[GaryLevine]

Hi Scruffy,

I'm new to the forum but not to clowning (16 years) I am the head of an ally of 16 clowns in Brooklyn, NY who do mostly volunteer clowning and some paid gigs.

I read your article. It is right on the mark. You tell it like is There is no extraneous Bull. It is your experience talking from the heart.

I find that members of my group are afraid to make balloons if there are alot of people. They think I am crazy or a glutten for punishment when I take out my balloons and cheezo pump and there are a few hundred kids around. I try to explain that balloon making is fun and should be part of an improv comedy show while you are making them. As you say and myself also, I tell them please do not panic and become a balloon making machine because there are so many people. If you do, all you will get out of it is sore fingers and extreme grumpiness which will not be a good experience for the kids or you. They will wait and have a good time ( which is the objective) if they ar entertained and feel they are having special attention paid to them.

I am an auguste and tend to be super silly and have been told that my behavior is way over the top. I would like to share with you and hopefully other readers of this post some of my" schtick" . If a balloon pops I will jump out of my seat , put my hands on my forehead and look around the crowd and yell is every body all right ( maybe that comes from being a Vietnam Vet), if someone wants a sword I will start singing Zorro and when the ballon is finished I will make the sign of the Z across their body, If someone nearby has a sword I will start a sword fight with them, etc., for a dog I will sing how much is that doggy in the window and have the children bark at the right moment, or a cat have them meow, or ocassionly pretend to lose a balloon and have it take off into the air like a missile, this always leads to crazy giggling and someone always retrieves the balloon, if you make a flower and the child is with a parent ask the parent if this makes your daughter a flower child or some other corny comment, I always talk to every child I make a balloon for, this lets the crowd know you are approachable and will lead to bantering with the group and on and on .

I would like to print out your post and use it as source material at my next clown meeting. You have said things in a far more concise manner than I could. (I tend to be a bit wordy)

Thank You for taking the time and effort to post this great clown educational material.


MrDukintux