Where a puppeteer can go next
5 destinations recorded, ranked by how much of the target role a puppeteer already meets. The closer to the top of Table 1, the less there is to learn.
Puppeteers perform shows by manipulating puppets such as hand puppets or marionettes. Their performance is based on a script and the movements of the puppets have to be synchronised with the speech and music. Puppeteers may write their own scripts and design and create their own puppets.
Also known as ventriloquist, mime artist, puppeteer & voice artist, puppeteer-actor, puppeteer and voice actress, voice artist & puppeteer, lead puppeteer, puppeteer and actress, actor puppeteer, voice actor and puppeteer, puppeteer and actor, puppeteer & actor.
Professionals 34 skills on file 5 career moves 2 above 60% overlap Closest: stand-up comedian, 67%
- 70% and above · short step
- 50 to 70% · real move
- Below 50% · substantial retraining
Table 2 · A bigger jump
Possible, but expect real retraining rather than a sideways step.
Table 3 · What the job itself asks for
A puppeteer needs 17 required skills and areas of knowledge. These 10 are the ones fewest other jobs share, so they say the most about the work.
- develop puppet shows communication, collaboration and creativity
- manipulate puppets communication, collaboration and creativity
- cope with stage fright management skills
- engage the audience emotionally communication, collaboration and creativity
- interpret performance concepts in the creative process communication, collaboration and creativity
- act for an audience communication, collaboration and creativity
- adapt to acting roles communication, collaboration and creativity
- use declaiming techniques communication, collaboration and creativity
- interact with fellow actors communication, collaboration and creativity
- perform live communication, collaboration and creativity
Table 4 · Jobs that lead here
The reverse view: occupations whose skills already cover much of what a puppeteer does. The figure is how much of this job each one brings.
- actor/actress 76% covered · difficulty 28.6
- singer 73% covered · difficulty 31.7
- musician 65% covered · difficulty 40.6
- variety artist 64% covered · difficulty 40.7
- street performer 60% covered · difficulty 45
- stand-up comedian 58% covered · difficulty 46.4
- dancer 53% covered · difficulty 51.9
- circus artist 48% covered · difficulty 55.9
- prompter 42% covered · difficulty 60.3
Look up another occupation
Puppeteer is filed under Professionals, ISCO major group 2. The full index lists all ten groups.
How these figures were compiled
Overlap is how much of the target role is already part of a puppeteer’s work. It is directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. Every entry above opens the full comparison for that move: what carries over, what is missing, and where to start. The full method.