Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lee Zimmerman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Lee, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
As with every amazing thing that has happened to me over the last four decades, a series of opportunities revealed themselves to me. I had little more than a sketch of what my life could be one day which I held like a blur in the back of my imagination, a vague impression of my potential when I entered art school in Philadelphia. In the back of my mind, I suspected that it was entertaining people. When I found myself penniless and in desperate need of art supplies, I decided to take a marionette I’d made when I was 16 out to the streets to try and earn a little cash. That Jimi Hendrix puppet got me into the newspaper less than two weeks later followed by numerous television profiles. I expanded the cast of characters into a full-fledged rock and roll puppet revue and after 8 years, managed to get that show all the way out to Los Angeles where I immediately rose to the top of my field, performing in nightclubs and in films and on major television shows. The punchline to ALLL of this long and winding story is that as a result of all that touring I met a few key people that changed every value I have ever held up until that point of my life. In 1998, I was invited to be a part of a circus camp program that benefits kids at risk in the remote communities of Northern Canada. We teach a bunch of otherwise forgotten and neglected children how to perform a circus, from trapeze to wire walking to magic to juggling – even puppets. And THIS is my purpose! I was sent here to help young people feel proud and inspired. It’s the single most rewarding feeling I have ever experienced.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My life’s work has several elements to it: artist, performer and circus camp instructor. I design and build the marionettes I use in my live show as well as build custom creations for numerous television and theater productions. I use these same puppets to teach the kids, so whatever I use over here, I generally get to use over there. My creations have seen a lot of city miles! I sell a lot of what I call, pup-Pet Portraits. Fully articulated marionettes, exact replicas of whatever pet you would like, detailed down to every last nuance – every spot, every paw pad color, every feathered detail, (depending on the nature of the pet that owns you.) I string them up and feature them on little wire stands. Very popular. I also build a lot of trick puppets, mostly for other entertainers. Puppets that can swallow fire, walk on flaming stilts, walk on wires – puppets that can balance objects on their chin. And of course, I make LOTS and lots of portraits of beloved musicians. Johnny Cash, Christina Aguilera Morrissey, Tina Turner – I’ve made several Elvii!
All this and I get to perform them, too. Nightclubs and festivals from Hollywood, California to France to Singapore. I love my life!
In fact, I recently finished writing my autobiography:
Tangled: Puppets to Playboy – True Story of an Unlikely Hollywood Insider.Details at:
www.thepuppetguy.com
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Whenever I look back at the 40 years I’ve invested in art and live performance, I see the same pattern, over and over again.
Number one: I was always highly visible. If you lived in Philly in the years that I did, you saw my show SOMEWHERE! If you lived in Los Angeles in the years that I did, I was EVERYWHERE. Venice Beach led to Universal Studios led to everything from working with Guns n Roses to performing at the Seinfeld Wrap Party. This is WHY they invented business cards.
(sub-advice: Never leave home without business cards and, and, AND – A PEN AND SOMETHING TO WRITE ON!)
Number two: Trusting your heart! I had infallible instincts, especially at the height of my success. I simply TRUSTED that I was being led to my destiny and over and over again it proved to be true. I creatively visualized potential scenarios and opportunities, held many dreams like a blur in the back of my imagination going back to when I was 12, certain they would happen – and they all did. And, I left my radar up for such things 24-7, trying very hard not to miss a one.
Number three and this is most important: MOMENTUM IS EVERYTHING! If you have the good fortune of doing very well, and find yourself in high demand, KEEP GOING! You can rest later! This is why they invented adrenaline! Because it is often in such excited and edgy states that we find our most inspired successes.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
I have a mentor, another artist and performer who blows me away with not only his unmatched skills and determination, but his incredible and sometimes overwhelming generosity. John Higby the Yo-Yo Guy. His shows are always hilarious, always being developed, changing, expanding and he makes all of his own props. It’s incredible. Somehow, and this is the part that MOST inspires me, he seems to be working in a universe with 48 hour days because he produces three times as much artwork as any other artist I know…and it’s all spectacular! Paintings, furniture, children’s books, posters….brilliant. He is my Art Hero…and he always goes out of his way to find me gigs, send me commissions for puppet portraits and the like. How he manages to do alll that he does in the course of a day…? I should NEVER complain that I am short on time. www.yoyoshow.com
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thepuppetguy.com
- Instagram: thepuppetguy
- Facebook: Lee Zimmerman the Puppet Guy
- Youtube: Lee Zimmerman the Puppet Guy
Image Credits
Robert Meyer.
