Puppets, Kids' Only Entertainment?

[Buck-Beaver]

The only way Puppets can stay in an adult world is to beat the Question,"How did they do that?"
Because you can so commonly see strings or armrods with muppets, they depend more on the imagination. Once you figure out it's a hand or a guy in a suit, it takes from your intrest.

I don't know about that. Do you really think so?

I think one of the more interesting developments in puppetry over the past 10, 15 years is the trend towards "deconstruction", that is showing more of the strings and rods and "behind the scenes" stuff. I think that makes it more interesting for the audience, not less. Thinking about things like The Lion King on Broadway or Avenue Q I'd go so far as to say the more the audience sees, the more fantastic it becomes.

 

[Jinx]

I agree, Buck. I often perform my puppets at my church, but NEVER at children’s church. I usually will be doing some sort of banter with the Pastor, and I am standing to the front or side of the main platform holding the puppet up above me. I am not the primary focus, but I am not hidden at all. I always get great responses afterwards, but many people are surprised to find that they enjoyed the puppets!

As a puppeteer, magician, juggler, etc. I am sick to DEATH of being thought of as a “kiddie performer”. I always say to prospective clients, “I do not perform for kids, although kids are always welcome at my show.” I explain that there is nothing “blue” in my shows, but that they are directed towards adults. I do not have any shows that are directed solely at kids.

A number of years ago I actually entered a talent contest being held at a bar in rural Montana. The other acts were singing loud music and the like, and the guy right before me was a “comedian” who told the filthiest “jokes” I have ever heard. The judges laughed quietly, and you could tell that they were just embarrassed. They were ashamed of themselves for laughing. Then I got up to do my squeaky-clean magic show. During my first trick, all the people sitting at the bar stopped their conversations to listen to me. By the end of the trick they all left the bar and came into the main room where I was, and they were joined by all the people who had been shooting pool and playing the poker machines. For the next 20 minutes I entertained them with a show that you could have brought your grandmother to see, without fear of inappropriate material.

I am very pleased to report that I won the contest, but for me the best victory was proving that “adult” entertainment does not have to mean “dirty” entertainment. In an environment where rude, loud behavior is the norm, where dirty jokes are told all the time, I brought something that was genuinely entertaining and for my 25 minutes I had that room in the palm of my hand... and I showed them kindness and respect in turn.

It is a sad fact of our industry that we actually must “push” people to realize that what we do is not strictly for kids. But if that’s what we must do, then let’s do it!

 

[wes]

Jinx's thats awsome!!!

I love talking with the Pastor On stage it's great!! Most of the time Me and the Youth Pastor talk(with the Puppet), I'm usually behined what ever i can find, Even in a babtism, or behine the panio, the adults really love it, and i love to here the adult tell me how much they enjoy it!!

We usually take off on bible stories,like Jonah and the whale, Samson and Dilialha, and we go overboard everytime, Beltar(thats the puppet i use) say whatever comes to his mind, thats what makes it funny. We adlib, so on stories like Samson and Dilialha we have to be very carefull, because of Dilialha tempting Samson with her feminin ways, Its funny and not crued, and if i pick on some one in the audiance i make sure there in on the gag so no ones feeling are hurt!!

 

[SesameKermie]

Are puppets Kid stuff only?

I have this theory that comics, animation and puppetry are all similar because they traditionally been mislabeled "kiddie entertainment" by the media even if that label and no basis in reality - I'd bet there were millions of adult looney tunes fans were there when you were in the 8th grade. Animation was the first to be acknowledged as serious adult entertainment, followed by comics and now puppetry. I think comics was about 5 years behind animation and puppetry is about five years behind that.

I think audiences of all ages respond to good stories that are well told. If the story is entertaining, the characters are memorable the audience will find it irregardless of whether it's puppetry, live action, animation or something else.

Actually, if I recall correctly, there were some pretty "blue" Looney Tunes and Betty Boop cartoons back in the early days. (1930's?) They were shorts shown in between movies at the theater before television. I can recall one Bugs Bunny cartoon where he's watching a "stag" movie (although in the cartoon it shows deer on the screen.) As a child, I laughed at the parts that I understood, and the rest went right by me. Looking back, I've had "they did NOT just say/do that" moments when seeing these things, even with the Muppets.

I think what gets puppets, comics, etc labeled as "kids stuff" is that usually there's an 'innocence' even when they're dealing with "adult" topics. In many cases that innocence gets mistakenly identified as child-like, and therefore childish.

 

[wes]

Yea, For example i use to watch The Golden Girls when i was a child and Laugh at the funny thing the old women use to say, and now when i watch it i'm like Ugh, i couldn't believe,Thats what they're talking about gross!!

But you have to be careful, i make sure i say things that go over the kids head adn the grown-ups get it, nothing blatent or rude!!

 

[anythingmuppet]

I knew this one guy who thought ALF, the Muppets, and other shows were kiddie shows. I was saying to him: Alf? A kiddie show? No way...

 

[MGov]

I think the medium gets blamed when it's the content that's at fault.

 

[Fozzie Bear]

I have to admit that I do despise the idea that puppetry or cartooning/comics (books or strips) are solely kids' entertainment. People out there just don't realize the craftsmanship, quality, time, effort, performance...they just don't see it or appreciate it. I think that is one of the set-backs we as puppeteers have when trying to do this professionally.

 

[Buck-Beaver]

I think the medium gets blamed when it's the content that's at fault.

That sums the problem up nicely.

 

[practicecactus]

I think the medium gets blamed when it's the content that's at fault.

Nicely said.
Pardon the pun, but it really is in the hands of the puppeteer.

I like it when you see things that play with convention.
Like buck mentioned the deconstruction thing.
Greg the Bunny was right up my alley, cause I'm used to the muppet looking characters, I believe them, and when I see them with realistic problems, I'm not watching a funny lookin sock talking to kids. I'm watching another adult, with real problems,..who just happens to be furry.

And FFS just try to make something good, and people will appreciate it.
'Good craftmanship never goes out of style.'