Wump Mucket Puppets

We've moved

2011-08-26T14:55:00.000-04:00

"Good night, good night. Parting is such sweet sorrow
That I shall say good night till it be morrow." -William Shakespeare

Well it's time to bid farewell to this little blog that has been the online home of Wump Mucket Puppets since 2005. I am a little sad to say goodbye, and thrilled that the puppet troupe has grown from a childhood dream to a performing puppet company.

I hope that those of you who read my thoughts and ideas on this blog will follow our adventures on the new blog, as wells as our Facebook page and Twitter feed. I will leave this blog up so new fans of Wump Mucket Puppets can learn about our little puppet troupe in it's formative years.

Thanks for your interest, please stay in touch.


Puppeteer Terrence Burke with daughter Eleanor	around the time this blog was launched

PUPPETS ROCK! -TjB

Dubya Dubya Dubya...

2011-07-27T21:37:00.001-04:00

It's "DOUBLE YOU!!!" for crying out loud! Oh, sorry about that...

In case you just dropped in, may I call your browser's attention to look and see
http://www.wumpmucketpuppets.com

You read that right! At last our own website to tell the whole WWW about Wump Mucket Puppets!
Many thanks to Kevin Leidecker for all of his help in getting the website up and clicking 0101010101. Oops, that's machine talk. ;)

Of course this means that this blog will eventually move over to the "official" website in the not so distant future. Don't worry, I'll give you plenty of advance warning.

The new website, like all of my projects, is a work in progress. Hey, aren't we all nothing more than walking & talking "works in progress"? I have quite a few cool ideas that I wish to add to the website as it develops. Click on over, look around, let me know what you think.

We are on a roll!

2011-07-10T23:58:00.000-04:00

July has been a VERY busy month at the Wump Mucket Puppets secret HQ. Our dragon parade puppet was met with many kind words. Here's the video:

Our show at the Northside library was very well attended. Everyone had fun, and checked out a few books about puppetry and cryptozoology. We would love to perform at our neighborhood's library, and other libraries, in the not too distant future.

Speaking of the future... there are a few very exciting things that are going to be happening to this little puppet troupe. An "official" Wump Mucket Puppets website is in the planning stages, a short video to help promote our favorite pizza shop NYPD Pizza is in "pre-production", and finally we will be announcing a future performance at one of Cincinnati's fine museums very soon.

We're going to the library!

2011-06-24T00:22:00.000-04:00

I am 110% thrilled to say that on Wednesday July 6th the Wump Mucket Puppets will be performing at the Northside Branch of the Cincinnati Public Library, 4219 Hamilton Avenue, Northside, Cincinnati (513) 369-4449.

Here's the Google link to help you find the Northside Library

July 11 Puppet Poster

The show starts at 3PM and runs about a half hour. After the show I will be conducting a "Question & Answers" session with the audience about puppetry. So please bring some questions for the puppets, and with some luck they will have a few answers for you. Oh, tell all your friends about this FREE show! We want to pack the room and have arranged to have books about puppetry and cryptozoology available to borrow, so bring your library card.

G'Wazzl gets a chuckle from old Earth comics

Why am I so happy to be performing at our neighborhood library you wonder? The answer is simple, I LOVE LIBRARIES! I remember my mother walking me and my sisters and brothers to the Ballardvale library when we were all very young, reading books to us, and the best part, being able to bring the book or record (yes record!) home to read or listen to again. Libraries are one of the treasures in life that should be enjoyed and used frequently. My family must visit the wonderful Northside library several times a week.

Coleman reading one of his favorite books

I am also very please to say that to celebrate the Wump Mucket Puppets performance at the Northside Library, I have written a new tune for Cyril to sing about his love of the library. We hope to see you at the show!

Cyril loves reading about his cousin Champ

College Hill & Northside know that PUPPETS ROCK!!!

2011-06-18T23:06:00.000-04:00

It's been a busy week for the Wump Mucket Puppets and we love it! Two shows performed in the same week and I haven't lost my voice! Remarkable.

A HUGE thank you to everyone who came to see our puppet shows in College Hill and our home turf of Northside. We love to perform for you. I honestly believe that keeping the puppet show small and local really is, in the grand scheme of things, something big!

I look forward to our next puppet show that will be INSIDE an air conditioned building! YIPPEE!!!
Come and join us on Wednesday July 6th at the Northside branch of the Cincinnati Public Library at 3 PM.
You can look forward to a couple of new songs that the puppets and I have been working on over the last few weeks. As Coleman has said before, "It's gonna be great!"

Two puppet shows next week!!!

2011-06-08T07:19:00.000-04:00

Come out to see the Wump Mucket Puppets perform their first outdoor shows this year!

Both performances are FREE and 101% family friendly!

Thursday, June 16th 3:30 PM
College Hill Farm Market
5742 Hamilton Avenue, College Hill
The Farm Market is held in the parking lot of the College Hill Presbyterian Church

Saturday, June 18th 4 PM
Northside's Art in the Park
Hoffner Park (corner of Hamilton & Blue Rock) in the heart of Northside

We'll be telling a few new jokes, a new tune or two, along with the Wump Mucket Puppets' usual silliness!

Here's a link to the cool new poster featuring Cyril:
June 2011 Wump Mucket Puppets poster

...and for those of you still reading, I have not forgotten about sharing the puppetry bits of our trip to Maryland last month. I promise that I'll get to it soon and include a few of the hundreds of photos.
Thanks for your interest, we hope to see you at a show next week!

It's always nice to hear from you

2011-05-22T08:51:00.001-04:00

It's always nice to hear what our audience thinks of our little puppet troupe. Here are a couple of very nice comments sent to us from folks who saw our shows that were performed in May:

Thank you for a great show today!!

Chloe is still talking about it :O)

Thank you for the wonderment. An amazing show! Bravo!!!

The puppets and I are very pleased that our wonderful audience enjoys our antics so much. We couldn't have done it without YOU! There are more shows scheduled throughout the summer. Check back here, or on our Facebook page for the dates in the very near future. We hope to see YOU there!

Remember....PUPPETS ROCK!

Come see us at the Cincinnati Family Enrichment Center on May 21st!

2011-05-09T22:03:00.000-04:00

The puppets will be hopping into their box and rolling around the corner from our super secret Northside headquarters to entertain the families attending the Sampler Saturday at the Cincinnati Family Enrichment Center, 4244 Hamilton Avenue on Saturday May 21st at 3:30 PM.

What's a Sampler Saturday you ask? (from CFEC's website)
It's a smorgasbord of abbreviated demo classes! Considering a music class for your infant? Wondering if signing with your baby is right for you? Does a creative movement class sound fun for your toddler? What about an art class for your one year old? Maybe Spanish for your 2 year old? Cooking, puppetry, drama, yoga? We offer over 20 classes from Birth to 5 years – give us a try! And, if you’re already a CFEC regular, please invite a friend who hasn’t found out how awesome we are!

Saturday, May 21st; 3:30-5:30
6 class samples will be offered, appropriate from Birth to age 5
A $5.00 donation is kindly requested to help us thank our entertainer

*Those who make a donation will be entered into a drawing for a free Summer Term child’s class series of your choice (a $100 value!)!

More info at: http://www.theplaceforfamilies.com/

I'll be glad to meet and greet anyone who wishes to talk to the puppets after the show and will have our wonderful coloring page on hand for our younger fans. See you at the show!

Is it STILL raining?

2011-05-02T23:37:00.000-04:00

Now that the frame of the puppet stage has dried I thought I'd give our fans a heads up that there are several public performances in the pipeline for the Wump Mucket Puppets!

I promise that the dates (yes DATES!) will be posted very soon. I want to iron out the small wrinkles in Cyril's tail before I make an official announcement. I hope you are as excited as I am! I bet Coleman would rather stay in his box.

So try to stay dry (hey, that should be a song) and drop by this little bit of a blog real soon. As always, thank YOU for your kind interest in the silly adventures of the Wump Mucket Puppets troupe.

Thank you for being a wonderful audience!

2011-04-27T22:13:00.001-04:00

If you look at the smiling faces of the children that I performed for this morning you will see the reason why I am a puppeteer. As I continue to develop my puppetry skills (and spills) I crave moments such as this when I can bring laughter and smiles to the people who are so kind to be my audience for half an hour.

Sure, the sky opened up and dropped a gazillion gallons of water on me while I was unloading to set up for the shows today, yet the show must go on! A little rain never stopped the Wump Mucket Puppets!

Thanks to all the students and teachers in Room A3 at Winton Montessori School this morning, and the families who stopped by the Northside Farmers Market this evening to see the show. I hope to see you at our shows in the future.

Come out and see our first show of 2011!

2011-04-11T22:29:00.001-04:00

A singing Sea Serpent, a picnic basket loving Sasquatch, and a large orange alien have been spotted in Northside!

The Wump Mucket Puppets return to the Northside Farmers Market for a free puppet show on Wednesday, April 27^th at 5:30 PM. The market is located at the North Presbyterian Church, 4222 Hamilton Avenue in Northside, of course.

The twenty-five minute live performance is family friendly and includes original songs, skits, and silliness written and performed by Northside puppeteer Terrence Burke.

Be sure not to miss this!
Here's the snazzy poster

Puppetry for my neighborhood's silent auction

2011-02-18T23:13:00.002-05:00

I am donating a child's birthday party puppet show to the silent auction at the Northside Generations concert. This fundraiser is to help replace the banners that hang over the Ludlow viaduct to welcome visitors to our funky neighborhhood. In addition to the musical performances, that feature different generations of Northsiders, there will be a silent auction of goods and services donated by people in the neighborhood.

Here's a photo of the "gift card" that I made:

I hope that the auction goes well, and look forward to perform my one of a kind puppet shows at a lucky neighbor's birthday party.

Here's the info about the event:

Generations
7:00 - 11:00 PM
The Deaf Club
3938 Spring Grove Avenue
For information 513-542-2500
or timjeckering@fuse.net

One of my favorite Sesame Street songs has always been "Who Are The People in Your Neighborhood". I often sing it to my children, and still feel that children should know the various names and faces in their little world. I love the feeling of a community. I guess this started about the same time I started watching Sesame Street in 1969 on my family's tiny black & white tee-vee set in Ballardvale, Massachusetts. It was in that village, that is located in the town of Andover, that I learned about the people in my neighborhood. Mr. Beacott ran the Corner Cupboard (a small variety store & lunch counter), Bill Miller fixed cars next to our house at Shawsheen Service gas station, Mr. Cronin owned the ice cream distribution business down the street (where I would later work for a Summer in high school), Mrs. Sharpe was the village branch librarian, Mr. Trombly was the barber who gave me my first professional hair cut, and Henry the mailman delivered our family's mail with a smile everyday. These golden memories have stayed with me all my life, and I feel that my children may be missing some of that simple magic of what it was like to live in a neighborhood. I guess we have some of it still. Maybe it's that the Sesame Street song brings back those memories? In any case I'll be happy to be known as the Northside puppeteer and I am proud to help my neighborhood.

In memory of my father Denis Burke

2011-01-24T23:49:00.000-05:00

I was recently in a conversation with a neighbor and was asked who my influence was as a puppeteer. My reply was quick, "Burr Tillstrom, Caroll Spinney, and Jim Henson". Those men created or performed puppets that I really enjoyed as a child. I admire their work and have viewed hours of their performances on DVD, read many books written by them or about them, even had the pleasure to meet Caroll Spinney several times in my life. Yet, as I thought about my answer more while driving in the car with my children, there is a man who was far more influential on my work than any of those brilliant puppeteers. That man is my father, Denis Burke.

My dad would be celebrating his 74th birthday later this week, if he had not suddenly died 10 years ago in late January 2001. I took his death quite hard. It really did a number on my daily life. I began a spiral down into a state of mind that I never wish to see again and eventually agreed to see a counselor. It was in those sessions that I realized that I needed to find an activity that brought joy back into my life. I can't recall exactly how it happened, yet the idea of working with puppets kept popping into my head in the Spring of 2001.

Puppets have always interested me. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of watching puppets on television. One of my most cherished memories from my boyhood, is when my dad drove me to Boston to attend a puppet convention (it was here that I first met Caroll Spinney). My father was very supportive of my interest in puppets, and bought me a Musicians of Bremen finger puppet set to encourage my puppetry hobby. Gosh, I wish I still had those little felt puppets today.

As I remember back to those darker days in early 2001, I recall feeling so empty. I was in my mid-30's and was not prepared to lose my father so suddenly. Is anyone? Perhaps my brain kicked into a survival mode to help the rest of me survive the loss of my father. Maybe the childhood memories of attending that puppet convention with my dad were waiting to be remembered fondly to release a feeling of happiness during that hard time in my life. I may never know.

The fact is that my father's death brought on my adult interest of puppetry, which has brought me to the creation of the Wump Mucket Puppets. That Spring I joined Puppeteers of America and the Cincinnati Area Puppetry Guild. I began drawing ideas for puppet characters, writing down bits for scripts, all of that creative activity helped me to keep my mind off the aftermath of a parent's death.
Sure, it took me a while to get those sketches and scribbles into the form of a live puppet show, yet I did it.

Back to the influence topic. I guess I get the performer gene from my father. He was a radio broadcaster for many years, and could cook up some very silly schtick for his radio shows in the early 70's and into the 1980's when schtick could still be found on the radio. For those of you who have heard my Cyril the Sea Serpent character shout "SCHPAK! SCHPAK!" during the show, I am borrowing it from my father as a bit of a tribute to him. My Dad introduced me to Monty Python's Flying Circus, Ealing Studio comedy films, and the work of Mel Brooks and Woody Allen. The man KNEW what was GOOD comedy. I really hope that some of his comic awareness has rubbed of on my puppet show scripts. I think that some of it has since I do hear people laughing at my puppets during the show.

And that's what got me started in puppetry in the first place, finding joy where there was sorrow. Turning a frown into a smile. Making people laugh is possibly the greatest thing that I can hope to accomplish as I try to do my very best as a puppeteer. I know that my father would like that.

Denis and Terrence Burke, December 1991

Coleman makes it into the Cryptomundo blog!!!

2011-01-15T12:39:00.002-05:00

I am thrilled that our little Sasquatch puppet has drawn the attention of noted author and cryptozoologist Loren Coleman. I had better get started on working out a marketing plan for Coleman toys! ;)

Read the blog here:
Cryptomundo Blog article

Puppets & Projects for 2011

2011-01-12T23:23:00.001-05:00

We are almost half way into January 2011 and I am happy to report that the Wump Mucket Puppets are entering the new year with several exciting projects and upcoming performances.

The projects:

"The Legend of the Last Kelpie" puppet play is "stewing" in my brain a little longer. At first I envisioned this as one of my quick little shows for children, yet as I scrawled down ideas it is beginning to look like a much more involved production, and will take more time to write, build, and perform. To tease you a little, it's the story of a young girl growing up near the Atlantic Ocean at the beginning of the 20th century. The play will appeal to families, not just the tots.

"G'Wpunzel" will be the Wump Mucket spin on the Brothers Grimm tale "Rapunzel" featuring our resident orange alien puppet G'Wazzl G'Wook in the starring roll...wearing a purple wig.

WUMP MUCKET PUPPETS - The Comic Book! You read that correctly. I have sketched and rough drafted a mini-comic to sell at our shows in glorious black & white! Issue #1 tells the tale of how Cyril and Coleman first met.

Speaking of Coleman, his new fur arrived last week from California ,which makes sense since he's a Sasquatch. His rebuild should be ready for the Spring shows.

Spring shows? Yes, dear reader, SHOWS! I'll post the exact dates and venues as we get closer to that lovely season.

And on a more boring note, but cool for me, I have ordered business cards to help promote this little puppet troupe.

2010 was the year the puppets got out!

2010-12-31T12:04:00.001-05:00

I am very proud that this year was the year that I finally got my little puppet show out in front of an audience with a grand total of seven shows performed in 2010.

Thanks to everyone who came out and clapped and laughed at the puppet's silliness. I really appreciate your interest in my puppet shows.

Here are a few photos from the "first annual" Wump Mucket Puppets Holiday Sing A Long Puppet Show:

So what does 2011 hold in store for the Wump Mucket Puppets?

Hmmmm.....

Excellent question. The idea gears are already turning for an Irish themed skit to perform around St. Patrick's Day. The "Coleman" puppet will be rebuilt, and I have found a faux fur that looks GREAT! I have had a request from my daughter Eleanor to figure out a way to rig the puppet stage to drop ping-pong balls onto the puppets...so that will be a fun challenge.

So 2011 will be filled with exciting projects to keep this little puppet troupe rolling along into new and exciting adventures in live family friendly puppetry.

A big thank you to YOU, our audience. When I hear your laughter and applause I smile knowing that you know that the Wump Mucket Puppets ROCK!

Coleman helps promote our 12/30 show at Sidewinder Coffee

2010-12-22T23:03:00.000-05:00

Please make Coleman and the other puppets happy by joining all the fun on Thursday December 30 at 11 AM, Sidewinder Coffee 4181 Hamilton Avenue Northside.

Have a wonderful holiday season!

Wump Mucket Puppets Holiday Sing-A-Long & puppet show

2010-12-15T21:58:00.000-05:00

You read that right. We're squeezing one more show into 2010!

What: Wump Mucket Puppets Holiday Sing-A-Long & puppet show. Join the puppets as they sing some of their favorite Christmas time tunes, and perform an encore presentation of the soon to be a classic "Lil' Red Sasquatch Hood" skit.

When: Thursday, December 30th at 11 AM

Where: Sidewinder Coffee & Tea
4181 Hamilton Avenue in Northside -Cincinnati's "hippest" neighborhood!

How much: FREE!

Arrive early so you can get a good seat and bring your Jingle Bells!

What's next?

2010-11-15T22:41:00.000-05:00

As 2010 starts to wind down, I look back on it with some pride. I have finally, at the age of 45, become an amateur puppeteer. Is being an amateur a bad thing?
Not really.

I recall a line from Ken Nordine's "Adult Kindergarten", "No one lives long enough to be anything but an amateur."
Perhaps if I had followed my passion for puppetry back in the 80's or 90's I may be able to pay the bills with it. Then it could have become a "career" rather than a hobby.
Careers have always scared me, I have followed several of them and never really been very happy to where they have taken me. Whereas hobbies are doing something I love for the pleasure of it, nothing else. Sure, some hobbies may lead you to grand and wonderful places to meet fun and exciting people. I am up for that journey, as long as they aren't wearing suits and neck ties when I get there.

As I move this little puppet troupe into 2011, I have begun to research puppet friendly venues to perform the show. Nothing solid to report just quite yet, however there are a few promising possibilities on the horizon.

I can tell you that I will be performing "Lil' Red Sasquatch Hood" at a private holiday party for my fellow Cincinnati Area Puppetry Guild members next month. I have been a CAPG member since 2001, when I began to focus my creative energy towards puppetry. They are the nicest puppet people I have met, and it will be a pleasure to perform for my puppetry guild.

Dim the lights, it's slide show time everybody!

2010-10-29T21:56:00.003-04:00

Here are a few photos from the three performances of our "Lil' Red Sasquatch Hood" show on October 27, 2010.

Slide show of "Lil' Red Sasquatch" puppet show

Many thanks to Jan Stenken at Winton Montessori School and William Lambeth at the Northside Farmers Market for having me perform.

Thanks to my daughter and son, Eleanor and Tiernan, for being my test audience and inspiration to perform puppets for children.

Thank you Mum and Dad(R.I.P), for seeing that I had an interest in puppetry all those years ago, and encouraging me to (finally) be a puppeteer.

Yet most of all, a HUGE HUG & KISS to the love of my life, my wife Lara, for staying up very late with me as we worked together to get this little puppet show out our front door and in front of an audience.

For those of you still reading (Hi Susan, Chris L., and Ruby Mae) thanks for your kind words of support as I ever so slowly put this little puppet troupe together, you are VERY cool people because you know that PUPPETS ROCK!

WOW! I'm bushed

2010-10-27T23:33:00.000-04:00

Well my big puppet day of 3 shows all performed live on the same day is over.

Almost everything went well, and I even got the kids to laugh!

I'll post more pictures soon.

Goodnight puppet people, Zzzzzzzz....

FREE PUPPET SHOW!!! - Wednesday October 27th - 5:30 & 6:30PM

2010-10-18T19:15:00.000-04:00

Well the big show is coming up next week. I hope that you'll come and see us!

WHAT: Wump Mucket Puppets presents: Lil Red Sasquatch Hood

WHEN: Wednesday, October 27th at 5:30PM and repeated at 6:30PM (the same show will be performed LIVE each time)

WHERE: Northside Farmers Market @ North Presbyterian Church, 4222 Hamilton Avenue in Northside.
Google Maps Link

HOW MUCH: FREE!

WHY: For fun of course!

I hope to see our Cincinnati friends & fans there!

HEY KIDS! Have you tried this new cereal?!?

2010-10-15T20:58:00.000-04:00

When I was a boy my mother rarely purchased any cereal that was sweetened. Most breakfasts were oatmeal, homemade granola (I grew up in the 60's & 70's), or even pancakes. I dreamed of being pumped up on any breakfast cereal that was pitched by an animated sales character.

When I started earning my own spending money delivering newspapers at the age of ten I knew what I would buy: Comic books, candy, and Cap'n Crunch cereal. Who cared if it ripped the roof of your mouth up? It was sweet! Soon I found a Cap'n Crunch clone cereal called Freakies (remember it was the 70's). The animated commercials were cool, the jingle snappy, and there was a plastic toy inside! I loved Boss Moss, and would draw the Freakies for classmates in 4th grade.

So as I put my puppet show together over the past 9 (!!!) years, I knew that it had to have a "sponsor". We know that all great kid's shows from my youth were "brought to you by (read "buy")" Kelloggs of Battlecreek, General Mills, or Post.

As an adult I've learned that the cereal companies practically bankrolled Saturday Morning cartoons. Why shouldn't the Wump Mucket Puppets have a "sponsor" that the puppets can chat about?

Why not indeed!

Ladies and Gentlemen! Boys and Girls, I present the sweet cereal to top ALL sweet cereals!

SUPER SUGAR CRUNCHY THINGS HAVE ARRIVED!

Now before you call the FDA, remember...it's only a puppet show. I think I'm going to get some miles of this gag gang, at least until some kid tries to get their parents to buy a box at the supermarket!

Eleanor wants the FREE Krunchy Kat Comic that is inside each specially marked box.

Still rolling along!

2010-10-15T00:35:00.000-04:00

Many things are rolling here and there at the Wump Mucket HQ in lovely Northside.

The upgrade to the puppet stage is coming along with MUCH help from Lara, and NO help from the sales lady at Hancock Fabrics who shorted me on a few feet of Velcro...guess where I am no long shopping?

The props are looking cool, and need a bit more work before showtime.

Finally, I knocked out a pleasing looking flyer for the show, scratch that, it's cool looking. I am proud of myself for making the flyer with very little knowledge of Open Office software. Yippee! Now if only I could figure out how to convert the PDF to HTML so I may share it with our lovely fans.

I shouls also mention that the "Lil Red Sasquatch Hood" show (as it's been dubbed) will also be performed for Eleanor's class at Winton Montessori School as a warm up for the "big show" on October 27th.

Time for some rest...Zzzzzz.

The September show is now the October show...

2010-08-30T22:13:00.000-04:00

I have had to move the show to late October since there is still work to be done and I didn't feel that it could be completed in time for late September. Thanks to Will at the Northside Farmer's Market for being flexible with my schedule.

In moving the show, two cool things have happened...my wife will be my puppet wrangler (this means she will help me quickly switch puppets while I perform) and the show will now be indoors! No need to worry about the weather!!!

Not only do I have almost two months to wrap this little show into a tasty bite, I had a spark of creative energy this afternoon while vacuuming the house! I was able to blurt out a new tune that Eleanor thinks is good enough to include in the show.
Seeing that she's my Number 1 fan, how can I not include it?

Now for some late night puppet show prop design...

Type Type Type Type Type

2010-08-19T23:32:00.000-04:00

The little show has almost 1300 words* in the script so far! I have been staying up late, typing the script while listening to the Cincinnati Reds on the radio.

I am very happy with how the show is looking on paper. I hope to have it typed into a proper script by the end of the week. Then it's time to make a few props, and if time allows, get the puppet stage cleaned up a bit.

*Words in the script include: Raucous, Sucrose, and Forest

...Still rolling along

2010-07-28T07:33:00.000-04:00

The draft is happily morphing into a real script with a few adjustments here and there. The ending of the featured sketch, which will be in the middle of the show, has made me poke my head with a pencil a few times. I have tried a few endings, and have yet to settle on the one that I feel works the best, and gets the most laughs.

I hope to have the complete script finished this week, and then it's on to prop building, stage adjusting, and possibly back to the "Coleman" rebuild project.

Yipee!

This show is on a roll!

2010-07-13T09:34:00.001-04:00

I am happy. I am tired. I am not tired of being happy. In all honestly I have LOTS of crap (icky) going on outside my "puppetry world" that has no place here. Luckily I have made progress in writing the script for my new show that will be performed in late September.

Writing this show has been easier than before since I have always kept notebooks and scraps of paper with bits & pieces scrawled down for future use. I only needed the time to roll in into a little puppet show that made me chuckle. My lovely wife suggested a few weeks back to get out of the house, away from the chaos of everyday life. This worked like a charm. One trip to our neighborhood coffee shop and I had most of the centerpiece sketch done, and cleaned up the lyrics to the opening song.

A few days later I escaped to The Northside Tavern, to ignore the wildlife and bands to format the show into a production that will work. This needs a bit of tweaking, yet has a solid base to work from.

Are you still interested? Great, because I have really good feelings about the show and the style of humor that I am writing.

About that... Why do SO MANY so called "family" shows (tee-vee, movies, whatever) have to include fart/burp jokes, rude humor, or material that should NEVER be seen by children? Last year we had to take our son to the hospital and sit in the waiting area for quite a while. The tee-vee was on The Disney Channel, I think the show was "That's So Raven" or something like that. It was unbearable. As we were the only people in the waiting area I muted the crap. THIS IS FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT?
Children are supposed to "enjoy" this stuff? WTF?!?

If this is what passes as "quality family entertainment" these days, then I am William Shakespeare.

Lara (my lovely wife) and I talk about media and childhood often. We were both born in the 60's, we both watched TONS of cartoons, re-runs, commercials, etc. We agree that the "crap" back then was far less harmful than the CRAP that is launched at children today. Our crap was sometimes junky, today it is TOXIC!

It is in knowing this that I pledge, as a father of two young children (ages 5 & 3), I will never perform family entertainment that I would not perform in front of them or my own mother. I wonder if the people who produce today's junk can say that? I doubt it very much.

TEASER ALERT: The title of the song that will be at the start of the show is [DRUM ROLL PLEASE] "A Song About Cryptozoology".

Looking for musician(s) to perform with...

2010-07-07T07:39:00.000-04:00

I have posted this info on a few boards, I may as well put it here too:

DiY puppeteer is seeking a like minded solo singer/songwriter or duo to perform at the Northside Farmer's Market in late September. My show is about 15-20 minutes long and I would like to share the performance time with a "artistically compatible" musician(s). The music must be family friendly, and not political, nor religious.
This is not a paying gig, but could be lots of fun!

If you read this blog, and know a musician in the Cincinnati area that may be interested in this, have them email me: wumpmucket AT fuse DOT net

I have had a few ideas about merging bands/music with my puppet show and would like to give it a try.

New puppet show date!

2010-06-24T09:31:00.000-04:00

I am pleased to announce that the Wump Mucket Puppets will be performing an all original, all live show at the Northside Farmer's Market at Hoffner Park in beautiful "downtown" Northside (in Cincinnati).

The show is scheduled for Wednesday, September 29, 2010. Show times will probably be at 5:30 PM and repeated at 6:30 PM. The show is FREE and appropriate for ALL AGES. The show times will be confirmed as we get closer to the date.

As far as the show goes...

It's a secret for now, as I am still bashing ideas around inside my head. So you will have to keep reading this little blog to get more clues.

Remember kids, PUPPETS ROCK!

Live recording of (most of) my show

2010-05-16T17:47:00.002-04:00

My performance at the Winton Montessori School picnic went well. The stage did not collapse, blow away, or ignite into flames. The children and parents enjoyed the show, and a few even thanked me for performing.

Lara tried to shoot some video, yet had a hard time watching both the camera and our children as you will see.

I have been able to review the video and notice that I have to keep all the puppets moving at all times, so they do not seem "dead".

Overall, I had fun, and that's what it's all about.

A pic from the past

2010-04-30T22:02:00.000-04:00

With many thanks to my brother Chris, here's a picture of me playing with an elephant puppet on Christmas morning in the 70's. My best guess is that it's around '73. Those were the days! Sadly that puppet has been lost in time.

Thanks again Chris for providing this "important" photo from my misspent youth.

Puppet Booth, Stage, Box, whatever...it's coming together.

2010-04-27T22:00:00.001-04:00

I have had a bit of trouble deciding how to hold the three frames of my PVC puppet booth together. I started building the stage about 2 years ago, life happened in between.
A few nights ago, or was it early in the morning, it hit me (as many of my ideas eventually do)...drill holes into the PVC and keep it all together with larger washers & wing nuts! To think, I was thinking about using velcro.

A quick stop at the hardware store and a morning in the backyard were all I needed to get this stage of the "stage" together. I am happy with it's progress and feel that it should hold up to an outdoor performance.

OUTDOOR PERFORMANCE? Oh, please excuse me for neglecting to mention that I have been requested to perform at Winton Montessori School on Saturday May 15 2010. I will probably run through my 10 minute show six or seven times between Noon and 3 PM that day.

So with that deadline approaching I am staying on top of getting this stage together. I'll spare you any boring photos of an unfinished stage, and leave that for the finished project.

Are you one of our Facebook fans?

2010-04-19T10:56:00.000-04:00

If you are a fan of Wump Mucket Puppets on Facebook, or even of you are not, respond to this post and have an original Wump Mucket Puppets video made JUST FOR YOU!

Cyril visits the Cincinnati Zoo

2010-04-13T12:55:00.000-04:00

In an attempt to be creative with my puppets, and spend time outside with my children, I brought the Cyril puppet to the fabulous Cincinnati Zoo and made this little video:

The video could have been longer, however some bird in the butterfly garden decided that Cyril made a great target for it's crap! Oh, I was ticked off!
Luckily the bird crap came off and I learned a lesson:

Never try to make a puppet video where there are captive birds!

I love a parade!

2010-04-05T22:56:00.000-04:00

I took my children to the Cincinnati Reds' Opening Day Parade. We were planning to sit back and enjoy the lovely weather while watching the annual event when this pesky sea serpent showed up and took over my right arm!
Here's the video clip:

We had a ball!
Too bad The Reds lost today. :(

My first fan art!

2010-04-04T18:59:00.000-04:00

No amount of money could replace the feeling I felt when my wife told me that the students that I performed for last month created thank you cards, complete with pictures of my puppets!

I was really touched, and impressed with their artwork. The children must have been paying attention to my little show, because their art really captures the likeness of Cyril, Coleman, and G'Wazzl G'Wook.

What is special to me is that these children were my first audience that were there to see my puppets. All of my previous performances have been in puppet slams with other puppeteers.

It is very obvious that I made some sort of connection with them in the ten minute show. That connection is priceless. It may be foolish, yet making money through puppetry has never been my motivation.

Here is some of the children's art:

Wump Mucket Puppets is now on Facebook!

2010-03-31T18:47:00.005-04:00

If you are lurking about Facebook.com, please consider becoming a fan.

The puppets appreciate it more than you will ever know!

Here's the link:
WUMP MUCKET PUPPETS' FACEBOOK fan page

PUPPETS ROCK!

2010-03-18T12:55:00.000-04:00

The Wump Mucket Puppets had a great time performing at Winton Montessori School in Cincinnati today!

Here's a picture of Cyril and Coleman singing for the children:

The great news is that they would like me to come back and perform for more children!!!

The Tail!

2010-03-17T01:14:00.000-04:00

The Furry Guy/Coleman rebuild has been put on hold since the puppet was taking a little longer than I have time.

The performance at Eleanor's school is two days away, and with much help from my AMAZING wife here is Cyril's new tail:

The funny thing about this tail is that the idea has been around for nearly 7 years! Lara refined the design and quickly sewed the fabric together. I think it looks great.

Coleman/Furry Guy v.2 rebuild has begun!

2010-03-05T19:23:00.002-05:00

With much help from my very crafty (and lovely) wife, the rebuild of the "Coleman" (AKA "Furry Guy") puppet has begun. I had cut out the fabric last October, yet cut it much to large for a puppet that is supposed to be a small Sasquatch.

Lara's sharp eye spotted this and helped get the body of the puppet to look like something Sasquatchy. Now I must build the mouthplate and get it into the puppet's head, after that it's the eyes.

I am still up in the air about the puppets arms. Lara thinks he should not have arms, while I think it should. We'll see.

Furry Guy, who has been renamed Coleman, inspects his new skin

Getting this (puppet) show on the road...at last!

2010-03-02T21:44:00.000-05:00

I now have a deadline to get my little puppet troupe out in front of an audience other than my family. My daughter's teacher has asked me to perform for their class on March 18th!

Yesterday I found that wrapping a large piece of fabric around my synthesizer stand will make a pretty good hand puppet booth.

Tonight I am mashing notes, ideas, and early morning thoughts into a script.

Cross your toes, because the Wump Mucket Puppets WILL ROCK!

HELP! There's a Abominable Snowman in my front yard!

2010-02-09T21:37:00.001-05:00

Cincinnati received a proper snow storm last night, so schools closed, many businesses (including the bookshop I work at) shut down, so what should we do will all this free time and snow?

Build a snowman, abominable of course!

Here's the little video I made:

While not puppetry, this is a piece of original art that I have created from scratch in my front yard. I encourage you to do something different with snow this winter season.

Thanks to the neighbors who commented on my snow sculpture, even the kid who claimed that Bigfoot sightings in Ohio are "A lie!". I guess that info was just too much for his 10 year old brain to process.

WILD about PUPPETS

2010-02-01T10:33:00.002-05:00

In addition to my 2010 goal to get my puppet show out onto a stage I am trying to take my children to see one puppet show a month. January's show was called Wild Puppets!

The program was presented by two naturalists from the Cincinnati Parks department at the La Boiteaux Woods nature preserve. They gave two short puppet plays about the animals found in and around the nature preserve using this puppet tree:

The children in the audience were able to make either make their own owl puppet or a possum puppet out of a paper bag. I had my hands full while trying to keep Tiernan from running all around. We were lucky that a one of Eleanor's classmates was at the show too, her mother helped Eleanor make this nifty owl puppet:

The puppets were mostly Folkmanis puppets and the performance, while not top notch, was just fine for young children. My children loved seeing the animals, and playing with a lady bug puppet (Eleanor) and a stag beetle puppet (Tiernan). Of course I got to do a bit of puppetry when the naturalists had the audience pick up a puppet to participate with. I grabbed a toad puppet and did my Kermit impersonation that got a few laughs. We were also able to pet a rat snake who lives at the nature preserve.

Overall we had a great time, as you can see by looking at this photo of Tiernan:

The apple really doesn't fall far from the tree....

2010-01-22T20:13:00.002-05:00

I am a very happy geek daddy tonight!

My 5 year old daughter Eleanor is officially a published comic artist!

Several weeks ago she was looking at her comics and noticed that other children had their art printed in the comic book. She asked me how she could do that, and I suggested that she draw her favorite characters and we would mail them to DC Comics. Earlier today we were at our comic shop (Maverick's AKA "Leo's"), we were about to leave when I remembered that we had mailed DC her art, so I looked on the shelf to find this:

When I was around her age I thought that I would like to be a cartoonist or animator, my mother even paid for drawing lessons when I was in grade school. Then, in high school drawing class, I was thrown out of the class for not being serious about my work! I drew onions with hands and feet! I was so pissed off I don't think I touched a pencil for a few years.

You should also know that Eleanor's lovely mother is a VERY talented ARTSCHOOL DROP-OUT! Who says we can't draw?!?!

So I would like think that a little bit of my 5 year old self's dreams of being a cartoonist are printed on that page.

I love my daughter!

Art Clokey R.I.P.

2010-01-09T10:02:00.001-05:00

I am sad to learn that one of the men who has been a hero and inspiration to me and my puppetry has passed away.

I can't recall exactly when I became a fan of Gumby and Pokey, I guess it was in the late 60's or early 70's during my weekly Saturday morning tee-vee marathons. I have always found Gumby to be magical, even though I know how the puppet is animated. There is something so real about the character, and that is that Art Clokey put some of himself into the clay figure, making it seem real to me.

The odd thing about his passing is that Eleanor, Tiernan, and I were playing with our Gumby toys and watching a Gumby DVD yesterday, the day that Art Clokey left us. How strange.

Thank you Art for creating such a wonderful cast of characters that my family and I have enjoyed for many years.

Playing with my children, and a certain green frog

2009-12-01T06:58:00.000-05:00

Here's a little video I made while visiting a holiday train display in downtown Cincinnati. My daughter Eleanor brought her Kermit puppet along, I had a camera, and here's the clip:

Wump Mucket Puppets wants you to check out a photo on MySpace in the Puppeteers I have met album

2009-11-09T22:34:00.000-05:00

Wump Mucket Puppets wants you to check out a photo on MySpace in the Puppeteers I have met album

The closest I ever got to Sesame Street, or I was a Grouch Guard

2009-11-09T22:06:00.002-05:00

Set your WABAC machine for April 1, 2004.

Upon arriving at The Phoenix restaurant in downtown Cincinnati I notice a sign for the lecture that I was attending was being held on the third floor. The lecture was to benefit the early childhood organization 4C, it's speaker was none other than Sesame Street puppeteer Caroll Spinney!

I took the elevator up to the function room, checked in at the registration table, and entered the room. There was a dinner before the lecture, but the cost was beyond my budget so I paid for the lecture and dessert. Inside the large room I selected an aisle seat in the second row in the center section. From there I took out my camera to see how a picture would look.

After sitting for about 10 minutes I noticed Caroll Spinney approaching the stage with a woman from the 4C organization. He was carrying a duffel bag. They adjusted the microphone at the lectern, and then Caroll Spinney looked at me, I wave back. He then says, "Mister Puppeteer" and gives me a friendly smile. You should know that I had attended his talk the night before at Miami University and we were able to talk a little afterward. A group of newspaper photographers then arrived to take pictures of Caroll with Oscar the Grouch and then Ohio Senator Mark Mallory.

When the photographers finished, Caroll put Oscar back in his bag and then started to leave the stage when he made a sudden stop, turned around and approached me. I stood up to greet him, and he nodded towards the podium and jokingly says to me, "If anyone goes back there...kill them" referring to the famous puppet that was behind the podium.

When the lecture began Caroll walked onto the stage and looked at me with a nod of his head to say "thank you". He read a few paragraphs from his then current autobiography The Wisdom of Big Bird (and the Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch): Lessons from a Life in Feathers and then said that Oscar was gnawing at his leg!
In seconds Oscar the Grouch is singing "I Love Trash" and I snapped a few pictures of this wonderful performance that is only about 15 feet in front of me.

Caroll then took questions from the audience, I chose not to ask anything in order to give someone else a turn. When the lecture ended, Caroll moved to a table to sign his book, I was towards the beginning of the line -rather at the end as I was the night before. I brought with me the sleeve of an old record with Big Bird on the cover and a copy of Caroll's book to sign. When it was my turn he recognized me at once, I told him that Oscar was safe while he was away from the stage. Caroll thanked me and said that he knew that he left Oscar in good hands. I then asked him what inspired him to become a puppeteer. He then went on to tell me that he saw a few teenagers perform with kitten puppets when he was three years old.

That evening was as close as I have ever been to Sesame Street. Watching Caroll Spinney's performance as Oscar and Big Bird when I was almost 5 years old in 1969 has stayed with me for the past 40 years and remains a strong inspiration to be a puppeteer.

Happy 40th anniversary to everyone who ever walked on Sesame Street.

G'Wazzl G'Wook puppet video

2009-10-25T19:51:00.001-04:00

Well it only took around three years (off and on...mostly off) to build.

Here's a little video of my new puppet character G'Wazzl G'Wook with Eleanor goofing around in our backyard.

Back from Daddy-O-Land

2009-10-19T18:57:00.002-04:00

What has it been? Nearly three flippin' years!?!

What happened to me? Well, his name is Tiernan, and he is not a puppet but a real, live boy! My son was born in April of 2007, so you can imagine that I have been a little busy with raising two wonderful children since the last posting.

Fear not, dear readers... all three of you.

Wump Mucket Puppets lives!

More news later, but much sooner than before ;)

Slammed

2006-10-20T10:32:00.000-04:00

The 2006 puppet slam went rather well. I did my little act titled "Puppet Spam" with my Cyril The Sea Monster puppet. I got a few laughs, and one "heckler" too! I need to work on using my left arm to operate Cyril's tail more. I twisted my arm the wrong way while operating the puppet, and it still aches.

Several CAPG puppeteers plan to drive to Dublin, OH to perform at the COPA puppet slam next month. Maybe I'll get some photos to post.

Cincinnati Puppet SLAM!

2006-09-14T13:02:00.000-04:00

Of course I'll be performing, and doing whatever else is needed to make this a GREAT time for everyone. Won't you come?

Puppet Slam 2006 is coming!

2006-08-28T08:21:00.001-04:00

This year's CAPG Slam will be at The Cincinnati Art Museum. We are co-producing it with Enjoy The Arts (they helped get the theatre).
The SLAM will be Wednesday October 18th at 8PM.

More info as it develops.

Photos of our trip to the Smithstonian

2006-08-28T08:21:00.000-04:00

Father's Day on "Sesame Street"

2006-08-14T15:58:00.000-04:00

| View | Add Favorite

These photos were taken at The Indianapolis Children's Museum. We all had a GREAT time.

Looks like we have to visit DC

2006-05-17T07:42:00.000-04:00

Luckily my wife's father lives in the DC area.

All of you who know me, know that I love The Muppets. So visiting DC to see this exhibit is a "must see" for our family.

Wump Mucket Puppets slide show

2006-05-12T17:51:00.000-04:00

#@$! it's a pain to post photos here!!!

2006-05-06T09:35:00.000-04:00

After several attempts to post PiP (that's Puppet in Progress) pictures on this blog, and getting bounced off the s-l-o-w server...

I have these photos of G'Wazzle G'Wook to show you:

http://www.geocities.com/doctort13/ggc1.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/doctort13/ggc2.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/doctort13/ggc3.jpg

Puppets love the Net, help save it!

2006-05-02T21:34:00.000-04:00

If this goes down, we'll all be watching LOTS of crappy TV...

Save the internet, do it for the puppets!

G'Wazzle in on the way

2006-04-28T10:43:00.000-04:00

I've been trying to finish the G' Wazzle G' Wook puppet in time for Saturday's National Day of Pupptery celebration. We may do it. I just glued the mouth plate together, and have to let it dry for some time.

The most time consuming part of this puppet's construction are the tendrils. I have been hand sewing them, and it takes me "forever". I want 6 or 7 of them, but we shall see if I get them done in time. I can always add them at a later date.

Help WOXY.com

2006-02-06T18:58:00.000-05:00

I know that some readers of this blog will know of my love of internet radio station WOXY.com. I have been a fan/listener since first hearing it's terrestrial radio days as WOXY 97.7 FM way back in 1985-86. When that left the Cincinnati airwaves I felt a loss in my life. 97x, and it's DJs were a part of my adult life, and were now gone.

When WOXY.com hit the internet over a year ago, I was VERY happy. I listen almost daily, and love that it's still pushing the musical envelope by playing modern rock that NO OTHER radio station plays. Today the staff announced that inorder for WOXY.com to continue it must become a listener supported station. I am not surprised by this move. Having been a DJ myself on WAIF-FM for 6+ years in the 80's & 90's, I know that running a radio station isn't cheap. I am often amazed how many people think that it just magically happens.

Knuckleheads.

So if you are like me, and enjoy hearing & supporting exciting modern rock radio, please become a member of WOXY.com so they will continue for years to come. The membership is ONLY $9.95/month. That's less than many people pay for cable TV (I do not have cable for I think it sucks).

More info at: WOXY.com

Tell your friends that WOXY.com needs our support now.

Nothing new

2006-02-06T11:11:00.000-05:00

I guess I've already used that title... Oh well, I am working and daddying most of my time these days.

I'll get some puppet stuff going sooner or later.

Until then, house work awaits!

C is for crazy!

2005-11-21T18:05:00.000-05:00

Thank you Jaime & Micha for letting me know about Cookie Monster's bit with Martha Stewart!

Part 1:
http://www.collegehumor.com/movies/1596563/

Part 2:
http://www.collegehumor.com/movies/1596962/

Somehow I doubt very much if he will ever be a guest ever again. -snicker-

SaveTheMuppets.com

2005-11-18T09:43:00.000-05:00

It seems that Disney wants to spread the Muppets all over their world. Granted it would give a few more people the chance to perform a Muppet character. I, however, fel that this will cheapen the "brand". Oh my, they are no longer felt & foam...they are a revenue generating brand.

So, if you agree...
www.SaveTheMuppets.com

Krofft Brothers on NPR

2005-11-17T23:23:00.000-05:00

As a child I was simply MAD for the television program H.R. Pufnstuf.

I wanted to live on "Living Island", and remember trying to make my own Pufnstuf costume for Halloween because the packaged one in the store looked like crap. Somewhere I found puppets of the Kling and Klang characters...probably at a thrift shop.

Now that I am a parent, and have played the DVD to my daughter I can still see the magic that was in that show. Sure it was a wee bit trippy, but it was FUN!

It seems that the Kroffts are trying to make a new feature film starring their beloved dragon mayor, I can't wait! Just be sure to keep the theme song.

Here's the NPR interview.

Slammed

2005-11-03T23:36:00.000-05:00

We did it!

The slam was attended by 35-40 people in the back room of Sidewinder Coffee & Tea. The audience seemed to be interested, yet a little uncertain of what to expect. Maybe that is good.

We hope to have another puppet slam there in February of 2006.

Puppet Slam photos

2005-10-24T15:10:00.000-04:00

A few photos taken at CAPG's 2005 Puppet Slam:

Top to bottom:
- Micha & Edgar
- "Snuggles" performs "Evil"
- Linda Mason
- My daughter Eleanor

Getting it together

2005-10-18T07:38:00.000-04:00

Well, I have hung posters around Northside, posted messages on boards, and emailed "the press" -whom I doubt will print anything anyway.

Our little puppet slam (slim?) is less than a week away!

I have practiced my song, with and without a puppet on my right hand, and feel that I know it well enough. If I goof up...big deal. :)

It should be fun to see what the other puppeteers do.

slam?

2005-10-06T11:35:00.000-04:00

I have made flyers to help promote our tiny puppet slam. My heart is not into it anymore.

Arrrrgh.

2005-08-16T08:02:00.000-04:00

We had our August puppetry guild meeting this past Sunday (08/14/05), and I expressed that we still need puppeteers to perform at the October puppet slam. No one said "I'll be there!".

I am starting to wonder will we have ANY puppets at the puppet slam? What can I do to get people involved?

Another Devil head picture

2005-08-08T09:46:00.000-04:00

I sketched this more detailed picture of the devil head puppet on July 24th. It took me a little while to figure out how to post the photo on Blogger!

I plan to make the head around 10 inches tall with exaggerated features, such as one eyeball to be larger than the other. Why? Who knows, perhaps that's what I think a devil looks like in my mind's eye.

To the right of the head you can see the claw-like hands that I plan to add to the puppet. I will first sculpt the heads & hands out of modeling clay, next the sculpture will be covered in paper pulp mixed with glue...yum! We'll see how it goes.

In some puppet releated news, in my case anyway, the Cincinnati Public Library is offering a program called Comic Revolutions over the next three months. I have registered for the two workshops on comic book basics. I hope to learn a little more about scripting both puppet skits and comics from these FREE workshops. All in all it should be fun, and I get to see real live comic geeks!

Want to buy me an early birthday gift? Look no further, for here is a book that I would like to add to my collection: Puppetry: A World History by Eileen Blumenthal. I received a postcard from her publisher a few weeks ago and have yet to find it at the library. Maybe I will see a copy at work?

Faust puppet sketch 1

2005-07-25T11:11:00.000-04:00

Here is the first sketch for puppets that I am thinking of building for the puppet slam>>>>>>>

On the left is a devil puppet, with a close up of the puppet head to his right. I can't decide what a devil puppet would wear...any ideas?

On the lower right is a sketch of a jester. I am lucky that I already own some fabric to dress him in.

Oh, in other puppet related news...I am mailing a photo of Eleanor (my daughter) and I wearing our Oscar the Grouch t-shirts to Sesame Street puppeteer Carrol Spinney!

Faust idea

2005-07-23T10:03:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I watched the DVD of the Jan Svankmajer film FAUST and it gave me an idea to possibly perform a scene from it at out puppet slam. The scene involves a jester who has discovered how to summon devils by repeating enchanted words. I think the words were "feezlekay" to summon the devil, and "fozzlekay" to make him leave. I have reserved a copy Goethe's Faust from the library to research this a little further. I plan to build simple glove puppets, a jester and 1 or 2 devils. I think paper mache heads and hands with cloth torsos would work just fine.

More info about Faust here

We're SLAMMIN'

2005-07-16T09:38:00.000-04:00

Both Linda & Micha agreed with my idea to "simplfy" the slam. So I am going forward (at last) and scheduling the 2005 CAPG Puppet SLAM! for Saturday October 22nd at 7 PM. We are going to have it at Sidewinder Coffee & Tea, a cool coffee house that is right around the corner from Wump Mucket's secret HQ in Northside.

At last! We're slammin'!!!

Slimmer Slam?

2005-07-15T11:40:00.000-04:00

With just a little over 3 months before our puppet slam, and very few CAPG people stepping up to the plate to help make it happen I have been thinking of changing the scale of the Slam.

Booking a theatre space 3 months in advance seemed silly when only 4 guild members (Aretta, Linda, Micha, and myself) have agreed to participate. I don't know why we are having such a hard time getting the rest of the guild involved.

So...

I thought of holding the Slam at a much smaller venue, Sidewinder Coffee shop in my neighborhood of Northside. The room can hold 20-30 people, has a small stage, and we would not have to pay to use it. The coffee shop gets money from it's food & drink sales, the guild can ask a small donation or pass the hat. I mentioned this to Micha, and she likes the idea. Now to sell it to the rest of the gang.

Nothing new

2005-07-12T21:13:00.000-04:00

I did not complete the Rocket Stage to use in the Northside 4th of July parade. That's not such a bad thing, it would have been far too H-O-T! Maybe I'll find all the building materials and get it finished by Autumn...

We shall see.

Puppet Fest 2005

2005-06-23T23:36:00.000-04:00

I recieved this message from our regional director:

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE encourage folks to go to the national fest in MN this summer! It is gonna be AMAZING! Read below for recent updates and do check out the full deal at the fest website: www.puppetfest2005.org

Only 1 month away, but it's still possible for you and your Guild/Regional members to get schedules and travel plans arranged, etc. It *is* worth it! It's not an option NOT to go to these fests--learning, growing, networking, celebrating, ensuring the future of puppetry.

They (the fest staff) are just under their minimum number of registrants needed to break even and deserve to have people there to enjoy the fest that they have worked for YEARS on. Know that festivals are in danger of being a thing of the past if this one does not work--REALLY. I mean that. They (festivals) are a service provided to P of A members by an amazingly dedicated group of VOLUNTEERS--and if the membership does not take advantage of this "service" than this service will no longer be offered. It's not negative or punitive, it's realistic. DO YOUR PART. ACT NOW. GET THEE TO MINNESOTA!

This "state of affairs" CAN be remedied! Please forward this to your Guild, your Region and to ANY puppet folk who are considering going. They need your "nudge" to make it happen.

Thanks.

All the best,

Aretta Baumgartner

Great Lakes Region

Scholarship & Youth Services

Puppeteers of America, Inc.

----- Original Message -----

From: Kurt and Kathy Hunter

Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 10:58 PM

Subject: Puppet Fest 2005 - registrations

...What would assist the bottom line the most at this point is more registrations. If you know of anyone who has been considering attending the festival, please do some encouraging. Other than the budget wrestling, the festival plans are in great shape. It is going to be an incredible week. We've had a couple of recent additions to the festival schedule. Heather Henson will be presenting a mini film festival of short puppet films at the festival. They are all recent works that Heather assembled for a film festival in California. She graciously offered to cover all the costs of showing the films at the festival. Eileen Blumenthal, the author of "Julie Taymor: Playing with Fire" and the soon to be published "Puppetry: A World History" will be speaking at the festival and doing a book signing of her new book. It looks like this will be a landmark book and the fest will be your first chance to see it. (Fortunately, the publisher was able to assist with her travel costs.)

...Anything you can do to help generate registrations for the festival would be greatly appreciated.

Kurt

I guess that there are MANY rich puppet people who can take a week off and have a great time in MN. Sure, if I were single, did not have a baby, had a high paying job, and didn't owe people money...I'd go. I wonder how PoA expects poor puppet people to attend these events?

2 Muppets CDs found!

2005-04-18T13:57:00.000-04:00

I found these two jems at work:

Muppet Beach Party CD

Fraggle Rock - Music and Magic CD

I guess both of these CDs are very hard to find and sell for $70+ on eBay/Amazon. I paid less than $4 each.

The count down begins

2005-04-09T08:52:00.000-04:00

I spoke with Cheryl from Findlay Market yesterday. She is very excited about me performing there. On Thursday Lara and I bought red fabric for the outside of the stage, and a neat blue lycra for the "nose cone" section. Now I must find piano wire, 2 aluminum supports, and a few more nylon bolts to built the Wump Mucket Rocket Stage. I think a 6+ foot red rocket will look really cool as a puppet stage.

Last night I sang The Carpenter's song "Close To You" using the Cyril puppet to Eleanor, she seemed to really like it. It may have been that she just knows the tune. :)

You know I want to see this

2005-04-05T20:35:00.000-04:00

I bet that it's released on DVD by Christmas time, which is good for our house...we do not subscribe to cable -so ABC looks like crap.

I received a phone call from the management firm that runs Findlay Market, and they would like to talk to me about performing there soon! Time to get that stage done!

Busk away

2005-04-03T20:45:00.000-04:00

What?

busk P Pronunciation Key (bsk)
intr.v. busked, busk·ing, busks

To play music or perform entertainment in a public place, usually while soliciting money.

On Saturday I emailed the managment at Findlay Market to ask if it was possible to perform for their customers, this is the reply I received:

Hi Terry.  I would love to have you perform at the Market.  My contact information is listed
below.  Please call me Tuesday or reply back and give me a phone number where I can reach you
from 9-5 weekdays.  Thanks, Regards, Cheryl

Now I really have to finish my Rocket Stage.

Puppets at Findlay Market?

2005-04-02T13:33:00.000-05:00

Well none yet, but I did email the market to ask if they may be interested in having puppeteers perform there. Once I finish the Rocket Stage I think that I could swing one Saturday morning a month, and maybe even make a little extra cash!

Inspiration

2005-03-29T19:45:00.000-05:00

I'd be a liar if I didn't admit that I was inspired to be a puppeteer by watching hours and hours of television in the 60's & 70's. I was mad for puppets as a kid! My favourites were Sesame Street/The Muppets, The Banana Splits, H.R. Pufnstuf, and Kukla, Fran, and Ollie. Later in life (about 5 years ago) I finally saw Bob Clampett's "Time for Beany" (who counted Albert Einstein & Frank Zappa as fans!!!)

Here is a photo of my character Cyril The Cincinnati Sea Monster clowing around with me a few years ago:

National Day of Puppetry is April 23rd!

2005-03-27T22:25:00.000-05:00

Of course the Cincinnati Area Puppetry Guild will be celebrating puppetry.

Here's the press release:

NATIONAL DAY OF PUPPETRY EVENT

On Saturday April 23^rd the Cincinnati Puppetry Guild will be celebrating the 7^th annual National Day of Puppetry with performances, workshops, demonstrations and displays.
Come join our guild members for a fun filled afternoon.

When: Saturday April 23rd from 11am -2pm

Where: St Peters United Church of Christ

6120 Ridge Ave (just north of Montgomery rd)

Cost: $ 1.00 per person at the door (children 2 & under free)

Events recommended ages 5 & up

In the history of America, from Native American puppet representations, traveling troupes from the revolutionary War, onwards through the vaudeville and arts theater entertainments, into the early days of television with stars like Howdy Doody and Beanie and Cecil and movies like Lili, The Sound of Music and the Muppet Movie series, into the present with Sesame Street, The Muppet show, Shari Lewis Show and many local and regional programs, puppets have played an important role in American Theater and have helped to positively shape the minds of our young people. In addition, puppets are used in the classroom, in physical and mental therapy and as a source of pleasure for all ages.

The Puppeteers of America Inc. a national nonprofit corporation founded in 1937, to encourage and promote puppetry as a means of communication, an extension of human expression and as performing art to enhance the proficiency for the Art of Puppetry, both professional and amateur, has declared April 23rd 2005, as National day of Puppetry. Puppet shows, festivals, exhibits, workshops and other puppetry activities will take place throughout the nation.

In case you are curious, or just wish to say hello, I will be at Cincinnati's NDoP from 11 AM until 1 PM. I will be presenting "Cyril the Cincinnati Sea Monster" - The birth of a puppet: from idea to performance. Come and say "Hi!".

An idea for the future

2005-03-26T10:15:00.000-05:00

I have a problem. I am always thinking of things that I want to do with puppets, yet have limited time, energy, and money to see them through. Oh well. I have been thinking that one day I would like to create abridged versions (under 5 minutes) of cheesy sci-fi/horror B-movies. I think this was inspired by The Reduced Shakespeare Company, and cartoons (of course!).

The two films that I would like to "reduce" with puppets are Robot Monster and It Conquered the World, which was remade for television as Zontar the Thing from Venus. I know that these are BAD films, but for whatever reason, I LOVE THEM! Besides, look at these "great monsters":

Ro-Man from "Robot Monster"

Monster from "It Conquered the World"

Zontar? (I am not certain if this is the famed monster)

I think that this could be pulled off using simple glove puppets with two puppeteers, a simple cardboard set, and cheesy music! We shall see what the future holds for B-Movies: abridged!

New blog

2005-03-25T18:18:00.000-05:00

Greetings to the Wump Mucket Puppets blog. It is here that I hope to keep this journal of my puppetry releated projects, puppet news, and things I dig.

Here's a photo from April 2004. It was taken outside my Mum's house in Ballardvale, Massachusetts. My mother is on the left and I am on the right.