I attended my first puppet slam a week ago and it was awesome. A puppet “slam” is an event that gives puppet makers a chance to showcase and workshop whatever it is they’re working on in short form to an audience.
My best friend is a puppet maker (among many other mediums) and this was her first slam as well. I initially was just going to support and sell her merch, but the day before show, she had a cast member get sick and asked me to fill in. I was an actor in my past life (child actor/arts high school), but now get reaaaaaallllyy anxious to perform. Still, I said yes, because
a) she’s my best friend and I’d do anything for her
b) her art is fucking sweet and it deserved to be seen (linking her instagram, she makes all kinds of neat stuff)
and I’m so glad I did. It was still mildly terrifying, but the sense of community there is incredibly strong and each act was so different. It was very fulfilling to be apart of in all aspects. I‘ve learned a fair amount about puppets over the years, and the common misconception of what puppets are and the purpose they serve. Puppets are dope, and they are so much more expansive than what people perceive them to be. Beyond making them, moving them is HARD. Not just in a creative sense, either. I was shocked at how quickly my hands and wrists would get tired.
Anyway, open your mind to puppets and if you have the chance to see a puppet slam or show, you should! This particularly slam was through Puppet Queers in Chicago and I plan on being at the next. :~)
