Puppetry Training Seminars

TEACHING BIO:
Darren was a full time traveling professional teacher for 5 years from 1997 forward. During this time he taught over 20,000 people of all ages in both lecture and hands-on classroom environments at hundreds of locations including colleges, national and international ministry and performing arts conferences, public libraries and individual churches in the USA and abroad.  He continued to teach puppetry on behalf of puppetsinc.com by request.
Expect a professional, prepared, and dynamic teacher with thousands of hours of experience in teaching adults and youth in community and church settings. (Oh yeah, and its always funny.  Always.)

 

Below are some of the classes offered by Darren: 
PUPPETRY SKILLS 1:
Students will learn and practice important skills such as Mouth Action, Lip Sync, Eye Contact, Posture, and Entrances and Exits. Correct and incorrect technique will be demonstrated. Students will all lip sync a prerecorded song with a puppet (provided) in this class. This is a hands-on class with teacher demonstrations. Notes provided.

PUPPETRY SKILLS 2:
Students will learn how to use two rods to manipulate the puppet’s arms. Expression with the head and body and special attention to movement will be explored. Do’s and don’t and pros and cons of a variety of manipulation methods with be explained. Each student will go through a mock ‘rehearsal’ of skills with a puppet (provided) during this class. This is a hands-on class with teacher demonstrations. Notes provided.

SOLO PUPPETRY SKILLS:
Students will see how a single puppeteer can do a show. One puppet behind a stage, in front of the stage, pre-recorded scripts, live scripts and a silent puppet technique will all be taught. A brief explanation of ventriloquism is also included. This is a lecture class with brief demonstrations. Notes provided.

PUPPETRY FOR OUTREACH:
Students will get a large dose of specific ideas regarding how to start, maintain, advertise, and find dozens and dozens of places to perform within the community. Special attention is paid to avoiding common technical and tactical mistakes and finding new ways to reach the community with the puppet show. Tips on charging fees (or not) and financing the team’s expenses is also shared. This is a lecture class. Notes provided.

HANDS-ON INTENSIVE:
This is one hour of dedicated hands-on attention to the puppetry troupe! You choose what sort of training you most need.
Examples include: problem solving certain habits, help with choreography, brainstorming a complete show, critiquing a previously rehearsed show or program or simply spending time working with Darren on a presentation of your choice.

PUPPET TEAMS:
You may also request to learn a 5 minute song or skit that Darren provides.

Other (non-puppetry) classes offered:

DYNAMIC OBJECT LESSONS:
Teachers who have a specific message for church groups, crime prevention groups, or character building groups can learn dynamic ways to use object lessons to strengthen their topic. Students will learn how to introduce dynamic teaching tools to reach the audience. Magic tricks, physical demonstrations, funny lectures and more will be taught.  As well as a practical guide to developing your own object lessons. This is an interactive class. Notes provided.

THROWING UP… …GRACEFULLY!:
Learn to juggle in thirty minutes. 75% success rate of all students is common in Darren’s juggling classes. What better way to draw a crowd than with juggling? Hands On. Juggling balls provided for class use.

Sample Seminar Packages

Or Customize Your Own Seminars 

Standard Seminar Package

(3 hours)

Standard Seminar Package +

(4 hours)

Deluxe Seminar  Package

(5 hours)

Deluxe Seminar Package +

(7 hours)
Includes:Puppetry Skills 1
––One Hour (hands on)
Puppetry Skills 2
––One Hour (hands on)
Solo Puppetry Skills
–– 30 minutes
Final Remarks
–-30 min		 Includes: 

Puppetry Skills 1
––One Hour (hands on)
Puppetry Skills 2
––One Hour (hands on)
Solo Puppetry Skills
–30minutes
Hands-on Intensive
–– One Hour
Final Remarks
–-30 min

 Includes:Puppetry Skills 1
––One Hour (hands on)
Puppetry Skills 2
––One Hour (hands on)
Solo Puppetry Skills
–– 30minutes
Puppetry for Outreach
–– One Hour
Dynamic Object Lessons
–– One Hour
Final Remarks
–-30 min		 Includes:Puppetry Skills 1
––One Hour (hands on)
Puppetry Skills 2
––One Hour (hands on)
Solo Puppetry Skills
––30minutes
Hands-on Intensive
––Two Hours
Puppetry for Outreach
–– One Hour
Dynamic Object Lessons
–– One Hour
Final Remarks
–-30 min

Class notes and a FREE PUPPETRY CD with scripts are
included with the purchase of either Standard Seminar.

Class notes, a FREE PUPPETRY CD with scripts and a FREE
PUPPET are included with the purchase of either Deluxe Seminar.

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What people are saying:

“…with Darren, not only do you have the highly skilled teacher, but you also have someone who is excellent in engaging his students in a “give and take” style of involvement that has everybody participating.  Of course, what Darren teaches is practical, but what sets him apart is his immense creativity which in turn stimulates others to be creative.   Do yourself and your people a favor and schedule Darren for what will be a unique time of training that will not stay in the notes that are taken, but will naturally flow into ministry. “ Tony Mitchell, Children’s Pastor; Heritage Baptist Church, Lynchburg, VA.



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