From: "Jay Jennings" <jay-AT-alakazam.com>
Subject: Re: PUPT: Puppetry x ? = $$$
Date: Sat, 14 Aug 1999 14:59:45 -0700


>>As successful as Ronnie Burkett and the New England Opera have been in
>>their own right, I seriously doubt that they could claim to have cleared
>>a yearly sum even close to 70K from the revenue of their live puppetry
>>performances alone.  Where Jay even concieved the idea that the average
>>theatrical puppet show could pull in that sum of money is beyond me.

It wasn't that I thought the average puppet show could pull in 70K, I just
wondered whether that would be a "reachable" figure with puppetry today. The
answer tells me whether I can even think about switching careers in the
future or whether I just do stuff "on the side."

15 years ago I made my living performing full-time and I know you don't make
$70K by accident. You also don't make it by doing birthday parties and
story-time at the library. If you can make an average of $350 per show,
you'd need to do 200 shows per year. Which sounds like almost full-time
touring since even a big city probably won't have enough need for that many
shows (plus all the other performers).

But what about doing 100 shows per year? Of course, then you have to get an
average of $700 per show. What venues are available if you charge that much?
And, to put on a good $700 show you're probably not going to be doing it by
yourself, which means paying someone...or recruiting your spouse. :) And
having kids when you need to expand the show again. :)

It would be interesting to see a puppeteer salary survey...

 Jay Jennings





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