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.

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Morning 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 Learn the funny art of clowning from the ground up. Brittany, Annette, and a few assistants 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 makeup before, then Clowning 101 is the right Course for you!

* There is a materials fee to buy the recommended makeup kit. The kit will contain all the necessary items to create both auguste and whiteface clown characters. Please know that we tried our best to put only the bare essentials in the kit and to keep it at low cost. The kit we put together for you will be much cheaper than buying the same make-up separately in the Dealers Room. For the health of our campers we do not offer and do not recommend communal use makeup. There will be mirrors, containers of Q-tips, and wet-wipes available for your use at the makeup table.

Exploring Clown Skills* – Julia Swanson and Neal Skoy

Ready for an exploration of some skills that will enhance your current clowning? Julia and Neal will work with you to lay a foundation in clown movement, juggling, balancing, music, and more. You will get the first building blocks 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.

Puppets: Foam, Fur, & Fun – Christopher Hudert

Puppets are the perfect performing partners – they are friendly, fuzzy, forgiving, and fun! Best of all, you don’t have to be a great ventriloquist or puppeteer for your puppets to be effective and engaging. Christopher will share simple tips and techniques to bring your puppet pals to life to support and enhance your clowning in different settings and venues, and with a variety of different styles of puppets. Throughout the week we will explore focus; movement & manipulation; character; voice work; the 3 C’s; and puppet CPR to bring the elements together. (Bonus: Many of the same techniques used in good clowning are used in puppetry, and vise versa, so there is a lot of natural crossover to apply!)

Note: We will be using mostly moving-mouth (“Muppet style”) puppets for this Course. If you can, bring your favorite puppet pal to Camp, but we’ll have some to work with as well.

Rise & Shrine – Fred Baisch

If you are a Shrine clown looking to improve your presentations when working in circuses, hospitals, and on your own, we have just the course for you. This is an in depth course not normally available at conventions. From hospital visits to Circus arenas, in this course Fred will use several different approaches to explore various ways of performing that are utilized by Shrine clowns. As a Shrine clown himself, Fred has produced and performed in numerous routines for the Osman Shrine Temple and Clown Club as well as others. Fred has a wealth of knowledge and experience that he is ready to share with you.

Silent Clowning & Physical Communication – Randy Christensen

Join Randy to learn more about how "actions speak louder than words." Through subtle disciplined movements we share emotion, thought and story. Learn techniques that will help you communicate with your audiences; whether in a hospital bed or in a stadium. Mime movement techniques based on the Del Sarte and DeCroux mime methods are taught in practical, immediately applicable, segments. Expand your physical vocabulary to tickle the funny bone and touch people's hearts.

Afternoon Workshops – Alphabetically by Staff Name

Brittany Allen

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.

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.

Fred Baisch

Arena Clowning (for Shriners & Aspiring Circus Clowns)

Arena clowning is exactly the same as performing solo in a hospital room or at a birthday party, except that EVERYTHING about it is different. While many of the skills are the same, the size, focus, and often the number of people involved is bigger and broader to reach the top tier of the arena. Fred will focus on how what you are doing now can translate to the language of the arena.

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.

Flash! Boom! Bang! Effects for the Big Arenas

For a mild mannered magician, Fred is a dangerous man! From simple effects like magician’s flash paper to squib belts, exploding slapsticks, safe cracker routines, the classic fire house and everything in between, he has worked with all sorts of things that flash, boom, bang, smoke and fizzle on stage and in arenas. Oh, there are a few that squirt, squish, and splat too! Fred will share many of these affect with you as well as some basic safety measures anyone working with dangerous materials should follow.

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.

Randy Christensen

The Art of Clown

What takes clowning from just "playing around" to the level of art? Randy shares insights and the "thinking process" that makes clowning an artform appreciated even by the critics.

The Body Speaks – Effective Movement

Over 50% of what a person communicates is non-verbal. Randy teaches mime-based concepts that help with physical communication on stage and also up close and personal. It's an interesting, insightful, effective class on body language based on the Del Sarte and DeCrouix mime concepts.

The Clown In Ministry

Philosophy, history, opportunities and ideas on using traditional clowning to minister in and from the church setting.

Annette Darragh

Beginning & Intermediate 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. Then she will share some tips and tricks to add zing to simple designs and take your face paining to the next level!

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.

Rick Hoops

Creative Entrepreneurship

Understanding business models is hard, especially as an independent artist. If you are looking for a guide to developing a business plan, marketing materials, and more, this workshop is for you! This workshop will give you access to a comprehensive business guide for artists that is easy to understand and update.

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 – Wed. 1:45 (not a workshop slot)

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.

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.

The Clown Speaks – Vocal Techniques for Talking Clowns

If you are not a silent clown Candace has some simple techniques, exercises and easy vocal warm ups that will help you more effectively use your voice while clowning. You will also you explore new character creation, emphasis, and expression for greater comic delivery.

Christopher Hudert

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.

Physical Comedy WITHOUT Slaps & Falls

Physical Comedy covers a lot more than falling down or getting beat up! 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 reads a story, shares a message, and playfully interacts 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.

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!

Tricia Manuel

Comic Movement Through Skits

Learn fun new cartoon style movements that add to every performance! We will add those movements to classic skits so that you can go home with scripts and new skills.

Finding Your Clown Character

Whether you are brand new to clowning or looking for a new avenue for your current clown, this workshop works! Tricia will lead you through the exploration of taking your clown character to the next level.

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.)

Jackie Reynolds - Guest Instructor

Story Telling As A Clown

Jackie will share and teach one of her favorite magical “Show and Tell” stories, and then give you a set of the props, script, and other ideas to practice, and bring home to use in your clowning. You'll be encouraged to step into your stories, with voices and movement, to bring puppets and props to life to get the laughs, and make memories for your audience. Develop the courage to muddle through the murky middle as you work on bits of business or performance pieces. Or, just attend this workshop for the laughter!

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.

Beginning Balloons – Part 2: Creating Simple Balloons

You don’t have to have gone to the Part 1 workshop, but you do have 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, bring them.

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.

Neal Skoy

Play the Game

Neal believes the absolute core of clown and interactive performance is "Play." In this workshop we will discover why play is so darn important in performance; as well as practicing in everyday life. A playful mindset improves intelligence, creativity, performance ease, and collaboration. Come ready for movement and the unexpected.

Slapstick 108

Ah, comedy violence. Clowns are often regarded as "living cartoon characters." Their resilience against slaps, falls, trips, kicks, crashes, smashes, and kabooms makes them nearly invincible; but how can you make it FUNNY? We will explore beginner to advanced moves and how to perform them safely every time. Come dressed for movement and gravity.

Julia Swanson

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

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.