This has been touched on briefly elsewhere, but I'm curious to find out what all of you do.

What is your puppet's elevation (height) relative to yours? I follow Bill DeMar's advice and have the puppet's eye level about even with my nose. But I've noticed that Terry Fator keeps his puppets' heights well above him. This makes sense in Terry's act, I suppose, since he is putting the emphasis on his singing puppets.

The question of relative heights does have some relevance to the interplay of the the two characters. Does having the puppet lower than the vent establish the vent's dominance? Would having both at the same height make them equal partners? What does it say if the puppet is higher than the vent?

Personally, I like keeping the figures at a lower level because I think it helps get the audience on the puppet's side. They're rooting for the little guy over the big, controlling guy. There is a fair amount of vent-puppet rivalry in some of my routines, and everyone likes to see the little guy "give it" to the big guy.

It may all come down to arm comfort. I find that my arm tires more easily if the puppet is higher.

Ok, chime in everyone!

Bob

P.S. Oscar and I are are about the same height in our photo because that's how the photographer wanted it.

Mine are usually about even with me or even a little lower. Higher would be pretty physically tiring, I think.

-Philip

I like keeping the puppet's eyes on a level with mine. It makes the audience comfortable to watch an act where there is physical balance between you and your character. But that's just me..

Mark
markwade@kidshowvent.com

Since I don't use vent stands these days and just sit my figures on my knee when performing, my figures' head is naturally lower than mine. Old-style vent position. I guess it boils down to being comfortable. I tried once placing my figure higher than me but it didn't work very well for me.

My boy character is lower than me...

My world champion boxer is a bit higher than me...

My animal characters are at eye level with me...

Wanlu

Great topic Bob. I like to keep mine slightly lower for the simple reason that I like the way the figure looks a little bit assuming when he tilts his head up to look at me.

Troy

When my guy is on a stand or box of some sort I like to be eye-ball to eye-ball with him. But when I am holding him in my arms, he is naturally a bit lower than me.

I can't even imagine having the figure higher. For the most part, mine are a little lower.

Most are eye to eye.

I have one puppet that has a higher level of energy.
At times he jumps up and sits on my shoulder, putting his eyes above mine.