What are the Avenue Q puppets made of?

[Princeton]

I thought I had it figured out: styrofoam for the head and foam rubber for the body. I'm trying to make one similar to Lucy, but it's not turning out like I hoped. Help, anyone?

 

[gfarkwort]

Ask Rick Lyon he built all the Puppets for Q http://www.lyonpuppets.com/page3.html
hes very helpful with Puppet Questions.

 

[ravagefrackle]

I thought I had it figured out: styrofoam for the head and foam rubber for the body. I'm trying to make one similar to Lucy, but it's not turning out like I hoped. Help, anyone?

they are built in much the same way the muppets are built, lots of patterend foam rubber sheets, antron fleece, ect.ect., if you are new to puppet building i might suggest you attemtp some similar projects to get used to working with the materials before trying something so complex

 

[Buck-Beaver]

Rick has a great page on his site where he compares his custom work to "their Stock puppets" (basically the cheaper Muppet-style puppets you see on ebay and elsewhere). A lot of people here have asked why one puppet can cost $200 while a similar-looking one costs $2000. Rick explains the difference here.

 

[Iokitek]

I guess it all depends...

...on how much money you have to spend. I used to play bass and I had two choices: buy a factory made $700 bass or get a custom $3000 bass. I can always recommend the latter. IF you have the money ofcourse. But if you don't then you'll have to make due with less.

I guess the same goes for puppets. I would love to build puppets. But when it's going to cost me like $2000 per puppet then I'll pass thank you. But if I would be needing them for a big production then I'd surely go for quality.

 

[Buck-Beaver]

I'm not suggesting that anyone has to spend $2000 on a puppet - that's crazy and unrealistic for most people. These days there are some very good ones you can find at reasonable prices and some puppet builders underprice their work for a variety of reasons. You have to do whatever your budget permits.

 

[gfarkwort]

Yea....if you build your Puppets for 50 or 100 bucks you can sell them for 500 or something.....its not robbery either just explain that its your time your using to build the Puppets and exxagerate on the matirial price........even though you don't need to provide a recept......Or sell your Puppets on ebay and hope many people have a bidding war over it.

 

[ravagefrackle]

Yea....if you build your Puppets for 50 or 100 bucks you can sell them for 500 or something.....its not robbery either just explain that its your time your using to build the Puppets and exxagerate on the matirial price........even though you don't need to provide a recept......Or sell your Puppets on ebay and hope many people have a bidding war over it.

the problem with that logis is that it gives a unrealistic impression of what your work is worth to people in the industry, i cant tell you how many times i have dealt with people producing tv pilots and the such who think that puppets should only cost about 300 dollars, and then expect that they do evry thing a muppet can do, it also undervalues your work, and when you are building puppets for a living it can be very hard to convince people that your time and effort and talent are part of what they are paying for, not just materials these days nobody wants to pay for anything and by underbidding to the extreme you make things harder not just for your self but for other people working out there

 

[FISH'N'WOLFE]

ONLY $300?

Too funny. Only $300, as if it was pocket change. Really, it's laughable considering someone in the buisiness who knows what they are doing can put together a professional quality puppet for $50 dollars at the very most. Selling a character at $300, $200, or even $100 does not degrade or undervalue a builders work, if someone produces quality work, it's obvious and quite appreciated by most. When I build I price according to the clients budget, and no matter who they are, they're going to get the same high quality build as the next person. If they have big time budgets, then yes, a higher price is acceptable. If they are struggling artists and such, then there is no reason they shouldn't have the same quality character as the money people for a much lower price. I think it's unfortunate that some builders set their prices so high, it cuts out a lot of potential customers. The satisfaction of being able to build for people and seeing their wonderful reactions at the sight of the characters, well, that is more than enough for me. I know the time and work is very much appreciated.

P.S. James, you may want to use Spell Check in the future.

 

[ravagefrackle]

ONLY $300?

Too funny. Only $300, as if it was pocket change. Really, it's laughable considering someone in the buisiness who knows what they are doing can put together a professional quality puppet for $50 dollars at the very most. Selling a character at $300, $200, or even $100 does not degrade or undervalue a builders work, if someone produces quality work, it's obvious and quite appreciated by most. When I build I price according to the clients budget, and no matter who they are, they're going to get the same high quality build as the next person. If they have big time budgets, then yes, a higher price is acceptable. If they are struggling artists and such, then there is no reason they shouldn't have the same quality character as the money people for a much lower price. I think it's unfortunate that some builders set their prices so high, it cuts out a lot of potential customers. The satisfaction of being able to build for people and seeing their wonderful reactions at the sight of the characters, well, that is more than enough for me. I know the time and work is very much appreciated.

P.S. James, you may want to use Spell Check in the future.

OK i know my spelling isnt the best , but online i tend to be kind of free and easy with it.

however, i think we will have to agree to disagree about pricing things out.when you go to an auto shop to have your car fixed, or call a plumber or any other person with a special skill or trade they dont sit there and think, well this person doesnt have the budget or this person cant really afford me, so ill just give them a lower price, its the same with the arts, now im not saying i wont negotiate with some one, but what it comes down to is any artist's time is valuble, if you are willing to build something from scratch , spending maybe 35 to 40 hours , if not more,sculpting foam,perhaps making molds for latex casting,or fiberglass constuction, hand stitching, patterning, or what have you, glueing foam, ordering special materials , shopping materials on your own, building mock ups, getting approval on design changes, custom dyeing, shipping, building arm rods, taking photos for the porfolio,

and you are willing to do it for 300 dollars god bless you, i for one will not do all that for 300,

i feel that you are not only paying for my time and materials but my talent and expeirience as well.