Muppeteer A Muppeteer , also known as a Muppet performer , is a puppeteer for the Muppets . The Muppeteers manipulate the puppets , provide voices , and otherwise brings life to the various characters . Caroly Wilcox prepared a 1983 memo ( during pre - production for " Fraggle Rock " ) which illustrated and defined key aspects of the Muppet way of performing . As several of the new " Fraggle Rock " puppeteers came from non - puppetry backgrounds ( mime , stage acting , stand - up comedy ) , the memo addressed some key factors which differed between performing solo or with a supporting cast of live actors . These included use and awareness of the monitor and how much the camera will display , physical position and using mics and rods , and other details . Wilcox indulged her sense of humor by remarking that the head is " often in the way ; " that for puppeteering , a beard is " much preferred " ; and illustrating a three - armed person ( with head at the bottom to better watch the monitor ) as the " ideal Muppeteer . " According to Brian Jay Jones , Jim Henson did not like the term " Muppeteer " : Technique . Since the early days of " Sam and Friends " , Jim Henson and his colleagues employed different techniques to bring their characters to life . In most cases , the puppeteers hold the puppets over their heads . Muppeteers work in several different ways to get the effect that is needed on the television screen . Usually , Muppeteers perform their characters above their heads , standing . All of the sets are raised about 5 ' for this reason . To see their performance , they watch what is being recorded on a monitor , or a small television , which allows them to see what the audience will see . However , it takes a long time to get used to working in this manner , since certain things are reversed in the monitors ( If a puppet turns left , it looks as if it ' s turning right on the monitor ) . Muppeteers often tape their scripts to these monitors to read off of as well . In a 2018 interview with " Splitsider " , Dave Goelz detailed the other things a Muppeteer has to keep in mind while performing : Hand - Rod Muppets . A hand - rod puppet is a puppet which is controlled by both hands . The puppeteer ' s dominant hand goes into the head of the puppet , operating the mouth , and at times , facial features . The puppeteer ' s less dominant hand controls the " arm rods " , thin rods connected to the puppet ' s hand or hands . Examples of this type of puppet are Kermit the Frog , Miss Piggy , Gonzo , Bert , Elmo , Grover , the Fraggles , and others . Live - Hand Muppets . The hands for these puppets are actually gloves , which the puppeteer puts his or her less dominant hand into . This way , the puppet is able to manipulate objects , like picking things up or playing a piano . These puppets tend to be large to stay in proportion with the large human - sized hands . Since the lead puppeteer has one hand in the head and the other hand in one of the puppet ' s arms , another puppeteer is usually used to operate the other hand ( or sometimes both , in more complicated scenes ) . Examples of this type of puppet are Cookie Monster , Fozzie Bear , Ernie , The Swedish Chef , Rowlf the Dog , Dr . Bunsen Honeydew , Beaker , Count von Count and many others . Right - handing . With live - hand Muppets , since the principal puppeteer often has their right arm in the puppet ' s head , they will use their left hand to manipulate the puppet ' s left arm . As such , a second puppeteer is needed to perform the puppet ' s right hand . Many Muppet performers get their start " right - handing " characters . Full - Bodied Muppets . Full - Bodied Muppets are large - scale characters who combine elements of puppetry and costumery . Examples of this type of puppet include Big Bird , Sweetums , the Gorgs , Thog , Mr . Snuffleupagus , Barkley , and others . Recruitment and training . Muppeteers generally build their skills through apprenticeship , working their way up within the Muppet ranks — typically starting with assisting other performers , right - handing live - hand puppets , performing background characters and assisting with crowd scenes . Muppeteer workshops have been held throughout the years by the Henson Company and Sesame Workshop to find and foster new up - and - coming puppeteers . Muppeteers who have been discovered through workshops include John Tartaglia , Fran Brill , Matt Vogel , Eric Jacobson , Richard Hunt , Pam Arciero , Martin P . Robinson , and several others . For the international co - productions of " Sesame Street " , Sesame Workshop often sends their veteran puppeteers ( including Caroll Spinney , Kevin Clash , Martin P . Robinson , and Peter Linz ) to train the international performers in the art of Muppet - style puppeteering . In 2005 , the Walt Disney Company held open auditions for Muppet performers . Some of the early Muppeteers — such as Jerry Juhl , Frank Oz and Caroll Spinney — were discovered by Jim Henson at the Puppeteers of America festivals . Major Performers . " For a full list of performers , see . "