From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Mathieu_Ren=E9?= <creaturiste-AT-primus.ca>
To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2008 14:07:02 -0400
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Puppet Slam


I'm no organiser, but from having helped out at local events such as this, 
here's some advice that may be useful:

+ Get participants who are really commited and dependable. It's too easy for 
too many people to cancel last minute, just because they have a paid gig. It 
happened a few times that our events were shortbooked because of such 
things.

+get a variety of acts, topics, moods and a variety of types of puppets too.

+if you have an improv part of the show, whenever possible, get a live music 
performer good at improv, to interact with what's going on.

+get a good sound person and equipment (microphones under the tables and 
behind the puppet booth, very useful for stage work, especially in puppet 
improv.

+get a good lighting person and equipment

+Get a good puppeteer or team of puppeteers to host the show. It's so much 
better when even the hosting is entertaining and captivating.

+make sure you publicise the event well, and in advance. There's very little 
things sadder in Theatre than seeing a show where there are more performers 
than audience members. Been there, seen that, nowehre nearly as much fun. 
There is a tangible lack of energy in a near-empty audience.
To publicize, even under a tight budget, is possible. Many tactics can be 
employed, such as inserting leaflets in free newspapers, having an interview 
at a local or national tv station, using the free listings such as 
Craigslit, telling your puppeteer's association and other related 
associations, for publication in their newsletter.

+optimally, paying a person to do all this organising and advertising would 
be well worth it.
I saw that even the most motivated puppet person usually has to juggle jobs 
on top of the responsibilities, so priority goes to where some money comes 
in.






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