I am beginning to amass several Axtell puppets that I would like to display/protect.

My thought is to get a 2 X 6 about 4 or five feet long and attach by screws about 4 or 5 30" dowel rods to it to keep the puppets organized. I thought that each puppet could also be covered with a plastic bag - maybe a bag like you get back from the dry cleaners to keep the dust off.

How do you store and protect YOUR puppets?

Lyndel

I have heard stroing latex puppets in plastic is bad for them.

My puppets are all Pavlov's soft characters and I just store them in their trunk, out of the light.

I keep my gang of puppets in individual clear plastic bags...then placed inside their respective suitcases.

I have two puppets sharing one suitcase

You gotta wonder what's going on in that case when you're not around Wanlu!

Neale, If the plastic bag is not air tight - in other words, just used more as a dust cover, would that still not be good for the latex? I have no idea what I'm doing in this area! LOL!

I don't have dedicated trunks for each puppet like you pro-puppeteers, but rather I pack the specificone I'm going to use into my prop case when prepping for a show.

Is ambient room light bad for the latex? or are you talking direct sun light being bad for them?


Lyndel

Lyndel,
You may want to contact Steve Axtell. He's the one that can answer all your questions with some authority!

Good point!


Lyndel

NOT REALLY...I started with two Axtell puppets, now I have lots so I know exactly what they are doing

I'm sure it's safe...they are after all rubber

Good to know you practice safe puppetry...

Safe puppetry it is Tom

Maybe we can ask Ax to make the puppets flavored...

That's just sick...

MAN! This thread sure took a left turn!


Lyndel

Lyndel, your storage stand sounds cool !

I have been thinking of building one myself, and making it portable. It would be nice to have one I could set-up behind my curtain on gigs, to sort the puppets out and prepare them for the show.

The mention of damage from light sources is real. Fluorescents are the worst, with incandescents not far behind. They can both sap the color right out of fabric.

Here in Southwest Florida, with high temps and humidity, my Axtell library book seems to be very happy. I have used a little Armour All on it to keep it glowing, and kept it loosely wrapped in the bag Ax sent it in. All the puppets go inside Sterilite storage crates, in a room that is dark 85% of the time.

When Wanlu sent me the pelican, he put it in a very lightweight plastic bag. The material is not unlike a grocery store bag, but it is clear. I am keeping the pelican in the bag to keep it dust free.

I booked a show today by just showing the client a picture of me feeding my custom Wanlu pelican a foam rubber fish !

How's that for an endorsement, Wanlu ?

8~)

Mark Pettey
Naples, FL

Trumpet man,

You just gave me a great idea! Not an idea for me, but rather for you. I never use more than one puppet in my show, but since you use multiple ones...

What about modifying music stands by taking off the part that holds the music or song book and replacing it with maybe a rubber cane tip or something similar to protect the interior of the puppet.

They're really portable, and VERY affordable! I got one I use in my show as a book holder, NEW on E-bay for 14 bucks! Plus these little tables will hold a surprising amount of weight and they pack super small!


Lyndel

Lyndel, are you talking about the music stands refered to as wire stands, the ones that are silver/ chrome and fold up to the size of a silver sceptre case, or are you talking about the heavier "Manhasset" type stands with a solid shelf made from aluminum or thin sheet steel ?

I have one of the latter, with a base that folds up tripod style. I have used to on shows to hold up scripts or books. I recently had to use it while playing trumpet for a production of the musical "HAIR", and forgot to take the base home, so it is gone with the Scwhinn. Guess I will have to order another one !

When I did my photo all the bird puppets (the one just posted on Wanlu's site) I used a lighting stand, and posed all the birds on the cross bar. I was thinking last night that I might just get another one of these, and mount some upright posts on the cross bar. This way, all the puppets will sit backstage on one stand, with one base, which won't take up a lot of room. I won't need something like this onstage, since the puppets come out one-at-a-time for the show.

I use those cheap light stands for everything ! I have two that hold banners on either side of my curtain (less than half the price of cheap banner stands), one for a rack of par can lights, and now I guess I will have one backstage for puppets. They are about $25 on eBay, and built to last a lifetime. I carry all these, along with my Jet Set backdrop stand in a Gator 61-note keyboard case that has wheels and stair climbers.

I recently added wheels/castors to ALL my cases, which has been a Godsend ! At 50, I don't haul those heavy flight cases in the building as quickly as I used to ....

Mark Pettey
Naples, FL

Thanks for the endorsement Mark

I'm glad Dale the Pelican is going out on his first gig soon

Mark,

I was referring to these: http://tinyurl.com/6ozc2w but I like your idea of the one bar/lightstand idea. I would think the only challenge would be to mount the uprights that the puppets will sit on and still make it portable.


Lyndel

Yes, that is what musicians refer to as a wire music stand. Very lightweight, and VERY portable ! You can carry half a dozen in the space of one normal microphone stand. I will let y'all know when I get my backstage stand finished, and post pictures. It has to be done by January, as that is when I start performing the bird show on a regular basis. BTW, you have a nice website, Lyndel !

Mark Pettey
Naples, FL

Thanks man!

I look forward to seeing your set-up! I'll try to post pics of mine as well once I get around to building it.


Lyndel

Any storage guidelines for foam puppets. Expecting my first from Wanlu in about a week.

Keep in plastic bag...