Tactful
Tips
I have just finished putting
away the toys of Mooseburger camp. I love camp because I get to meet
so many of my customers and fellow clowns. Brenda Marshall and I teach
the Clowning 101 course. This course is filled with people who
have very little clowning experience. Some have never put make-up on
before, ever! It is a real honor to work with these people and introduce
them to the wonderful world of clowning. At the end of the week
we talk for over an hour about our experiences of workshops, and rehearsals,
and growing, and performing in the “All Star Clown Show” as we pass
a tissue box around the room. It is a moving experience for everyone.
At one point Brenda and I have to be the bearer of bad news. Your
family and friends will find what happened at Moose Camp interesting
for about 5 minutes. Even your local clown friends may not be that interested
for a variety of reasons.
We would all like to think
that clowns -- ALL clowns -- are loving, genuine people who want the
best for themselves as well as each and every clown they meet. Right?
Of course there is a real truth to that statement. 99% of clowns have
hearts of gold. But there is always the other side of the story.
The problem with clown clubs and the art of clowning in general is that
there are people involved; real people with real lives, real attitudes,
and real problems. We have to tell these baby clowns that not every
clown experience is going to be like Moose Camp. Not all clowns will
want to help you. Not all clowns are going to be interested in hearing
about your great experience or the new thing you have learned. Anyone
who has been involved in clowning for a while knows this to be true.
I will try to give a few helpful
hints that might help you avoid some hurts and misunderstandings. So
I am not getting on my high horse to tell you I am the perfect person
or the perfect clown, far from it. I have certainly made my share
of mistakes over the years, and here is some advice I’ve found helpful:
Not everyone is on the same
clown journey as you are. People have different levels of passion and
involvement. Keep that in mind when you are at clown club meetings,
and when you volunteer for an event anywhere. Don’t try to use a hammer
to crack an egg! If you in a clown club that likes to do parades, but
not shows, don’t be upset when no one volunteers to go to the clown
show you planned at the mall. If you are interested in education, join
a group that already does education. Before you go to the trouble to
volunteer for education and do all the work and planning for an educational
workshop, be sure your club is interested in attending. If you want
to do skits but your club does not, get a group of friends together
and practice your skits, then take your show on the road…to the local
nursing home for a start!
Some folks will be the opposite
and want you to share your entire experience, including everything you
have paid for at a conference, convention or camp. You probably paid
over a thousand dollars for this information when you add in travel
expenses, hotels, meals, and registration costs. These folks think nothing
of it to ask you to copy the entire workbook or handouts you paid for.
How to handle it?? Tell them they needed to be there to understand the
information you got. Keep it short and sweet. Now this does not mean
you should not share some of the information. If there is a handout
that you think would be beneficial, by all means copy it and share it.
But you are not obligated to copy “all” the information you received
at any given event and give it to the clown club library. There are
copyright laws that need to be observed and also common courtesy. The
person who created the worksheet or handout is trying to make a living.
What about your clown routines???
This is a tricky one. If you invented a signature prop or created a
gag script from scratch, then it is your intellectual property.
My “Bunny Magic” routine was videotaped and put on YouTube without
my permission more than once (what can I say, I like to perform my own
material). Frankly I was flattered. However I now have had to answer
a number of emails from well-intentioned clowns who want to do my act.
They asked me where I got my routine, and if I will build them a hat
like mine. I know that I am not the first clown to try to pull a rabbit
out of a hat, but I did write that routine myself in 1985 and have been
trying to perfect it ever since. If someone asks you if they can copy
your routine, be gracious and thank them for the complement. Tell them
you have been working on the routine for a while and enjoy doing it
as it fits your character. Most clowns will take the hint and respect
your wishes. If not, they probably wouldn’t listen even if you told
them not to do your routine. I advise you avoid the confrontation whenever
possible. Instead, offer to help them find a different skit that would
fit their character. Most clowns are in dire need of material and are
desperate for a good routine. Take it as a complement and try not to
worry. No two clowns are alike and therefore no two clowns can do the
same routine alike.
If you find a skit in a book,
then it is usually fair game for anybody else to find. But try to make
it fit your character. If you are not sure about a routine, ASK! Some
of the patter folks use is directly from the manufacturer (but not very
often as it is usually lame and clowns change it up to be funny)! If
you are new, ask other clowns for resources. You would be surprised
what old standard skits are brought to convention for competition. A
funny clown makes a funny skit! It could be an old standard that you
could use. Just be sure to use your character in the skit. That means
YOUR movements and YOUR style of reacting and YOUR expressions. Make
it your own; tweak it.
Unintentional advice... Yikes!
Clowns LOVE to give each other advice, and most wouldn’t win any awards
for their tact! I write this off as overenthusiastic intentions. Most
folks first get offended when someone gives them unasked for advice
on make-up or costume. As my Mom always says, “Consider the source”
before you react. You may have a perfectly good reason for doing what
you are doing with your make-up or costume. It is your business, but
don’t get defensive . Best response is “Thanks, I will think about
that”. When you have had time to get over the presentation of the
comment you might find a kernel of truth you can use.
A very funny clown once said
to me, “Never attribute to malice what can be explained by stupidity”.
In other words, don’t be so quick to be offended, the clown in question
probably means well and is only trying to help! We have all stuck our
big funny foot in our mouths on occasion! Try to keep it all in perspective!
As my sister once reminded me, “Everyone is fighting some kind of
battle, so try to be kinder than necessary.” I think that is good
advice whether you are a clown or not.
In love and Laughter!
 |
Pricilla |
P. S. Be sure to keep reading
all the way to the end, because you can save $25.00 on your Minnesota
Clown Daze registration!
MOOSE
CAMP!
July 19 –
24, 2011 in Buffalo, MN
Mooseburger
Clown Arts Camp website
EASY PAYMENT
PLAN:
“Your Budget’s
Best Friend!”
After you pay the minimum down-payment,
we will divide your remaining balance into equal monthly payments.
Your credit card will be automatically charged for the amount on the
15th of each month. No interest accrues! Campers
have told us that they found this plan to be the easiest way to pay
off the balance, and that they never could have afforded Moose Camp
if it hadn’t been for our payment plan.
Example: You
register for the Complete Package and add the Refund Insurance, so you
get a $50 discount, making your total $850. You pay the $200 minimum
down-payment and the $25 Refund Insurance up front, so your remaining
balance is $625.00. Divided by nine, that ends up being a monthly
payment of $69.44.
Pretty painless when it’s
put like that, right? So, don’t delay! Sign up today and
let’s get you started on our easy payment plan this month!
So, you wanna
go to Moose Camp, but don’t have enough change in the piggy bank?
Never fear! There are SCHOLARSHIPS available!
- Ralph Pounder Memorial
Scholarship
Deadline: February 1st,
2011
-
Bo Dino Scholarship
Deadline: February 1st,
2011
- Clowns of America
International Scholarship
Deadline: March 1st,
2011
- Local Alleys and
Shrines
If you are a Shriner or
member of a clown club or alley, ask them about educational scholarships,
grants, and loans. There may be funds set aside for members that
you are not aware of. If not, ask them for permission to start a fundraiser
to send you to Moose Camp – who knows, you may start a tradition in
your club!
What’s
NEW?!?
Hang onto your
hats, kiddos – the creative minds at Pricilla Mooseburger Originals
have been thinking up some NEW stuff for you to wear!
-- But wait
– there’s more!
And keep an
eye out for even MORE new items on our website!
Be sure to visit
our “In Stock Now” section
We are always
creating new and exciting costumes and accessories to help you look
your best while being easy on your wallet.
4
September Sales!
Remember to use discount
code “FALLINGPRICES” when you check out to get these great deals:
World’s Funniest Skit Book
(reg. $17.00) SALE $12.00
Strutter’s Complete Guide
to Make-up (reg. $27.00) SALE $17.00
Creative Clowning (reg. $27.00)
SALE $17.00
Usborne Book of Face Painting
(reg. $12.00) SALE $8.00
Add an in-stock Deluxe Petticoat
to your order, and you get FREE SHIPPING!
Buy one container of Mehron
Make-Up Remover, get the second at half-price!
FREE SHIPPING with in-stock
orders of $75.00 or more!
Details
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:
- Free Shipping offer
is good on orders being shipped to Canada and the US only. Orders
with free shipping will be mailed by U.S. Parcel Post or First Class,
depending on weight and destination.
- You have to type
the word “FALLINGPRICES” in the Discount Code box at the end of
your online order, or write “FALLINGPRICES” somewhere on your fax-in
or mail-in order, or tell the word “FALLINGPRICES” 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.
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 (http://mooseburger.com/cgi-bin/moose/calendar.pl).
Start making your “Clown
Wish List” now, because I’m having a HUGE SALE at each of these
events. Over 23 accessory items have been marked down. AND
we’ve combined our summer wear into 10 different light outfits to
reduce your cost. PLUS, I will be giving away coupons for FREE
Shipping on your next order. Whadda deal!!! :o)
See you on the road!
September 3 - 4, 2010
A Weekend with Pricilla
Mooseburger
Location: God’s Clods in
Homosassa, FL
Contact: Iris Whitaker iwkcf@keytrainingcenter.org
September 8 – 12, 2010
South East Clown Association Convention
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Website: www.southeastclownassoc.org
September 13 - 19, 2010
Clownfest
Location: Seaside Heights, NJ
Website: http://www.clownfest.com
September 29 - October 3, 2010
Midwest Clown Round-up
Location: LaPort, IN
Website: www.midwestclowns.net
*********************************
MINNESOTA
CLOWN DAZE
SAVE
$25 on your registration!
Attention Minnesota
clowns! Alley 19 is hosting their annual Minnesota Clown Daze this month.
This three-day workshop will teach make-up, balloons, face painting,
comic movement, caring clowning, and much more.
September 24
– 26, 2010 in Woodbury, MN
When you
register, be sure to mention that you saw this ad in the
Mooseburger Newz – you will get a $25.00 discount off your attendance!
Visit Alley
19’s website for more information (http://www.minnesotaclownalley19.com/)
(Pricilla will
not be there because she will be on the road that weekend)
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