May 2008
Scary
Clowns: Part 2
No, this month’s newsletter
is not a rerun! We covered scary clowns in the October newsletter. However,
the summer clowning season is upon us and I think there are some additional
issues to cover. In the October newsletter we talked about why the media
is obsessed with evil clowns and what we can do to about it – click
here if you want to re-read it.
This topic was brought to my
attention again by a clown who sent me the email below followed by my
response.
“I
have a question for you, I've tried to mail others professional clowns,
but none replied, really, I used to clown and enjoyed it. I perform
at parties doing balloons and kid magic, now I walk on stilts.
Here
it is: What does a man clown do when he performs and all you hear is,
“I’m scared of clowns" or
“Did you ever see IT" or "clowns are child molesters",
I have a few more, but you get the idea.
I
have not put on make up in a year. Woman clowns have it a little easier,
I think. I don't wear scary make-up; I’m August, Some times I feel
trampy.
I do wonderful balloon twisting and good kid magic. I'm a fireman, and
I do this on the side. I want to see if I get a reply from you. I’m
sending some pics.”
I didn’t include his picture,
but trust me he was NOT a scary clown! He had a very subtle, yet professional
look. Here was my response:
Greetings,
You
bring up a very good topic. I want to address it in my next newsletter.
I think the best thing we can do is meet this head-on. We need to tell
people not all clowns are scary, just the ones in movies. They are not
real clowns anyway, they are just actors. Most real clowns are Moms
and Dads and Grandmas and Grandpas trying to make
people smile. That is a good thing right? Right! Now let’s have some
fun!!!!
None
of us intend to be scary clowns. But today’s media makes it easy to
give the wrong impression. The movies and networks love to promote the
evil clown image. The big network news programs jump at the chance to
lead with a story about some pedophile
“clown”. Never mind mentioning the thousands of clowns across our
country who bring cheer to countless people in nursing homes, hospitals,
day cares, schools…you get the idea. That kind of story never leads
the news. So why any of us should be surprised when we encounter a child
or adult who is afraid of us? We seriously need to keep this in mind
when we go out to perform.
Here are some tips to keep
in mind when you perform:
- Sadly, not everyone
loves clowns.
- Respect your audience
and their feelings about clowns.
- Be totally aware
of your audience and surroundings.
- Realize that your
volume can intimidate or scare people.
- Take it slow while
you assess your audience. Warm-ups that involve audience participation
can help you see who is "into" the clown and who is not.
- Approach the audience
in a fun, friendly way making as much eye contact as possible.
- Keep your hands
in plain sight. Sadly, people expect clowns to squirt them in the face
with water!
- Be ready to shift
gears if someone is afraid, and leave the area if necessary.
In love and Laughter!
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Pricilla |
Now
let’s hear from the staff at Mooseburger Camp!
Brenda Marshall
There
IS a reason people think clowns are scary...it's because some of
them are! We've all seen people dressed as clowns at Halloween
and for various events through the year. They don't know what
they're doing, and yet they dress up and call themselves clowns.
And sometimes they can be scary. Even some who start clowning
regularly can be scary if they don't put the effort into learning about
the art and incorporating what they learn into their look and their
performance. It's not just the movies, cartoons and websites that
give clowns a bad name. The enemy can be us!!
That
said, the way to combat the negative response to clowns is to give our
own clowning our very best. Many times I have encountered children
and adults who were initially apprehensive. Then, after spending
some time either watching or interacting with my clown, they have warmed
up and we have a wonderful time together. I'm sure you have gotten
the same comments along the way..."I don't really like clowns,
but you're different."
So
my usual response to those who are afraid or just generally don't like
clowns is to stay away from them. Allow them to see positive interaction
with others and they may come around to join in. I did have a
conversation with an older child recently who said she was afraid of
clowns. I pulled up a chair and asked her why she was afraid.
She said she saw an evil clown in a movie. I asked her if she
had seen the movie "Jaws" and she said yes. Then I asked
her if she likes swimming in the ocean. When she said yes, I reminded
her about the giant shark that might be lurking there. She said,
"That was just a movie!" And she had just made my point
for me!!
Terry Ricketts
Great
topic - I am one of those folks that embrace every opportunity to have
verbal exchanges with kids and adults about scary clowns or being afraid.
If a child is looking for a
reaction with his or her peers by saying “I am afraid of clowns”,
my normal response is “Wow, then that works itself out, because I am
afraid of children!". If an adult, usually a mother, is telling
me how afraid their child is of clowns...I take my time taking off my
glasses, clean them slowly with my hanky, blow my nose, return my glasses
to my face and look very confused at her...and just say "What?
Sorry, I couldn’t hear you, my glasses were dirty”...it dismantles
the situation a bit and many times we go on with balloons or face painting
as though they had never said a word.
But
with all seriousness, I understand phobias all too well. And after years
of unsuccessful counseling I have just learned that most of the time
(not all of the time) but most, a child given the chance to slowly experience
you from a distance will gradually and very slowly make their own decision
to come near you ...but that is only if you are entertaining. I honestly
believe that is the single strongest tool to stop comments or questions....be
a clown and be an entertaining clown.
Mark Renfro
Scary
clowns? Is there really such a thing? Are all these tales of "I
was frightened by a monster clown at my third birthday party and now
I have to run and hide in the corner, screaming like a banshee if anyone
with greasepaint comes within a hundred yard radius," really true?
Did
people run out of the theaters in terror and fear when Jimmy Stewart
appeared in "The Greatest Show on Earth?" Did Lou Jacobs’s
emergence from an impossibly small car wound the psyches of "children
of all ages?" I know, maybe it was Red Skelton's TV show that inflicted
clown fear on an entire generation. No, now I remember, it was that
TV movie that was broadcast twenty years ago, right? You know the one
where a clown did something . . . . Well, scary, I guess.
I
hear a lot of "I was scarred for life" but I don't see a lot
of evidence. The last time I checked, "clown fear" is not
a hot topic of investigation and research by the medical and psychiatric
communities.
Of
all the traumas and indignities inflicted on participants in the human
experience, I find it very hard to believe that "the clown scared
me" is going to rate in anyone's Top Ten!
Yes,
there are "bad" clowns, but if we seriously think about this
issue, it seems clearly more about an individuals need for attention
in the present moment than any remembrance of some incident of childhood
trauma. After all, since this topic so rarely -- if ever -- comes up
in casual conversations (“Hi, how are you? Nice to see you. Great
weather we're having. By the way, if I see anyone wearing plaids and
stripes and a funny hat it causes me go into a catatonic state. Well,
have a nice day.”), I most often hear of this supposed "fear"
when I am in makeup.
In
fact, on more than one occasion, people have sought me out to tell me
how very afraid they are of clowns! They come right up to me to tell
me how afraid they are! What am I supposed to do? Say "Boo?"
When a kid -- of any age -- comes up to me and says, "I'm afraid
of clowns," or "I don't like clowns," I think what they
are really saying is "Play with me." I welcome these kinds
of moments. "I don't like clowns," is kid-code for "see
me." In reality, they have opened the door of play and given me
a great reason to step through. I'm always happy to oblige.
Oh,
and by the way . . . . . . . . . . .
What’s
Going on in Mooseland?
My daughter Julia, friends
Sweet Connie Kennedy, Mike Fixer and myself had a wonderful time vacationing
at Disney World before the World Clown Convention recently in Orlando
Florida. What a great combination, the magic of Disney and the fun of
being with friends and my clown family at a convention all wrapped up
into one!!!
Julia participated in the Junior
Joey program run by the ever capable and inspiring Ruth Matteson. I
must tell you that Ruth is truly amazing. She puts together a spat track
of classes for the kids. Their ages run from elementary-aged kiddies
to teenagers. She manages to keep them all engaged and learning for
the entire day. I looked at the schedule and I know many of the adults
were very jealous at the comprehensive program Ruth put together for
these young clowns. Congrats Ruth, and THANK YOU for a job well done!
I was at the World Clown Association
Convention last month and I want to say a great big “Thank You”
to everybody who stopped by the booth and came to my classes.
It was great to visit with all of you again! I especially want
to remind those lucky clowns who were the first 50 people to make purchases,
that if you have not already done so, to use your Gift Certificates
before they expire!
Where
in the world is Pricilla?
By the time you read this,
I will already have been to the 2nd Annual Texas LAFS (Life
and Fire Safety) Conference, which took place May 1st through
the 4th in Allen, TX.
This unique event is for Life
Safety Educators, Public Safety Personnel, Training Officers, Sound
Technicians, Public Information Specialists, support personnel and
those interested in developing
effective safety education programs. The conference is perfect for people
of every skill level, from newly established groups to veteran groups.
If you are interested in going,
start planning for next year and check out http://www.tfdclowns.com or call Bryan Jarvis at 972-768-2002.
I hope to see you at CLOWN TOWN this month!
When: May 16 -18, 2008
Where: OSU/COTC Campus at 1179 University Dr. in Newark, OH
Click: www.clowntown.org
Contact: 740-345-3880
I will be selling those wonderful Mooseburger wares plus teaching classes
such as Kazoo Band, Costumes That Work, Performance Skills, and maybe
more! Come by the PMO booth in the Dealers Room and say “HI!”
A
Note From Alumni:
Woo-hoo! I'm getting ready
for our Festival of the Arts performance with Clementine, Bubbles &
Scooter. We have 45 minutes to fill on opening day at the main stage.
THANK GOD for Mooseburger & learning how to put on a show!!!
MOOSE
CAMP UPDATE
You may have
heard the news already, but here is the official notice:
Moose Camp
is FULL!
(or, at least
it is if you want to sleep here)
We do have a Waiting List set
up for those of you who are willing to take a chance and wait. When
a cancellation opens up a spot, we will go down the list and start calling
you. You are under no obligation to accept the registration, so you
have nothing to lose by signing up!
What we have encouraged “The
List” people to do is sign up for an Overlander Package in the meanwhile.
This means you would have to find your own lodging and commute to camp
each day, but otherwise you get everything else that’s in the Complete
Package, including meals. So even if you do not eventually upgrade
to the Complete Package, at least you would still have a spot at Moose
Camp….because, believe it or not…we do have a limit on the number
of Overlander Packages, too! And there are lots of hotels in the
area around Moose Camp – ask us for their information when you sign
up.
So
– what are you waiting for?!? Get on
“The List” already!!!
Send an email to info@mooseburger.com or call us toll free at 800-973-6277 (or 320-963-6277 for our International friends) for more information
and to get on the Waiting List.
Click here
to go to our Moose Camp Website for general info and fun photos
Moose
Camp…in the FUTURE!!!
What would clowning
be like in the future?
Would we be
performing birthday parties in space?
Would your red
nose still fall off in zero gravity?
Could you do
the “moon walk” in your clown shoes?
…well, these
questions are all very well and good, but…uh, when I said “Moose
Camp…in the FUTURE” I actually was talking about the more immediate
future, such as next year.
Get your calendar
ready and mark down these dates:
2009: July
28th – August 2nd
2010: July
27th – August 1st
And start planning
now for Moose Camp…in the FUTURE!!!
Mehron
Make-up Support Line
Need some additional
help with your make-up questions?? The make-up company Mehron offers
a make-up tech support hotline!
Call them toll-free
at 1-888-552-1331 for help in applying any Mehron product. We have talked
to them and found their advice helpful and thorough!
Clowning
Tip of the Month
If you are a regular reader
of this newsletter, you know that we have talked about noses in the
past. Sometimes the hot weather makes it difficult to keep a nose on.
Your sweat reacts with the water soluble latex glues and well -- you
can imagine, yup, before you know it -- your nose is running, off your
face, and down the sidewalk! What is a clown to do??? There are a couple
of things:
A back-up nose on a string
is a terrific solution for days you nose just won’t stick. Jim Howle
noses and designed to be worn with glue or on a string. You can buy
them with a string or convert them yourself. All it takes is some fishing
line, a bead to keep the line from pulling through the nose, and a balloon
or piece of elastic for the back to provide a stretchy custom fit. Viola!
If you wear a nose tip and
are having hot weather glue problems, PAINT your nose on. Not handy
at painting a circle? Use the Jumbo Mehron pro pencil for a template!
Put make-up on the edge of the pencil cap and make the round mark on
your nose. Then just fill it in! Need glitter? After you have done your
FINAL powdering, paint on your dot. Use red loose glitter to set the
make-up. It can be applied with your finger. You will get an instant
glittery nose with no need for glue! Sweet!
OK, so you can’t wear a nose
with a string? You sweat like crazy and can’t keep a nose on? Here
is my secret weapon, Skin Bond adhesive. It is a medical-strength adhesive
meant for skin. It is used to hold on medical appliances like colostomy
bags. Heaven knows you wouldn’t want one of those coming loose!!!
But be warned: the glue is very sticky. We recommend the solvent wipes
to get any extra glue off your skin.
Keep scrolling down for some
sale specials on everything we just mentioned: Red Jumbo Pencils, Red
Glitter, Skin Bond, and Solvent Wipes!
MAY
SALES!
Now
that you know how to use these for your nose, stock up and SAVE!!!
 |
*** Red Jumbo
Pro-Pencils from Mehron ***
-
Regularly $7.00, now JUST $6.00 each!
-
No maximum limit; buy as many as you want! |
 |
*** Red GlitterWear
Dust from Mehron ***
- 25% Off!
- Regularly $4.00,
now JUST $3.00 each!
|
 |
*** Skin Bond
and Unisolve Wipes ***
- Large 4 oz. Jar
of Osto Brand Skin Bond
- Box of 50 Individually-Wrapped
Solvent Wipes
- Combine them
for the LOW PRICE of $30.00!
- Save $6.00!
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You can find ALL these spectacular
deals on our sales page:
“Pricilla’s Picks”
or by phone: 800-973-6277 or 320-963-6277.
If you order by phone or mail,
don’t forget to tell us the discount code for these specials – it
is “BUMP A NOSE”
Terms and Conditions:
- Supplies limited.
Offer 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. If
you have any concerns, then call us before you place your order: 800-973-6277
or 320-963-6277.
- Good on phone-in,
mail-in, or online orders. Order must be placed during the month
of May. This offer is not retroactive.
- There is no maximum
limit or restrictions on combining these offers. You can get all
three of these deals in the same order, if you’d like!
*** FREE CLOWN
TIE! ***
- Purchase any
in-stock Regular Bib or Mini Bib at normal price
- Many
Bib colors available: Red, Yellow, Royal Blue, Rainbow, Dots, and MORE!
- Choose any of
our in-stock Ties for FREE!
- The Bow Ties
snap on to any of our Bibs, and the Long Ties have cloth ties for around
the neck.
- Sale includes
Long Ties, Large Bow Ties, Small Bow Ties, and Mini Bow Ties
– ANY color, ANY size, ANY style!
You can find this spectacular
deal on our sales page: “Pricilla’s Picks” or by phone: 800-973-6277 or 320-963-6277.
If you order by phone or mail,
don’t forget to tell us the discount code for this special – it
is “TIE ONE ON”
Terms and Conditions:
- Supplies limited.
Offer 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. If
you have any concerns, then call us before you place your order: 800-973-6277
or 320-963-6277.
- If you place your
order online, we will email you back if your color selection is not
in stock and will ask you to pick a different color.
- Good on phone-in,
mail-in, or online orders. Order must be placed during the month
of April. This offer is not retroactive. Offer does not include
item #5032 Double Bow Tie.
- You receive one
free Tie for every Bib you purchase. There is no maximum limit
on the Bibs you can purchase.
Costume
CLEARANCE!
Have you been to our Clearance
Page lately? Check out “Pricilla’s Picks” for all of our
monthly sales PLUS whatever costumes we decide to put on clearance –
we’ve got a LOT of stock on the racks right now, so we’ll be pulling
new costumes to discount all this month. Bookmark that page and
keep checking back on a regular basis so you don’t miss a great deal!
Click here to
see all of “Pricilla’s Picks”!
We hope you
all had a very fun and nostalgic “First of May”
Parade season
is right around the corner for most of us, so dust off those props,
patch up the holes in your shoes, and DRINK LOTS OF WATER!!!
Nothing is less
funny than collapsing from dehydration and having your parade crowd
think that it’s part of your act! Oy!
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