Courses and Workshops | Pricilla Mooseburger

*Classes are subject to change

What is a Main Course?

Every morning we break up into different courses. This allows you to dive deep into a topic you want to focus on. You will stay in the same course each morning - all week.

Wow, 9 hours of intense education you will get to build on each day.

Don’t worry; the afternoon is filled with workshops on a wide variety of clown arts topics.

Only your course needs to be decided before you come to camp. Tricia can help you decide what is best for you during your PEP talk. Afternoon workshops can be decided on the fly.

COURSES AND WORKSHOPS SUBJECT TO CHANGE:

These Courses and Workshops are pretty well set. However we are still working on the full schedule and are finalizing some of our guest instructors. That means that, as we add special things and people to celebrate our 25th Moose Camp, we may need to shuffle our manpower here and there. That could result in be some slight variations to what you see here, but we will definitely be offering more great education than you can throw a pie at. Take a look at all that we offer, sign up now, and check back for more information.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Main Course Options

Caring Clowning – Karen Hoyer

What better place for a clown than a nursing home – a place where joy and laughter can ease pain, and clown hi jinx can help erase loneliness. This work is challenging but truly rewarding. Karen brings over 20 years of experience performing in nursing homes and senior centers, working solo and with a partner. Here you can learn how to create material and work with a partner; explore music and skills that entertain, distract and redirect; discover how to “read the room” and make the right choices; and, above all, experience the joy of connecting with an open heart. We will also explore how to approach facilities, how to build a partnership with them, and how to present a professional proposal for an on-going program. This course includes a visit with residents in a local care facility, with Karen supervising visits. It creates the perfect safe and supportive environment to reach out as a clown who truly cares.

Note: It is recommended that you have the basics of clown make-up and character in place before launching into this specialized field. Please bring any skills you want to share: musical instruments, puppets, juggling, magic tricks, poems, songs, and jokes.

Clowning 101* – Brittany Allen and Annette Darragh

Learn the funny art of clowning from the ground up. Brittany and Annette will gently introduce you to make-up, costuming, character development, and performance skills. Their holistic approach will seamlessly interweave the skills that will start you on the road toward being a great clown. Their sharing-and-caring style will teach you volumes in a short time! When you leave Moose Camp, you will have all the basics you need to begin your new life as a clown. If you have never put on make-up before, then Clowning 101 is the right course for you!

* There is a $40 fee to buy the recommended makeup kit. In past years we simply had make-up at the table for everyone to use communally, but the risk of cross-contamination has now become an issue. For the health of our campers we can no longer offer it that way. The kit will contain all the necessary items to create both Auguste and Whiteface clown characters. There will be mirrors and containers of Q-tips and wet-wipes available for your use at the make-up table. Please know that we tried our best to put only the bare essentials in the kit and to keep it at wholesale cost. The kit we put together for you will be much cheaper than buying the same makeup separately in the Dealers Room.

Exploring Clown Skills* – Julia Swanson and DJ Weiss

Ready for an exploration of some skills that will enhance your current clowning? DJ and Julia will work with you to lay a foundation in clown movement, juggling, balancing, and mask work. You will get the first building blocks of these skills and learn how to use and apply them in your clown adventure. Each skill will be explored through a series of exercises and scenarios that emphasize play and comedy. As we move forward we will incorporate how these skills can impact your character, movement, identity, voice, presence, solo and partner work, relationships with the audience, and, most importantly, performance.

*Course Requirement: This is NOT a beginner course. You should have a firm foundation in clowning and be open to being pushed in new directions.

Home Town Clowning – Stacey Kuhn

You’ve explored the basics of clown make-up, character development, and costuming. Now, you’re ready to take the next step. But, how do you pull it all together into a performance? Where do you go? What do you do? Stacey will help you explore the next steps to becoming a successful clown. Learn how to create your own comic props and routines, whether performing solo, with a partner, or with a group. Gain an understanding of various types of walk-around props and where you can find items you can use to develop your own personal gags and routines. Spend some time with Stacey to acquire information about some of the places and types of events where you can put your clown training and skills to use. Top all of this off with the data you need to help you successfully book your performances and you’re on your way to successful, fun-filled entertainment experiences for both you and your audiences.

It's Showtime! – Sean Carlock and Jane Kinney

Compile, Create and Construct! Is it on your clown bucket list to Compile, Create and Construct your very own clown show? Well here is your opportunity! Sean Carlock and his sidekick Jane Kinney, who have done literally thousands of shows in a wide variety of venues, will teach you how to: COMPILE a list of your own clown skills, CREATE ideas to accompany those skills and learn some new bits as you CONSTRUCT an amazing and dazzling Clown Show to take home to rehearse and do! Please bring along what kind of show and theme you would like to work on, any ideas that you have already collected and be ready to Compile, Create and Construct: Let’s build a show with the tools you have!!

Magic Reduex – Fred Baisch

Do you ever feel like you have more invested in your magic tricks than the GDP of a small country? You don’t want to buy another one, but you don’t want to present the same ol’ thing again. In this course Fred will use several different standard tricks and explore various ways of performing them using different plots and patter to create different ways of presenting the same trick and making it look different and/or specially made for the occasion or holiday.

The Pleasure of Play – Elena Day

“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” – Plato.

Plato got that one right! When we play, we follow instincts, we give and receive, we stay with what intrigues and delights us, we find flow. Through structured exercises and raucous games, we will bypass our habitual brain and jump into the present. This presence, this immediacy, is a joy to experience as a performer. When we add in the element of the clown’s direct relationship to the audience, to watch someone in this state onstage is a gift to all. Through the pleasure of play, you will experience the richness of your presence. Perfect for students with any experience level.

Afternoon Workshops – Alphabetically by Staff Name

Brittany Allen

Beginning Balloons – Part 2: Creating My Favorite Simple Balloons

Part 1 workshop is not a requirement, but you do need to know how to inflate and tie a balloon as well as the basic twists. We will build on that basic knowledge to create some of my favorite balloon sculptures that are simple but impressive for newbies! If you have a pump and balloons, please bring them.

Creating & Theming Your Props

You don’t have to break the bank or buy a bunch of new magic for every new show, venue, event, or holiday. Brittany will show you some simple techniques she uses to breathe new life into routines, tweak magic tricks to a new theme, and to prop out a show on a reasonable budget.

Meet & Greet Coaching

The core of Meet & Greet and Walk Around work is often interaction. Bring your favorite Meet & Greet and/or Walk Around props for some one-on-one coaching so that you can get more out of the props you are using. Don’t have a prop? That’s okay. Come and observe, or better yet, see how you can interact effectively as a clown even if you have no props at all!

Puppets Alive!

Your puppet is little more than foam, fabric, and feathers unless (or until) you breathe some life into it. Brittany will share how she adds character, personality, and movement to bring her puppet pal sidekicks to life and have them relate to the audience and vice-versa. If you have a puppet, bring it, but you can come alone too!

What’s in My Caring Clown Bag?

While your presence and interaction is the most important thing in Caring Clowning, having a few tricks up your sleeve (or in your bag) to use as your entry point or as ice-breakers can make all the difference. Brittany will share some of her ‘go-to’ items that she carries, and how she uses them, so that you can have the confidence to enter the room and do when words don’t quite cut it.

Fred Baisch

Change Bags – It’s All in the Bag

Paddles, twist handle, and tote bags are three types of change bags that you will frequently see used for magic tricks. But why are some bags better for certain tricks than others? Is a three-sided bag really necessary? Come learn the correct bag to use, and when, and how to use and display it without exposing the trick. Then you can successfully use it with ropes, silk, and any number of other objects and patters.

Do That Magic Trick Again – Only Different

Fred will highlight one aspect of his Magic Redeux course and show how a single trick (or two) can be tweaked and/or re-worked to be presented in a variety of ways and venues. This workshop will also explore various ways of performing them using different plots and patter to create different ways of presenting the same trick.

Does Your Patter Matter?

You’ve memorized all of the steps of your magic trick or clown routine, but it’s still playing a little ‘flat.’ Or you have a routine that you want to change up, but the instructions that came with it don’t cover that. What do you do? Fred is a master at making the ‘story’ (or patter) interesting, applicable, and fun. Come see how he crafts patter to the routine and event so you can take your performance to the next level.

Fun Stuff for Up Close

A clown workshop by Fred that doesn’t have any (well, much) magic in it. Learn how to engage a small group, entertain a line, or table hop with a variety of easy to learn routines and props. From the classic napkin rose, to dollar bill folding, to jumping paper clips, and more, this workshop will equip you with the skill to entertain almost anywhere with a variety of everyday objects.

Meet & Greet Coaching

Sean Carlock

Creating Themed Shows with Props You Own

Take stock in your clown props and your skills, then learn how to tweak them for the various holidays and themes that are used throughout the year and for special occasion. Sean will show you how, with just a little effort and a few relatively minor changes, you can have a whole new show tailored to the needed theme.

Magic Ropes & More!

In meet and greet, pocket management is key. Sean’s mission is to someday be able to do 45 minutes with a piece of rope. In this class, we will explore this idea and he will share with you some of his favorite easy pocket rope magic and more.

Super Science Show for Under $100

You don’t have to break the bank to do a super science show. There lots of cool, fun, Science related things you can do (in or out of clown) to put together a show or program. We’ll look at 4 – 6 different ‘tricks’ that involve real world magic (aka Science) and various ways to present them. Come see how some of the simplest things, presented well, can really have a big pay off.

The Art of Working With Soap

Watch as Sean and DJ turn ordinary bar soaps into the best clown cream pies you've ever seen! They will show you the ideal soap, tools, and supplies to use for whipping up the frothiest soap. Learn ways of incorporating soap into your clown skits, large and small.

Annette Darragh

Advanced Face Painting: Masks, Bling, & Zing!

So you’ve been painting for a while, and want to know what’s new. How about adding eye masks, bling, and embellishments to your skills? Annette will give you all the tips and tricks you need to add the zing to simple designs to make it something spectacular and take your face paining to the next level! Note: NOT for beginners!

Beginning Face Painting

This workshop is set up to allow you access to the paints, try them out, and get some hands-on experience. It is a perfect way for you to find out if you like face painting. Annette will introduce you to the products and process and guide you through the basic brush techniques necessary to make your artwork pop.

Navigating Caring Clown Appearances

Annette will teach the ins and outs of hospital clown appearances, sharing her tips on how what to do (and what not to do). From rules and regulations to hospital humor, you will get an inside look at the difficult yet rewarding field of performing in hospitals, nursing homes, children’s shelters, and other facilities.

A clown doesn’t always have to be funny, and everyone has a special skill, or two, or twelve. Sometimes it’s difficult to see how you can use your skills in a clown routine. In this class we'll work on finding ways to incorporate the skill you have so you can put it in front of an audience! We'll work together and even try out some bits and ideas to get a new perspective so you can bring the “Ta-Da!” as well as the “ha-ha” to your clowning.

Storytelling - Clown Style

A story is always stronger and more memorable when there are visuals that accompany the tale that is told. What could be more memorable and visual than a clown? A clown that is involved with the story they are telling, and that uses props and other visuals, of course! Join Annette as she shares some of the techniques she uses to bring clown stories to life.

Elena Day

Playing With A Partner

In this short workshop, we explore working in duos. You will practice becoming aware of your partners, their offers, and building on them. How can you make them more of who they are? Who do you become in relation to them? Who has higher status? Lower? You will read your partner, and, ultimately, make them look good!

Power Play

Clowns play with status all the time. Who has the power? Who is the boss? Playing with status is not only incredibly fun, but also super important when we work in clown duos, trios, and groups. Our physicality reflects how much power we project. By how small or large, open or closed, still or moving we are, we can play either high or low status. Does your clown have more or less power than your partner? Who is the leader? Who serves? Recognizing what status we are playing & being able to play with it will be yet another tool in your tool belt as you improvise and perform.

Rick Hoops

Financial Management for Artists

This workshop will introduce you to concepts and applications of financial management with a specific focus on independent artists and community organizations! Whether it is for a non-profit or a freelance adventure, we will explore ways to price, market, and collect payment for your artistic services!

Karen Hoyer

Caring Clown Field Trip – Friday: both time slots

The Caring Clowning Course will take a field trip to put what they have been working on into practice. They will visit an adult care center, put on a little show, and do some roving meet & greet.

Clown Dance

Try out a few crazy dance steps and then learn a simple dance routine. Will you dance a little solo, do duo dance with comic interruptions, or can we improvise our own dance steps and string them into a group routine? Come and have fun with a dance teacher who doesn't know which one is her right foot!

Mime: The Language of Clowns

As a clown you need to use your whole body to communicate. Mime is the art of using movement to create physical characterizations, express emotion non-verbally, and tell a story without depending on words. For clowns, mime is a vital tool for making physical choices that will take us out of everyday life and into a clownesque world of play.

Your Performance Critique

Are you ready to take the next step in your solo work? You’ve created a routine, you’ve been performing it for a while, but now you’d like to go a little further? Bring in your best three minutes and get a friendly but honest response to the script, the movement, the vocal variety, and the skills used. Meanwhile, as you watch your classmate’s routines, learn how to watch, how to verbalize suggestions, and what techniques to use to make it a critique and not a criticism. NOTE: Be ready to perform a prepared 3 minute routine (NOT an improv). Workshop is limited to three routines (solo or duo) per session. Additional people are welcome to attend and observe the process.

Candace Hudert

Character Development Lab

What is the next step to making a character after your initial idea? Character work! Through this interactive lab you will walk away with a variety of tools and strategies to make specific choices that play to your strengths in order to create memorable characters.

Introduction to Mask (with Christopher)

While clowning is a removal of life’s external masks, the use of masks can inform and infuse your clown character with an inner life. Explore Comedia style masks as a path to reveal the physical comedy that will bring new life to your character for your work behind the world’s smallest mask – the clown nose. Be prepared to discover movement that will shed a whole new light on your clowning!

Promoting Yourself – Pro Tips

Whether you are clowning as a volunteer, as a professional, or somewhere between, if people can’t find you, you won’t be working much. Come learn what info you need to include for your business card and website (and what info you probably don’t want/need to include) so that people can find you and want to hire you.

Christopher Hudert

A Bag Of Awesomeness or Awfulness

What’s in that bag? It could be awesome or awful. There’s only one way to find out. Open it! This workshop is an interactive exercise in play that focuses on some basic elements of clowning including the moment of discovery, finding and connecting with the audience, actions and reactions, starts and stops, entrances and exits, takes, levels and changes, body language, playing to the audience (staging), being interested vs being interesting, etc. Come ready to play and leave with some tools to better clowning.

Introduction to Mask (with Candace)

While clowning is a removal of life’s external masks, the use of masks can inform and infuse your clown character with an inner life. Explore masks as a path to reveal the physical comedy that will bring new life to your character for your work behind the world’s smallest mask – the clown nose. Be prepared to discover movement and body language that will shed a whole new light on your clowning!

Mask Making Made Easy – Hands-On Lab Time

The mask is a fun and useful tool to use in rehearsal, and maybe even in performance. Using burlap and paste, in this hands-on workshop we will make some super easy, lightweight, masks that you can use at Camp or at home. Even if you don’t take your mask home or use it at camp, this is a fun technique to learn.

Meet & Greet Coaching

Parade & Walk Around Puppets

So, you bought a super looking puppet. Now What? Christopher will share tips and tricks to give your new (or old) puppet pal CPR (Character, Presence, and Relationship) so that you can feel comfortable playing with and presenting your puppet partner. We will focus on parade and walk around puppetry, but the techniques learned will also apply to other puppetry and even clowning in general. If you brought a puppet with you, bring it to the workshop, but we will have some there to work with too.

A Pocket Full of Potential

If you are clowning ‘on-the-go’ at a picnic, event, restaurant, care facility, parade, or anywhere else you are on the move, you don’t have to load down your pockets with props and gags. Even an empty pocket can be full of potential! Come see how you can get a maximum of smileage out of a minimum of items and make something out of next to nothing.

The Prop Shop – “Make It & Take It” Props – See Open Lab Times

Looking for a new walk-around prop? Need a walk-around prop to entertain the audience pre/post show or during intermission at the Mooseburger All Star Clown Show? Visit the prop shop during scheduled prop making hours to make your own parade board or other walk-around prop to use as part of the show and to create your very own kazoo instrument for the Clown Band. Take your new prop home and add it to your future performances. There will be a limited number of each prop, so availability will be on a first come basis. A small materials fee will be charged for each prop made.

Surviving Physical Comedy (for the Not So Physical!)

Physical Comedy doesn't just mean falling down or getting beat up, especially as the body ages or otherwise gets less limber. Learn how to move and use your body within your physical limitations for the best comic results. Walks, takes, pacing, postures, gestures, timing, shifts, reactions, levels, and so on, can all add to your performance without injury. We'll examine facial, body, and vocal expressiveness, pacing, energy, and physical levels, and how movement makes our actions speak louder than words.

Jane Kinney

All About the Red Nose Reader Program

The Red Nose Reader program promotes literacy, kindness, empathy, and respect for diversity through the art of clowning. During a visit, a certified Red Nose Reader will read a story, share a message, and playfully interact with the students. Come and learn all about the Red Nose Reader program and how you too can help build a positive image that real clowns are caring, helpful, and kind people who want to spread joy and laughter.

Clowning With A Message: Fire Safety

Did you know that, through the use of educational puppetry, clowning, whimsical magic, music and storytelling, you can reduce the loss of life, property, and injuries caused by fire? This workshop will share where and how you can provide a fire safety message in your community, utilizing your clown character. We will cover relevant messages, where to find resources, presentation methods, venues, and possible sponsors.

The Idea Web: “The Magic of Kindness!”

An Idea Web is a wonderful tool that helps you create and organize concepts and ideas. It can be very useful for planning a show, event, or Red Nose Reader visit. Join Jane as she shares the main concepts you might put on a web for a show. Then, using the theme “The Magic of Kindness,” we’ll brainstorm a web of ideas to go along with those concepts and show how you can take and use these webs to help design YOUR next fun and magical event!

Past & Present RNR’s Tea Time – Lab Time

Past and Present Red Nose Readers, you are cordially invited to come and meet your fellow Red Nose Readers at a Red Nose Reader Tea Time. It will be a time for us to share experiences, connect, and celebrate being Red Nose Readers. Yes, there will be tea and treats!

Stacey Kuhn

Meet & Greet Coaching

Old Skits, New Ideas

Is it time to update an old skit with some fresh new ideas? We will take an old skit premise and work to craft it into a new, fresh take, while staying true to the original. This workshop will help with improv skills and increasing skit writing creativity.

Performing for an Audience on the Spectrum

This workshop will help performers develop strategies for interacting in both close up and stage settings for children with special needs, such as autism. We will review key features displayed by kids and adults on the Autism Spectrum, and how to modify interactions to increase positive engagement.

Performing with a Partner

Is it time to pair up? In this workshop, we will look at how to interact with a partner when stage performing or working in a festival or walk-around setting. We will pair up, and work on developing patter, and keeping your clown character in focus, while you support the clown beside you.

Tricia Manuel

Simple Looks for RNR & Caring Clowns

RNR and Caring Clowns get up close and personal. It’s the time to tone down the ‘over the top’ costume and makeup to something that works in a small setting and in subtle ways say ‘clown’ without screaming it through a bullhorn. Come let Tricia guide you through the process of finding what works in these more personal and rewarding avenues of clowning.

Makeup 911

The All Star Clown Show is tomorrow and your makeup is just not coming together as fast as you’d like. It’s time to come to the Makeup Lab for a bit of last minute help. Tricia will be there to help you cure those jitters and hiccups to get a nice, clean, look for the show.

VIC Special Workshop

A round table discussion on clowning and where you want to go with it! Here is a chance to ask for help on your clown issues. What are your burning questions? What is your biggest hurdle in your clown path? Tricia will help you take the next steps. (VIC Pre-registration required.)

Heather McFall - Guest Instructor

Overcoming Stage Fright & Fear of Criticism

If you have ever “had your feelings hurt” or declined performing due to fear, this is the workshop for you. This one hour intensive workshop will teach mind tools and techniques to reduce stage fright and take feedback without diminishing your confidence. Heather will reveal the difference between useful and un-useful feedback and how both can be beneficial! This will be a fast paced and focused hour you don’t want to miss.

Greg Sekora

Beginning Balloons – Part 1: How to Blow Up, Tie, & Twist Balloons

For beginners only! Learn the basics to get you started on this fun and lucrative hobby. We’ll will start with choosing the right balloon, how to inflate it, and be providing the hands-on help you need to learn all the twists you need create simple balloon creations. Greg will show you his favorite twists and many simple designs. If you have balloons and a pump, please bring them.

Julia Swanson

Developing Unconventional Clown Characters

Clowning is undergoing an evolution and clowns can be found in all sorts of unexpected places. People are beginning to accept clowns in hospitals, nursing homes, and care facilities, but what other places are they found today? What about the theater, Ren Fairs, etc.? Do they even look like clowns? Sometimes they don the red nose, sometimes not. How do you develop a clown character that works outside of the circus or birthday party? Julia will help you explore new layers and looks to develop your unconventional clown character.

Meet & Greet Coaching

Modern MakeUp for Today’s Clown

Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana. Times are changing and makeup is too! There are so many more brands and types of makeup to use as well as new ways to use what we already have. This class will be all about how to make your makeup more current. BUT just because modern clowns are sometimes using a minimal makeup doesn’t mean that’s the only way. This class is all about knowing what your options are, and hopefully giving you some new ones as well!

Silly Songs and Fun with & WITHOUT a Ukelele

Singing silly songs and singing songs silly are the name of the game here. You don’t have to play – or even HAVE – a ukulele or any other instrument. We will learn some simple songs and how to have fun with them so that you can use them anywhere you clown. These could be used in hospitals, birthday parties, shows, parades, and any sing along.

Skill Clown?? – Heck Yeah!! Writing Your Talents Into Your Act

DJ Weiss

Foundations of Caring / Therapeutic Clowning

If you want to visit a hospital, nursing home, children’s shelter, or similar venue as a clown, you need a basic knowledge of what hospital/ therapeutic clowning is and what you can and cannot do in those environments. DJ will share an overview of basic sanitation practices as well as ideas and tips on ways to make your visits fun and memorable.

Simple Physical & Slapstick Comedy

No, you don’t need to do a classic 108 (or even know what one is) to get a laugh. Learn simple bits of physical comedy that everyone can do. We’ll go over some trips, slaps, punches and other classic physical comedy bits that you can do by yourself or with a partner to animate your character and engage your audience.

The Art of Working With Soap

*Classes are subject to change

​

What is a Main Course?

Every morning we break up into different courses. This allows you to dive deep into a topic you want to focus on. You will stay in the same course each morning - all week.

Wow, 9 hours of intense education you will get to build on each day.

Don’t worry; the afternoon is filled with workshops on a wide variety of clown arts topics.

Only your course needs to be decided before you come to camp. Tricia can help you decide what is best for you during your PEP talk. Afternoon workshops can be decided on the fly.

Afternoon Workshops – Alphabetically by Staff Name

​

Sign up for Mooseburger Newz now!