A global network for professionals, amateurs, and people who just like puppets.

Anyone in Chicago?

Any puppeteers, puppet builders, or puppetry fans in or around the Chicagoland area? I'm feeling rather adrift out here lately, and it would be nice to have some kind of public meet-and-greet/networking opportunity.

Tags: chicago, networking

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Gordon Smuder on January 21, 2009 at 6:05pm

Not in Chicago, but remember; you are never alone! There are plenty of puppet-obsessed crazies out here... just raise your hand and shout!

BTW: I'll be (probably) exhibiting at Chicago Wizard World with Transylvania Television this Summer. if you get a chance, swing on by!

-Gordon

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by staceyrebecca on January 22, 2009 at 1:49pm

I know of a few puppeteers in Chicago, and since you're not one of them, I know you're not alone.

Anyone know if Chicago has a guild?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Vixie on January 22, 2009 at 7:14pm

I live about 3 hours from Chicago, and go up there a few times a year. I will be there next week when I return from my trip, flying back into Midway and staying at least one night with a friend in the suburbs.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Brad Lowe on January 22, 2009 at 10:16pm

Chicago has a great guild with some wonderful puppeteers!
Check them out:
http://www.chicagopuppet.org/
Tell them Brad said hello!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Farmer Floyd on January 22, 2009 at 11:10pm

Wow, great link! Thanks, Brad (and everyone else)!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by David C. Herzog on April 7, 2009 at 8:40am

Dear Farmer Floyd,

We have a great Guild here in Chicago, that has been experiencing a real period of growth. I am the editor of The Puppet Patter, which is published monthly and I would be very happy to put you on the email list. We have several day of puppetry events coming up this month, a picnic in June monthly meeting begining again in August. I have uploaded the two most recent Puppet Patters for you. I hope you enjoy them.

Dave Herzog

Dave Herzog

Attachments:

April Patter.pdf, 1.6 MB
patter march 2009.pdf, 1.2 MB

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Vixie on April 7, 2009 at 10:03am

I am tentatively planning a visit to the suburbs in mid May. I'd love a chance to meet up with puppeteers from up there. Maybe we can arrange a meet and greet somewhere.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Farmer Floyd on April 7, 2009 at 10:14pm

David: Fantastic! Thanks so much. Yes, please put me on the e-mail list. I look forward to meeting you all in May, once the time and place are determined!

Vixie: Perhaps you'll be able to make it to the May meeting as well?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by David C. Herzog on April 10, 2009 at 10:33am

Hey Farmer Floyd, and Vixie

I"m afraid there has been a little change to the Chicagoland Guilds calendar. Due to the fact we are having areally big day of Puppetry on April 25 and then our president is getting married to one of our members [ Did I mention we are a really close Guild? LOL]on May 2nd, It was decided that we should dispence with the May meeting. So unfortunaly no May meeting. BUT!!!! Coming up June 14 will be our Guild picnic. Our picnics are pretty great ,lots of food, puppets and a puppet pot pourrie program by the members. Final plans are still being made and we are deciding between two locations. I will send you the May Puppet Patter with all the details. In the mean time I hope you will be able to attend one of our five day of puppetry programs. All of the programs will be great ,but I think you would really enjoy seeing the work of the Melikin Puppets at the Garfield Ridge Library Mel and Lavern Biske are really the first family of Chicago puppetry, and are beloved by all, plus their shows are absolutley top notch. The details are in the March puppet patter I sent.

Dave Herzog

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by FisticuffDC on April 10, 2009 at 1:38pm

Hey Everyone,

I'm David. I go to school here in Chicago and with the exception of summers (when I've taken acting jobs in other states), have lived here for the past few years. I got into building puppets a couple years ago with my best friend who is now on tour with Sesame Street Live, and while it's hard to be a build team anywhere from 60-1200 miles away at times, it's been pretty cool.

I haven't met many other Chicago puppeteers, which is crazy, I know...but school takes up all of my time. I hardly even get time to build...

I wont be around again this summer (I'll be working at StoryLand in NH), but I'd like to find out more about the Chicagoland Guild for when I come back. It is my goal to start performing live shows in some capacity when I'm back so it would be great to link up with others doing the same thing.

-David

www.puppetfix.com
www.fisticuffpuppets.com

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Vixie on April 10, 2009 at 3:51pm

Thanks for all the info posted, I am going to have to join the guild, those are really nice looking newsletters. I'm not sure yet what my short term plans will be as far as a visit up there goes, I just had arthroscopic knee surgery, and the results show I need major knee surgery that will lay me up for around 6 months. I am going to kind of what and see how things pan out over the next few weeks, but hope to be able to make some sort of visit up there in the near future.