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Board
News
Paul Mesner
The Puppeteers of America National Festival is the premier showcase
of North American puppetry. It highlights great performers and educators,
and generates a lot of enthusiasm for this wonderful, unique art
form.
But now it is time for all of us to take a close look at the festival
model we have used for many years and ask the hard questions: Does
the model need to be updated? Does it perhaps need to be completely
reconstructed? There are several issues surrounding the national
festival that bring up a great deal of concern among many members:
(1) the cost of attending a festival; (2) the cost and risk of producing
a festival; (3) the difficulty in finding a location and director.
We are at a crossroads. The universities who hosted us in the past
are charging much higher “real” prices now, not the once-upon-a-time
prices of yesterday. So, if we keep national festivals the same
length and scope, the costs are going to increase substantially.
How can we reduce costs or at least make them more manageable? We
might shorten the festival. We certainly need to increase efforts
to maximize the number of attendees, and by doing so, bring in more
income.
Many of us in the puppet community have been challenged or hurt
by cuts in funding to the arts, and we face more constraints on
our time and finances than ever before. It's important to keep the
festivals affordable. The energy expended by producing a festival
should be matched by the enthusiasm and benefit that comes out of
that festival. People travel long distances, expending their precious
time and hard earned money to see high quality shows, participate
in great workshops, and come away energized and renewed in their
love of the art form.
Performers sacrifice their time and a real paycheck for the opportunity
to perform at a festival. The organizers relish the thanks they
receive and the camaraderie they have helped enable. One of the
biggest benefits to the organization on the whole is that the national
festival traditionally attracts many new members. Kudos go to Kurt
Hunter and the Minnesota Mafia for the great job they did this past
summer in producing a successful national festival during this critical
time of transition. They were forced to re-budget near the last
moment when advanced registrations were lower than expected and
everything worked out well.
The festival site for the 2007 national probably will return to
Concordia University in St. Paul, MN. Nancy Smith has agreed to
serve as the Artistic Director and Kurt Hunter has agreed to help
as Site Liaison, but not as Festival Director. Most other jobs remain
unfilled.
Now is the time for anyone interested in helping with a national
festival to step up to the plate. You need not live near the festival
site. Those days are gone. Meetings will be by email, phone and
fax.
This is going to be a national festival and will require effort
from folks all over North America. Paul Mesner, President
EUREKA!!
Nancy
H. Sander - 1250 Granger Avenue - Lakewood OH 44107
E-Mail Address
Greetings, my puppet family! What a wonderful autumn we in Ohio
have had this year. We even haven't had to get our ice scrapers
out yet. Of course, by the time you get this, the story will be
quite different. Sigh…
Once again I went to the Puppeteers' Potlatch that the Great Lakes
Region puts on every year. I moderated a discussion on promotional
materials and selling techniques.
MAILING MATERIALS: It was mutually agreed that, because all
your potential clients are bombarded daily by junk mail, you have
a bare few seconds in which you might present your case. David Herzog,
of Chicago, Illinois, believes that mailing materials that come
in an envelope have a high probability of not even being opened
(How many envelopes go unopened into your round file?). Therefore
he sends out a glossy half-sheet postcard (yes, it costs the same
postage as a letter), crammed with puppets. It takes less than three
seconds for the reader to know exactly what David is offering.
MAILER CONTENTS: First and foremost, the clients want to
see the puppets. Do they look professional? How large are they?
Secondly, they want to know: the age group which would enjoy this
show; the length of the show; the size of the audience; will it
be fun? Do not include the price. That can be discussed after you
have convinced the client that he must have the show.
COLD CALLING: As much as you don't like it, cold calling
is part of your job. Rick Morse, of Flint, Michigan, emphasizes
working with a script on the phone. You have a product that you
believe in. You have less than four minutes to tell your client
how you will fill all his basic entertainment needs. Naturally,
you don't want to rattle off (without stopping for breath) your
spiel, but you should be rehearsed and know where you are going-and
for heavens sake, smile as you talk. You'll sound so much better!
CONVERSATIONS: Brad Lowe, of Clarkston, Michigan, pointed
out that after the original introduction, part of good selling is
to engage the client in conversation. Don't ask a string of questions
that can be answered by “yes” or “no.” Questions
like, “What are the ages of the audience?” and “What
is the occasion for the event?” Once you have your client talking,
you can paint him a picture of how wonderful it will be to have
your show and how perfectly your show fits into his plans.
SCHOOL MATERIALS: Mel Biske of Bolingsbrook, Illinois, does
a whopping business in the schools. Two weeks before his appearance
he mails to the school a packet for each teacher containing a synopsis
of the story, a history of the puppeteers, contact information and
many teaching ideas and activities. This illustrates an important
aspect of selling the show. The seller must ask himself, “What
does my client really want?” It may not be what you first think.
For instance, school principals want: 1) to be able to justify the
expense to the superintendent; 2) to be able to justify the time
allotted out of the classroom; 3) to broaden the education of the
students; 4) to have a performer that will not cause chaos in the
gym; and 5) to have the kids have a good time.
A DIFFERENT SKILL: When you are in business, you need to
have many hats. Sales is a whole different business from puppeteering.
You have a product which your client needs, and he doesn't know
you exist.. Being a good sales person is not a thing to be ashamed
of. Just like learning more about puppetry by reading, there are
a lot of great books out there that help you learn to be a good
seller. If you can get to hear a tape by Zig Zigler called “The
Art of Closing The Sale,” get it. Not only is it funny, but
it is really informative.
LOGOS AND ARTWORK: We puppeteers pride ourselves with the
ability to do everything ourselves. That's our job. But unless you
have your degree in graphic arts, don't draw your own logo. Marc
Henry, of San Diego, California, (a master at sales) gave me my
mantra for business: “You sell the sizzle, not the steak..”
With an amateur drawing you are telling him that either you are
an amateur or that you are too penny-ante to take your business
seriously. Face it: would you try a new restaurant that has a hand
painted sign?
THE WRAP-UP: After all was said and done, it was unanimously
agreed that the very best advertisement is one hundred percent professionalism
as a performer. That means professionalism before the show (contracts
and materials arriving on time, contact before the performance date),
professionalism on the site (neatly dressed, polite and cheerful
disposition, unending flexibility) and professionalism of the entertainer
(well-rehearsed show, clean and repaired puppets). Word of mouth
is the best advertising there is.
So, folks, what are some of the things that you do that help sell
your business? Or have you discovered a neat new product or have
seen a great new catalogue? Have you found a great website that
we all would enjoy? What about a trick of the trade?
Keep in touch. Take the time. Hope to hear from you.
Nancy
The
Guild Connection
Kurt
Hunter
Those of you who made the trek to Minnesota last summer for the
festival can testify that the state isn't a year round winter wonderland.
You probably recall that temperatures can (and did) climb to rather
unpleasant heights. Apart from those highs, we've had an unusually
long run of pleasant weather. A long enough run that I had grown
surprisingly tired of “pleasant”. Well, in the last couple
of days we've taken a quick tumble, briefly hitting single digits
and I'm rather enjoying it. Nothing gets me back into the workshop
like sub-freezing temperatures. It's very satisfying to be spending
more time “hands-on”.
- Similarly, (trying desperately for a smooth segue) there's been
a lot of “hands-on” activity at guild meetings recently,
which I suspect has also been quite satisfying. The September
meeting of the Phoenix Guild of Puppetry was advertised
as a “mystery make and take” workshop. The surprise
was Claire Radich leading a hands-on recap of the Polyfoam Puppets
for the Classroom workshop that Pam Corcoran presented at the
national festival this summer. It's a very simple, but extremely
creative way to work with polyfoam.
- About that same time, a bit farther north, Elizabeth Luce was
leading a completely different type of hands-on polyfoam puppet
workshop for the lucky Puppeteers of Puget Sound. There
was no fee for the glue and foam thanks to a grant from the Puppeteers
of America.
- In October, the Puppet Guild of Long Island had their
hands full at Carol Fijan's studio in a workshop constructing
witch puppets using a cone puppet technique designed by Frank
and Carol Altruda. That's another one that sounds fascinating.
- My own Twin Cities Puppeteers was treated to a plaster
mold making workshop for our October meeting. Paul Eide was brave
enough to do a live demo of two different techniques. We learned
the “Do's” and the “Don'ts”. One technique
worked. One didn't.
- The good folks of the Columbia Association of Puppeteers
were also in demo mode in October learning about rubber latex
and neoprene from new guild president Jason R-Cady at his new
home.
- Rather than “hands-on”, the Columbus Puppetry Guild
had a “minds-on” meeting in September with guests from
the OSU Lawrence and Lee Theatre Research Institute. Their expert
guests discussed donating historical material from the guild to
the institute. Suggestions that they are already following up
on included creating an archive of guild oral histories and appointing
a guild archivist to supervise collection of historical materials.
- Hopefully minds were stimulated as well by Bill Scott's workshop
on “Religious Puppetry” for the Greater Philadelphia
Area Puppetry Guild in November.
- Lots of performances have been showing up at guild meetings
as well. Buddy Big Mountain performed at the October meeting of
the Orange County Puppetry Guild. In fact, he was performing
for his own send off before he and Diana move to Canada. With
Buddy's move Larry Gilleland has taken over as guild president.
- Their neighbors in the Los Angeles Guild of Puppetry,
offered a new twist on a familiar theme with “PuppetSlam
3: SpookySlam” the end of October.
- The Mile High Puppeteers were scheduled to see a performance
of “Town Mouse and Country Mouse” by the Mont View Puppets
for their November meeting.
- The description of Janaki Ranpura's “Lovesick Sea Play”,
performed for the San Francisco Bay Area Puppeteers' Guild
in October, was especially fascinating. This one woman shadow
play was performed in the open without a shadow screen. The delightful
performance was followed by a “lively and supportive”
discussion, which proved to be a learning experience for all involved.
- On the other side of the country the members of the National
Capital Puppetry Guild were congratulating Heidi Rugg on the
UNIMA Citation of Excellence that she received for “Galapagos
George”. They are pleased to note that she performed the
show for the guild during its development to get some feedback
and encourage others to do the same. Guild feedback may not guarantee
you an UNIMA citation, but it gives you a pretty good shot at
a better show.
- Puppetry Guild of Northeastern Ohio junior member Doug
Puskas did just that with his new show “Dinosaurs”.
He performed the show for the October meeting, got feedback, and
presented an improved performance for the Great Lakes Region's
annual celebration at Pokagon in November.
- October saw the Connecticut Guild of Puppetry celebrating
30 years with a puppetry marathon. The day included unveiling
of the new Henson stamps, screening of puppet films “Hand
Made Puppet Dreams” thanks to Heather Henson, a dinner, cake,
reminiscing, and a Puppet Slam.
- The Houston Puppetry Festival, presented annually by the
Greater Houston Puppetry Guild, was another grand success
this year with 102 participants and 32 staff. The festival dinner
became a “Jean Kuecher Appreciation Dinner” honoring
the woman who brought the festival together.
- The Montana Puppet Guild also has grand success to report.
At a September meeting six guild members took the plunge and joined
the Puppeteers of America. For a guild with small numbers, six
new P of A members is something to brag about. Their other good
news is guild president and newsletter editor Sherry Johns has
retired (not from the guild) and will be devoting some of that
extra time to the newsletter.
- Jamie Strickland has taken over the newsletter for the Central
Florida Puppet Guild and her first effort looked great.
- The November newsletter of the Puppetry Guild of Greater
New York included a nice retrospective of the guild's National
Day of Puppetry and their Puppets on the Green events complete
with a wealth of photos.
- In other communication news, new webmaster Bethany Mooradian
is updating the website for Detroit Puppeteers Guild, www.detroitpuppeteersguild.org.
- The prize for most unique guild fundraiser this month goes to
the Florida Suncoast Puppet Guild. The City of Tampa Parks
and Recreation Department is hosting a Hispanic festival and the
guild was given the opportunity to work the beer booth and split
the profits. If you happen to be in Tampa, stop by the booth and
lift a glass for the good of puppetry.
Well, I'm out of printed space, time and news. Stay warm (easier
for some of you than for others) and let me know what your guild
is up to when you have the chance.
REUM…
With aView
M'el
Reum - 827 Milwaukee Street - Dever, CO - 80206
E-Mail Address
- FAX - (303) 393-1367
Tis the season! How did the Holiday season get here so fast and
where has it gone? Hope you all had a Merry and profitable Season
. . I plan a wonderful family Christmas in New Hampshire. My grandkids
are beginning to tower over me. Time flies, or I'm shrinking . Thanks
for lots of mail .Happy 60th Birthday to the Detroit Guild
and Happy 50th to Kermit the Frog . Congratulations to The
Puppet Art in Detroit celebrating ten years .
If you haven't seen them yet run to your Post Office and pick up
the new Muppet Stamps they are great.
The Handspring and Sogolon Puppet Companies presented
a production of “Tall Horse” ( the story of a captured
giraffe, ) in Michigan. They were using large scale-puppets both
African and European style.
An e-mail from Jennifer Hunt a member of the Squallis
Puppeteers in Louisville Kentucky let me know what they are
up to. They are moving into a new space and will be able to seat
100. They have two new shows in the works “Outside” a
show for Middle and High School and “Little Horses Big Adventure”
for Pre-Schools. She also reports that they had the largest Halloween
party in the world because they built 9 and 10 foot puppets. Thanks
for the up-date and good luck on your new puppet place.
The New York puppeteers have been busy building new puppets.
Linda Bienstock has an unusual hand puppet lady ready to be
a stand-up comedienne, Jeffery Nelson ( based in CT) but
performing in NY has a new hand puppet magician . Lois Corwin
also a New Yorker has just completed her new show ,” The John
Henry Story.” I received an unexpected letter from Joann
Siegrist in West Virginia. She was on sabbatical last spring
and spent time in Beijing China. She appeared on a TV Show in Central
China and indicated one has a wild time finding supplies for making
puppets in China.
Wayne Martin of Boston did a stint in Rhode Island and wowed
them with his Count Dracula who was host of the performers that
included goblins , ghosts , pumpkins and bones.
Colin Taylor, a woodcarver, from North Platte Nebraska,
that he has just finished a fairy and giant for his new show, He
tells me his shows are based on the “Virtues Book”
Bob Digangi from Florida has a beautiful new hand carved
Punch and Judy set. A large and varied P&J cast from Punch and
Judy to the Wizard of Oz, Just for the fun of it.
Also in Long Beach California, Carol and Emily Taylor are
doing their own version of Punch and Judy. (All hail -- Punch and
Judy lives on.)) Carol and Emily spent three weeks in Japan recently
learning about Japanese culture.
Jim Gamble and crew have been cruising up and down the Calif.
Coast line.
Those lucky people in Arizona had a workshop with Drew Allison
out of South Carolina doing foam puppets. I can tell you they
had a great time. One of my favorite puppets - a green leprechaun
, I built two summers ago in Drew's class at Puppet Festival Mid-West.
The leprechaun is a favorite with my pre-school buddies and my wild
Irish friends.. .........naturally on St Patrick's day.
Drew Allison's Gray Seals have really been busy in his studio!
Vania Reckard and Cheralyn Lambeth have been making two NBA
and three other mascot costumes. Gray Seal also collaborated with
Charlotte's Barebones Theatre Co. on the production of Clive Barker's
“Crazyface”. Drew in the mean time dropped in on the Mum
Puppettheatre in Philadelphia, and then on to the Great Arizona
Puppet Theatre.
Speaking of The Mid West Festival , I got an e-mail from
Peter Allen saying he was tired of my whining about not having
anything to write in my column, so he offered me information as
to the Parasol Puppets activities. Fortunately Debbie
Allen clarified the information . She is much easier to understand
then Peter. They -The Parasol Puppets - performed at Christmas at
the Honolulu Academy of Arts, 6 shows on Sunday - 7 shows a day
- 5 days a week. WOW. Their show was a new one ,“The Animals
Christmas” and they built 40 new puppets for the show. It is
their 14th year performing in Honolulu. What a great record. Have
pity of those who never get call backs.
A note from Bob Nathanson tells me he wasn't ruined by hurricane
Wilma . What's ruining things is NASCAR and football. How well I
understand that. Colorado drives us nuts with a team for everything
and skiing besides.
Allynn Gooen in New York writes that he is still busy doing
balloons and helping his busy wife Annie. Annie does fantastic
bug costumes and this year for the opening of the new children's
garden in Chicago, she not only did her show but they gave her a
room labeled the “Annie Hickman Costume Art Gallery” .
If you have ever seen the costumes she does , you know the kids
went wild getting to view them.
I received a report from Dale VonSeggen of Puppets From One Way
Street. He reported that last summer they hosted the Festival
of Christian Puppetry and Ventriloquism. It was their tenth anniversary
and they had over 1,102 attendees. Dale also sent me a copy of their
workbook and it is phenomenal . Check his web site.
Tom and Maryanne Tucker were mentioned in the Finnish American
Reporter . The Finnish loved their performance at the Finnish American
Festival. Central Florida had a neat coverage of the 2005 Minneapolis
PofA Festival. Picture pages that show all the fun and laughter
at a topnotch Festival.
In Orlando they had a fall festival with lots of puppet people:
Paul Zaloom, Philip Huber, Scott and James Silson, Am-Jam Productions,
Gepetto, and David Steven's “New Adventures of Peter Rabbit
and Puppets From the Edge .
I love it when the DC Puppettimes arrives in my mail box.
I stop everything to read it. My good friend, John McAnistan
always has lots about the D.C, Puppeteers and they always have an
article that is special to puppetry. Terry Snyder had a wonderful
article about a Paul McPharlin marionette named Ming Tsi that was
made for “The Chinese Nightengale.” Terry wrote an article
on the difficulties involved in restoring old marionettes. John
reports that Bob Brown is well after a health scare. That's
good news, once again proving that puppeteers are tough.. Sue
Wood in DC has written a kids book “Polly Parrot”
look for it in your local book stores. John also had word that New
Orlean's residents, Nancy Staub and the Stolterers
escaped the ravages of “Katrina” That's more good news.
Michael Graham of Spring Valley Puppets presented “Jack
and the Beanstalk” with lots of new twists, Heidi Rugg's
Barefoot Puppets doing “Little Red Hen” and The
Puppet Co., doing “Nutcracker.” all at Glen Echo
Park.
Tears of Joy in Oregon opening a new ”Cinderella “
they are also presenting Nancy Aldrich's new “Blame It On the
Moon.”
The Masque Theatre in New York are working on a childrens
television series. Indications are it is difficult to get people
to commit to worthwhile projects.
Fred Putz of Chicago echoed the same thing. Getting people
to join and participate in Guild activities is a problem . Fred
has tried all kinds of great ideas . If anyone has ideas of ways
to recruit and get new members let us know.
As always there are lots of new shows in New York the 42nd Street
puppets are doing” Erik The Amazing & The Shallaballah
“ the story of how Erik overcame his fears. The Puppetworks
are doing “ Beauty and the Beast. “ And the Swedish
Cottage Marionette Theatre is ( doing it in the threes), The
Three Pigs, Bears and Billy Goats.
Ed Sheehy's picture was in the NY newsletter doing two different
kinds of puppets. I have known Ed since I first got involved with
the PofA so I have to stop and say Ed does the most phenomenal hand
puppets I have seen in years. They are beautifully simple and he
handles them as if they were part of him. He handles them like the
Chinese puppets that jump and fly. Ed's puppets do all those things
even better . I hope he will be at a Regional Festival because I
will go just to see him perform with them again .
My thanks to all of you who sent me e-mails and who wrote and sent
newsletters. If I missed you know that it is because I lost this
column three different times in cyber space. My thanks to my editor
for understanding, Have a great New Year everyone and keep doing
and letting me know what you are doing. Happy 2006. M”El
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