How To Lip Sync for Puppeteers

The art of puppetry is a special skill that requires concentration, coordination and a whole lot of practice. There are not many expert puppeteers because it is a lost form. However, really good ones can make a career out of it, entertaining children at birthday parties, or even adults at corporate events.
To make the puppet seem more alive, it is imperative the puppeteer is able to correctly coordinate the movement of the puppet’s mouth with the dialogue. It’s a tricky skill to learn, but it can be perfected with the right know how and a lot of practice.
Here’s how to lip sync for puppeteers.

• Watch your mouth as you speak. Stand in front of a mirror and watch yourself as you speak. If you can’t think of anything to say, recite a verse or sing along to a song. Observe how your mouth opens and closes for each syllable said. Try to do expressions such as “ohhh” and “ahhh” that your puppet can mimic.
• Practice, practice, practice! To perfect lip synchronization, a puppeteer must practice several hours to get the technique right. Stand in front of a mirror and with your puppet. Next, try to go along with the words of a song. If you’re a beginner, start with something easy like the counting or the letters o the alphabet. Don’t go out to the audience without ample rehearsal time. If you don’t put on a good show, your audience will be disappointed, and bad reviews may discourage you from pursuing your craft.
• Move the mouth for every syllable. A general rule of thumb when it comes to lip syncing puppets is that the mouth of the puppet should move at every syllable of the words being said. There are some exceptions to the rule. Usually, words that have the TH, Z and L sound are said without having to close the mouth, since the sound is generated from inside. An example is the word “syllable”. For the second syllable, you won’t have to close the puppet’s mouth to say it, since that’s how humans would do it.
• Keep your mouth closed. Don’t draw attention to yourself by moving your lips as your puppet speaks. Most audience members will look at your face at some point in your performance before their attention is fully captured by the puppet. Bite the inside of your mouth or smile to prevent any movement around your mouth. If your audience sees you moving your lips, the suspension of disbelief is shattered.
• Videotape yourself. As part of your practice routine, videotape yourself so you can watch what your audience sees. Aside from making sure your hand moves to the timing of the words being spoken, other movements of the puppet must also seem flawless and natural. If you don’t have a camera, let a trusted friend watch you to give you a proper critique and feedback on your method.

When you finally master the art of lip syncing with your puppet, you can create many hours of delightful escapism for both young and old alike. Put in the proper amount of time to work on your craft, and you’ll be a master in no time.