August 2007
Pricilla’s
Article
Take time to Stop, and say Thank YOU!
Greetings all,
It would be an understatement to say that I just finished the most incredible week of my life recently. This year's Mooseburger Clown Arts Camp finished with a bang! The All Star Clown Show featuring 80 clowns from all over the US, Canada, and Norway did a spectacular job. We had a live band this year courtesy of the Circus Camp at St. John's Prep School (www.sjprep.net ). The "new and improved" Clown Game Show hosted by Mark Renfro and assisted by the lovely Karen Bell and Brenda Marshall was a definite highlight. Rookie staff member Terry Ricketts did a bang up job with the Prop Shop and who could forget the two-story inflatable clown!!!!
Local Moose Camp Alumni: Darrell Jensen; George Quast; Dale Kottke; and Sandy Kephart, filled in all the gaps. More out-of-state alumni: LaTisha Burns; Blake Thomson; Roger and Janice Barnes; and I am sure a few people I have temporarily forgotten, pitched in with assistance in so many ways!
My core staff did an outstanding job as usual: Karen Bell; Fred and Katie Baisch; Christopher Hudert; Sweet Connie Kenney; Annette Frugalli; Dan Langwell; Brenda Marshall; Marcela Murad; Rex Nolen; Mary Ann Porter; Mark Renfro; and Terry Ricketts.
My office staff at PMO did an impressive job of organization the many months before camp even began: Mary Christian; Sheri Nichols; Cathy Manuel; Carol Northenscold; and Katie Serrano.
This was the first year that my daughter Miss Julia was at camp full time. She proved to be a valuable asset in helping anyone who needed a hand, campers and staff alike. She was dubbed the Moose Camp mascot!
I find it important to take the time to say Thank You to these people and the campers alike. Now some of you may be thinking, "Is this just a shameless self-promotion? Most of us will never get to Moose Camp." Possibly -- but it does touch on something very important. Everyone likes to feel needed and appreciated, even your audience!
There are a number of ways to say thank you. Red Skelton always ended his programs with "Thank you and God Bless". Make sure when you commit to a job, that you get a mailing address. I think it is just good manners to send a cute Thank You note after a performance. People will remember your thoughtfulness. Be sure to put a business card in with the note. Now with computers you can easily and quickly make some very creative and personalized Thank You notes! When you book the event, put the address on the envelope along with the stamp right away! It will be a breeze to write a few meaningful lines and pop it in the mail.
I am a member of the Maple Lake Chamber of commerce. Those Thank You notes from people who participate in Chamber events get read at the meetings. Hmmm. Something to think about, isn't it? What if something went wrong? A heartfelt explanation along with your Thank You note may be in order. With that kind of thoughtfulness you might save the chance to get hired back in the future.
Never take it for granted that you will be hired again. It is always good manners to ask to be respectfully considered for next year's event. I made that mistake twice in my career. My hearty "see you next year" was met with "you won't be here!" Talk about embarrassing! Through the years I have learned to request to be considered, and I don't take it personally if they don't ask me back. However, I make sure that I submit my request again for the following year. Sometimes folks just like a change. When I return, I find myself welcomed and missed. That always feels good!
Personally thanking the host of an event before you leave makes a big impact. It is as simple as thanking them for the opportunity to perform/work for them, and you hope their event was a big success. You might not be able to get Thank You notes to everyone, but it never hurts to thank the folks who end up doing all the work! When appropriate, be sure to have a business card to hand out as well. The person actually running the program may not be your contact person. Giving you card at the end of a good performance can be wonderful word of mouth. Being prepared with Thank You notes, addresses, and taking the time to get peoples' names makes it easy.
When NOT to hand out your card: When you are working for an agent. That is a big NO NO! It can also ensure that you will not work for that agency again. Also people running big events know it is not appropriate as well. They will take note. I hand out my card to the people running the event, not the audience unless asked. You don't want to look like a solicitor! That is just good performer manners.
We are currently working on Moose Camp 2008! We already have 20 people signed up. With only 85 spots available…well, YOU do the math!
The Moose Camp staff poured over the evaluations that came in at the end of the program. Problems and solutions were highlighted and discussed. We probably can't oil every squeaky toilet paper holder, or purchase the much-needed day stretcher, but we CAN put the schedule in a larger font! Trust me when I say that ALL your ideas and concerns are fully submitted. The staff was full of ideas for 2008!
I am already excited about it! We are featuring a new position at Moose Camp: "Special Guest Star!" Next year's guests are Greg and Karen DeSanto. They are veterans of many circuses including: Ringling Bros., Big Apple, Circus Sarasota, and many Shrine dates. They were the resident clowns at The Circus World Museum in Baraboo, Wisconsin as well as instructors at Ringling's Clown College. I feel they have wonderful talents to bring to Moose Camp. Their presence will ensure the return of The Soap Gag! to the All Star Clown Show, and so much more.
Life is starting to get back to normal here, but I still have a few dozen "Thank You' notes to write! Enjoy the rest of your summer!
This Fall, I will be on the road in a big way. Here's a glimpse at my calendar:
Midwest Shrine Assoc. Summer Convention - Madison, Wisconsin: August 16 - 18
South East Clown Association - Lexington, Kentucky: September 5 - 7
Clownfest - Seaside Heights, New Jersey: September 12 - 17
Minnesota Clown Daze - Anoka, Minnesota: September 22 - 23
Buckets O' Fun - Des Moines, Iowa: September 28 - 30
Western Regional Clown Association - Laughlin, Nevada: November 11 - 15
Hope to see you down the road!
Love & Laughter,
Pricilla
Holiday Reminder: ORDER NOW!
Don't wait, NOW is the time to get ready for your winter holiday season. Order NOW to ensure delivery by October. You will want to take new promotional pictures in your new costumes, right? Well, don't delay!
We feature the best in:
- Elves
- Mrs. Claus
- Santa in a variety of styles and prices
- Wigs, Beards, Belly-Stuffer, & Supplies
Go online now to check out all the great items to make your holiday season merrier!
Need something special for Christmas this year? Looking for something more custom?
Give us a call and rely on Pricilla Mooseburger Originals for all your creative costume needs!
800-973-7288 Toll Free
320-963-6277 Metro
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August Sale Special:
Mehron Student Make-up Kits
Regularly 12.00 -- NOW 9.00!! |
Do you teach kids or beginning clowns? Now is the time to stock up on these great beginner make-up kits!
Each kit comes in a reusable plastic box and includes:
- Full-color step-by-step instructions
- 5-color make-up palette (Red, Blue, Auguste, White, Black)
- Make-up remover cloth
- Full-size black liner pencil
- Full-size make-up brush
- Non-latex foam wedge
- Stipple sponge
- Red clown nose
We will also throw in Mehron's full-color make-up magazine and Pricilla's helpful make-up worksheets -- you get a real deal!
Terms & Conditions for this sale:
- You must mention the coupon code "STUDENT KIT"
- You must order in quantity of 6 or more. No maximum limit.
- Offer cannot be combined with any other coupon code or discount.
- Order must be placed during the month of August.
- This offer is not retroactive.
- Please allow two weeks for kits to ship
Moose Camp Reminder & Special:
Nest year's dates are July 29 - August 3, 2008. Mark it on your calendar now and start saving up! We're trying out a new idea for Moose Camp registrations, and we thought we'd throw your way to see what you think:
It's "Christmas in July"!
Why not give the gift of MOOSE CAMP this Christmas?
Wondering what to get your favorite clown for the Holidays?
Trying to send a hint to your family about what YOU would like to find under the tree?
If you register between now and December 15th, we will send you 2 exciting gifts you can present to the recipient for the holidays: a Moose Camp t-shirt and a Christmas card explaining how someone very special has given them the gift of MOOSE CAMP! All you need now is a $200 down-payment -- the rest isn't due until June. And then when Moose Camp rolls around this July, it's like Christmas all over again!
"What if they decide they can't come to Moose Camp?" You ask. Well, never fear!
We also offer you Refund Insurance for $25 -- you are guaranteed 100% of your down-payment if the gift recipient cancels their registration (they have until June 1st to decide).
It's never too early to start making your wish list!
Paying by installments make this gift an easy decision - why not make it a gift from the whole family? Or from the rest of the clown club? Or, heck, why not make it a gift to yourself???
Be sure to use the coupon code "MERRY MOOSE" to get the free t-shirt and Christmas card for your gift recipient!
Go online or call us to register.
Terms & Conditions:
- The "MERRY MOOSE" free t-shirt and Christmas card offer cannot be combined with any other discounts or coupon codes at the time of registration or in the future.
- This offer is not retroactive.
- You must mention the coupon code "MERRY MOOSE" at the time you register.
- A $200 down-payment is required to hold your spot.
- If you wish to add Refund Insurance for $25, it must be included at the time of registration.
- The remaining balance must be paid by June 1st.
For more information on this offer, please call the office (800-973-6277 or 320-963-6277) or email us at info@mooseburger.com.
Have any questions?
Suggestions? Comments?
Email us at info@mooseburger.com or call us at 320-963-6277 or toll-free
800-973-6277
Is the Moose
on the Loose? Looking for Pricilla?
Then check out
the Mooseburger Calendar page online:
Bookmark that
page and check back often – we are always adding new events!
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