Puppeteers who Can't Sing

[D'Snowth]

I realize that as a puppeteer, it certainly helps to be able to sing, since in puppetry, there are a lot of musical sketches, and "show-stopping numbers".

However, singing is something I simply cannot do, so I was just wondering if there are other puppeteers out there who can't sing either, and if so, how do you deal with it?

 

[biblebetty]

I can sing, but in my shows I don't. we use songs from drifferent web sites (they sell kids cds)to do the singing for us. it takes me a while to go thru all the songs and match them to a script.

 

[wes]

I can't sing but I do it any way! most of the time the audience dosen't care they came to see a puppet show, no a singing show. If you sing baddly, the audience will chalk it up as funny.

And I have people tell me that they like it when the puppet sings (even thou I sound horrable). My wife told me tha it was weird that when I sing I'm off and out of tune but when I sing through my puppets as a charactor it aounds ok.

 

[biblebetty]

u know i never thought of it that way. I'm going to try it.

 

[CBPuppets]

Jim Henson was like that during Sam & Friends up to the late 60's or early 70's with the whole concept of lip-synching to records.

 

[D'Snowth]

Jim Henson was like that during Sam & Friends up to the late 60's or early 70's with the whole concept of lip-synching to records.

Good practice in two ways...

1. It gives the puppet a chance to LOOK like it's singing, and...
2. It's good practice to improve your puppet's physical speaking ability.

I can't sing but I do it any way! most of the time the audience dosen't care they came to see a puppet show, no a singing show. If you sing baddly, the audience will chalk it up as funny.

And I have people tell me that they like it when the puppet sings (even thou I sound horrable). My wife told me tha it was weird that when I sing I'm off and out of tune but when I sing through my puppets as a charactor it aounds ok.

I see where you're coming from, and that's fine, but for me, if my puppet(s) is(are) going to sing, then I want it to look AND sound nice.

 

[Speed Tracer]

I think I read somewhere that Steve Whitmire wasn't comfortable singing at first, but grew into his own unique voice and learned to use it to his advantage.

 

[CBPuppets]

Good practice in two ways...

1. It gives the puppet a chance to LOOK like it's singing, and...
2. It's good practice to improve your puppet's physical speaking ability.

I see exactly what you mean! I do that alot to improve the timing on the puppets lip movements. thanks for the tip.

 

[SesameKermie]

Wes and others,

I think the whole "I can't sing as me, but I can in my puppet voice" is a 'control' question. When most people are casually singing, they're not concentrating on any sort of vocal quality--they're just singing for the joy of it or whatever. In character, you are already thinking about how to make your voice produce a particular tonal quality, pitch, etc. When you sing as a puppet, singing voice is just one more layer to add.--I hope that made sense.

 

[wes]

Wes and others,

I think the whole "I can't sing as me, but I can in my puppet voice" is a 'control' question. When most people are casually singing, they're not concentrating on any sort of vocal quality--they're just singing for the joy of it or whatever. In character, you are already thinking about how to make your voice produce a particular tonal quality, pitch, etc. When you sing as a puppet, singing voice is just one more layer to add.--I hope that made sense.

So subconsciencely we are singing good and don't realize, Wow I see it!