My name is Mike, aka Bongo the clown. i am only 16 and just developing my act, i have only done parties and i have found that my skits and performances dont really last all too long. I end up running out of material before the party is over and i am embarassed because of it :oops: . I am only starting out and i feel i am not good enough, although i do make the children laugh (and that is why many of us are in the biz), but the laughter soon stops. Can anyone give me any advice on skits or just physical comedy to get me through the party. Any opinions are greatly valued.

A fan of you all,
~Bongo [/quote]

Hello Mike! Welcome to our little corner of the www. I'd like to ask you a few questions about your clowning background.
1. How did you get started in clowning?
2. How long have you been actively clowning?
3. Have you ever recieved any training in the clowning arts:Makeup, costuming, humor,magic, etc.
4.Describe your show. including how long it runs, what tricks/gags you do. really in need a break down of exactly what your typical show is and how long you want it.

We've have a lot of very talented working clowns here at the forum. I hope we can help you out!

Welcome Bongo, its ret t have you here.

Sorry bout all the uestions but: do you tend to rush through your act? or are you just running out?

/shady\

A big cowboy clown HOWDY from Oregon, where ya from. man there are so many ways to make your act longer its hard to know where to start. what kinds of things are you interested in learning? Juggling, magic, skits, balloons? hope you can join us for our chat we have here lots of great clowns and ppl in here. Hope to here more from ya .
Dave "Mr Buckaroo" Gittings

i started clowning because i love to make the kids smile and be happy.
I have been clowning around for like 6 mo.
i didnt get any training of any sort.
i have a basic knowledge of balloons and juggling, i would like to know more about skits and magic.
My routine is basicly this, walk around juggling and beginning to gain attention of the children, then i go into the 2 skits i know, then i have balloons, i can make the dog, parrot, love-birds, snail, and the bunny, not a lot of varitey but that what i have.

You all make me feel welcome and i am greatful :)
Bongo Mike the Clown

Go to the library, and check out some of magic books, there are many simple magic tricks that you can make on your own, a few simple ones that you can have kids help with and do in clown will make you show much longer and little investment for some one starting out. Things like rubber bands, playing cards, safety pins and beads [one of my favoriate].

Oh and I also wanted to say a big welcome to our group, GREAT to have ya.

i would just like to say thank you all very much for all of your help. i will concider all of your advice.

Bongo Mike

Sound like timing might be a problem. When I first started doing birthday parties I had the same problem. An older clown told me to practice lots and then sit down and write a detailed, blow by blow account of my program. Every joke,every magic trick, all the games; A full account. from there I had to practice until I got everything worked out. Since I did magic as my main thing. I spent the most time working out the magic show. It's a pain in the neck; but it works.
I started clowning the same way, Bongo.I wanted to be a clown so I started learning. I went to the library and found several great books on clowning and read them voraciously. I started piecing together a costume. I was a very happy camper when my Mom told me that the Class E clowns 4-H club was taking new members. The rest is history. And I knew a lot more than the other clowns because I read so much.
Here is a list of some great book to check out. Owning then isn't a bad idea.

Creative Clowning by Tony Blanco and Bruce Fife. If you can only buy one book; Buy this one; It's da bomb.
Strutter's complete guide to clown makeup by Jim Roberts. Buy this one if you can.
Clown for circus and stage by Mark Stolzenberg
Be a Clown! by Turk Pipin
Clown Magic by David Ginn
Clowns by John Towsen
There are others but these are good. Take the time to plan out every minute odf your show, write it down and then rehearse it as you have it written down.In time as you improve, you will be able to vary it. Just keep up the practice and never quit learning.
Good, Better, Best.
Never rest,
until the good is better, and the better is best.