Wow! We have been overwhelmed with orders for exclusive custom puppets for customers all over the world. Recently we have made a Porcupine for an TV advertising agency, an Alien puppet for a children's book author, another customer from Japan ordered a large costume puppet of a mother Alien carrying 2 baby alien puppets in a box and also carrying this ventriloquist in it's backpack (you'll have to see this when it comes out on television) ...and some other creatures we can't discuss yet. Exclusive custom puppets is the way to go if you need all the rights to your puppet. Consider if you are making a pilot for a TV show or you are pretty confident your new act is going to make you famous. You will want exclusive rights with 100% ownership of the character. This will allow you to negotiate your own production and licensing deals.
Also we have been working on non-exclusive custom puppets. These are creations that a customer may want Axtell Expressions to build for them, but they do not need exclusive rights. They can save a bundle of cash by purchasing the first one for themselves, but Axtell retains the rights to the character and adds it to their catalog. For some who don't need the rights to themselves, it's an affordable way to add a character to their show. Before accepting non-exclusive work I must determine there is a need for the character in our line of products.
If you are creating a pilot for your own TV show....do NOT get a non-exclusive with the idea that if the pilot goes and the show is taken you will then buy exclusive puppets. If the pilot is accepted well, it will be largely due to the characters you are using. Start with Exclusive and you won't have to re-design around them. To avoid copyright infringement, we cannot make new puppets look much like another puppet (even our own)!
Which custom puppet option is right for you? Send me an email and let me know today!
Axtell Expressions Puppets & Magic JPG
Professional Latex Puppets
About Me
- Steve Axtell
- Ventura, CA, United States
- President & Creative Director of Axtell Expressions, Inc.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Friends on TV
No not the show "FRIENDS"....with David Schwimmer (who used our giraffe puppet in Madagascar premieres) ..... but my real friends on TV.
Last week, my friend and customer Arthur Stead was on PBS's SOUNDSTAGE with Peter Frampton. Arthur has been on tour with many famous rock acts and most recently on tour with Frampton playing keyboard and guitar.
Arthur is an amazing composer who has produced the incredible royalty free background music we offer to entertainers. You can see and hear his awesome music on our website http://www.axtell.com/arthurstead.html
This next week several ventriloquists and customers will be on NBC's LATE SHOW with David Letterman. Monday will be my friend and customer Kevin Johnson who will be using our Cockatoo puppet. Check it out!
Also friends and customers - Jim Barber & Brad Cummings will be on Letterman later in the week.
The week after that..no doubt someone else I know will be on TV and using one of our puppets or magic props..... If it's YOU, please let me know!
Have a great week!
Ax
Last week, my friend and customer Arthur Stead was on PBS's SOUNDSTAGE with Peter Frampton. Arthur has been on tour with many famous rock acts and most recently on tour with Frampton playing keyboard and guitar.
Arthur is an amazing composer who has produced the incredible royalty free background music we offer to entertainers. You can see and hear his awesome music on our website http://www.axtell.com/arthurstead.html
This next week several ventriloquists and customers will be on NBC's LATE SHOW with David Letterman. Monday will be my friend and customer Kevin Johnson who will be using our Cockatoo puppet. Check it out!
Also friends and customers - Jim Barber & Brad Cummings will be on Letterman later in the week.
The week after that..no doubt someone else I know will be on TV and using one of our puppets or magic props..... If it's YOU, please let me know!
Have a great week!
Ax
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Happy New Year!
I hope you've had great holidays. I sure have.
I always try to take time at the end of the year to sit down and review. It's a great habit. Annual review will let you set new goals, see how the old ones are working, and if they should be continued.
If you are an entertainer, it's very important for your show. How are is the appearance of your act? Are the props in good shapes? Is the sound system needed any technical work? Do the puppets need to be freshened up? Do I need new puppets or magic in my act this year?
We have quite a great year of puppets & magic planned to be released this year. The first one is Big Babies check this out! Customer and ventriloquist Sylvia Markson presented this idea to us a few years ago and we are producing it this year. You can join in the development process on the Magic Cafe. I hope you do.
My oldest boy Ryan will be getting married in June, so our summer convention trips will probably be missed this year. I'm so excited to be his best man, and my rock band is playing at the reception. Oh yeah....I'm also a keyboard player in a 70's & 80's cover band. My hobby...another form of entertainment!
Have a great year...don't forget to sit down and make some entertainment goals!
Ax
I hope you've had great holidays. I sure have.
I always try to take time at the end of the year to sit down and review. It's a great habit. Annual review will let you set new goals, see how the old ones are working, and if they should be continued.
If you are an entertainer, it's very important for your show. How are is the appearance of your act? Are the props in good shapes? Is the sound system needed any technical work? Do the puppets need to be freshened up? Do I need new puppets or magic in my act this year?
We have quite a great year of puppets & magic planned to be released this year. The first one is Big Babies check this out! Customer and ventriloquist Sylvia Markson presented this idea to us a few years ago and we are producing it this year. You can join in the development process on the Magic Cafe. I hope you do.
My oldest boy Ryan will be getting married in June, so our summer convention trips will probably be missed this year. I'm so excited to be his best man, and my rock band is playing at the reception. Oh yeah....I'm also a keyboard player in a 70's & 80's cover band. My hobby...another form of entertainment!
Have a great year...don't forget to sit down and make some entertainment goals!
Ax
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
New Products 2006
The new products this year will be shown in our product line page. The page has been updated with graphics to help navigation. Do you find that more fun and interesting? Let me know.
Off The Meter - Comedy Prop - This was the run-away hit magic product this year for us. It's not as much magic as it is a comedy prop, but is used in hundreds of magic shows as a warm up. Also it's being used by other stage performers such as ventriloquists, puppeteers and even hypnotists! If you haven't seen this prop yet, check out off the Meter!
The Jazzman Puppet - This is our tribute to the great Jazz Singers of New Orleans. This latex puppets comes with a trumpet and a CD of songs in the voice of Jazz singer Al Stevens, similar to Louis Armstrong. Check out the demo of this guy in his tux!
Dolly the Hippo Puppet - Okay what can I say....a hippo in a bikini! She's a real charmer and a favorite!
Our other new products can be seen from our News web page.
I'll give you some hints as to new products in an upcoming post!
Off The Meter - Comedy Prop - This was the run-away hit magic product this year for us. It's not as much magic as it is a comedy prop, but is used in hundreds of magic shows as a warm up. Also it's being used by other stage performers such as ventriloquists, puppeteers and even hypnotists! If you haven't seen this prop yet, check out off the Meter!
The Jazzman Puppet - This is our tribute to the great Jazz Singers of New Orleans. This latex puppets comes with a trumpet and a CD of songs in the voice of Jazz singer Al Stevens, similar to Louis Armstrong. Check out the demo of this guy in his tux!
Dolly the Hippo Puppet - Okay what can I say....a hippo in a bikini! She's a real charmer and a favorite!
Our other new products can be seen from our News web page.
I'll give you some hints as to new products in an upcoming post!
Welcome to Axtell Expressions Puppets & Magic Blog!
Merry Christmas to my entertainer friends.
If you are not familiar with our company and have found this blog, let me share a little bit with you. I am Steve Axtell, president and creative director of Axtell Expressions, Inc. located in Ventura, California. It's a coastal city on the upper part of Southern Cal. For 27 years we have been making professional latex puppets and novel magic props and illusions. Our line of characters and tricks have been featured in tens of thousands of shows in over 60 countries. Many of our creations are famous, in movies, on, television on Broadway, etc.
Axtell Expressions has had an incredible year serving the needs of ventriloquists, magicians, ministries, kids-workers, clown & puppeteers. As Christmas approaches quickly I begin to reflect on the year, and to begin to formulate new plans and goals for the upcoming year.
Check out the web page www.axtell.com and take a look around, then come on back and we'll chat some more.
Welcome to the Wacky World of Axtell Expressions!
Ax
Steve Axtell
www.axtell.com
If you are not familiar with our company and have found this blog, let me share a little bit with you. I am Steve Axtell, president and creative director of Axtell Expressions, Inc. located in Ventura, California. It's a coastal city on the upper part of Southern Cal. For 27 years we have been making professional latex puppets and novel magic props and illusions. Our line of characters and tricks have been featured in tens of thousands of shows in over 60 countries. Many of our creations are famous, in movies, on, television on Broadway, etc.
Axtell Expressions has had an incredible year serving the needs of ventriloquists, magicians, ministries, kids-workers, clown & puppeteers. As Christmas approaches quickly I begin to reflect on the year, and to begin to formulate new plans and goals for the upcoming year.
Check out the web page www.axtell.com and take a look around, then come on back and we'll chat some more.
Welcome to the Wacky World of Axtell Expressions!
Ax
Steve Axtell
www.axtell.com
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