Identify Theft – for Clowns??

News Flash! Clown identity stolen! A clown of inferior quality has stolen the image of Gumball the Clown and used it in a community newspaper ad! Unbeknownst to the “real” Gumball, the ad has been running for at least a year and a half!!!! Criminal charges pending???? Full story at 11:00 --- Stay tuned!

Do you think this is an April Fools joke? Think again. It is very easy for someone to steal your clown identity and use your hard work for their easy gain. Creative images are difficult to insure and copyright. But there are things you can do to protect your clown image from folks who actually wish to do you harm and also the innocent bunglers who are just getting started in the craft of clowning and simply don’t know any better.

The jury is still out on the theft of Gumball the clown. This is a true story! Another woman did use her clown image and name without her permission in an advertisement. Everyone is trying to cover their tracks. The editor of the community paper can’t say where the picture came from, “Some guy who doesn’t work their anymore created the ad.” Nice dodge. In reality, the image was scanned off of a business card! The clown who did it is not answering her phone. Poor Gumball is going round and round. She does know that this clown looks terrible! She fears that her good name will be damaged when someone booking “Gumball” expects the real Gumball, the cute clown in the photo to show up for the job booked through this advertisement. Even though the real Gumball does mostly charity work, she has an image to protect. She has worked hard in her community to build a reputation. A retraction may appear in the paper, but the ad is still on the archives of the newspaper website. The folks at the newspaper just don’t get it. “You’re just a clown. What is the big deal?”

I personally have found my Pricilla Mooseburger clown image used on other clowns business websites more than once. I have also found my costumes on other costume websites as well. The picture leads the client to believe that this clown (me) will be the one showing up at their child’s birthday party or family picnic. The costumes are knockoffs of my quality works. Lucky for me I have eyes (devoted customers and friends) all over the world and they let me know when they come across this kind of misdeed. I make contact and tell them to remove my picture. Usually it works. Sometimes I need to make legal threats, but not very often. I try to soft sell it the first go ‘round. The last thing you want to do is antagonize someone in this lightening flash era of the internet. You never know what someone can do to harm your image or good name.

Certainly you can sue and probably win. But how many of us have the time, energy, or -- more importantly -- the money to pursue a lawsuit. The fake Gumball did commit a number of crimes: unfair competition, deceptive trade practices, right of publication, and so on. Unfortunately to pursue this legally would cost thousands of dollars. The only folks who win are the lawyers.

Even if you clown only for charity your good clown image is worth protecting. Here is what you can do: Go online for your State government website and look into business registration. You can register you clown name as a business for a nominal fee. In Ohio it cost Gumball $50.00. She registered her business as Gumball the Clown. It gives her minimal protection. But at least she has documentation if things ever get serious. Another idea is to put the copyright symbol by your image on your promotional material. It reminds folks that this image is important and not some stock clip art. Unfortunately so many people think “a clown is a clown is a clown. What’s the big deal?” We as clowns know how much time, money, and effort we put into improving ourselves regardless if we clown for pay or not. Our hard work is worth protecting.

What about your clown name? Is it a common one? I can not tell you how many “Sparkles” I have met across the country. You may consider adding something to that name to make it unique. Mizz Sparkles, Sparkles D. Clown…you get the idea. I have never run into another Pricilla Mooseburger, but folks have copied my costume and make-up. That doesn’t bother me. I take it as a sincere compliment. It is realistically impossible to do anything about that. But I have protected my image and name. Pricilla Mooseburger Originals LLC

I also like the idea of putting your real name on your business card. The card of a friend of mine says Dee De the Clown – Birthday party Specialist. It also says Jan Rozhon Children’s Entertainer and her list of skills, and contact information. Smart, very smart. Just a business card with a picture of a clown on it is not doing you much good, even if you are just handing them out to kids. Don’t forget your real name and the proper contact information. It will show that you take your funny business seriously!

There is not much you can do to stop someone who really doesn’t have a clue that taking a picture off of a website or a business card and passing it off as their own image is illegal. But you can provide yourself with a back up plan with the proper documentation by registering your name as a business if you do have to pursue legal action.

It is enough to make you flip your wig!!!!!

Pricilla

Tip of the Month

Contributed by Katie Serrano:

This month marks the 40^th Anniversary of Earth Day, which got us thinking about what we do for the earth as clowns and as a business-owners. In these tough economic times, small businesses need all the help they can get to stand out from the competition. Being known as “Green” or “Earth-friendly” may just be the thing that makes a customer choose you over a competitor. What about your clown business? Do you use recycled paper when you print your business cards, coloring sheets, or brochures? If so, don’t be afraid to put “Printed on recycled paper” in small letters somewhere on the side or corner. If you have promotional items made (water bottles, pens, Frisbees, etc.), look for a screen-printing company that is committed to using recycled or sustainable materials. Instead of throwing away your old wigs or costume pieces, donate them to the Junior Joey program at your clown club – kids don’t often have the money to go out and buy new clown supplies. What about those stacks of clown and circus magazine you’ve been piling up? I bet the new clowns in your club would really benefit from reading the back issues of those magazines.

If you want to take it one step further, why not create an instructional program to teach kids the importance of conservation? Schools and libraries are always looking for fun and educational programs/lyceums. Along with Fire Safety and Stranger Danger, the “Three Rs” is a good addition to the school-aged programs. Maybe you’ll want to create a new character just for these programs, like a goofy green creature or a gardening grandma. There are lots of ways to incorporate environmentally-friendly events into your clown business. I bet your local power and water companies or Department of Natural Resources wouldn’t mind helping you with learning materials and give-aways – maybe they would even sponsor your program!

Contact the Arbor Day Foundation for free samples and organize a tree-planting field trip. Plan a school tour of your local recycling center. Coordinate a community-wide litter pick-up in your park or playground. All these things can be done while utilizing your hard-earned clown skills. Check out Nickelodeon’s Big Help website for more kid-friendly ideas on how to help the Earth. You’ll soon be known as “that green guy” or “the environmental clown” and folks will choose you because you’ve made yourself stand out from the competition. Of course, being earth-friendly looks good on your resume…but that’s not the real benefit, now, is it? :o)

All this “Green” talk got us thinking about what we do here at Mooseburger Headquarters for the planet. We:

• Reuse all in-coming boxes and packing materials (some of which is recycled or biodegradable) for packaging our out-going shipments. We have not bought any new packaging material since 2003!!
• Use uncoated, recycled paper for all handouts and catalogs.
• Recycle ink cartridges and paper products.
• Print on both sides of the paper to save resources and reduce mailing costs.
• Switched to mass emails instead of mass mailings; as well as sending out Moose Camp registration information by email instead of by snail-mail.
• Encourage our customers to either share or recycle the PMO catalog once they’ve read it.
• Reuse Moose Camp registration materials (signage, name tag holders, lanyards, staff shirts!)
• Use an eco-friendly company to screen-print our reusable water bottles for Moose Campers.
• Have shipped PMO merchandise to Pricilla’s conventions in the same recycled plastic crates for the last three years and plan to keep using them for as long as they hold up.
• Ship with USPS Cradle-to-Cradle^SM certified packaging. The Postal Service is the first mailing company to achieve Cradle to Cradle^SM certification for packaging. This is environmental "big picture" certification. It starts at the design stage, considers energy and water use through manufacturing, and ends with a product that can be safely recycled. Using the U. S. Postal Service saves fuel and keeps the carbon footprint from growing. The mail is already coming to your house 6 days a week so it’s not an extra trip for them, whereas other currier services would be going out of their way to make a delivery to your house. Plus, the USPS vehicles use refined bio-based oil and alternative fuels, not to mention their newly-streamlined delivery routes to save time and fuel. We also walk to the post office every day to get our mail. We hear that fresh air is good for you!
• Reuse fabric and notions from worn-out costumes to create new ones for our rental shop. Nothing is more recycle-ready than vintage and retro clothing – instant costumes!
• Drink plain coffee out of the same ceramic coffee mugs, not Styrofoam cups. (it tastes better, too)
• Keep the thermostat at a low setting in the winter and higher in the summer, and use the “energy saver” setting when we’re closed.
• Recently had an efficiency expert examine the shop and office for a new energy-saving lighting plan.
• Wash only full loads (instead of half loads) of rental costume and drip-dry instead of using the dryer whenever possible.

Whew! It’s surprising just how many environmentally-friendly things we do on a day-to-day basis without thinking about it! It turns out Pricilla Mooseburger Originals is pretty “green”…or maybe we’re just frugal?! Either way, we’re doing our part to help the Earth as much as we can!

MOOSE CAMP NEWS!

What is a PEP???

Moose Camp is filling up fast! One of the features of our camp is our PEP: Personal Education Plan. We send out a form for attendees to fill out so I can get a better idea of what you want to get out of camp. I read it over and then call you before Moose Camp so we can discuss your needs. We go over the schedule to determine what Morning Course and Afternoon Workshops should be on your schedule.

First I like to focus on the main goal for coming to camp. I ask campers what kind of clowning they are currently doing and what do they want to be able to do in the next year. Their answers help me recommend which Morning Course they should take. Then we look at their secondary goals and what Afternoon Workshops will help them. Sometimes folks are undecided about their main focus for camp. That's OK. I often do two different tracks for them to follow. Let's say their goals are Face Painting and Magic. I put together a schedule for Magic in the morning with face painting workshops in the afternoon. Or I do the reverse and have their schedule highlighted for Face Painting in the morning and Magic in the afternoon. Oh and don't forget that they wanted some character development as well.

It is a wonderful process, as I get to talk to the camper one on one! With close to 100 campers and 20 staff, the busy week does not always allow me the luxury of chatting with each camper once Moose Camp begins.

What can you do to make sure our PEP Talk is the most productive?

1. Think about two things you would like to accomplish at camp.

2. Have a copy of the schedule next to your phone.

3. If I leave a message, please call back at anytime and let me know WHEN is the best time for me to call.

4. Relax! The PEP Talk is fun!

5. Feel free to ask me any question and discuss any fears or anxieties you might have about Moose Camp. First-time campers can feel overwhelmed even before you get on the plane to Minnesota – so let me ease your worries and answer your questions

Remember Alumni, I need to talk to you, too! I am interested in your goals and what gag you would like to be in for the All Star Clown Show. Some of you are interested in the behind the scenes portion of the show. Great! That is an option as well.

The PEP interviews are truly my favorite part of camp. Be patient with me as I work my way through the list of 96 eager clowns! I take it very seriously and each interview is very important to me.

Talk to you soon,

Pricilla

APRIL SALE!

Talk about flippin’ your wig:

10% OFF all in-stock WIGS!

And when you buy any in-stock wig, you ALSO get 10% OFF one of these:

Pair of Wig Scrunchies

Hat

Hair Bow

Fancy Flower

Comedy Daisy

Skullcap

Hood

Save 10% on any in-stock accessory from the neck up!

You’ll FLIP when you see your savings!

We have dozens and dozens of hats, hair bows, and wig accessories to coordinate with any wig you choose. We’ll help you with picking colors and styles.

And don’t forget the necessity of a Skull Cap or a Hood. It will extend the life of your wig and keep you cool – honest!

Details

Mention the word “FLIP” when you place your order to get these great 10% off discounts!

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. You have to type the word “FLIP” in the Discount Code box at the end of your online order, or write “FLIP” somewhere on your fax-in or mail-in order, or tell the word “FLIP” to the Mooseburger Salesperson on your phone-in order.
2. Supplies are limited. 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. After you place your online order, you will receive an email verifying the availability oif your selections. 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.
3. Good on phone-in, mail-in, fax-in, or online orders. Order must be placed during the month of April. This offer is not retroactive.

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!

Just think: If you start saving $5.00 a day, you will have put away enough money to buy one of these “Breezy Bargains” by the time it is ready to ship! In other words, for the cost of one of those specialty high-octane coffee drinks, you could get yourself a brand new custom-made clown costume. If there was ever a reason to switch to plain ol’ decaf, this is it!

If you want to receive your custom-designed costume by June, then NOW is the time to order it! Keep in mind it takes 6 – 8 weeks from start to finish. Pick any of these “Breezy 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.

Where in the World is Pricilla?

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

April 20 – 25, 2010
Clowns of America International Convention
Location: Houston, TX
Website: http://www.coai.org

May 14 - 16, 2010
Clown Town
Location: Newark, OH
Website: http://www.clowntown.org

June 8 – 13, 2010
Red Skelton Clown School
Location: Vincennes, IN
Website: http://redskeltonclownschool.com/

Tales from Mooseland…

So how did you spend St. Patrick's Day???

I danced down the street in my Grandma Schleppenbach's polyester dress, high school pep sweater, hairy-leg tights and a wet mop! I was joined by a group of my best friends. (It has to be your best friends to be dressed like Irish Washer Women in public!) With a spring in our step and a blessing on our lips (“May God bless you and keep you...out of the bars!”) we won first place in the float division.

Why? Why not? It is funny. The crowd loves it. We all have fun. Give it a try next year!

And our local clown club, The Clown Arounds, worked the crowd before the parade started.

You may recognize some familiar Moose Camp faces in those photos…do you see your Comedy Magic instructor, Fred? What about Beanz, or Cherry? (Hint: They’re dressed as Washer Women, not clowns!)