In what time zone is the event taking place?

Eastern Daylight Time.

I registered for the event but I can’t access the programs. Is there something else I have to do?

Yes, you have to login to the site with the username and password that was emailed to you from virtualpuppetcon@gmail.com. This email may end up in your spam folder, so please check there if you cannot find it. The login is located on the left hand side of the website.

How do I find the performances and workshops?

Once released, all the programs (performances, workshops, and panels) will be located in the “STAGE” tab on the website. Once a piece has happened on the schedule, it is then available for on-demand viewing in the detailed schedule until the conclusion of the event.

How do I register for the different workshops?

Once you register for the VPC event, you will have access to everything on the website – no need to sign up for individual workshops. Some workshops may limit the number of active participants, but you will still be able to attend the workshop.

I bought a ticket, do I need one for each day?

No, your ticket is an all-access pass for the entire 10 days of content. Don’t lose your password and go to the website early to make sure you know how to access all the important parts of the site.

Do I need to do anything to prepare for the workshops?

Some workshops have printouts or materials needed for the workshop. Click on the workshop square to “flip” it, revealing additional information necessary for the workshop.

I work and my children are in school. Does that mean that we are going to miss a lot of the event?

No. Weekdays (M-F), new programs will begin to be released at 3:00pm and can be accessed at your convenience throughout the remainder of the VPC event which ends at midnight on October 11 th . The only things that you may end up missing are the abilities to ask your Q&A questions to the artists, or to meet the artists after their performance or workshop.

I am going to miss the whole first weekend because of a prior obligation. Will there be a way to see everything I missed?

Once released, programs will be available to stream for the entire rest of the VPC event. The only two events that you must be present to see live are the Puppet Slam and the Open Mic as they will not be available outside their scheduled times.

Why are the Breakout rooms named: Mask, Rod, Hand, Marionette, and Shadow?

In American puppetry these are considered the five traditional forms of puppetry.

If I really enjoy what I see, how can I make a contribution to the individual artists teaching workshops or performing here?

Many of the artists here have social media links that you may follow to keep up with their work, performances, and workshops. Some even have a Patreon, Venmo, or Paypal to make  contributions. To find these go to the “Puppeteers” page and click on the individual artists to locate these links.

When I go to the Break Out Room pages my video and sound do not work. What should I do?

The Virtual Puppet Con Break Out Rooms are a web based chat system, similar to Zoom. If possible, join from a laptop or a desktop computer – they tend to work better. If you are joining from a laptop or desktop computer we suggest the use of Google Chrome, or Microsoft Edge browsers. If you are joining from an Android device, to get the best experience you will need to download the Jitsi Meet App from the Google Play Store. If you are joining from an iOS device (iPad, iPhone, etc.), to get the best experience you will need to download the Jitsi App from the Apple App Store. If you have any questions around this, or you are having problems getting into the rooms, send us a message at: virtualpuppetcon@gmail.com. We highly recommend trying this out early and not waiting until the last minute before a workshop or show is about to begin. If that does not solve your problem here are a couple troubleshooting things that you should try to check (click photos for larger versions):

1. Another application may be using your camera or microphone so close all other applications to see if that fixes the problem.
2. Your Web browser may be blocking the video, check here in the address bar and unblock the video or audio if that is the problem
3. Your microphone and/or camera may be turned off. Look for a slash through one of these symbols at the bottom of the Jitsi page and click the button (not the arrow next to the button), to turn them back on.

Thank you all for coming! If your question is still not answered or you are still having trouble, then please contact virtualpuppetcon@gmail.com for more help, or you can go to the Help Desk/Lobby during office hours and we will do our best to answer your questions.