Kids are a tough audience in that their attention span is limited. And if you aren’t good at what you do, they will simply get up and drift off. If we grown-ups go see a show and pay for it, we’re pretty much staying unless it is offensively bad or just offensive. This is due, obviously, to today’s media and video where ideas come rapid fire and kids are used to moving on from one thing to another at dizzying speeds.
But… not if you are really good. Then kids are the easiest audience because you have their trust that they are in good hands and are delivering the goods. So my goal each and every puppet show no matter what the occasion is to play to the whole room, not just the kids. Not with any off color humor, obviously, but just great fun that includes the grown-ups in. Anyone can learn to do a puppet show and handle puppets so they seem animated, but holding a room full of excited children, that’s talent.