What kinds of things do you guys like to do for the wee little ones?
I like face painting, magic, silly songs, music and movement type games.

Had a blast with about 15 2-4 yr olds today. I used to be intiminated by this age as they don't understand some of the magic or props. Which is why I add music and movement activities.

when i was a kid my parints took me & my sister to a christmas party a hotel was throwing for the children of the people where my dad works. they had Ronald McDonald entertaining. one of the thinks i remember most is he was singing head sholders knees & toes & was messing up & asked all the kids if they could help him get it right. Thats the think i remember him doing most he did do other things

Sue,

I do the same show for every b-day party, no matter what age that seems to be liked by everyone & work for all ages 1 - 101. I don't do face painting. I really focus on the performance and getting back to the art of real clowning, like, Charlie Chaplin, Emmett Kelly, Lou Jacobs, Red Skelton. I do some simple balloon animals before I leave, just so I have something to give the kids.

Here is my party show agenda:

Sparkles enters the room & greets all the kids 1 by 1. Shake hands or feet, look for something lost under arm pits & behind ears. Then I ask "Are you ready for a show", they say yes, but I continue asking this by saying " I didn't hear you" until they finally shout at the top of their lungs, YES.........

Tricks:

1. Coloring book. I choose a young assistant. Maybe 3 yrs old. Once the child is beside me I introduce myself & then I ask the child’s name, I have the crowd yell back to the child, "Hello Johnny", making the child feel very special! This also gives time for pictures to be made. Then I tell Johnny on the count of 3 to yell back "Hey Everybody!" This is usually VERY cute! Mom & Dad are saying "Ahhhhh".
Then I ask if he has a coloring book & what kind. Then I ask who in the crowd has coloring books & I ask each one what kind. Then I show my coloring book, & explain, its my favorite because it a circus one. Then I give the wand to Johnny and have him actually do waive the wand & be the magician. Like this: I show it with blank pgs. & ask him to put the lines in for me. Now, I don't just simply let him waive the wand & be done with it, I have a funny way to get some giggles. I call this the “Magic Dance”. I have him waive the wand in the air, jump up & down (I do this with him), stand on one leg, scratch him arm pit, turn around, while on 1 leg jumping & (by this time he is laughing & so is the crowd & all the adults have stopped what they are doing to watch) yell very loud "abracadabra lines appear!" Then I show the lines. Then I give him applause & have him bow & then say, something is missing, I ask the kids what, they say of course the colors. Then I explain to Johnny to get the colors he needs he must touch each persons shoulders with the wand, so he then proceeds to go around to every person in the room & touch them while we are clapping & chanting "go Johnny" "Go Johnny" & then I have him run back & HIT the book! When I show the book with the colors & ask him, "How did YOU do that?" This makes him feel so good in front of his friends! Self esteem booster!! Everybody claps for Johnny, NOT for me!! Then I have him take a bow, give him a sticker for helping me & usher him to his seat.

2. I yell "Are ready for another magic trick?" If I get a lame quite response, I pretend to pack up & go home, then they say "NO, NO". I do this in between each trick. Audience interaction is important.
Next trick is the change bag with various colors of scarves or the Happy B-Day scarf set. I choose an assistant, about 4 or 5, who would be proud to show they know their colors! I do the same introductions, hello to child, hello to crowd. I give child the wand. I put each scarf on the magic table, show the empty bag & explain for the child to put the scarves in the bag 1 by 1 & yell out the color from the bottom of their toes! (Sometime the crowd says the colors too, to help the young ones out. Then I repeat the routine, magic dance, of the wand waiving, jumping, etc. Then the child reaches in & pulls out the multi colored long rainbow scarf. I say oohh & ahhh & give the child the credit & so on.

3. I progress to a more complicated trick & a bit older child assistant. Maybe 8 or 9 yrs. I then do the Dove Pan where I have a b-day cake appear. The whole audience helps me name the items that go into a cake. I say strange things like tuna, hot sauce, etc. I have a foam fish prop, etc. They chuckle and say eeeeew! Then the child will waive the wand, doing the Magic Dance, jumping, turning, etc. & the cake appears. I have a lot more patter, I point out the grandma’s in the room who know how to make a cake & ask for their input. The young ladies sometimes don’t really remember, I crack jokes about they should not have skipped Home Ecc. In school. I ask the kids what kind of cake do they like & let them respond. Ya know, just silly small talk. Of course, the kid gets the applause & sits back down.

4. The final one I say I am going to do ALL by myself & ask if they think I can! I usually get mixed reviews. :lol: I say at this point in the show I am getting thirsty & I use the Lota Bowl. I show an empty see through plastic cup. I say I’m going to pour a FULL glass of water. So I proceed to waive the wand, jump up & down, scratch under my arm, & stand on one leg. & then pour the water & of course only a little bit comes out. I wonder what I did wrong, the kids are quick to point that I didn’t turn around while doing the other stuff. I didn’t do the Magic Dance right! By this time they have this memorized. Waive the wand in the air, jump up & down, stand on one leg, turn around, scratch under arm pit. They are smart! So I do this, & still only a little water comes out. So then I resort to choosing someone to help me. Older kid maybe, 10 yrs. He holds the wand, does the movements & only a little more comes out. I say he needs a thinking cap. I pull out a funny wig & plop it on his head & pose for a few pictures. Then we repeat everything only to get a few more drops of water. I then say, maybe you need some help. I then use adults trying to get one of the parents. I pull out another wig or hat. This really does get laughs & lots of pictures! I have some 1 liners for the adults, flirt if it’s man, bat my eyes, etc. If a woman, she is sure to get the job done, etc. We then proceed to all go through the motions of jumping, etc. & still just a little more water. I then pull up a couple more adults. I give one my rubber chicken to baby sit & ad in some chicken power, I put on each of them wigs & hats, the cameras are now really flashing, we all do the magic moves & still not a full glass of water! I say maybe we need everybody to get up & do the magic moves!! Then finally I get a full glass of water! I may have to bring up more people, have them wiggle noses, bump the hips of their neighbor, etc. if I still don’t have a full glass, but you get the point.

As I am doing all my tricks, my background music YMCA, Chicken Dance, Shout, Twist, Hockey Pokey, Celebration Time, and other party tunes. They all love this!!! I have the CD player next to me & turn it up when ever the child is dong the “Magic Dance”. Then I pack up the magic tricks & with about 30 min. to go I do balloons. I blast the music for this. The adults are usually singing!! Before I leave, I pose for pics. B-day child & me, then all the b-day kids & me. The last thing I do is help the mom present the b-day cake, & sing Happy B-day & help blow out the candles & pose for a couple more pics at the cake. This is nice for the scrapbook! Then I tell them I love them & thank you for having me! This is a full hour for about 12 kids.

This is a very upbeat, interactive party & even the 1 year olds don’t fall asleep & I keep everybody’s attention. Moving fast, interacting on at eye level, sometimes squatting on my knees, encouraging the little ones to “dance a little & “shake their bottoms” is very cute. I have done the same party agenda for years. The 1 liners change with each crowd. Everybody says they really have a great time!

Hope some of these ideas have helped!!! :D :D :D

Thank you for sharing your routine. It sound like you have a blast. :D

Sure! Anytime! It has gotten boring to me now. I have to remember that it is only the first time they have seen it. :)

I don't do face painting. I really focus on the performance and getting back to the art of real clowning,

:shock: I hope you aren't saying that face painting is not real clowning. :(

I still clown with the kids while I face paint by adding my own sound effects, or by singing silly songs, or using silly patter, etc. I think anything that brings a smile can be considered "real clowning". :D

I don't do face painting. I really focus on the performance and getting back to the art of real clowning,

:shock: I hope you aren't saying that face painting is not real clowning. :(

:D



Stiches,

I think face painting is great & there is no doubt a demand for it. I have face painters that work for me, they do not face paint as clowns. They go to events in a red shirt, khacki pants & company name tag. I don't see the need for them to invest the time & money into becomming a clown.

On the other hand, a few of my clowns can face paint, but when they are contracted to face paint, they don't go in costume. Why get into costume if you are just going to face paint?

I guess the biggest reason is, my personal feeling is that if you are going to the time & energy of getting into costume, then that is for "performing". I have also been encourged in all my clown training to not get too many skills to focus on and "become jack of all trades" perfect 1 or 2 things & stick with it. Keep focused on what you do best. I have an extensive background and a minor in theatre, so, "acting" comes easy for me. I also, in my mind before I bring something into my act say to myself, could I see one of the great clowns doing this, Emmette Kelly, Charlie Chaplin, Red Skelton, etc. What were the orginal clown skills?

This is just my personal conviction & opinion. I have to admit, I have not ever seen a "clown" face paint that was being funny & entertaining as you were saying you do. I suppose it is possible! You might could change my mind & I could learn something. :wink: Please understand I am not being critical. I hope I have not offended anybody & if I have I humbly appologize! :)

well I learned a lesson the hard way today. Never been burned before, but I knew this one was gonna be different. First changed date, then added another birthday child, but stated same number of kids only difference was they wanted to wait until out of town grandparents could come. Rain was discussed before hand with party to move inside if rain. fortunely it was a great day but they did call yesterday to ask me to switch, which I refused this time, if they canceled so what. Well, the kids were really great and had a great time, but older kids came toward the end and I ended up 1/2 hr. over. next time I'll be prepare.

one other thing about the party, they rented one of those blowup jumping thingys. and the kid didn't even get into it until I was leaving. they wanted to stay where I was. I thought that was pretty good, cause those things have to be real temping to little kids, it would be to me.

Maybe you should have jumped right in and led teh parade of kids to it? ;)

It might go POP.....

Acutally like I said I was please, I've done walkaround and that kinda stuff with them around, with no prob. I just thought at a private party it might be different, I was please that I was more entertianing then it. I know I should be more entertaining, but to me it was an afformation [sp speller broke], I was doing something right.

Congratulations Sue! Those bounce houses always show me up! I can't compete with them.

As far as staying late with for the older kids, I would explain to the parents before hand & the the kids at the time that only children under 10 or something will get balloons and such and that you have to be somewhere else and must go now. You may only have to home to your family, but they don't need to know that, you have another place to be and other people or kids to see! I would never stay later than I am being paid. When the parent ads on another b-day child, automatically charge an extra $10, no matter weather more kids come or not. I also suggest that you have a standard charge for 12 kids or under for a standard size party & then charge about $2 for each additional kid who comes. That way if there are 20 kids, you do have to stay longer to do ballons & faces, but you are getting paid a few more dollars & you have scheduled enough time. I learned this the hard way too! Years ago I had a party booked for only about 10 kids & when I got there I had 50 kids!! Now, I explain the limit for this fee is 12 kids, & 1 b-day child, if that number gets larger, the price goes up! It is very popular for parents to combine siblings for parties.

Pray for me tonight...... I have been on crutches with a severely injured, almost broken foot, for over a week and I have a gig tonight! Ugh.... I can limp off the crutches, my foot is still swollen & I don't know if it will fit into my clown shoe. I have arranged to sit and make balloons, I have never done that! I have explained that I will not be able to do walk around gags that was contracted. Just pray that I don't have to walk very far to the performance area & that my foot will fit into my shoe!

Thanks!

Definitely we'll pray for you, hope it goes well.
I call and re- comfirmed with them several times, but part of it was my fault as I wasn't watching my time as well as I should have. She told me I didn't have to do the older kids, but it's hard to tell a polite sweet face no. The older kids that arrive were very polite and asked alot of questions about clowning while I was finishing with the younger ones, so when they asked , well..... I think next time I'll be firm with a family before hand. Oh and I meet with the phone comp. today and they will be opening the entertainment section for me, as of right now I will be the only one listed in out local phone book, yeah. can't hurt.

Thanks!! My foot did well during the performance. The first time I have sat down to perform, I hated it! I didn't feel like a clown in control of my audience. They loved me, I guess that's all that counts! I wasn't my normal clown self. They were just glad I didn't cancel with my injury. Ithink everybody stopped praying about 9:00 though, that's what I told my mom! When I got home & out of make up, my foot was killing me!! I was in tears in sever pain. I have to travel to Charlotte to produce a show Friday & then Sat. for the Christian Comdian Mark Lowry. Please continue to pray that my foot doesn't hurt. Thanks!!!!

Cool about the phone book!!! Way to go!! :D

Where's he gonna be? and is he coming to columbia again anytime soon. Also check out Toby Martin if you ever get a chance, he has a website I thinks and writes one of the cartoon series. He very funny too.

He will be at Trinity Baptist Church in Cayce this Saturday at 7:00. That's my show too! Tickets in advance are $14.50 or $18.50 at the door. You should come if you can!! :) :)

Where is Cayce [I tried to RandMcNally it]

I wish we could, depends on how close as I've got Carecamp from 9-1 Sat.

Oh and sorry I gave you the wrong name earlier, check out www.torrymartin.com I've seen him in action and he's great. He writes for Adventures in Odessey. He had us litterly rolling out of our chairs.

Cayce is a suburb of downtown Columbia, basically Columbia! Thanks for the web site! I'll check it out Sunday when I get back in town! I'm headed to Charlotte in about an hour! See ya!!!

I didn't get home til after 3 and would have to leave around 5 to get down there, I did find the address and got directions but just couldn't make it. Please let me know the next event you do, I love to come if I can.

The last Bday party I did, I got IN the blow up jumpy thingie with the kids. With a poodle skirt on, I had a blast and the little girls just giggled so much! The problem was getting OUT...these are designed for children...and being an XL adult, it was a HOOT getting out. I went out head first, started to slide to the ground, got my foot stuck, my shoes came off, and I rolled gracefully down to the grass and landing face up. I laughed so hard, I almost peed my leggings!!! It was so fun, they wanted me to do it again. NOT. Just a little giggle for you all. :D

The last Bday party I did, I got IN the blow up jumpy thingie with the kids. With a poodle skirt on, I had a blast and the little girls just giggled so much! The problem was getting OUT...these are designed for children...and being an XL adult, it was a HOOT getting out. I went out head first, started to slide to the ground, got my foot stuck, my shoes came off, and I rolled gracefully down to the grass and landing face up. I laughed so hard, I almost peed my leggings!!! It was so fun, they wanted me to do it again. NOT. Just a little giggle for you all. :D

That ROCKS! At the Sunday School kick off for my church last September they had the whole nine yards - or at least a good portion of them - that is, the "Moon Walk" (or at least that's what I know it by) and the blow up slide thingy that ends at the blow up obstacle course thingy. WHAT A HOOT! I decided that it should be able to hold my weight, so I climbed up, slid down and ran the course! My wife ran to get the pastor to take a pic - he handed the camera to my wife and challenged me to a race!

I noticed that the pictures are now up on the board in the hallway! :lol:

cool, see if you can post some pic. here. love to see them