To Chris vdC
Thanks for drawing my attention to the dead links regarding Period Music sources. However I don't see the point of your remark "But given you no longer advocate recorded music perhaps they shouldn't be there at all?" On what do you base that?
Firstly the link was for period music for Punch and other Puppet Shows. As you know well enough I always use recorded sound in the majority of my puppet shows. Also I always play recorded music before and after my Punch Show. I have nothing against recorded music - in the right place of course.
But I don't think editing play lists on a lap top during a punch show, or having a mike plugged into a Usb socket for a Punch show, or using floor standing pateo speakers to amplify the voice are good ideas at all - from purely practical reasons which will surely be obvious to anyone who actually performs Punch shows.
And yes I have an Ipod - and it is great for some things but I find Cassette or MiniDisc easier to manage with gloved hands in the confines of the booth. Another consideration with all these gadgets, Ipads, Lap tops or whatever, all require linking cables - always vulnerable in the hurly burly of the show and in a confined place. They all require unplugging and locking in the car if you move from the booth. They all present an extra battery to remember to put on charge.
Personally I love my digital toys - but I don't think the Punch booth is the right place in which to play with them.