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It’s
A Character-Building Experience!
Don’t sit back and wait for
down time, make the most by planning ahead! I am not the type to forecast
doom and gloom when it comes to clowning, or the economy. But I will
share some observations I have formed after being in the business for
over 25 years. Elections make people nervous. We have the potential
for a very nervous next few months due to the election of a new president.
We will have a new president and all the uncertainty that comes with
it. All indications show that this will be a very close election. How
does that impact clowns? When people are nervous about the future, they
tend to spend less. Now that could impact our industry! We all know
about the rising cost of gas prices. I won’t bore you with an economic
report. Let’s move on to what we can do to keep making people smile!
My friend Connie emailed me the other day:
Tricia
- I was thinking........out loud......
I’m working on my Client Base/Profile & my marketing strategy for
2009 (using ALL the corporate contacts & individual Birthday party
contacts I've worked for past 10+ years) and thought, why not branch into
THEME parties with Mizz Klown.
Epiphany Mizz Klown as a Princess, Pirate, Mermaid, Farmer, Magician,
Elf, etc.
I'd add a new character every two months or so after I put together
the outfit & party theme.
What do you think?
Fabulous!
As clowns we need to diversify. Do not be afraid to think outside the
box when it comes to performing. You can take all the skills you have
as a clown and perform as a children’s entertainer if a customer wants
you to work “out of make-up”. I am not telling you to pack away
your clown nose -- just the opposite. By offering some different options
to your customer base you will be working more! You may even be able
to educate people about the role of a clown once you get your foot in
the door as a fun children’s entertainer. This means repeat business.
One year you come as a fun character, then a clown, then a pirate, then
a wizard/princess…you get the idea. For example, friends of mine called
to rent some costumes from my shop. They needed to be the Queen of Hearts
and the Mad Hatter. What fun! He will be the Queen and she will be the
Mad Hatter! Trust me, they will be clowning around!
Do not forget the holidays!
Halloween and Christmas are right around the corner. You can paint faces
at the elementary school Halloween party or harvest festival. Check
out the local apple orchard too. Start calling around now to get booked.
You may have to do it for free the first year. Just ask if you can hand
out your business card (to the parents) and a fun coloring sheet, with
all your contact information (to the kids). You could even sponsor an
activity table at these types of events. Go to the dollar store, and
buy a bunch of washable markers and crayons, print up your coloring
sheets. Store it all in a bin for next year. Don’t forget the local
fall craft sale. It would be great to have a booth there with your activities
sheets. Think of those mothers and grandmothers all in one place! WOW!
Your name will be on the refrigerator in every household in the area!
If you are just getting started
on this idea, your best friend is a red and white striped t-shirt and
socks. It makes a great beginner combo for an elf or pirate. Pair it
up with the right hat and simple knickers in green or black, and you
are all set. Each year add a costume piece to update your look: a vest,
a coat, a hat, and some props! Remember to adjust your rates as your
costume, sets, and props become more and more deluxe as the years go
by.
I have created some really
fun costumes over the years for customers who do just that. They are
comedy characters using their clown skills as “undercover clowns!”
From fairies to super heroes to cowboys, they all have fun while stretching
their creative muscles. Keep yourself busy, challenge yourself
creatively, and continue to make people smile! Here is some advice from
Mooseburger Camp staff and APS leader, Terry Ricketts:
Wow this
is such a great topic. I don't know how many times I have heard clowns
say - “I can’t wear that costume - how would I do my makeup?”
OK inspector obvious, keep the face and change the character or characters.
To play a doctor, nurse, construction worker, cowboy, mad scientist,
I just took my clown character this last year and started working as
Benjamin FranKlown; he is a bumbling absent minded professor -- the
makeup is the same -- but just putting on a completely new suit and
wig made a huge difference. I teach kids about Energy Conservation while
carrying a kite and a huge key.....hmmm sounds pretty scary huh?
It is FUN, because it actually allows you to feel new feelings and to
DO things that your clown couldn't or wouldn't do!
Embrace
the opportunity to try new looks with clothing - add a pair of glasses,
grab a butterfly net and a safari suit .......the opportunities are
limitless. Funny thing is you just might find that character getting
calls for business. Funnier thing.....years ago a NBA
expansion team called the Phoenix Suns had a guy in a gorilla suit show
up and deliver singing telegrams and flowers at games -- well they took
notice of how the fans reacted and there you have the beginnings of
the Phoenix Suns Mascot the Gorilla. Every kid in Arizona knows him......and
it all began as a telegram delivery.
Change your
pants color and style, add a new hat, and badda-bing! Instant
character!
Here you see an example of
how you can turn your regular red/white striped clown shirt into a whole
new character by changing some colors and accessories. Instantly
become a Comedy Pirate with a pair of jagged pants and waist sash, or
a Christmas Elf with a Santa hat and green breeches. And guess what?
That simple vest can be green on side and black on the other so you
can make two outfits from one great investment! We can even put some
handy pockets in the vest, too. Hats and accessories really make it
into a detailed character, so feel free to keep adding until you feel
like you’ve become a whole new person!
PRICES:
Black Knit Pirate Pants $66.00
Green or Red Elf Pants $66.00
Waist Sash $15.00
Reversible Vest $105.00
Jingle Bell Elf Hat $25.00
Pirate Hat $25.00
Call me if you have any questions
or need costume advice. Have fun stretching yourself!
In love and Laughter!
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Pricilla |
“Name
That Costume” CONTEST!
If you signed up for the Mooseburger
Newz after August 5th, you might not know about the contest.
And for those of you with short-term memory, here’s a quip synopsis:
We have a NEW ladies clown costume, which means it needed a name!
We showed you the photo and sketch to give you inspiration – and boy,
were you folks inspired! We want to thank everyone who took the time
to put on their thinking caps and submit a name; so many cute and creative
names came in!
And the brand
new name of this adorable outfit is……(drum roll, please).......
Cool Mini
Dress and Bloomers
The winner who submitted this
name is Kim Mazur! It’s efficient, descriptive, and specific
– perfect! Kim has won the gratitude of the staff here at Mooseburger’s,
saving us from this wearisome task, AND she will also win an autographed
photo of Pricilla Mooseburger PLUS the new edition of her lapel pin!
Your prizes will be in the mail this week. Congratulations, Kim!
Pricilla Mooseburger Originals
is always is coming up with new costume designs, so you can be sure
that there will be more contests like this in the future. So stay
tuned, and keep your thinking caps at the ready!
CLOWNFEST!
Many of you on the east coast
are gearing up for Clownfest in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, September
10th – 14th. Well, hold onto your hats,
guys and gals -- Pricilla Mooseburger is going to have a CLEARANCE SALE!!!
Yes, you read that correctly! We're going to have just about everything marked down to low, low prices. Every purchase will receive a coupon for FREE Shipping & Handling on a future order (just in case you get home and realize your forgot to buy something)! And to make the deal even sweeter, we’re offering you a coupon:
Print off this coupon, bring it with you to Clownfest, and receive 25% off any in stock item! Wow!
Don’t forget that Pricilla
will be doing FREE Design Consultations, too! Schedule a 20-minute
session and get lots of professional costuming advice as well as a sketch
of what your new Mooseburger costume could look like. Don’t
wait to sign up, because those time slots will be taken up quickly.
And if you’ve been thinking
about signing up for Moose Camp, but you’re not quite sure yet…we’ll
make you an offer you can’t refuse…well, I guess you could refuse
it – but you’d be missing out on a lot! For every registration
taken at Clownfest, we will give you our super special Moose Camp Survival
Kit for FREE! The kit includes: Tote Bag with logo, Camp T-shirt,
Camp Baseball Cap, Water Bottle, Notebook, Pen, and Chocolate – yummy!
All we need for your registration is a $200 down-payment – whatta
deal!
We’ll see
you in New Jersey! Get those kazoo horns ready!
On
the road again!
Check out my sales at the following
events! It is the end of the season so stock up and save!
Sept. 10th - 14th
See you at Clownfest in Seaside Heights, New Jersey at the Aztec Hotel.
My dealer room is #114. www.clownfest.com
October 2nd - 5th
Midwest Round-Up Clown Association Convention in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
at the Olympia Resort and Conference Center. www.midwestclowns.net
November 9th - 15th
Western Region Clown Association Convention in Laughlin, Nevada at the
Riverside Resort and Casino. www.westregionclowns.org
And remember to check out Pricilla’s
online calendar so you can keep an eye on when and
where she’ll be heading next!
MOOSE
CAMP NEWS!
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Registration for next year’s Moose Camp is NOW OPEN! Visit our
registration page ) or call us at 320-963-6277 to register.
Don’t wait until the winter to sign up, because we may fill up early,
just like this year!
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If you would like us to send you an email full of information (packing
list, travel arrangements, registration options, etc.), simply send
a request to katie@mooseburger.com with the subject “Moose Camp Info,
please!”
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Moose Camp 2009 will take place July 28th – August
2nd. Our Special Guest Star next year will be Robin
Eurich! Robin performed as ‘Rusty the Handyman’ on Bozo Super
Sunday show on WGN TV 1994-2001. Before that, he shared his incredible
talent with students at Ringling Brothers Clown College for 5 years.
Robin’s credits also include Network TV and several feature films.
He has an extensive background in improv, and continues to be a professional
performer in Sarasota…plus, he's one heck of a funny guy!
Another
Happy Customer!
This month’s testimonial
comes from Jan Larson, aka “Rosy”, in the Jolly Jumper, another
NEW dress design for 2008!
I am a very satisfied
customer. I love the new costume because it is light weight and cool.
I love the way it fits and got a lot of compliments on the new outfit.
It has a great feel and easy to move in. It is just perfect and the
colors are right on. Thank you once again for the great outfit!
Jan Larson/”Rosy”
Tip
of the Month:
Clean your nice brushes with
shampoo! That’s right: shampoo. Think of it this way, most well-made
brushes are made from sable or similar animal hair…and you wash your
hair with shampoo! It is a great way to wash the greasepaint make-up
out of your powder brushes or any natural hair brushes.
NEW
Items at Mooseburger’s!
We’ve been adding quite a
few items to the shop,
so go online and check it out!
Here are
is a handful of the newbies:
CLEARANCE
ITEMS!
All found on our “Pricilla’s Picks” page
- Men’s Tux Vest,
Shirt, Bow Tie, and Hat – all for only $270!
- 2 Ladies’ Ruffled
Vest marked down to just $120 each!
September
Sales!
Just remember
to tell us the discount code “SELTZER” to get these special
deals!
FREE
Shipping & Handling
on any order
containing at least ONE of the following:
- Ultimate
Balloon Kit
- Big 8 oz. Clown
White Lite
- 6-Piece Juggling
Set
- Ultimate Balloon
Kit = $10.00
Contains 24 balloons in 6 colors,
1 hand-held balloon pump, and a 62-page hardcover book written by Shar
Levine and Michael Ouchi (best-selling authors of other balloon and
craft books). Perfect gift idea for that budding clown in your
family. Only 8 kits left!
- Big 8 oz.
Clown White Lite = $10.00
Over two decades ago Mehron
pioneered the original concept of a smooth whipped Clown White formula.
Clown White Lite is a lanolin-based, highly pigmented white that provides
maximum whiteness yet can be used sparingly. Applications: 6 - 12 full
faces per ounce.
- 6-Piece Juggling
Set = $9.50
We don’t normally carry juggling
items, and we likely won’t again. This is just a fluke, so get
‘em while they’re here! You get a set of three juggling balls and
three juggling scarves for the discounted price of $9.50! The three
juggling balls come in a clear plastic carrying bag with a sheet of
instructions. The three scarves will be in assorted colors.
Supplies are limited.
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 August
Sales:
- Offer good on orders
being shipped to Canada and the US. Order will be shipped by U.S.
Parcel Post or First Class, depending on weight and destination.
- You have to type
the word “SELTZER” in the Discount Code box at the end of your online
order, or write “SELTZER” somewhere on your fax-in or mail-in order,
or tell the word “SELTZER” to the Mooseburger Salesperson on your
phone-in order.
- 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.
- Good on phone-in,
mail-in, fax-in, or online orders. Order must be placed during
the month of September. This offer is not retroactive.
- 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.
Thanks to everyone who sends
feedback about our Moose Newz – it always helps to make the next issues
better and better. Keep it coming!
Well…kids are back in school,
days are getting shorter, and the air is getting more chilly.
We’re getting ready for the church’s fun annual Fall Festival, plus
trying to deal with road construction outside out costume rental shop
while Halloween customer attempt to cross the road – boy, you thought
the chicken had a tough time of it!
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