Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2008 07:55:42 -0500
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] On the road


There was a time 15 years ago  or so when the movie "All that Jazz"
came out.  The Bob  Faucy character was getting more ragged by the day
and as he woke up each morning and looked in the mirror he'd say, "Its
show time!"  It was around that time and my wife was at home with the
three girls having not so great a time and I was living in seedy
motels and would call each night and listen to her woes as practically
a single parent.  I'd wake up in the night and wonder where the hell I
was. I was depressed about my job and told everyone I wanted to quit
the road.  Then I returned to a gig  one year and the sponsor asked
"why I was still on the road since I had complained so  about it to
him last time."  I resolved to change my attitude about it.  First I
decided never to complain about it.  Next I met an agent and asked if
he'd consider taking me on as I heard they could do better for me then
my own negotiation, as I am "easy".  Then I bought a laptop eventually
so I could do creative work.  I quit taking outdoor jobs which I
despise (rain, load- ins through festival crowds too far from stage,
quick stage strikes where things broke and one seeing my unplugged
glue gun dripping hot glue on the side walk).  Now my kids are out of
the house on their own , my wife has rewarding job and I am greatful
to have this work and really can't believe how lucky I have been to
have found this niche.  I understand the frustration of "the drive"
and the aweful load-in etc, but I just say to myself that it is a job
and once the show begins "how much fun is this" (very fun!) And , I
don't have a college degree because I dropped out when shows took off.
What job could I get that pays as much as a puppet show, without going
back to school for two years.    When I was younger I thought I would
really get into being an elder puppeteer,  That could be another
thread, but I am hoping I can go on to the end.

On Tue, Dec 16, 2008 at 7:25 AM, Robert Rogers
<robertrogers-AT-robertrogerspuppets.com> wrote:
> Hobey, you started an interesting conversation.  Mathieu expressed his
> excitement about going out on the road.  I have to say that after 29 years,
> I wish that I could just snap my fingers and magically transport myself to
> where I have to be (and then home again).
>
> Oh yes, and last night I missed my daughter's middle school holiday concert
> because I had to be "on the road."  I had secured a booking months before
> the concert was scheduled.  Ah, how priorities change.  That's part of the
> downside.
>
> Robert Rogers
>
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