Ok first let me give you some back ground, which some of you all ready know. I started clowning as a teenager for fun, actually even younger [I get moms red lipstick and put on shows for anyone who'd watch] I didn't see my first real clown til I was married with 1 child and my 1st circus. So I had no idea you could clown with out being a circus clown. I had not clowned in years and was at a meeting with my youth. They recommended clowning as a way that small group/churches could do outreach ministry. We started with the recommended book "Just Clowning Around" by Janice P. Petrea. I still use it some, but I disagree with make up, and some of her ideas but it was a starting point, We had our group, 3 girls, 1 boy, 1 adult clown [not me] I was the "leader" straight person. Video one of our skits and sent it the the Creative Ministry Festival in SC. Biggest eye opener. Bubba did a make over for one of my clown, we changed make up and costumes after that. But we also did score well enough to perform in front of the association. So that being said there are several things I would recommend.

1. Try to find some clown training near you. In Many states the Southern Baptist Association holds a yearly Creative ministry Festival in which you can take classes in make up, characture, magic, balloons , skit, and the business side of things to name a few, and it is open to every one, you do not have to be a member of any particular church, to attend [just pay your fee].

2. Scruffy as listed many books and look for them on our site here, don't do like I did, all of them had white eyes with black outline on every thing [because the book said so]

3. And this should prob. be first, illicit the support of your church, pastor everyone. For us our fiscal year starts in Sept. If you have a large church, plan a proposal and what you need for some training and supplies and ask for a budget to support your ministry, also have some goals set for this ie. we will visit the nursing home atleast 4 times, or go the the boys /girls home. I wouldn't plan too many the first year to give you time to plan and practice but is realistic, that way if all goes good, you could get more support the followning year. Our church is to small for this but they have agree to pay to send me and one other adult the the National Creative Minsitry festival once an the state several year as well as the kids to the state. Clowning a fun, but it does cost. We take donations and love offering, When a church or group ask how much we charge, we state we do it for free, but will accept any donation to help us with our cost and education [in 9 year I think there has only been one time a church didn't send us some type of support]

4. Make sure the youth involve is committed as well as their families. I work have other responsibilities, I can not be transportation, make up artist, costumer, dresser, etc. I could not do it, if it were not for their support. I have the kid sign a contract that the lessons and magic they learn is not to be shared out side of our group [never revel how a magic trick is done]. That if they commit to a performance they must be there unless true emergency or real illness [not a better offer]. I remind them if they've made plans that's fine, but if they commit to a show they've got to be there. I used to have them get the 10-12 starter kit, but if they will I get them to buy the smallest ben-nye white, neutral powder small container, two different powder blushes one for skin tone, one for blush total, 1 black eyeliner, about 25 but this will last a very long time. Parents often want them to share, but this is unsafe as with any shared makeup, if it goes near the eyes could lead to serious eye infections with cross contanminations.

[oh I'm on dial up, modem's not working so If I disppear it's computer prob. I post some on my classes next.

two different powder blushes one for skin tone, one for blush total

I was wondering what powder blush you use for skin tone?

Hey sue you me & Tim all has something in commin our first clown faces were done with lipstick when we were kids

Burnt cork usta work for me

Ben nye for flesh we use coco rose for blush coral red.
You don't have to set these and they come off real well just use a good brush. Flower does a more tradition auguste but use the powder instead of the cream for the flesh, the other do a light auguste or euro look and the blushes. My opinion you need the skin tone darker, it makes the white stand out more and easier for them to be seen as they are often performing skits. Promise without her wig and Flower. [flower could have used a little more on her forehead but hey she does her own make up now].

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1216/867696944_f2f39c6401_m.jpghttp://farm2.static.flickr.com/1320/867735094_522a62018f_m.jpg

Ok now for some classes. I do about 1 hr session as this age doesn't sit still for long.

Make up. I've been lucky to have had Bubba Sikes do a make over and Tony Jones do make overs, Last year Tony did Allison in the light [euro] and did Rooney [my other adult clown] in Auguste and allowed me to video this being done. We then sat down and all watched then the kids got to practice and I took pic. so they could remember how they did their faces. [Again a parent was there so they could observe and learn so they could assist their child prepare before performances. presently mine are 9-12 age. All but the newest do their own make up.

I also give them one home work assignment. I have them fell out a questionaire [not to many question] but things their clown should answer ie: where do you live?... How old are you.? What's your favorite color? I don't do a lot as this is a young age I'm working with and I want them to do it, but it helps them to develope their characture.

We also play a version of charades for many things, one time we might work on facial expressions and they have to pull an expression out of the hat and perform it and we have to quess.

I also do this for little mini skits, ie: Picking flowers and a bee starts to chase you etc. they draw these then have to perform all not verbal.

Next we do our version of props: I'll gather as many different things I can find and everyone take turns using the items as a prop, one rule you can not use it for its intended purpose.

i'm ready for the class sue...please go on.

well I'm gonna back track here a min. Reguarding make up. With teens they are at the age when pimples, oily skin and al those problems crop up. The light look is prob. the best for the skin and the quickest to put on and thur quickest to come off, but I've let mine choose for themselves, 2 do full auguste, 3 do lite and 1 hobo [he's brand new so I don't know what he'll look like, but his Rooney's son so he'l be fine.

We've also done balloon classes and face painting, I don't practice this much as the ones who want to learn and practice on their own, stripes came up with a few designs of his own, and flower excels at the face painting. Shes's done 3 gigs to date on her own, representing an art studio. [now don't get me wrong, nothing fancy, simple stuff, like rainbows, flowers etc].

Where can I buy the face paint you were talking about that is only $10-$12? I am glad you said about not sharing the makeup, I had not even thought about that. Thanks!

for clown make up check with www.bubbasikes.com (http://www.bubbasikes.com) He carries a student make up kit, just checked it's now $15, been awhile since I needed to order one,you'll still need setting powder, and brushes. Personally I think the pencils are easier to learn with for eyebrows and eyeliners, than the brush. But he has a full kit that includes setting powder,liner, brushes etc. for $21 states it will do about 20 faces, Even if you teen group did 1 show a week that close to 4 months worth and if lite will prob do a lot more,

Now as for face painting, I prefer Pardise, but snazaroo, has more colors and a little cheaper. check out www.snazaroo.com (http://www.snazaroo.com) for this.

Big differents in clown make up and face paints not the same at all,

some party supply stores sell Greasepaint Noses & Adhesoves. Even the grease paint pencils. & i use plane babypowder to set my make up. there is only two party stores here that dont sell clown stuff

Now when we plan a show. I try very hard to look at each ones's area that they are best in, and give them parts accordingly, also I try to make sure each one has about the same performance time [otherwise at this age some get their feeling hurt if they think they're not getting to do as much as the others] and this is one of the hardest things for me to do, not all skits come needing _# of clowns. If I have speaching parts who will speak up, etc.
Ok this might not be in order as my brain doesn't always work that way......
First find out if there is a theme they would like you to address in your show, Then how much time they are aloting for your performance. I then look at the skits I want to do, any magic and then we put music to it. And then the practice, practice,practice. Last year I got an introduction cd for my group so I just play it and it's long enough for us to be introduced and finish one skit. Basically this is how I do it. and we repeat those same lessons, facial expressions, body movement. unfortunately I cann't juggle, so we don't do that one, although they've had classes at the assoc. mtg.

We have our characters ready, we have their personalities match the teens. We have ideas on the costumes, we just have to go find everything and purchase it. One of my teens plays the piano, he actually plays during praise and worship in church. So, he is playing the music for us. I have to work on who is going to talk after a skit. I might have them take turns, though I doubt if all of them will want to. They have been coming up with their owns skits, but we have to practice more on them and we only have a couple completed. So, we have to work on coming up with and learning more skits, and we have to come up with some magic tricks and other entertainment. Currently no one knows any magic tricks. I saw on the bubbasikes.com site that he has some really neat gospel tricks that we will probably buy some of. We have alot of work before we can perform, but I am soo excited and the teens are also. Thanks for all the help!

I really like Bubba, his been real helpful and he will respond to email concerning anything he sells, never had a prob. He's also a wonderful instructor, if you ever get the chance to take one of his class or his weekend university don't pass it up.[not everything he carries is on the web site, ask for his catalog. Anything else just ask. Oh and definitely check out Good Will, and Consignment shops, you'd be surprised what you'll find. ex. if girls want that flouncy look sometime you can get the crinoline skirts to go under an outfid after dance recitals and every donates them.