From: "Mark S. Segal" <segalpuppets-AT-comcast.net>
To: <puptcrit-driftline.org-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Different strokes for different folks.
Date: Fri, 6 May 2005 21:07:57 -0400


Robert,
Can't disagree with you here, (had no idea that your kids were getting up 
there!) but I will tell you, remember listening to you at a festival...was 
it Bryn Mawr? Bob Brown was also there at, Meet the Artist and the dialogue 
between the two of you was very enlightening...stuff I have thought about 
and even heard myself say to others. So I benefited from you being there.
Would also cautiously suggest that exposure to this world for some of your 
company members might be beneficial for them.
But I understand what you are saying and sincerely hope that I was not being 
perceived as arguing with your point of view. It is after all yours.

You know how I feel about your work...and for anybody who may be 
interested..I really like and admire it in a lot of different ways and 
strongly recommend to see MUM.

But you know, even Jim Henson showed up at a festival in support of the art. 
I met Bil Baird and Martin Stevens there. I saw the Coads and Julie Taymor 
perform there.
As well as so many others. So many fine performers! So many influences.

We are a small community.....

The beauty of it when I was young and starting out is that the more 
experienced people were there for the neophytes. I will never forget the 
Samanski's (sp?) they used to run the store. Their inclusive attitude helped 
to encourage me to pursue what became my livelihood.

Robert, I think what I am trying to say to you is that you, your thoughts 
your work your knowledge are definite assets.

So while I understand  what you said....I think it is a bit of a loss not to 
have you there.

Mark S.



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Smythe" <robertsmythe-AT-mumpuppet.org>
To: "Puppet List" <puptcrit-driftline.org-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Sent: Friday, May 06, 2005 4:04 PM
Subject: [Puptcrit] Different strokes for different folks.


mark,

Going to festivals does not improve my business and takes me away from
either my family or profitable ventures. I will not trade free time
that I could spend with my family for a puppet festival, no matter how
much I like my colleagues. Perhaps when the children have left home it
will be different. But I spend too much time on the road as it is to
give up more time. My daughter will leave for college in 5 years… I
have only five more family summer vacations with her and as it is we'll
only spend about 3 weeks together this year.

Robert

Robert,
I have to respectfully sort of disagree with you.
I have been going to festivals off and on since 1976. I absolutely love
them and always feel somewhat recharged by them.
I think they are important for growth and I always learn something.
I don't take my family because they just don't want to go. If they
wanted to or if they had that kind of interest then without a doubt
they could come with me.
But they don't.
I like being with other puppeteers and certainly don't have the close
relationships that you have. There are some people that I consider to
be good friends and I like seeing them, but that is not the (only)
reason I go.
I go for the puppetry and to help support the organization , for me
that is enough.
Over the years my interest has changed and I find the, "Meet The
Artist" much more interesting then when I first started out.
I also sleep later :)

I think festivals are a valuable and viable business expense.

Although if the summer were my busy time...my shows would come first.
They always do!

By the way on your point about adult (puppet) theatre. I truly believe
that you have had a major influence in the Philadelphia area in making
it (puppetry) such an accepted form.

My disagreement is simply that I feel festivals have great value for a
lot of different reasons.

Mark S.

----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Smythe"
<robertsmythe-AT-mumpuppet.org>
To: <puptcrit-driftline.org-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Sent: Friday, May 06, 2005 2:57 PM
Subject: [Puptcrit] Attracting people to festivals


> Fred,
>
> There is nothing mysterious about  choosing whether to go to a festival 
> for me. I have two considerations:
>
> 1) using vacation time to go
> 2) using work time to go.
>
> Solution (1) means that my whole family uses its vacation time to go to a 
> festival. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: festivals are not 
> hospitable to children, and I have refused to force my family to spend our 
> time together at place where they are not welcome. And I don't care what 
> the "official" position on this is: I have seen (and heard) too many 
> expressions of hostility aimed at my children and others at festivals that 
> no amount of workshops and day care will cover up. Face it: why would any 
> parent spend vacation time at a place where the entire family is not 
> welcomed all the time?
>
> Solution (2) means I am taking time away from running my company to go to 
> a festival. There are many conferences and conventions where professionals 
> take time away from their business concerns to congregate with like-minded 
> people and expand their abilities to do business. I have yet to read of or 
> attend a festival where the time spent could legitimately categorized as a 
> business expense.
>
> I have had great times at festivals and I value the relationships I formed 
> and deepened while there. I think this is the main reason people attend 
> them. However, if you don't already have relationships with the puppeteers 
> who regularly attend, or you have other obligations for your time at work 
> and with your family, there is really no way to attend festivals that 
> makes sense, other than a deep and abiding love of puppetry. And sometimes 
> that is not enough.
>
>
>
> On May 6, 2005, at 2:33 PM, Angusson-AT-aol.com wrote:
>
>> PofA has upwards of 2000 members +- and has remained at this level for a 
>> few
>> years. We all know that for every member, there are possibly two other
>> puppeteers who do not belong. How do we located these? How do we attract 
>> them?  Do
>> they even know about PofA? One of the great mysteries.
>
> _______________________________________________
> List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
> Admin interface: 
> http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org
> Archives: http://www.driftline.org


_______________________________________________
List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Admin interface:
http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org
Archives: http://www.driftline.org

_______________________________________________
List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Admin interface: 
http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org
Archives: http://www.driftline.org


_______________________________________________
List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Admin interface: http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org
Archives: http://www.driftline.org