:seltzer: Hi Folks,

I have been busy with this and that and more this and that. All of a sudden, along came this Gig I have THIS Tuesday for about 35 seniors in an apartment complex. I am the entertainment for their Valentine dinner. Can you give this rusty clown some SIMPLE but good ideas to get some participation going? I am really looking forward to this. Thanks. Dancin' Dot:applause:

Get some copies of the lyrics to a popular song appropriate for the group, age bracket, Valentine's Day theme, maybe an old Perry Como, F. Sinatra or Dean Martin song and have a sing-a-long! Just a thought... Have fun! Remember, like children, seniors like to be listened to, too.:applause:

I made jingle sticks for those in the audience to use. I used them at a old time polka type fest and they went over well. I actually ran out. Easy to make. Go to you local bar and ask for all the beer caps-like the old fashioned bottle caps. Wash em out and spray paint to cover the labels. Put two back to back and run a roofing type nail through them and into an old piece of molding like you use around floor boards or a small doll rod or something. The caps clink against each other when the audience member shakes the stick. You lead the sing/play along with a washboard or what ever you can play. I put two nails with two caps per nail on each stick. They were pretty cheep and this way I don't worry about someone keeping them. I put my name on the stick to advertise if they do leave with one. I wouldn't recommend them for kids but adults get a kick out of em.
Sara K.

. I posted of pic of Mrs Corelia (age 85) in my pink buffont wig. I would grab two seniors (male and female) and put funky wigs on them. for example the 50's big hot pink buffont and a man's greaser wig and then sing a love song for the two from the 50's. for this one I did the song "I am only 6 years old and my girlfriends three. I really love her so and I know she loves me." they got a huge kick outta that. and then the 70's funky afros and sang "shake shake your booty" I threaton to put roller skates on them. we sing songs and laugh and have a great ole time. I also have percussion instruments to pass out. to me thats the best way to entertain the elderly.
when you go home mist the wigs with half water and vodka and allow to dry. kills any germs and removes any odors.

What about some games, womem against the men. or pairs

"When you swim in the sea, and an eel bites your knee...

That's a moray..."

I would have to put in my vote for the handing out of "jingle sticks", or just asking them to clap or sing along to something.

I would suggest some old fashion parlor games. Before television people actually sat around together and played games and interacted so many of the residents may remember them fondly from their youth. Many of them can be just slightly risque without being innapropriate as a good deal of them came out of the victorian era.

Here are a few to get you started but im sure you can google more;

- - You need a small, fluffy feather. All players pull their chairs together in a close circle. One player throws the feather into the air as high as possible, then blows the feather to keep it in the air. The player that the feather comes closest to does the same, trying to prevent the feather from touching him. If the feather touches a player, that player is out of the game. Players try to keep the feather floating in the air.
The Laughing Game

- - All players sit in a circle. One player starts the game by saying "Ha". Then, going around the circle, the second player says "Ha Ha", third player says"Ha Ha Ha", and so on. All players must not laugh or smile, but must proceed with straight faces. Anyone who fails to do this is out of the game.

And of course Pass the Apple (or egg or ball or...)

Seat the group in a boy girl circle. An Apple is held under the chin and must be passed round the circle without the use of their hands. This gets really funny when the ratio of girls and boys is uneven and the apple gets around to where two men are seated next to eachother. And you can punch it up by having them recite a silly romantic phrase with each pass. you could also vary it by having them pass a rose in their teeth by its (dethorned) stem tango fashion.

My pre school show is also my nursing home show they love it!

Name that tune type activities have always went over well at nursing homes for me. Play the first few bars of a song or piece of recorded music to see if they can name it. Also finish the quotes or lines like. One in the had it worth . . .? Or famous lovers pairs like Buck Rodgers and who? Bring in a mystery box wrapped up and covered with big ? marks and they have 20 questions to figure out what a clown like you would bring inside a box like that. You can give clues that could give you a chance to bring in your flavor of humor.
Sara K.

Don't forget the balloon heart heats! Have fun, and let us know how it goes.

Thank You so very much everyone for the great ideas!! You are the best. Pickles, what is the balloon heart heats?? Just had to ask. Have a funny day, folks and make someone smile today. :D Dancin Dot

She may have meant "hats"...

(knocking) Helllllllo is anyone there???
can you tell us how is went?

Thanks Everyone for ALL of your great tips! My clown event with the Seniors went very well. The thing that went over the best was the parachute. I had everyone in a big circle and they held on to the parachute, waving it up and down, then I threw colorful sponges on it and they were having a ball trying to keep those sponges on the chute. The mystery box went over well too. 8-) Dancin' Dot