Pricilla’s New Year Letter…

Happy New Year to you all! (Actually as I write this newsletter it is in the middle of December. I will sneak in a Merry Christmas and happy holiday to you all!)

A new year always brings to mind a fresh start. Lists get made, resolutions proclaimed, good attentions abound! But how do you really make a change in your life – or, more to the point in this newsletter -- your clown life? It is hard. If you just had to worry about yourself, it would be easier. Most of us have jobs and a family that needs us as well. That aside, you could resolve to practice more, buy only things you will learn to use, go to all the clown meetings, write a new show….I could go on and on. For each good intention, there is an equally good excuse for why you can’t make it happen. And don’t ask me why I know this!!!!!! I am quite intimate with the subject.

I think the thing that stops us the most is fear. Fear of failure. It is kind of funny when you think of it! Most people have nightmares about being in front of a group of people and being laughed at! Our biggest fear is that we will be in front of a group of people and there will be a stone cold silence! To get past the fear, you can hit it head on. Some of the things that help you get over performance anxiety is to practice, practice, practice. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from a friend or someone from your clown club. Most folks will be flattered. If you go to a convention, do NOT be afraid to walk up to any of the instructors or vendors and ask them questions. Be curious! That is what we are there for. It always makes me sad when folks tell me they had questions they wanted to ask, but just didn’t want to bother me. Go ahead and bother me. Helping people is my vocation!

So, what can you do to get over the fear of failure? Ask some friends to help you work on a new routine. Find some kids in your neighborhood, or family to be a test audience. Whenever my friend Fred and I work on a new routine, the neighborhood kids come running. They set up the lawn chairs and watch the rehearsal. It is easy for us to know what works and what doesn’t…we ask them! Better yet, their laughter tells us. Sometimes we ask them questions as well. Ask a child what they think and be ready for an honest answer. Kids are in learning modes as they spend most of their time at school. They jump at a chance to help an adult learn something. Letting them know in advance that it is a rehearsal instead of a show takes the pressure off as well.

Be sure to ask lots of questions. Ask them why it was funny, why they liked the routine or didn’t like it. What would they do if they were in your big funny shoes? Be ready for some great answers. Have your clown notebook handy to write down any new ideas. Kids do say the funniest things. They may give you new ideas for a different routine. Be sure to thank them for their help.

Your local clown club can also be a great resource. For our Christmas party we brought snacks and then practiced as many skits as we could. Every body took a turn at different parts. I believe the group learned a lot from watching different clowns perform different parts. We wrote a new routine as well. Some of us had gone to the Midwest convention in Lansing, MI. We saw some skits we liked, and put our own twist on them to fit our group. We will be performing them in the local nursing home in a few weeks. Clowning with a group can take the fear out of performing.

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. That is also how you get out of the rut of not doing anything new with your clowning. Be realistic on what you can and cannot do. Write your goals down. Make that “Clown Wish List.” Write those goals on a calendar. More specifically, list your goals for the year. Start a new piece of paper and list one goal in bold. Underneath write what it will take for you to accomplish this goal. Like this…

Example #1:

You want to go to Moose Camp and get more education. Make it a priority, not a dream. What will it take to make this possible? Time and money.

First: the money part. To achieve this goal it might take a year or two. That’s ok. Moose Camp will always be here – we’re not going anywhere. We all know how fast time flies. So start your own clown savings account. Resolve to put a little bit in your account when ever you get paid to clown. If you are a volunteer clown, you can let friends and family know they can contribute to your clown education fund instead of buying you gifts you don’t really want or need. Did you know we have Moose Camp gift certificates? Did you also know that we have an easy monthly payment plan? It really works – many campers tell us that they couldn’t have afforded Moose Camp if it wasn’t for our payment plan. If you have a clown or entertainment business, the week you spend at Moose Camp will pay for itself over and over. If you pick up just one tip that helps you book more parties, or adds to the kinds of events you can book, you can't afford not to take a week off. What you learn here will bring more profit to your business, and you will more than make up the lost income. There is also the question "What does it cost you NOT to come to Moose Camp?" Will you miss clown jobs or new business opportunities if you don't come? So I guess you could ask yourself, "Is it too expensive to stay home...?"

Second: the time part. Time at Moose Camp means time away from family. This is something that will need to be discussed with your loved ones. They may not be too keen on the idea of you using up vacation time to be away from them. Once you discuss the idea and let them know in advance what your dream/goal is they will understand better. Moose Camp Alumni talk about how supportive their families have become on their journey to Mooseland! Why? They know how happy and recharged they become at camp. They know they are better clowns, happier folks, and it is good for everyone in the family. You may also need to get time off from work. Putting in for the time off is part of the plan too. All we will say is that the time will pass whatever you do. If you give us a week, just one week of your life, we promise, it will not be wasted. We will treasure that time with you and fill it to the best of our ability. That one week will change you. Could be a small change, or a big one, but it will be a powerful time. The week at Moose Camp very often becomes for people "the time of their life!"

Example #2:

You want to learn a new skill. This will take education and rehearsal.

Get as much information as you can about the skill. Talk to people who have this skill. Plan to rehearse the skill. Give your self a timeline. Write rehearsal time on your calendar. Try one month at a time. If you find out after a month that you were not able to stick to your plan, revise it. Don’t just give up! Maybe your plan and the world’s plan didn’t work together quite right. Just revise your plan and try again. It takes commitment. But you can do it. Team up with a friend who you can share your plan with. They don’t have to be a clown. Ask them to check in with you on your progress. Sometimes that is all it takes to keep on track.

Got the idea on how to plan out your goals? Good.

Now let’s move onto another subject I want to share with you. The internet really is a great resource for inspiration and information. There is a wealth of facts and opinions out there just waiting to be discovered by you! Here are a few of my favorite sites for good information and constructive criticism:

Find out what other clowns think by checking out a newsletter or forum.

Clown Forum: http://www.clown-forum.com/ This should be the FIRST place you go to answer any clown questions -- the members are very helpful and friendly. It's a great support group for beginning clowns.

http://mooseburger.com/camp/group.html This is the Mooseburger Yahoo message group for clowns. It is a friendly group where we foster improvement in clowning and support each other in our endeavors. We also post the latest news about Moose Camp here.

The Clown Newsletter (Formerly Soda Pop's Newsletter): www.tobykid.com with the archives located at http://www.tobykid.com/newsletterarchive/

The Hospital Clown Newsletter also has the first six year’s worth of newsletter archived: http://www.hospitalclown.com/Past%20Issues/Vol%201-6FinalNew.htm

http://mooseburger.com/cgi-bin/mooselist/mail.cgi/list/newz/ The Moose Newz includes an educational article written by Pricilla, tips to help you with your clowning, updates on our clown arts educational programs, and sales or specials we are offering. It is sent out once a month. We protect your privacy and will never sell the email address you provide for the newsletter subscription.

Find a clown club near you!

http://www.clowns-international.co.uk/ Clowns International

http://www.worldclownassociation.com/ WCA – World Clown Association

http://coai.org/ COAI – Clowns of America International

Look for additional education opportunities by attending a workshop, convention, or Mooseburger Camp.

http://www.clownevents.com/ This is an international listing for schools and conventions.

http://www.theclownnetwork.com/index.php - This is an online gathering of all things clown: news, events, suppliers, other clown websites, etc.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=237927340313&ref=mf#/pages/Maple-Lake-MN/Mooseburger-Clown-Arts-Education/107834031486 This is a link to our Mooseburger Clown Arts Education group on Facebook.

I wish you all a happy and prosperous new year! I know that the past year has been tough on a lot of us. Many people are looking for work; budgets have been stretched. But I believe we are a resilient people. Having less often helps us realize what is the most important to us. In the upcoming year I hope we will all be able to see the things in our lives that are most valuable: friendship, faith, and family. May we hold them dear to our hearts.

Pricilla

Tip of the Month:

Do you need a new costume for this upcoming SUMMER season? Then you have to realize that NOW is the time to start the design process!

What is all involved? You can get any costume in your custom size and colors for the SAME price as a stock item! But it takes TIME to make a costume to your specifications. Here are three things you need to make time for:

1. Share your information - My favorite way is to chat with you on the phone to discuss your costuming needs. I will ask what kind of performing do you do. What colors do you like? What style fits your character? What is your budget?

2. Design time - I work with you through email. I will produce full color drawings and send them to you attached to your email. This will include pricing and scans of fabric swatches.

3. Construction Time - Our standard turn around time is 6 - 8 weeks.

Remember, there is NO OBLIGATION to buy. Call me toll free at 800-973-6277 – think of it as a “Curiosity Call” just to find out what we can do for you. We normally charge $25 for the Design Consultation (which then gets credited towards your total purchase), but if you call me BEFORE March 1^st, 2010 and mention that you saw this in the Moose Newz, we will waive the $25 Design Consultation fee! You have nothing to lose!

Spruce Up! Stay In Budget!

It’s easy with a FREE “Mooseburger Makeover”

Okay, so you don’t need an entire new costume…but you COULD use a bit of sprucing up! We have just the ticket. Send a picture of yourself in your costume to Pricilla@mooseburger.com and I will provide suggestions on things you can do to brighten up your look without breaking the bank. It might be some trim or pockets you can add yourself. It might be an accessory you can make or buy. It might just be a helpful hint about your makeup. With the current economy, we could all use a little free advice on how to save money. Let my years of clowning and costume experience work for you.

Follow these guidelines for your FREE MOOSEBURGER MAKEOVER:

1. Have someone take a photo of you in your current clown costume.
2. Email it to Pricilla@mooseburger.com and use “Free Mooseburger Makeover” as the email Subject title.
3. Include your full name, phone number, and any other information you think might be helpful for me to know.

I will email you back with a list of minor, inexpensive changes you can make to put the pizzazz back in your appearance. After you read through the email, please give me a phone call if you want to discuss anything on the list. I’m here to help – but I can only do that if you let me! So let’s get the ball rolling – send me that picture already!!

There is no expiration date on this FREE offer and no limit. Use it as many times as you like! Heck, ask for a FREE “Mooseburger Makeover” every other month for the next few years, if you like!

MOOSE CAMP NEWS!

July 27 – August 1, 2010 in Buffalo, Minnesota

$350 SCHOLARSHIP

There is still time to apply for a scholarship for 2010 Mooseburger Clown Arts Camp

Hurry up – the deadline is FEBRUARY 1^st!

Due to the generosity of our campers last year, the Ralph Pounder Memorial Scholarship Auction raised enough funds to provide 16 campers with scholarships for Moose Camp 2010! We’d like to shout a big THANK YOU to all our campers and staff who donated and bid – your hearts are so big! If you or someone you know would like to apply for a $350 scholarship, click here to download an application. Fill it out and send it back with a photo of yourself in clown makeup by email, fax, or smail-nail no later than February 1^st. We’ll notify the winners by April 1^st.

2010 SCHEDULE UPDATE!

Stay tuned to the Moose Camp website for an updated schedule later this month. We are ADDING a seventh Morning Course to our regular list of six – how exciting! And we’ll be disclosing all the super fun events we have planned for the evenings.

On top of all the great course and workshop listings we already have online, here are a few new things our “Special Guest Star” Steve Smith is bringing:

"Clowning With What You've Got" Morning Course
Just as important as Make-Up, Costuming, and Props are to the total education of all clowns...knowing and trusting your own sense of humor; your unique imagination; and your ability to translate that into physical action is what we'll focus on in this class. We're all walking around in our own personal bag of funny bones. Our bodies are our main instrument of communication, and we must learn how to 'speak clearly'...without ever uttering a word. You don't have to be Marcel Marceau or Charlie Chaplin to take this class. You do need to be serious about being silly, have a strong desire to be the best YOU can be, and possess the willingness to jump in and let your creative spirit fly!

“Comic Movement and Character Development” Afternoon Workshop

Knowing Steve’s popularity, this workshop would probably be standing-room only – so to let everybody have a chance, we’re scheduling this workshop three times and making sure each class size is the same so you can get the practice and help you need. Get ready to work those muscles in your body and your brain. Learn to move like a cartoon! This class is great for clowns of all ages and body types! You will learn how to present yourself like a pro and feel funny doing it. Steve unlocks the mystery with simple, useful ideas that allow you to become the clown character you have always wanted to be!

An Evening with Steve Smith: "Directions of a Comic Spirit" Special Presentation

A conversation with a short, bald man from Florida who has been lucky enough to make a living doing things he loves. In a career that spans almost four decades, Steve will share stories of his adventures in clowning, circus, cabaret, cruise ships, theme parks, theatre, television, radio, film, festivals and more. This is intended to be a casual, open forum for discussion and exploration. Life lessons from a life in Show Business: "Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.”

REGISTRATION

You can sign up online by clicking here, or download a mail-in registration form by clicking here, or register over the phone by calling 800-973-6277 (or 320-963-6277 for our International friends).

If you would like to find out more about Mooseburger Clown Arts Camp, please send a request to katie@mooseburger.com. Katie will email you a letter outlining every possible scrap of information you could possibly want to know. And if that letter DOESN’T answer your questions, please call us and let us know what we forgot to put in the letter – we want to make sure you are 120% prepared for the best week of your life!

Find out more online: http://www.mooseburger.com/camp/index.html

January Sales!

Aprons on sale! Reg. $50 -- now on sale for only $42!!

You will love the versatility of our performance aprons. Our customers wear them in and out of clown costume. The Clown style is a fun light-weight cover up. The Tuxedo style is great for balloon twisting. The Splatter style keeps face paint off of your costume. Don’t forget that these aprons also make great photo opportunities! Place them on the birthday child and you have an instant magician’s assistant or clown helper.

$8.00 off in-stock aprons! Mention Discount Code “FROSTBITE”

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FREE Shipping on $30 of Mehron Make-up!

Freshen up your make-up! It is time to go through your make-up kit and toss any old make-up. If it has separated or gotten contaminated with other colors or powder, you may want to 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!

Don’t forget to mention Discount Code “FROSTBITE”

Mooseburger has added NEW colors and NEW packaging to its make-up stock! Mehron’s Shadoliner, Pressed Powder Blush, and Paradise 7-gram Refills all have great new packaging that make it easier for you to keep your make-up and face-paint kits tidy. Take a look at the nine flesh-tones we are offering in the CreamBlend Sticks:

2B -- Extra Fair 3B -- Juvenile

OS4 -- Mid-Lite Olive 27A -- Warm Tan

7.5B -- Lite Auguste WH -- Warm Honey

30A -- Ruddy Bronze 8.5B -- Auguste

4C -- Light Cocoa

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After-Christmas Sales!

Snag some of these amazing clearance specials -- we’re discounting it all to move FAST! Mention Discount Code “FROSTBITE” to get these great deals.

Gently-Used Santa Suit: Originally $310.00 – SALE PRICE: Only $275.00!

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Santa Wig/Beard Set #8022: $5.00 off and FREE SHIPPING!

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Mrs. Claus Wigs: $5.00 off and FREE SHIPPING!

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Elf Ear Hats: $5.00 off and FREE SHIPPING!

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Lou Clown Coat: 20% OFF and FREE Clown Collar!
Originally $281.00 -- now only $225.00, PLUS a free collar of YOUR choice!

This coat is named after the great Lou Jacobs, the clown who made this baggy style famous. Lapels and Pockets are in a bold diamond print, with contrasting trim and big buttons. Has an easy-to-open Velcro front closure. Outside are two big pockets and inside are our signature "triple-charm" pockets, giving you EIGHT pockets total! Wow!

SIZING: This is a Mooseburger Size 46, which means it actually measures 50" around the torso, but is intended to fit someone 46" or less (that way, you have room to store props and tricks in the pockets and still get the coat closed). The sleeves have an inseam (armpit to wrist measurement) of 16", ensuring that you don't get your cuffs in the way of your magic trick or face painting.

FREE Collar: Choose the Mini, Regular, or Lou style; then choose either White, Red, Yellow, or Blue.

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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. Offer good on orders being shipped to Canada and the US. Orders with free Shipping & Handling will be shipped by U.S. Parcel Post or First Class, depending on weight and destination. Orders being charged Shipping & Handling will be shipped by Priority Mail.
2. You have to type the word “FROSTBITE” in the Discount Code box at the end of your online order, or write “FROSTBITE” somewhere on your fax-in or mail-in order, or tell the word “FROSTBITE” to the Mooseburger Salesperson on your phone-in order.
3. Supplies are limited. Offers are 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 January. 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 if you add one of the “FREE” Shipping & Handling items to your shopping cart, the Shipping charge 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 will Pricilla be?

Join me at the 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!

February 1 – 4, 2010

23^rd Annual Educational Characterization Through Clowning and Puppetry Camp

Arizona Fire and Burn Educator’s Conference

Location: Bullhead City, AZ

Website: http://www.afbea.org/Events.htm

I will not be present to teach at this conference, but Pricilla Mooseburger Originals will have a booth in the dealers room!

February 6, 2010

APS Volunteer Clown Troupe Training

Location: Phoenix, AZ

Contact: Terry.Ricketts@aps.com

Here is a layout of the day’s schedule:

8:00am -- Coffee and doughnuts; meet and greet; shopping

8:45am -- Welcome!

9:00am -- Make-up Demo/Lab - Bring your make-up! Learn new application skills or design a new face. Pricilla will do some make-up on volunteers as well.

11:00am -- Lunch break; shopping - Pricilla is bringing a wide selection of Pricilla Mooseburger Originals products including wigs, Jim Howle noses, and costumes. Need something special? Email Pricilla BEFORE February 1^st to ensure we will be bringing what you need: Pricilla@mooseburger.com

1:00pm -- Spruce Up Your Look - Bring your costume for ideas on how to give it a new fresh look! Pricilla is full of practical costuming tips. Learn how to add a few accessories on to an existing costume new life without breaking the bank!

2:00pm -- Performance Skills for Every Clown - Here are the things every clown should know to have more fun and be more effective in any kind of performance!

3:00pm -- Finish up your shopping with Pricilla!

April 20 – 25, 2010

Clowns of America International Convention

Location: Houston, TX

Website: http://coai.org

I will be teaching and selling at this convention!

Changes for the Mooseburger website!

Thanks to the ever-efficient folks at Webstyler, the server which runs our website has been upgraded!  You should notice faster downloads of photos and text as well as faster processing speeds.  Check it out: www.mooseburger.com

Another change we have made is the way in which the Shipping & Handling charges get calculated.  For years we have based S&H on the total cost of the order.  But, due to increased fees at the U. S. Post Office, we need to re-think this method.  Therefore, we are now calculating S&H by weight. Our standard shipping method will still be by U. S. Priority Mail (usual transit time is three days) for domestic orders. 

If you are in a hurry and need to have your domestic order shipped by 2^nd Day Express (also through the U. S. Postal Service), you can choose that option when you check out online.  If placed before 2:00pm Central Standard Time, Monday – Friday, your order will be shipped that same day and you are guaranteed to receive it no later than 3:00pm two days after it ships.  The upgrade in postage will be reflected in your S&H fee.

For international orders, the S&H will be calculated after your order has been processed online.  We will weigh the parcel and determine S&H based on country of destination.  Your credit card will be charged S&H before it ships.

If you have any questions about the shipment of your order, please feel free to call us at 320-962-6277 or email us at info@mooseburger.com.  Thank you for your delightful company in 2009 and we appreciate your continued business in 2010 and beyond!  Here’s to a great new year!