To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 19:27:38 -0500
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Puppeteer hoods


Before the hollidays, i had a one-night puppeteering contract.
I had to build a hood, as the Director of the event was "old school" about 
it.
I wish I could have found pictures of the ball-cap hood I was told about 
here on puptcrit.
I made one with a ball cap, the way I thought would work, and it was ok for 
visibility and comfort, but I hated the look. Its shape looked very awkward, 
like a strange space duck wearing a hood. I'm guessing others have solved 
that problem.

My co-host understood the discomfort of performing with this thing, and 
convinced the Director that it was not only unnecessary, but would also be a 
big distraction. That, and we noticed we couldn't see a thing backstage, 
with the risk of tripping on the wires and fog machine.
My co-host was very convincing, and so I did not perform with the hood.
It was a wonderful evening, the puppet was a success, and I only received 
good comments about the performance. It meant a lot to me. I made a big 
effort to keep my own facial expressions as neutral as possible, since I had 
had no time to plan which attitudes to apply.

I know of a puppet company who cited the hoods as one of the major reasons 
for leaving a giant puppet company and starting their own. They never wear 
hoods in their shows.

I understand that hoods are sometimes very necessary, depending on the show 
and the sets.
I'd be ok performing a whole show with a hood, but I'd build it to make sure 
it's ideal for the task.



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