By Matt Jarrard
Matt again asks Atlanta musicians “What do you do from 9-5?”
David Stephens of David Stephens & Banjolicious
What’s your day job?
I’m a puppeteer.
Oh really…so what is it that you ACTUALLY do?
Well, I have a puppet company, called All Hands Productions, which I started 10 years ago after getting my Masters in Puppet Arts from the University of Connecticut (yes, such a program actually exists). I produce and create 40-minute, family oriented puppet shows and tour them all over the United States and, occasionally, internationally. I also work as a freelancer for the Center for Puppetry Arts here, in Atlanta. They often host my original shows during their family series season. I have also been a puppeteer for the Jim Henson Company and a Muppet performer on “Sesame Street.”
Whats your favorite part about your day job?
Being able to be creative.
Least favorite?
Office work. I’m extremely disorganized.
Would you quit if you could afford to?
I often daydream that if I were filthy rich, I’d spend all my time playing banjo and going to bluegrass/old-time music festivals. Either that or I’d run away to the John C. Campbell Folk School and learn how to make banjos and quilts…that’d be the last you’d see of me.
David Stephens and Bajolicious – Lights of Bushwick
