Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2000 01:12:35 -0500
From: heyhoot-AT-mindspring.com (Christopher Hudert)
Subject: Re: PUPT: Re: Xmas Show


Joe,
 Yes it is hard to keep the negativity out when the frustration level is so
high. I agree with most of what you said in your post. I think that part of
the problem stems from the fact that many of the people doing puppetry
ministry are neither puppeteers nor ministers and, as you point out, often
buy prerecorded and prepackaged shows. They have nothing invested but a
minimal amount of time and a lot of good intent. It is, as you say, often
just an idea to spice up the youth services or outreach. I am not slamming
that. I am just trying to point out that they are missing the boat by
standing around at the airport.
 I too am asked to help with puppet ministries on occasion. And I am more
than willing to do so. But the thing that usually prevents me is the fact
that they almost never want to pay a dime for any real training, workshops,
demonstrations or even bringing in a show so they can see what they could
achieve. I have even invited and arranged for them to see a show that I was
performing with the only cost to them the time and trouble to get there. Do
they show up? Not one yet. I know budgets are tight for this sort of
ministry but I don't think it fair for them to ask a professional (me or
anyone else) to come in and donate all of their services - especially when
it is not even the same religion. They don't seem to get the fact that we
have bills to pay.
 As for the availability of shows at festivals being open to the public,
that is an ideal that I share. However I also recognize the limitations of
making this happen on a large scale. Time in the performing spaces is
already tight. Fitting in a public performance and assuring that there will
be enough of an audience for it to pay for itself is a prospect that almost
requires a seperate staff to promote, arrange etc. The way the SE regional
seems to be coming together may be somthing of a model for this to happen.
In some ways it may not be the ideal that most of the PofA membership has
come to expect in the way of a festival, but maybe it is time for some
changes if the PofA is to continue to grow and attract new members.

 Ken, the similarities between the political art and ministries arts are
many. Both are basically propaganda. When mixed with performance they tend
to be heavy handed on the message. My reaction is usually along the line of
"Okay, I got what you were trying to say in the first 5 minutes. Are you
just going to keep saying it over and over like water torture, as if that
will convert me to your idea? Why not try to persuade me? Or present a new
message. Or just finish so I can have my reaction to your message, be it
agree, disagree, accept or reject." It is like being trapped by someone at
a party and having to listen to their political bent that you don't agree
with, without ever getting to say a word of your own. AH well. enough for
now.

Christopher




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