From: "will stackman" <profwill66-AT-hotmail.com>
Subject: PUPT: Re:PuppetSLAM
Date: Sat, 17 Aug 2002 15:22:16 -0400


Some additional comments about PuppetSLAM/Boston.

The current arrangement at the Puppet Showplace, as part of a larger adult 
performance program, puts certain strictures on these evenings.  The result 
has been more consistant quality, but hasn't left much room for extremely 
experimental work with a high potential for failure.  The bulk of the pieces 
presented in the last year had been developed by the Puppetry Program at 
UConn or from the National Puppetry Conference at the O'Neill.  Boston Area 
puppeters have been very interested to see these efforts.  The shows have 
piqued the interest of some local alternative theatre fans.  The Puppet 
Showplace's  "incubator" is a step towards generating more local-area 
attempts, but may not provide the performance testing needed.

The point being that any nascent Puppet Slam  must consider who is 
performing and who will come to see them.  A late night event at a coffee 
house or club will be very different from an early evening in a church hall. 
  How much performers should participate in the organizing and rewards will 
depend on circumstances.  Charging an entry fee can only be justified if 
that's the only way the event can be funded - There should be  some chance 
that profits/donations,  if any,  will be distributed to the performers.  
Otherwise, it's simply exploitation and potential "death by exposure."  
Sponsorship or being part of a larger Arts Festival are other routes, but 
also have limitations.

Diving in head-first with an open "uncurated" approach has its charm, and 
with enough puppeteers willing to shoulder preparation and publicity, 
provide backstage support, and give it their all, may be a good way to 
start.  Such momentuum is hard to keep up, however.  It takes a real tummler 
of an MC and enough zaniness to turn events done with the "potpourri" spirit 
into evenings of theatre.  Plus very careful scheduling of short acts.   
"And now for something completely different" only works a few times.  
Extreme variety is useful.  One of our favorite performers in Boston is 
"Evan O'Television", a compelling actor and video artist/writer who makes 
tapes of himself as one half of a scene, then plays the other part live on 
stage.  What we say when critics demur, is "Who's the puppet?"

Tech Notes
Get technical requirements for all participants well in advance or severely 
limit what can be expected.  Plan backstage and wing space assignment.  
Then, with the stage as clear as possible, tech the closing act first and 
stow it away.  Proceed through the bill back to front until the opening act 
is left set up on stage.  Then everybody eat. Or if it's too close to show 
time, save some food for the first act(s) so they can get a bite when 
they're done.  Performer hospitality is crucial to keeping things going.  
And selling refreshments to the audience during intermission can help fund 
things.  Just remember, food equals cleanup.The safest way to do the program 
is to have everything on a computer file which can be printed out and taken 
to a nearby Xerox place just about the time the tech rehearsal starts.

Have backup sound equipment available from the start.  Try to run on a 
common system.  Remind everyone to bring marked duplicate tapes and CDs with 
them. The only personal equipment should be wireless mikes, all clearly 
marked.  Keep the lighting simple, but have a few effects - like foot or 
side light for some acts.  Put the most elaborate setups at the very 
beginning --the incoming audience gets something to look at -- and after 
intermission.  If the intermission is long, consider walk-around puppetry in 
the lobby or giant puppets.  The latter are also useful as greeters outside 
when people are arriving and again when they leave.  Make removing set-ups 
part of the show--even introducing the odd gag if necessary.  Movable black 
"wings" -- either folding or rolling -- can be very useful.  I’ll post a few 
solutions to this on www.MasterWill.blogspot.com.









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