General
Who can attend the National Puppetry Festival?
A. While Puppeteers of America members attend for a reduced price, the National Puppetry Festival is open to everyone ages six years and older. Some performances are only suitable for mature audiences. Per Puppeteers of America policy, children under six years of age will not be admitted to any performance, workshop, clinic or special interest session which is planned for festival registrants as part of the festival program. Anyone under the age of 18 and not accompanied by a parent or guardian must have a note appointing a registered adult as responsible for that minor child.
I'm making travel arrangements. What time do I need to arrive and depart the festival?
A. Arrival: On Tuesday, July 14th, you'll want to arrive at the festival by the mid afternoon.
Check-in for the dorms and apartments begins at 11 a.m.
There is an Orientation Session for all Festival Volunteers at 4 p.m.
There is a performance of Nosferatu (Dracula) at the Center for Puppetry Arts at 3:00 p.m. (Note: requires advance sign-up, seating is limited and transportation is not provided.)
"Puppetry in Education and Therapy" will have an introductory session with a keynote address at 4:15 p.m.
Dinner is served beginning at 5:30 p.m. and the opening night performances are at 7:30 p.m.
Departure: On Sunday, July 19th, most festival goers can depart after breakfast.
Checkout time for the dorms and apartments is 11:00 a.m.
There is a Puppetry Job Fair from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. for those looking for employment and educational opportunities.
The "Puppetry in Education and Therapy" seminar is from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. with an optional, informal sharing session in the evening.
Registration for "Puppetry in Education and Therapy" is available as part of the online festival registration process.
Festival registrants staying in the dorms and apartments can extend their stay until Monday morning for an additional charge.
How do I join the Puppeteers of America?
A. Go to their website.
What is the weather like in Atlanta in July?
A. Hellishly hot with the potential for violent thunderstorms in the afternoon. We recommend you pack a travel umbrella.
Are all of the festival facilities accessible to people with disabilities?
A. All performances,workshops, and event spaces are accessible. There will be a bus with a lift for transportation to the Center for Puppetry Arts on Saturday. We are committed to making the festival accessible to those with disabilities. Please contact the Festival Registrars so we can plan ahead to meet your needs.
Is there a bank on campus?
A. Yes. There are several ATMS located around campus. We will have specific information about these at check in.
Will I be able to access the Internet on campus?
A. Are you kidding? At the Georgia Institute of Technology? The entire campus has free WiFi access and each dorm room and apartment has a landline connection.
How safe is the Georgia Tech campus?
A. About as safe as any campus of over 19,000 students in the middle of a metropolitan area of over 5.6 million people can be. Most campus crime is nonviolent theft. We strongly encourage Festival attendees to never walk alone at night and to keep dorm and apartment rooms locked. The Georgia Tech Police Department has prepared a brochure of safety tips.
Who designed the logo for the 2009 National Puppetry Festival?
A. A really cool Atlanta artist named Dave Cook. Take a look at his website.
Since this is the United States, shouldn't you inform us of important legal issues pertaining to the festival?
A. Of course! When you register for the festival, you agree to abide by all federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations. The festival is not responsible or liable for your personal belongs. The use of cameras, tape recorders and video cameras is prohibited during festival performances. Workshops may be audio and/or video taped only with the workshop presenter's permission. The festival program, including the number of workshops and performances offered, is subject to change without notice.
Registration
Do I have to have paid Puppeteers of America membership dues for 2008 - 2009 in order to register for the festival?
A. In order to get the member registration rate, you must have paid 2008-2009 dues. We will check. If your membership is not current, your registration may be cancelled.
Will onsite registration be offered at the festival?
A. We expect the festival to sell out in advance, so we are not anticipating offering onsite registration. If this changes, we will announce it on this website and through the regular puppetry communication channels.
Will daily registration be offered?
A. Day Passes are now available to purchase for $100 for each day of the festival. You can read the Day Pass Registration Information here.
If I have to cancel my registration, can I get a refund?
A. You can cancel your registration up until June 14, 2009 and receive a refund of all fees paid less 10%. E-mail our Registrars for cancellation instructions.
Do I have to pay all festival expenses at once? Are you accepting deposits?
A. Through the online registration process, you do not have to pay all of the festival expenses at once. Paying your registration fee assures you a spot at the festival. You can then sign back into your account at some point in the future and choose and pay for lodging. Later you can select and pay for meals. You have until June 7, 2009, to pay for meals and housing. However, a limited number of apartment rooms are available. If you want an apartment, don't wait too long. Don't forget that the Puppeteers of America scholarship program is accepting applications. It covers the registration fee. And why not apply to teach a workshop? The honorarium you receive as a workshop presenter will help offset your festival expenses.
Please click here for more FAQs about Registration and Online Registration
Performances
Who selected the performers for the National Festival?
A. Performers were selected by the festival staff with recommendations coming from Puppeteers of America members across the country. The international performers were selected by representatives from the Centers for Puppetry Arts, UNIMA-USA, and the Puppeteers of America. Our goal is to showcase excellence and diversity in the art of puppetry.
Can I buy a ticket to a performance without registering for the festival?
A. No. All festival performances will be filled to capacity by festival attendees. However, you can purchase individual tickets to see the shows featured at the Puppets Take Atlanta & Beyond.
What is Puppets Take Atlanta & Beyond?
A. A public festival co-sponsored by the Centers for Puppetry Arts, UNIMA-USA, and the Puppeteers of America. Performances will take place at venues around metro Atlanta.
Where will the national performances take place?
A. Afternoon performances will take place in the Georgia Tech Student Center ballroom and in the Robert Ferst Center for the Arts. Festival attendees will be split into two groups for these shows. Evening performances, for one combined group, will be in the Ferst Center. On Saturday, performances will also be held at the Center for Puppetry Arts.
Are all of the performance spaces air-conditioned?
A. Yes. No outdoor performances are planned for the 2009 National Festival.
Is it too late to submit a show for consideration?
A. Probably, but don't let that stop you. We are already looking at shows for inclusion in the 2011 National Festival. Contact Reay Kaplan.
What is Potpourri?
A. Potpourri: A puppet festival tradition - a late night opportunity for festival attendees to perform their own puppet act in five minutes or less. The show careens back and forth between "The Gong Show" without the gong and "America's Got Talent" without the Hoff, Ozzy's wife, and that annoying English guy. The 2009 National Festival will feature two nights of Potpourri - Wednesday and Friday.
What is the Puppet Cabaret?
A. The Puppet Cabaret is a showcase of acts that have risen above the level of Potpourri but are too short for a regular festival performance slot. It features performances that have been honed at puppet slams across the country. The Puppet Cabaret is recommended for a mature (at least in age) audience.
Where and when will Potpourri and the Puppet Cabaret take place?
A. These late night events will take place in the Student Center ballroom, following the evening performances. Exact times will be given in the festival program book.
Will alcohol be served at Potpourri and the Puppet Cabaret?
A. Beer and wine will be available for purchase.
Workshops
How do I sign up for workshops?
A. Workshop sign up is part of the online registration process for the festival. Please read the Online Sign Up for Workshops FAQ for complete instructions.
Do I have to sign up in advance for workshops?
A. We strongly encourage advance sign up for workshops because many of them have limited enrollment. Advance sign up lets workshop leaders better plan their presentations and activities. It also allows us to assign workshop rooms based on the projected attendance.
What if I didn't sign up for workshops? Can I sleep in that morning?
A. If you wish. Each morning we'll post a list of workshops that have "open seating" - no advanced sign up required.
Once I sign up for a workshop, can I change my mind?
A. You can access your online registration account and make changes to your workshop choices as many times as you want until June 30, 2009.
Are all of the workshop spaces air-conditioned?
A. Yes.
There are several workshops I am interested in each morning but I can only attend two. Is there any way I can get the handouts from the other workshops?
A. All festival attendees will receive a workshop manual that includes the handouts from all of the workshops.
Is there a special workshop for young people?
A. No, but many of the workshops will appeal to young people. A list of Kid Friendly Workshops can be found here.
Other Festival Events
Where will the Puppet Exhibit be housed?
A. The Puppet Exhibit will be housed in the Richards Gallery inside the Ferst Center for the Arts.
Is the Puppet Exhibit open to the general public?
A. Yes, during special hours.
Are items that I exhibit safe?
A. We provide security for the Exhibit area which is locked when not in use. However, the Puppeteers of America does not take responsibility for any damage or loss. You are responsible for insuring your items.
What is the Traffle?
A. Travel + Raffle = Traffle. The Puppeteers of America Trustees are volunteers who must travel to two meetings a year. The Traffle was created as a way to raise money to help offset their travel expenses. Raffle items are donated by puppeteers and will be displayed in the Exhibit room. Volunteers will be selling Traffle tickets during the festival with the drawing for prizes on Saturday evening.
Are prize donations to the Traffle tax-deductible?
A. The Puppeteers of America is a non-profit organization and non-monetary donations may be tax-deductible. You need to consult your tax advisor. We will provide receipts for items donated but cannot provide appraisals of an item's monetary value.
When will regional and other meetings be held?
A. Organization meetings will be held Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday afternoons from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. The Puppeteers of America Annual Meeting will be Wednesday. UNIMA-USA's General Meeting will be Thursday and Regional Meetings will be on Friday.
When will the Puppeteers of America awards be presented?
A. The Puppeteers of America awards will be presented Saturday evening in the Ferst Center.
Housing
What housing options are there for festival attendees?
A. Reservations are no longer being accepted for on-campus housing. A block of rooms at a special rate is available for festival attendees at the Hampton Inn adjacent to the campus. You can book a room at this rate until June 29 or until all of the rooms are reserved. Details are on the location page.
Do I have to stay at Georgia Tech in order to attend the festival?
A. No. Since festival activities begin early in the morning and go until late at night, most attendees, including those who live in Atlanta, will find it much more convenient to stay on campus.
Can I stay in the dorm on Monday night before the festival starts or Sunday night after it is over?
A. We are unable to offer lodging for early arrivals on campus. It is available at the Hampton Inn. If you are staying on campus, you can extend your stay one night (checking out on Monday morning) for $42/apartment or $31/dorm.
Is the festival housing handicapped accessible?
A. The dorms and apartments have elevators. Beds in the dorms are raised six feet and require climbing. Beds in the apartments are 8 and 36 inches above the floor. Registrants can indicate special housing needs and assistance on the online registration form and we will work to meet those needs.
Do the dorms and apartments include linens?
A. On-campus lodging includes bed linens, blankets, towels, and pillows. You can exchange your linens for fresh ones on Friday if you wish.
What are the check-in and check-out times for on-campus housing?
A. Check-in for the dorms and apartments begins at 12 noon. Check-out is by 11 a.m.
Meals
Where and when will meals be served?
A. Festival registrants who purchase the meal plan will have breakfast and dinner in the Woodruff Dining Hall, near the apartments and dorms. Breakfast is available from 7:00 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. You'll receive a voucher for lunch at any of the Student Center Food Court restaurants from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Based on your performance group (red or blue), you'll have dinner from either 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. or from 6:15 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit our Location Page.
Why are there two separate seatings for dinner?
A. Because we want you to feel like you are on a cruise ship. But seriously folks, the Woodruff Dining Hall cannot accommodate all of the festival attendees at one time. To make sure everyone has a seat and to keep lines to a minimum, we ask that you strictly adhere to your group's dinner time.
One of my favorite festival experiences is to linger after dinner and talk. Are you saying we can't do that?
A. You certainly can - but not in the dining hall. We'll have designated lounge areas in the dorms and apartments that are very comfortable for after dinner conversation. Second-seating diners (6:15 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.) will probably want to go directly to the Ferst Center after dinner to get a seat for the 7:30 p.m. show.
I'm a vegetarian with food allergies and a finicky palate. Will there be food I can eat?
A. You sound like the typical college student that Georgia Tech feeds every day. Let us know your meal restrictions when you complete the online registration. We'll pass them along to Georgia Tech. When you go to the Dining Hall for a meal, tell the greeter you wish to speak to the manager. The manager will show you all the dining options that conform to your diet.
I only eat food that I have caught and sacrificed myself on the first full moon of each month. Can you meet my diet restrictions?
A. No. We suggest you book an apartment for your housing option. You'll have a kitchen to prepare your own meals (but you'll have to bring your own kitchen supplies).
Will there be a banquet at the 2009 National Festival?
A. No.
Can I get lunch on campus on Tuesday before the festival begins?
A. You can purchase lunch in the Student Center Food Court until 3:00 p.m.
Transportation
Click here for Printable directions by Air, Auto, Bus, etal.
There is more information at the following links:
Is parking available at Georgia Tech?
A. Yes. You will need to purchase a parking pass (good throughout the festival) for $30.00. Parking is only in designated lots and spaces.
Can I park an RV, trailer, or camper at Georgia Tech?
A. You can park on campus in the designated lot with a permit, but no camping is allowed.
Can I bring a bicycle to ride on campus?
A. It's an excellent idea. Please remember that this is an urban campus and a strong bike lock is recommended.
Volunteers
How do I volunteer?
A. Find out about it here
Publicity
Can our guild display our banner at the festival?
A. Definitely! We want all of the Puppeteers of America guilds to display their banners in the Student Center ballroom. To display your banner, it needs to have grommets (reinforced holes) at the top and be delivered to the Festival Office by 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14. Guilds can also mail their banners in advance - please contact Lee Bryan for instructions.
And now a few questions for you...
- Have you Registered yet?
- Have you Volunteered yet?
- Did we answer all your questions? No?
