
> concepts
> lists are brutal, but I find the honesty refreshing.  How do you  
> get better?
> Hopefully your peers will give to honest feedback on what they may  
> feel it
> takes to get better at what you are doing.
>
> Kids at an early age do not see the difference between a bad
> performance(animation, stage, puppetry, etc.) and a good one.  They  
> define
> it as engaging or non-engaging.  If you become good at marketing,  
> you will
> make the fences and walls that you have to climb smaller.
> I believe if you present yourself right, and blow people away with a
> presentation, you show them  what great one can be.  I have done  
> Animation
> for clients just to show them what I can do.  I just finished a  
> piece, pro
> bono, for a company that did not know me.  So I asked them what I  
> could do
> to show them what I could do, my expense.  They gave me the task, I
> completed on time and way beyond their expectations and they used  
> it in
> their production.  They where used to so, so animation. They even  
> asked me
> to do a little more, I did with no problem.  They where very happy  
> and they
> meet their deadline.  Did I get paid, No. But I made an impression  
> and a
> partnership.  And the next week they thought of me first on their next
> project and I got it and got paid for it. I am now doing more work  
> for them.
> Sometimes, you have to prove what you can do to gain trust.
>
> How many would do a free performance to earn that trust?  To build a
> relationship?
>
> My humble opinion,
>
> William
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Brett Roberts" <bdr1020-AT-hotmail.com>
> To: <puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 2:17 PM
> Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] puppetry peers
>
>
>>> So let me ask this question:
>>> Can a bad puppetry show be better than no puppetry show at all?
>>
>> Here's my two cents...
>>
>> It's sad that there are SO many bad puppet shows around that it no  
>> longer
>> comes across as an art form. Many people buy a puppet and  
>> instantly think
>> they are puppeteers. I often tell my wife that there should be a
>> puppeteer's
>> license. People should study and practice before they consider  
>> themselves
>> puppeteers. I'm not putting down churches in general, but there are
>> several
>> in my area who are guilty of just wiggling some dolls and calling  
>> it a
>> puppet show.
>>
>> This is also true of magicians, clowns and mimes. There are a few
>> performers
>> out there who are good... but lots of them are really bad.
>>
>> So it's our job to get out there and create puppets that are  
>> celebrities
>> so
>> people see that puppetry can be well done.
>>
>> Brett
>>
>> Brett Roberts Productions
>> http://dfwentertainer.com
>>
>> Brett's school and library shows
>> http://educationalmagician.com
>>
>
>>
>>
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