There are a lot of opinions out there that may confuse or mislead an inexperienced buyer into purchasing puppets that are not of the quality they thought or wanted to have. Almost all puppet sellers, especially those on eBay, claim that their product is Pro, Professional, Muppet Style, and some even tell you that their puppet products are an actual professional Muppet. There are many replicas available, some of them are even well built, but none of them will be an original, they just don't sell them... I guarantee it. Futhermore, the duplicating and purchasing of duplicated copyright characters owned by The Muppets, Disney, or any person/company is a illegal and by doing so is a criminal act that is morally unethical.

So, what makes a puppet professional? When you think of the term "professional puppet", what puppet comes to mind? Kermit, Big Bird, Yoda? What did the makers of those awesome characters use to make their puppets and why? Henson co, used Reticulated Foam, which is also known as Scott Foam. Basically, it's a foam made for the purpose of with standing various outside elements. It's the same kind of durable foam that is used for making air conditioner filters. It has large pores (holes), which makes it extremely breathable and light weight. All of these qualities are why Jim Henson and many other builders in his time thought this foam was ideal to handle the rigorous performances for their projects. This type of foam is very expensive when purchased in the quantity and thickness that is needed to make high quality puppets. $40 barely covers the cost of the foam needed for one puppet. So, if your paying a total of $40 for a brand new puppet, chances are, it's not the same quality.

The Henson workshop also used furs, feathers, and a fabric called Antron Fleece (aka. Muppet Fleece). This fabric is easy to dye, has a nice stretch which makes it easy for covering foam, is more durable than other fabrics, has a nice sheen which Jim thought looked great under the lights for TV, and it's known for it's pile (short, thin, hair like "fur") that made it quite easy to make seams nearly invisible on the puppet IF PROPERLY TREATED. Antron fleece doesn't automatically hide the seams without being methodically worked by a professional builder. Anyone can purchase Antron fleece, but it takes an experienced builder to use it properly!

With all of that being said, there are many foams and fabrics available today that were not available at the time that Jim was making characters for their projects. Many of these new fabrics are acceptable amoung professional builders to use.

There are many other factors that need to be considered when making a purchase of a quality puppet that will last for years to come. So, here are some questions to ask yourself and the maker of a puppet your considering BEFORE making a decision to bid or purchase:

* What kind of foam is being used and what does the maker know about it? What properties does it have, what is the life expectancy of that type of foam when used in humid, moist conditions. Your sweaty hand will be performing in it!

* What will this puppet be used for? If it's only for a display and wont be handled much, then perhaps you don't need tv quality fabric. Although, some Muppet and figure collectors may WANT something as close to authentic that they can get.

* What is the mouth plate made of? Recycled juice boxes, shipping boxes, pizza boxes, or any card board used to make the mouth plate is the first sign of a cheaply made amateur puppet that wont withstand any type of performances over time. The card board breaks down and can be a host to mold, bacteria and other harmful things that you can't see.

*How is the mouth designed? When performing with a puppet, the mouth should want to naturally open itself. This means there is less work that the performer must do to operate the character and less strain on the performers hand! There are some exceptions to this rule, such as characters that have a unique or different mouth style such as Dr. Honeydews very small mouth or Beakers "frown" mouth.

*Where is the neck attached? If the neck and body are all one piece or sewn together at the neck line, then this is another sign of a cheaply made amateur puppet. A neck that is independent of the puppets upper body allows for a much wider range of movement which will look realistic and ad life to your character.

*How are the arms and or legs attached? Although acceptable among some professional builders, arms and legs that are sewn leave the character open to a weakness in the seams that may cause problems later in the puppet's life. Think about how much stress is being put on those arms with each movement from the rod during performance. Also, legs start to get heavy when adorned with shoes and then hanging or being bent around between storage, displays, and performances. Nothing is worse (or more embarrassing) than having a seam give way and an arm or leg falling off in front of unexpected children and customers.

*What type of rod method is required to use for movement of the arms/hands? Several are acceptable among professional builders such as the wire kind that slide on the hand and the wrap around the wrist kind made of either plastic, elastic, or Velcro. However, this is unnecessary stress and friction in places that are most visible to your customers. Things that rub the fabric, squeeze the fingers, and bend the puppet in odd positions create friction and weaknesses that will cause damage in a short time such as wearing out the fabric, poking holes, pulling out fur, etc.

*Is there any lining in the puppet at all? If the majority of your arm or hand is touching and rubbing against foam inside your puppet during performances you are heading for disaster. The chemicals in your sweat is guaranteed to break down the foam, cause molding, bacteria growth, and permanently damage your puppet.

*What kind of grips or straps are installed? This feature is really a matter of preference. Think about how long or often this puppet is going to be performed as well as what would be more comfortable for the performer. A thumb cup, or palm and finger grip are wonderful features, however, be sure to discuss this with the performer because there are even some professional puppeteers that don't like them. Keep in mind that some of the lower priced puppets do contain straps made of elastic which will lose it's stretch ability over time, especially when introduced to the sweat and heat from your hand during performances.

*How do the facial features look? Notice that I didn't ask what they are made of? That's because even Jim Henson didn't make all of his puppets using those manufactured "Muppet style dome eyes" although, they do look pretty cool don't they? But, variety is necessary when purchasing your puppet characters. Miss Piggy's eyes were made using plastic spoons folks! Janice just had fabric eye lids with lashes! Heck, Mr. Honey Dew only had glasses.... no eyes! The important thing is placement, proportion, color, and overall appeal.

These are just a FEW examples of what separates amateur puppets from professional ones and I haven't even touched the subject of the TIME or difference of technique that a professional builder will put into a puppet compaired to an amateur. However, the important thing is, purchase a puppet that fits your needs. Maybe you don't need a puppet that is going to last many years! Maybe your production doesn't require the best looking fabric, the highest quality eyes, the best options, or the most expensive puppet. What you should know is what you need, what you want, and how much you can afford. An acceptable basic beginner puppet can cost you $40. A true professional puppet will often cost much more depending on many factors: such as your luck on eBay, the age of the puppet, and the financial needs of the maker at the time of sale.

I've often sold puppets/figures valued at $300+ for much less on eBay simply because I needed the space, it was a cancelled order, there was a slight imperfection, it was a display piece, or I just needed the cash quickly for bills or whatever. So, prices don't always mean quality and some times you do get MORE than what you pay for.

But, educate yourself so that you know EXACTLY what your getting and have fun!

I offer many types of puppets in various price ranges to meet the needs of your project. I have anything from finger puppets, basic puppets, up to full sized figures, parade puppets, and anything else. I have some puppets in stock, but I operate my business mainly via custom made to order per your detailed specs. Check out my auctions for great deals on quality puppets.

I hope this was helpful. If you have any questions, ideas, suggestions, regarding this guide then I would love to hear from you!

Michele Acquin  ~  Puppet Planet