From: "Alan Cook" <alangregorycook-AT-msn.com>
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Date: Sun, 18 May 2008 17:25:44 GMT
Subject: [Puptcrit] Puppetry for Seniors and other booking perils


Many years ago I was working for a local puppet company doing solo Christmas-themed shows. One performance was in Rancho Cucamonga, CA,  and on the way back to HQ I stopped to see a friend at the midpoint of my return trip,who never had seen me perform. 

Dorotha had been confined to a wheelchair since the 1940s, having been the only survivor of a shooting (by the Junior High School vice Principal) of the school Superintendent, a print shop teacher at our Jr High, and a few others. Long before Columbine, this sad event got national coverage and effected our liittle town of South Pasadena for years. 

So I stopped by her assisted living place, and in spur of the moment style, any who were mobile on wheels or on foot assembled in the entry hall. At one point a marionette animal visited many laps, which mostly worked out fine, but one dear lady was so starved for attention that she hugged & hugged and would not let go, making my exit difficult. 

I got a call from a lady in Beverly Hills where many cannot afford to live but do anyway. Such as those, hate to PAY for a puppet show. A plumber friend claimed it was often difficult to get paid after jobs there and totally avoided the place.

I was asked to perform for free berfore an audience "of important people". I explained that it can take a day loading, unloading, travelling and performing. 

"What does your husband do?" I asked.

"Oh, he's a society dentist" she replied.

"Well, I'll tell you what. If he could provide FREE dental services for a day for me and puppeteer friends, I'll do the show."

"Oh, he could not afford to do that!"

And I said, "Neither can I" and hung up.

In Brookline, MA, near Boston, Mary Churchill used to get a lot of requests for street fair freebie shows. She'd ask, "are you having clowns?", and the answer was "yes". "Are they being paid?", "Yes".

Mary asked if there would be balloon artists and were they being paid? "Yes & yes" was the reply.

Mary inquired would there be a paid popcorn wagon. Again, "YES".

Mary pointed out that they did not perform free shows, especially when others were being paid. She paused....murmuring that "oh, there used to be someone here in Boston who did free puppet shows..."

"Oh who, who?" asked a suddenly excited voice at the other end of the phone.

"Well, they aren't available any more. They died of starvation".

ALAN COOK


-----Original Message-----
From: Mark S. Segal
Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2008 8:23 AM
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Puppetry for Seniors

There was only one person that I ever saw who absolutely captivated seniors 
(with puppetry) Nat Norbett...(who might be dead by now?????)
He and his wife were amazing!

The way I have handled the senior audiences in the past is to suggest that 
they invite a school or grandchildren etc.
An "intergenerational" show.

The reason being:
Seniors can say, "I enjoyed watching the children" when actually they were 
enjoying the show themselves.

My parents died in their 90's...and for the last few years of their lives 
lived in a nursing home.....
I went through all kinds of living situations and scenarios with them.

One thing that I found in the elder population is that they did not like to 
be "talked" down to. Even if it was only seemingly.
The prejudice that puppets were only for children was a strong belief and 
just the word was enough to make for a difficult play situation.
Thus the "intergenerational show" overcame that.

Mark

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rolande Duprey" <Puppetpro-AT-aol.com>
To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2008 9:03 AM
Subject: [Puptcrit] Puppetry for Seniors


> Has anyone been doing puppet shows for seniors at assistant living and/
> or rest homes? What kinds of things have you experienced?
>
> I've done a few, but it's not a majority of my work. The seniors love
> the things I've done...
>
> Rolande
>
> _______________________________________________
> List address: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
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