The Mooseburger Newzletter

[Fitzwilly]

PRICILLA'S ARTICLE ------------ ----

Costume Upgrade Time

Now is the time to start thinking about a new costume.
"WHAT??!!" you might say, "Is she nuts?"
Well, those of us up north are just finishing up the parade, picnic
and festival season. Some will continue to do birthday parties and
school shows, while clown clubs will shift more to nursing home
visits. The gang down south is finally getting a break from the heat.
Their season is just gearing up. NOW is the perfect time to assess
your clown wardrobe so you can keep on top of your costuming needs.

If you are finishing up for the season, there are a few maintenance
things that should be done every year. Clean. Repair. Renew. Replace.
Budget. You may want to print out multiple copies of this list and
tape them to your closet, hat box, wig bag, costume bin, shoe box, etc.

1. Clean.
Pre-treat stains and wash your costume. Lestoil made by Clorox will
take out grease paint stains. Gently rub stains and let them sit at
least 15 minutes before you wash. This allows the detergent to break
down the grease. Use a good liquid detergent. BUT NOT TOO MUCH! People
in general use twice as much detergent than is necessary. Part of the
reason costumes look dingy is because people use too much detergent,
and pack their washers too full. When the soap does not rinse cleanly,
the left over residue attracts more dirt. I use half the recommended
amount with great results. Turn everything inside out when you wash
it. Zip the zippers and seal the Velcro. Put your costumes in the
dryer for just 5 minutes to warm them and release the wrinkles. Then
turn them right side out and hang to dry overnight.

What about that wig? WASH IT! Yes, you can wash your wigs. Use shampoo
and cream rinse for the best results. Wash them in the sink by gently
squeezing the soap thoroughly through the fibers. Do not twist or ring
them. Rinse well and roll up in a bath towel to get out excess water.
Dry your wig on a wig head or a roll of paper towels. Use a
wide-spaced pick comb to detangle the fibers. A brush just makes a
mess of a wig. Dryer sheets keep a wig fresh while in storage. Does
your wig need a trim? After a while curly wigs relax and seem to
"grow". Trim them up for a fresh look. Pull out the fuzz and trim it
off. Let the curl spring back into place. It really is easy. For the
best results have someone trim you wig while it is on your head. This
will give you a better idea how much needs to be removed.

2. Repair.
Do any mending necessary such as loose buttons, split seams, torn
pockets, or any little rips. If you are not handy with a needle and
thread, take it to your local tailor or dry cleaner. Don't put it off
-- it is definitely worth the extra effort now. Small frays and tears
can become big ones in a blink of an eye and may be beyond repair later.

3. Renew.
Take a good hard look. Is your costume faded? Sometimes you can spruce
up a gently faded costume with some fresh accessories. A new collar
and tie can perk up a faded print on a dress, shirt or jacket. A new
shirt will brighten up a vest or pants. Something as simple as a
brightly colored pair of suspenders helps as well. Replace the trim on
any costume and it will give it new life. Polish your clown shoes and
see if they need a trip to your local shoe repairman. This is really
important. Worn down heels affect your posture and make you feel
tired. A little bit of polish can make a pair of shoes look like new.
Store shoes with dryer sheets in them to keep them fresh.

4. Replace.
Go through your wardrobe and look at the items that need to be
replaced. Make a list of "must haves" and a "wish list". The holidays
are coming. If you are hard to buy for, ask for a gift certificate
from one of your favorite clown suppliers. One year a woman's kids all
got together and sent her to Moose Camp for her birthday! We also have
been party to surprise gifts of costumes. I did the design in color
and it was given to a spouse. They were able to have something to open
on Christmas morning and still be able to change any of the items to
fit their style. Match up your socks and gloves. Toss the worn out
ones. If it doesn't fit properly, well…we all know the honest truth,
it probably never will. Plan to replace your costume with one that
fits comfortably. Then if you do loose weight, it is a bonus!

I am conservative by nature. It is hard for me to get rid of anything
if it still functions. But you need to draw the line when it comes to
dingy and faded costumes. Sometimes it takes a third eye if you can't
decide if something should go (ever seen the TV show "What Not To
Wear"?). We can become very attached and sentimental when it comes to
our costumes. If you can't bear to see it go to a dump, here's a
thought: give it away to your local 4H clown club or Jr. Joey program
- kids who are just getting into clowning need something and they
would be thrilled to have anything. It may be old to you, but it's new
to them -- Recycle those clown items!

You don't have to break the bank when it comes to new costume pieces.
Plan ahead. Put costume replacement into your clown budget. Plan on
buying one key piece a year. This way you can rotate your wardrobe and
keep it looking fresh. When you only have one costume you run the risk
of not having it clean or repaired in time if you clown more than one
day in a row. Zippers bust, buttons fly off, face paints dribble, and
markers leak.

Depending on the type of performing you do and the climate you live
in, you may want to consider investing in a light-weight costume for
the hottest days of the year. If you have been a basic working clown
in a t-shirt and pants now may be the time to invest in a new vest or
a second pair of pants.

Ladies: you can add more pockets to a dress by adding a colorful
apron. This also perks up a faded print dress. Aprons are a nice
addition for face painters and balloon artists. More pockets are
always a plus! I would much rather dribble face paints on an apron
than my expensive pants or dress.

5. Budget.
A friend of mine from New York commented that her friends can not
figure out how she has the money to go to convention every year and to
buy new costumes. She laughed and said she tithes to herself! She
takes 10% of her earnings from clowning and saves it religiously. That
way she has the money to do what she wants to do when it comes to
travel, supplies and fun! I belong to a great credit union out of
state. I also send a portion of my teaching fees to this account.
Because it is out of state and not at my local bank I am not tempted
to withdraw it! It works and I will have the money I need to take my
daughter with me to the World Clown Association convention in Orlando
this spring, with a side trip to Disney World.

Whether you are wrapping up your clowning season or getting ready to
rev things up, a little planning and extra effort will ensure you look
good all year round!

In love and Laughter,

Pricilla