Hi from Flutterby

Flutterby · #1 (**permalink**) 01-21-2008, 06:28 PM

My name is Flutterby and I just started clowning this past week. I went on the "Clowning at Sea" cruise with my mom and sister-in-law (both are clowns) and thought it would be fun to do too... So they made me a costume and brought me a wig!

I am one very fortunate clown! There were infamous clowns there such as Earl Chaney, Jim Howle, & Wayne Scott... Jim Howle designed a face for me and taught me his methods of putting on the grease. Wayne's wife, Marti was teaching a class on make it and take it props - but as she was setting up, she pulled out several pairs of clowns shoes she had for sale. One pair perfectly matched the costume my sister-in-law made for me! Marti gave me a PHENOMINAL deal on the shoes!

Earl "Mr. Clown" Chaney - what can I say about him!? Truly an amazing clown! He stayed up every night and enjoyed telling stories and sharing information with myself and my family... We all lost a lot of sleep, but with the wealth of information I was able to gather from him and this private time together - it was WELL WORTH the bags under my eyes!

There were several others there (also retired Ringling Brothers clowns) that helped to teach balloon twisting and juggling... Jim "Jimbo" Hunsinger & Bethany "Beppie" taught the twisting classes and were a great help with the balloon jams we had. Then Nicole "Maggie" Portwood taught the juggling - and with a few private pointers thrown in from Earl Chaney - I quickly caught on to this skill as well!

So if you are from the western NY area, please feel free to drop me a line! I have been trying to get info on clown alleys in our area, but unfortunately, the website is not working! So if you know of others or can set me in the right direction, please do so!

May each day be a circus day!

Flutterby >|<
(Marcia Krebs)

MySpace.com - Flutterby - 31 - Female - BUFFALO, New York - www.myspace.com/flutterby_clown

Nettie Belle · #2 (**permalink**) 01-21-2008, 07:39 PM

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That sounds like LOTS OF FUN, Flutterby.

We're happy you found our forum.

Jolly Well · #3 (**permalink**) 01-21-2008, 07:55 PM

Howdy Flutterby. Welcome to the forum.

The_Princess_of_Bozonia · #4 (**permalink**) 01-21-2008, 11:01 PM

Welcome Flutterby, invite the fam to flutter by as well

Fitzwilly · #5 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 12:05 AM

Welcome Flutterby, I like your look, it has personality. I hope you stick around and are not just passing through.

I went on the cruise last year and enjoyed my time with Earl and Jim. At one of the stops we werre lucky enough to have a small circus performing nearby. Jimbo, Bethany and Steve Daley grabbed Carmen Tellez (a talented clown/face painter/balloonist) and took us along with them. That is an experience.

Scruffy · #6 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 04:12 AM

Glad you stopped by, Flutterby! Welcome to our group!
Cheers,
Acruffy

Flutterby · #7 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 09:29 AM

Thank you all for your warm welcomes! I am still having problems getting information on a clown alley or group in my area - so if some of you don't mind sharing how you got started with picking up some work in your areas, it would be greatly appreciated!

Bump a nose!

Jolly Well · #8 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 10:37 AM

Starting out can be a pain - especially solo. You need to get your business card in as many hands as you can. Doing a volunteer gig or two can help; balloon lines for charity events or at restaurants or theaters you frequent can pay off in the long run.

Tuck a business card in a balloon twist when you give the sculptures out in your lines...
Leave your business card with tips in a balloon sculpture at restaurants...
Randomly make a balloon for a kid and their parents at your local Wal-Mart...
Close-Up Magic (Street Magic) is your friend - pick up a few tricks if you haven't already. I never leave my house without 4 Sponge Balls, 2 Thumb Tips, and a set of D'Lites. I even took them to the Hospital when the baby was born a few days ago... Get in the habit of always having some sort of gimmick on you, a few balloons, a date book, and your business card.

Fitzwilly · #9 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 10:56 PM

GRIFFIN ALLEY CLOWNS P.O. Box 143 Victor, NY 14564 imaclown@gmail.com www.anoelfire.com/funky/gac

HAPPY VALLEY CLOWNS 15 Benedict St. Castleton, NY 12033

GREASE PAINT ALLEY CLOWNS P.O.Box 26679 Rochester, NY 14626

THE FUDDI-DUDDY INSTITUTE 2 Maple Lane North Loudonville, NY 12211 soto1014@aol.com fuddi-duddyinstitute.tripod.com

LEV LEYTZAN: THE COMPASSIONATE CLOWN ALLEY, INC. 123 Maple Ave. Suite 202A Cedarhurst, NY 11516 ncg@drnealg.com

CORN E CLOWNS OF ERIE COUNTY 98 Woodward Dr. West Seneca, NY 14224 jocomor81@verizon.net

CAMP SUNDOWN CLOWN ALLEY 151 Route 28 B Valatie, NY 12184 ctots@aol.com

Here are a few COAI clown alleys in NY. My computer is too slow to locate them on a map and figure out which is closer to you. You might get in touch with a couple and see if they know of other clowns in your area. If your mom and sister already clown do they know of others close by? and if so could you form your own group?

Here is one clown listed on the COAI website:
ROBERT DE GRAFF BUFFALO, NY "BUGS"

Flutterby · #10 (**permalink**) 01-23-2008, 07:45 AM

Fitzwilly -

Thank you for the info! I did run across the Corn E Clowns yesterday and sent an email out for them already - haven't heard back yet. Unfortunately, my mom & sis-in-law live in Virginia, so we are not close enough to each other that we could form our own group...

Again, thank you! Very helpful info!

Bump a nose!