Human puppets usually have arms that can be maneuvered by an attached rod. The puppeteer must first master lip sync and how to control the puppet’s body. Then he can begin to work with the arm Rod to add another dimension to the character.
Professionally constructed puppets usually come with Rod in some means of attaching the ride to the puppet. However if your puppet does not have an arm Rod you can easily make one.
For instructions on making arm rods, see the tutorial at: https://puppetbuildingworld.com/arm-rods-posable-hands/
When the puppets are standing at the correct height on stage, maintaining eye contact with the audience and even moving their mouths in sync with the tape, the learning has just begun. Puppeteers must still learn to make all the puppet movement believable.
Use the following techniques in handling the rod arm:
- Work across the body of the puppet. Work the right hand of the puppet with the left hand of the puppeteer.
- Use the rod only when the puppet has a specific action. The puppeteer may need to release the rod to do something backstage. The arm will appear limp if the audience is used to seeing continual arm movement.
- Make moves smooth and easy. Avoid quick jerky movements unless for a specific reason.
- Perform common actions, such as yawning, scratching, waving, pointing, etc. The moves should be as natural as possible and fit the script.
- Attach props to the hand and move as required in the script. Velcro can be used to attach light props. Magnets sewed into the hand and on the prop also work well. Some props may need to be tied onto the hand, if they are heavy.
- Use two puppeteers with the puppet for special actions. One handles the puppet mouth and the other works the arms.
Rod arm puppet movements
Attaching a rod to one of the arms of the puppet greatly increases the range of movement possible for that puppet. Attach the rod to the puppets left wrist is the Puppeteer is right-handed, or vice versa. Then practice using the puppet’s arm to express the following actions
- Scratch its head
- Throw kisses
- Take a bow
- Cough
- Express sadness
- Show excitement
- Rub its tummy
- Do a double-take
- Yawn
- Sneeze
- Express fear
- Rub its eyes
- Look into the distance
- Show concentration
- Pretend to be hard of hearing
Once you have mastered lip sync with one rod attached, try two handed movement with rods attached to both arms. But keep in mind that not all movement require both arms.
When using two rods together, cross them in an “X”, holding the top of the two rods between your thumb and index finger while clipping your little finger between the rods at the bottom of the “X.”
Now experiment with the following to rod:
- Clap hands
- Fly like an airplane
- Blow nose
- Pray
- Sneeze
- Do jumping jacks
- Play peek-a-boo
- Run in place
Remove detachable rods after each performance to protect the puppet when stored. Rods left on the puppet can cause pressure and place extra strain on the arm if not carefully packed. Also, the rod could tear the puppet or punch a hole in the puppet.
Lash all rods together with a shoelace or cord. Then wrap the rods in a towel or cloth.
