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In Reply to: You've inspired me! posted by Bill Rawley on September 09, 2008 at 14:28:38:
Hello Bill,
Boy Oh Boy this was a long time in coming. Sorry about that wait but I’ve been busy. Thank you so much for your kind words and I am glad that you like the Master Replicas Muppet Posers they where all very hard and fun to produce. The Muppet poser line is in trouble of being dropped right now but they do have a poll going on over at the Master Replicas website forum. So if you want to go in and vote please do. There two possible projects that I could be involved with but it will take quite a while for them to get going so right now I am looking for work.
Being a Toy designer for Hasbro of all companies sounds like a fun job and it’s good to hear that you are enjoying the art of making puppets and Project Puppet has some great patterns and is a very, very good place to start. I’ve checked out your Jim Reaper and that is a very good start, bravo! It looks like I am going to be one of the judges for this years Project Puppet Contest. I’ve talked to Pasha and he’s a great guy. Making puppets for family and friends is a good way to hone your puppet building skills. You should have seen the puppets I built when I was starting out in high school.
You’ll have to let me know if you get in with these guys n Hoboken HJ and I wish you all the luck in the world at getting in with them. As for the change in careers that is something that does have to be weighed and it’s not an easy thing. Lots of people will probably be telling you what they thing good and bad but you in the end make the decision and make it with your heart what pulls you the most, dig down and feel it. I’ve been told do what you love to do and the money will fallow. With me it’s always been up and down. I know it doesn’t tell you much but I hope that what I have said helps. Remember follow your heart. I sound like Cantus from Fraggle Rock.
Well I guess that’s it for now again sorry this took soooo long and thank you very much for writing and I am glad to have a fan from Rhode Island.
Take care and have fun in everything you do,
Terry Angus
: Hey Terry,
: I just got done listening to you on the Muppet Cast. You were great! I had no idea you were behind the MR Muppets. I own every one that's come out so far. My wife is fighting me for display space in our house. And I'm still waiting on that Fozzy I saw last year at San Diego Comic Con.
: Anyways, I'm currently a Transformers Toy Designer for Hasbro in RI. It's a great gig, I mostly draw robots all day and make comments and put out little fires on some great toys and a brand I grew up with. But what I really enjoy doing is making my own puppets. I entered a contest on Project Puppet last year and got into the top 10 but didn't win. I did the Jim Reaper (he's still in the gallery on their site) but he was my first real puppet using all the real materials and all. Since then I did a puppet for my friend of my friend and gave it to him for Christmas last year. This year I have to make one of his wife.
: But after hearing you and getting a sense of the "real" people behind the building of these fantastic creations, I've decided to really look into puppet building as a career. My family (and most of my wife's) is located in NJ and I heard about a puppet building facility in Hoboken NJ. I'm going to look into this with a bit. I can't lie, the money as a toy designer isn't bad and I'm thinking building puppets would be more of a labor of love rather than a cash cow, but it could be a nice change of pace.
: Or maybe I'l just stick to building my own stuff and displaying them. I'm not much of a performer though I can do a bunch of voices. Sometimes hasbro throws my voice in some of the toys we make.
: Wow, this is getting long. Well, just wanted to say "hi" and I'm glad i found your site. your stuff is great. Please keep doing what you're doing. You've got a big fan in Rhode Island.
: Later,
: Bill