Finding Yourself Behind a Red Nose

I woke up one day and found myself behind a red nose. It was zip tied to the front of my non-descript silver mini van. It is my identifying marker in my community. “I knew it was you, ‘cause I saw your red nose!” Whether I like it or not I will always be identified as “Pattie the Clown, Tricia the Clown, my sister, my niece or aren’t you the clown???” Even when I am trying to blend into society, I am found out. A visiting priest remembers me as “the clown” and he has never even seen me perform! Trust me, I don’t run around wearing clown clothes or give it away with clown t-shirts or jewelry. Once folks find out it is part of your life, it becomes how people identify you! You can’t help but stand out in a crowd. The Clown.

That’s what I get for running away and joining the circus at age 21. People are curious. “What would make a young woman from a seemingly normal family and small Midwest town do such a thing?” Timing -- Comedy is always about timing. You have your story, too. It may be that you always wanted to, or you did it once for Halloween, or you just thought it would be fun to try. Any reason is a good reason to be a clown. I have been a clown for almost 30 years now. For 27 of those years it has been my profession in one way or another. I have performed for the Greatest Show On Earth and The Happiest Place on Earth; designed costumes; and taught classes. I have played along parade routes; failed as a birthday party clown; and blew a muscle in my face twisting balloons! It has been a wild ride.

The best part is helping people find the power of self-discovery in a red nose. The second best part is helping the audience find it through my performance. You really can’t take yourself too seriously behind a red nose. Most of us take ourselves far too seriously. A serious clown??? Pleaze! Go back to the conservatory, your class on channeling your inner angst is waiting for you!

I am my best clown self when I stop taking myself seriously and play, when I can relax and not worry who I am trying to impress. I showed up at an ice fishing contest in 12 degree weather in a penguin costume. Why? Because it was FUNNY!

I wasn’t paid; I volunteered. I did it just for the fun of it. I was judging a costume contest of crazy people paying $100.00 (for charity) to jump into the lake through a hole cut in the ice! When the ice blocks from the hole they cut into the lake are almost 3 feet thick, it gives a new meaning to the word cold! It was the only time I showed up in a costume and was not the craziest person there. But it was funny! Grown people pointed and waved as they drove onto the lake. They didn’t expect to see a penguin. I made them smile. It was worth it.

Clowning needs to be about being silly, about seizing the moment and remembering to play. Sometimes it is a hard place to get to with all the pressures of the world on our shoulders. But we need to find our ticket to that place and punch it as many times as we can. My time in the penguin costume or behind my red nose works like the valve on a pressure cooker. It helps release all the built up worries and pressures I gather day by day. After my time on the ice I went home and took a three hour nap. Being refreshed and restored is hard work! How do you go about finding your passport to playtime? Most often it requires you take a risk. Leap out of your comfort zone. Volunteer to clown somewhere new. Do something ridiculous. Take some time for yourself. Follow a gut reaction out the door and say “YES” to play time.

Having trouble? Look at the things about your clowning that don’t work for you and make a change. Risk? Change? Uh-oh! Those words can conjure scarier images than a bloody chainsaw or a tax audit. But they are required for your passport to fun.

Change -- Is your current clown make-up and costume STILL working for you? As time has gone by have you grown out of the style you adopted when you first started your clown discovery? Make a change. Don’t worry, you can always go back. It may be the beginning of a much more fulfilling performance. There is nothing worse than a burnt-out clown sticking to what they have always done because it is comfortable…or at least it WAS comfortable.

Risk -- Try performing in a new venue with a new routine or a new prop. It can be done in small steps, in small ways. Most of the time we know what we should be doing and we talk ourselves out if it. (Or we let our friends talk us out of it because they don’t want to see us change either). “I’m too busy.” “I can’t afford it.” “I could never” What…never try? Maybe fail??? What could be the worst thing that would happen….people wouldn’t laugh. Kind of funny when you think about it!! Michelangelo said “The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it but that it is too low and we reach it.” This also can happen to people who are successful. It is hard to put yourself out there with a new idea and fail. After all, who wants to ruin a winning record? But it really is worth the effort to try. It keeps us going! It keeps clowning fun and fresh.

So as we approach the springtime of the year, we should look for new beginnings. Try to broaden your horizons and think about the impossible things you could be doing. Craft your own passport to fun, challenge and change. Live your life behind a red nose!

Pricilla

P.S. I’m going to be on the radio! I recently did an interview with “A Closer Look” and it will air at 3:00pm Standard Time on Tuesday, March 9^th. Here's the link to listen online: http://www.achieveradio.com/. And here's a link for more information on the show itself: http://www.acloserlookradio.com/. What a fun experience!

MOOSE CAMP NEWS!

SCHOLARSHIPS --

I will be calling the winners of the Ralph Pounder Memorial Scholarships this week. Remember, each scholarship is $350.00, which means the winners will have to pay the remaining balance on their registrations. If you decide to use your scholarship and register for Moose Camp, then you need to contact us by March 12^th. In the event that one of the winners decides not to register for Moose Camp, I have made a list of runner-up candidates to take that place. If you applied for a scholarship and are wondering if you won, don’t worry, I will contact you by phone or email – you do not have to call us.

PEP Talks --

If you are already registered, you should have received a lengthy -- yet informative -- email from katie@mooseburger.com which included four attachments. One of those attachments was a blank PEP (“Personal Education Plan”) Form. You need to return your completed PEP Form by April 1^st. You can send them in by email (Pricilla@mooseburger.com), fax (320-963-6692), or snail-mail. I will be conducting the PEP Talks between April and June. To prepare for our conversation, please look over the schedule (which can be downloaded by clicking here) and workshop descriptions (which are listed online here). Campers within North America will have their PEP Talk conducted by phone. Campers from the rest of the globe will have their PEP Talks conducted via the internet (Skype or Instant Messaging).

REGISTRATION –

If you are NOT registered, but would like to attend Moose Camp, you better make a move fast! At the moment, we have approximately 33 spots remaining for Moose Camp this year. If you would like to register by phone, you can call us toll free at 800-973-6277, or 320-963-6277 for our International friends. Or you can register online by clicking here .

INFORMATION –

If you’re thinking about going to Moose Camp, but you have questions – ASK US! It does you no good to sit on the fence and hem-and-haw about it. You should pick up the phone or send us an email! We would be more than happy to discuss your clown arts education and answer any of your Moose Camp questions. Email me at Pricilla@mooseburger.com or call Mooseburger Headquarters at 800-973-6277.

Mooseburger Clown Arts Camp

July 27 – August 1, 2010

Buffalo, Minnesota

Click here to visit the website

Light and Low-Priced for Summer

Need a COOLER costume this summer, but can’t spend too much?? We have the solution!

Presenting:

“UNDER $300”

&

“UNDER $400”

That’s right, we’ve done the math for you and found at least two dozen outfits that work great in the summer heat and won’t break the bank! Give your wallet a well-deserved rest and get comfy in our new, lighter costumes. You will still look professional, but feel oh-so-much cooler!

If you want to receive your custom-designed costume by May, then NOW is the time to order it! Keep in mind it takes 6 – 8 weeks from start to finish. Pick any of these bountiful, beautiful bargains and then let us know what colors and fabrics you like. Call us toll free 800-973-6277 to get started on your Design Consultation today! It’s easy!!

Don’t have eight weeks to wait? Need a costume right now?

Take a look at our new “IN STOCK NOW” section! Click here to see what we have ready for immediate shipment.

March Sale!

FREE Shipping on $30.00 or more of in-stock Mehron Make-up!

Freshen up your make-up! It is time to go through your make-up kit and toss any old stuff. If it has separated or gotten contaminated with other colors or powder, you should replace it. Make sure you haven’t run out of your favorite color!

Buy $30.00 of Mehron and get FREE Shipping on your entire order!

Click here to start shopping online!

We have over 60 different Mehron products to choose from! Sale includes grease paint, brushes, latex, pencil sharpeners, powder, glitter, Paradise, and remover, more! If it is in stock and says “MEHRON” in the description, then it’s included.

Don’t forget to mention Discount Code “MARCH HARE”

Go online to order: www.mooseburger.com

Call in your order: 800-973-6277 (or 320-963-6277 for our international friends)

Fax your order: 320-963-6692

Terms and Conditions of Sales:

1. Free Shipping offer is good on orders being shipped only to Canada and within the US. Order will be shipped by U.S. Parcel Post or First Class, depending on weight and destination.
2. You have to type the word “MARCH HARE” in the Discount Code box at the end of your online order, or write “MARCH HARE” somewhere on your fax-in or mail-in order, or tell the word “MARCH HARE” to the Mooseburger Salesperson on your phone-in order.
3. Supplies are limited. Free Shipping & Handling offer is good only on in-stock items. Please note: Just because the item is displayed online does not mean it is in stock – all products are displayed online regardless of immediate availability. We try to update it everyday, but the site is not always 100% up to date with current stock. If you have any concerns, then call us before you place your order: 800-973-6277 or 320-963-6277. Click here for our Sales Page.
4. Good on phone-in, mail-in, fax-in, or online orders. Order must be placed during the month of March. This offer is not retroactive.
5. The Shipping & Handling will still show up on your online order confirmation; sorry, we cannot control that application online. However, rest assured that the Shipping & Handling will be deducted from your total before we process it. You will get an email titled “New Order from PMO” with your correct total.

Where in the World is Pricilla?

Join me at the Spring events listed below – stop by my booth and say “HI!” You can keep track of my travel schedule online here. See you on the road!

Have a fun and happy (and safe) St. Patrick’s Day!

It may still be winter here in Minnesota, but spring is just around the corner. That means wonderful temperatures to perform in! The first holiday that gives us a chance to strut our stuff is the St. Patrick's Day parade in my home town of Maple Lake (the self-proclaimed “Irish Heritage Hot Spot of Minnesota”).

You can bet that all of us here at Pricilla Mooseburger Originals will be kicking up our heels during the 33rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. We’ll have clowns and Irish Washer Women a-plenty sauntering down the streets of this grand wee lil’ town – wish you could join us!

May the luck of the Irish be with you all!