How do you take in all in?
I have had a very varied performance career. From high school plays to circus ring clowning, from community theatre to magician’s assistant, and variety performances — it has been a wild ride! I was even in a vaudeville-style whip act. As we exited the stage after one of these colorful performances we came across an old circus and variety theatre pro. He had to be in his seventies. We asked him what he was doing sitting back stage after the show. “Just basking in the glow of another fabulous performance” he said in a very dry tone. It was so ridiculously funny I will never forget it!
He did have a right to be jaded I guess. It does make me think of all the times I DIDN’T take the time to take it all in. I am just like everyone else and it is easy to get tunnel vision. I have a very busy creative mind — too busy sometimes. I am always looking on how to improve things. This is dangerous.
Enjoy the Moment
Often times I miss the joy of the gift I have been given that day, that moment. I catch myself thinking “If only I had practiced more,” or “I should have fixed this prop or painted that,” or “If only I had found better music,” or, or, or…
Seriously. Seriously?!? Sometimes I am running around my shop trying to get a million things done in one day (instead of two).
Then suddenly the wonderful ridiculousness of my life hits me.
“What do you think of this rubber chicken?” I asked my assistant Katie with complete seriousness. Then I realized what I just said.
It was like everything came to a screeching halt and narrowed in to perfect focus, and I started to laugh.
I am truly blessed. This life fits me. I need to remember that when I start to forget to “stay in the moment.”
Keep the Focus on Fun
As clowns we have the opportunity to stay in the moment of Joy.
It takes practice but it is well worth it.
But some days it is not so funny. I had a very full day yesterday and to be honest I was very stressed out. I am getting ready to go to the WCA convention in Reno. I have so many little details I am anxious about. As I am fond of saying, “it’s MONDAY…ALL DAY!” in sheer exasperation.
Then I got a text from a friend who is the plant manager for a big electronics company. He was having a very stressful Monday as well. Again my life came screeching into focus. Even on my worst day, it cannot compare to what people with really normal jobs have to deal with. I am a clown. I have a lot to smile about.
Okay, enough about me.
What can you do to help keep the fun in focus?
- Remember: You are a clown and you are just supposed to have fun. So when it gets right down to it just do your best at that moment and enjoy it.
- Stop all the rushing around at some point and take a deep breath.
- Focus on the smiles and not on the details.
- Remember to smile. You know what I mean, one of those big silly grins that comes from the heart. It really could be so much worse.
- If there are things that need to change or be done differently, put it away in a little pocket in your mind for further consideration later. For now just enjoy the moment.
- Know that no matter what happens, when you put on a red nose, you make a difference.
Always remember we are clowns and we are blessed.
How do YOU “stay in the moment” while performing?
Post a comment below and let us know what marvelous things you noticed when you focused on the fun instead of the hum-drum details. We would love to hear about your clowning!
Read more articles to inspire your silly side:
- “10 Choices You’ll Regret” This list is a MUST-READ for all clowns!
- “Changes are Scary” Are you afraid to change things up in your act?
- “You Never Know” You never know who is watching that might need a smile. You never know what dreams you may inspire.
- “Don’t Over-Think It” How to create a clown character without too much stress.
- “You Are A Gift” Feeling down? Remember, each time you put on that red nose, you’re going to make someone’s day!
- “National Clown Shortage” Where have all the clowns gone?
- “The Purpose of a Clown” What are we on the Earth for?
- “Are You Funny Enough?” What is the most important thing about being a clown?
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You can never tell the effect you will have. I am frequently asked, “Why I am a clown?” I almost always tell this story of being at our Shrine Circus. One of the other members came in and asked some of us to go to a hospice as there was a twelve year old there that had been born with AIDS and he was nearing the end. He loved clowns. Between two of our Saturday shows, seven of us piled into my car and got over there. The next half hour for him was magical. He explained he wanted to go to the circus so he could take part in the bicycle raffle we held each show. We held a special raffle right there and then and by good fortune he won! We conferred a clown name on him, “Nyuck” and taught him the special super-secret clown handshake that we made up on the spot. There was no way we as clowns could do for his health what the doctors did. There was no way the doctors could do for his life what we clowns did. We made him forget what he was living through for thirty minutes and he was well aware of it. Two of the clowns delivered the bike he won on Wednesday. We got word that he passed on Thursday. Later we were told that Nyuck’s mom gave the bike to his friend that had stayed with him his whole life. Seven clowns were touched deeply that day by a twelve year old that brought them into a magical half hour of joy.
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A few years ago when I first started clowning (at the age of 72) I was at a charity spring festival. I didn’t have a lot of jokes or routines in my repertoire yet, but I was entertaining the families waiting in line for a face painter. I had a bunny puppet that I used with the very young kids, and eventually the kids started picking up blades of grass to feed to the bunny puppet. They never seemed to tire of this … and there were a lot of young children who wanted to feed the puppet. This wasn’t “in the script”! Eventually this somehow evolved into a game of hide and seek (I don’t remember how this happened) and everything became impromptu. It was like I was back playing with my grandchildren again and I was having a ball. But the topper was when I finally quit and a little girl of about 4 years old in the group wrapped her arms around me and gave me a big hug. The glow from that moment still drives my clowning!
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I worry about looking too old to do birthday parties. I just did a bd party at a bounce place this last weekend for twin boys, 7yrs old. The one more talkable than the other…He said say something funny…So of course I said “Something Funny” …. he said that isn’t funny..then he laughed. I did a couple funny antics then he said, “You smell good!” And I said, “but I taste funny”! And he laughed and laughed. We really had a fun time! One of the little girls asked if I would come to her birthday party…I told her to ask her mom. Before I left Mom asked for my card…She actually called me a couple of days ago and wants me to come for her daughters party this Sunday. Although I was booked during the time she wanted she moved her time later so I could be there…her daughter really wanted me at her party! A double whammy from the same party!!! It’s times like this that reinforces my reasons why I do what I do. Like the seventy year old basking in the glow…I felt so blessed and happy that I am a clown and not working for AT&T!!!