September 2007
Pricilla’s
Article
September is here and school is in session. It is time to hit the books! It is never too late to learn something new. For some of us we have been out of school for a long time. The idea of learning a new skill can be a little frightening. How do you go about learning something new?
It is a good idea to figure out how you learn best. I love to read, but I am a very visual learner. When I try to read an instruction manual my head starts to spin! However if there is a diagram I have better luck. Some folks learn audibly, they can benefit from tapes or DVDs. There are more books and DVDs on the market now more than ever before! From face painting to magic to ventriloquism, someone is putting a DVD out on the subject. Not all education is created equal! Talk to your friends to find out who has the best product. See if you can get them through your local library.
The biggest thing to remember, regardless how you learn best, is to remember it is OK to make a mistake. That first bag of balloon animals may end up looking like refugees from a nuclear plan -- no matter! You will improve with practice. Accept from the beginning that you will not astound yourself with your "natural" ability. Kids really don't care if each bubble is not in perfect proportion. They will love you all the more if you tell them you are just a beginner. Little kids especially can relate to that and will be on your side.
Giving yourself permission to fail or at least not be perfect is the first step. I knew a guy who taught people how to juggle. He said you are going to drop the balls at least 100 times before you get it. So you might as well get started dropping those balls and get it out of your system! I love that idea!
Now you may be new to clowning or trying to learn a new skill. Yikes! You are going to make mistakes but it is OK and an expected part of learning something new. As adults, we are not supposed to make mistakes. We have this misguided notion that we should have it all figured out by now. WRONG. Making mistakes make us feel uncomfortable. By now, most of us are competent at what we do, or we are really good at hiding our mistakes!!! When you start to learn something new get ready to feel uncomfortable. Just by making a mental note about this makes all the difference. Remind yourself that with practice, this feeling will go away and it is all a natural part of learning something new. If you don't make mistakes or fail at something you try, you are not trying very hard or challenging your self very much.
What happens when you try to learn something new and you just can't get it? Ask for help! Don't be afraid to call the company you purchased the trick or item from and ask for assistance. Take the trick or prop to your next clown club meeting and see if someone else has figured it out and can help you. A few minutes of hands-on help can make all the difference in the world. But first you have to ask for the help you need and just "get over it". Most clowns are generally happy to help.
This can also make for a great alley meeting activity! In advance, let your club members know that you will be having a "What the heck do I do with this" night. Have members bring those challenging items and then share the fun and knowledge. You can have a "show-and-tell-me-how-to-do-this" kind of event. You can share skills, learn something new, and have a few laughs. Sessions like these can build a sense of teamwork and self-esteem within a clown club as well. Everyone wins!
When learning a new skill, set reasonable goals. Set a specific time at when you will practice. Put it on your calendar. For real results, you need to be committed to practice. In Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Clown College, we put our make-up on EVERY day for weeks! That is what it takes to get proficient at a skill commitment. At Moose Camp, our Clowning 101 course puts their make-up on everyday as well. It keeps your ideas fresh in your mind. If you only think about improving a skill once a month, then when you have a performance lined up you will not get good results.
If you are having trouble getting motivated invite a friend to practice with you. That will keep you on track and it is more fun that way. Sometimes you have to put your feet to the fire. If you are pretty good at something, but you just need that extra push, book it!!!! What I mean is, set up a performance using that skill or new show! Your sense of commitment will nag you until you get it done. If there is no set goal, it is very easy to put learning something new on the back burner.
My friend magician and clown extraordinaire Fred Baisch and I want to put together a comedy magic routine. Well a year has gone by and we have not done it. We wrote the script on a road trip last fall. A year has gone by and we were no closer to getting rehearsals together. So we made a commitment to each other. He is going to book the act for next spring, and we are committed to present our comedy magic act at Moose Camp next year! The pressure is on because now I have told all of you as well! I better get that costume for the silly magician's assistant started NOW!
In Love and Laughter,
Pricilla
TWO SEPTEMBER Sale Specials:
25% OFF all in-stock Face Painting Supplies!
If it's on this page (Click Here) and in stock, then we'll take off 25% of the price!
From brushes to palettes, from aprons to glitter, stock up now and SAVE!
-- But WAIT! That's not all! --
Order at least one in-stock face-painting item during the month of September and we'll throw in a FREE copy of "Clown Paints: Make Face-painting Fun". This handy little booklet covers the basics of face-painting as a clown. You'll get an overview of setting up, closing down, handling young customers, designs for hands and faces, patter, and everything in-between. It's only 15 pages long, but it's quite a treasure!
Start saving today so you can create those miniature masterpieces all year long!
Go online here and take a look at the great Mehron Paradise Paints products we carry plus our fun and original face-painting aprons. 25% discount does not include the sale of Gift Certificates. You can place an order online, by fax, or by phone.
Terms & Conditions for this sale:
- You must mention the coupon code "MASTERPIECE" at the time you place the order.
- Offer cannot be combined with any other coupon code or discount.
- Order must be placed during the month of September.
- Offer is not retroactive.
- Offer is good only while supplies last.
- Limit one copy of "Clown Paints: Make Face-painting Fun" per customer, per order.
- Offer is not valid towards the purchase of a Gift Certificate.
- Order online here, call 320-963-6277 or 800-973-6277,
or send a fax to 320-963-6692.
- We will contact you after you place the order with the availability of the items.
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20% OFF all in-stock BOOKS!
What better way to put into practice Pricilla's advice about starting something
NEW in your clowning, than to pick up a new book and give yourself a challenge?
Terms & Conditions for this sale:
- You must mention the coupon code "BOOKWORM" at the time you place the order.
- Offer cannot be combined with any other coupon code or discount.
- Order must be placed during the month of September.
- Offer is not retroactive.
- Offer is good only while supplies last.
- Offer is not valid towards the purchase of a Gift Certificate, CDs, or Videos.
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Order online here, call 320-963-6277 or 800-973-6277,
or send a fax to 320-963-6692.
- Books are not returnable for refund or exchange.
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We will contact you after you place the order with the availability of the items.
Moose Camp News:
You may already have heard, but we are adding a pair of very special clowns to the staff for 2008 Moose Camp
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Special Guest Stars:
Greg and Karen
DeSanto! |
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This dynamic duo specialize in: Physical Comedy, Pie Throwing, Clown History, Clown Teamwork, Soap Gags, Hospital Clowning, and Gag Writing.
Currently in their third decade as professional circus clowns, Greg and Karen DeSanto are one of the very few husband and wife comedy teams working in America today. Both graduated from Ringling Clown College (Greg in 1985, Karen in 1993) and went on to have careers with The Greatest Show on Earth, whether it was writing, producing, directing, or starring in gags. The DeSantos have served as consultants for Feld Entertainment and have directed the clown material for many editions of RBBB Circus. Besides Ringling, the DeSantos have also performed at the White House, Big Apple Circus Clown Care, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Madison Square Garden, and other fun locales and programs all over the world. For seven seasons, Greg and Karen were the favorite resident clowns at Circus World Museum in Baraboo, WI. Karen and Greg are master performers who bring out genuine laughs!
Check out their website at www.gregandkarendesanto.com.
The "Special Guest Stars" is a NEW feature we are adding to Moose Camp in 2008, and we are very excited and proud to have Greg and Karen DeSanto as our guinea pigs!
Based on your comments and suggestions in the evaluations, we are tweaking some aspects of Moose Camp and making improvements. We will keep you up-to-date with the latest news as it happens.
Registration update:
Only 74 spots left as of today!
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Moose Camp Reminder & Special:
Next 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 early Moose Camp registrations, and we thought we'd throw your way first 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???
This truly is the gift that keeps on giving!
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.
- Offer is good from now until December 15th.
For more information on this offer, please call the office (800-973-6277 or 320-963-6277) or email us at info@mooseburger.com.
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2007 All Star Clown Show video update
For those of you who attended Moose Camp this year and are interested in ordering either the Moose Camp Photo CD or the All Start Clown Show video:
We are still waiting for the photos to be compiled for the discs and for the video company to finish editing the footage. We hope to have the Photo CDs and the All Star Clown Show videos (DVDs and VHS tapes) available for purchase by the beginning of October - if not earlier!
In the mean time, you can pre-order your copies online here or call the office: 800-973-6277.
Prices:
Photo CD $20
All Star Clown Show VHS Tape $25
All Star Clown Show DVD $32
Priority Mail Shipping & Handling $7
Mooseburger Yahoo Group
Guess what?! We have our very own message board on Yahoo! This group is for clowns of all ages and backgrounds. It is a GREAT resource for new clowns and a GREAT sounding board for the more experienced clowns. Heck, if you're reading this newsletter right now, that's reason enough to join the Yahoo group!
"Why else should I join?" you ask...
Well, if you really MUST have a whole slew of reasons, here ya go:
- It's free.
- It's easy to join.
- It gets delivered right to your email box.
- You have the opportunity to discuss all aspects of clowning.
- Other clowns can offer advice and suggestions.
- You get updates on the latest happenings in Mooseburger Land.
- Mooseburger instructors are on-hand to answer your questions.
- It's like a little bit of Moose Camp, all year round.
- It's FUN!
…are you convinced yet?
You can subscribe right here:
Hey, Moose Newz only comes once a month. Sometimes you want more frequent news about the clowning world, or sometimes you want a way to share your ideas or give feedback. The Yahoo group is great way to do that!
Let's get this group growing!
Moose Camp is a wonderful thing, but it's just one week out of 52. Using the Yahoo list is a way to keep connected to the Moose Camp spirit the other 51 weeks of the year.
As of now, we have only 160 members…and I know we have had way more than 160 Moose Campers in the past 10 years…C'mon folks!
The more clowns we have joining, the more fruitful the discussions!
Just to let you know, you do need a Yahoo account to join, but it's free and easy to obtain one, and it doesn't mean you have to use Yahoo mail (you can still use your own email address). If you get stuck and have trouble joining, send an email to Katie@mooseburger.com or call 800-973-6277. She'll help you out!
Holiday Reminder: ORDER NOW!
Don't wait, NOW is the time to get ready for your winter holiday season. Order SOON to ensure delivery by November.
You will want to take promotional pictures in your new costumes, right? Well, don't delay!
We feature the best in:
- Elves (no, not Elvis)
- Mrs. Claus
- Santa in a variety of styles and prices
- Gingerbread Boy & Girl
- Christmas Tree (yes, a TREE costume!)
- Wigs, Beards, Belly-Stuffer, & Supplies
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
The Moose is on the Loose!
Remember to look for the Pricilla Mooseburger Originals booth or try to catch Pricilla's classes if you plan on attending one of these up-coming events:
- South East Clown Association - Lexington, KY: Sept. 5 - 7
- Clownfest - Seaside Heights, NJ: Sept. 12 - 17
- Minnesota Clown Daze - Anoka, MN: Sept. 22 - 23
- Buckets O' Fun - Des Moines, IA: Sept. 28 - 30
- Western Regional Clown Association - Laughlin, NV: Nov. 11 - 15
If you plan on ordering a custom costume soon and you require a Design Consultation, we would like to inform you that Pricilla will be on the road quite a bit this month, which may delay your consultation.
If you have already had your consultation and have approved a costume design, don't worry -- Pricilla's absence will NOT delay the construction or shipping of your order.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call the office at 320-963-6277 or toll-free at 800-973-6277 or email us at info@mooseburger.com.
To see where Pricilla Mooseburger is traveling and when, check out our up-to-date online calendar:
..because you never know when the Moose is on the Loose!
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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