Why I got into clowning

[halfpint]

Hey All,

My name is Cindy and I finally admitted to myself, my friends and my family a couple of years ago that I wanted to be a clown. It happened something like this.I was sitting at work, having a particulary baaaad day, when I got the urge to google "clown college". Many years ago, when I was 18 I had wanted to go to Ringling's clown college, but didn't have the guts to buck the family and go for it...

Strangely enough, it turned out there was one practically on my back door step. Mooseburger Clown Arts Camp is held in Buffalo, MN. This is only 5.5 hours from Grand Forks,ND. I visited the site, read the testimonials, and kept thinking about going. Problem was, I was having a very hard time trying to figure out how to tell my family what I wanted to do.

Two months later, I was laying in bed with my fiance and told him"There is something I have to tell you." He said, "What is it?" I said, "I'm not sure how you are going to feel about this". His response was"What did you do, join the Alkiada?" When I explained it wasn't quite that serious, he was relieved and supportive.

It took another two months before I got around to asking my boss for the vacation time off and then tellling my kids. I thought my son was going to take it better than my daughter, but the opposite proved to be true. She made the comment at the time that she wished she could go too!

As fate would have it, the day before I was driving to camp a message came up on the camp group message site that due to a last minute cancellation a full tuition scholarship was available for the next person who called with a qualified camper who could attend . I called ,woke my daughter up and asked her if she really meant it when she said she wanted to go. She said she did so we called Mooseburger and she got the scholarship! Interesting huh?

We both attended camp 2006 and went back in 2007. I may never do a whole lot with what l have learned, but I will always treasure the fact that I got to share something so important to me with my daughter. We have done a birthday party together and even though we were pretty terrible (first for us both) the kids seemed to love the face painting and balloon animals anyway.

[Ty-Me]

Welcome Aboard Halfpint, sound like you will do well here, glad to have you.

[Sir Toony Van Dukes]

Welcome to the Clown Forum!

I am curious why you think that you may never do a whole lot with what you learned. I am heading off to Moose Camp in a month and I can't wait.

I hope you become an active member of the forum. This is a fun place. We tell jokes, come up with new ideas for skits, critique costumes and makeup, and offer suggestions for a wide variety of topics. There is something for everyone.

[tim]

I'm so glad to hear about your story. And I remember when that scholarship was made available. It's awesome to know now how that played out. Moosecamp seems to have a certain magic like that.

Of course, when we are first beginning, it can always be challenging to admit to those around us that, "You want to do WHAT?" But I think that, generally, it becomes accepted and at least somewhat appreciated.

Keep at it in whatever way you are able. Clowning is a lifelong journey!

[halfpint]

Sir Tooney,

Unfortunately for me, real life tends to interfere with clowning. I work in a fairly high pressure job and put in 60+ hours a week. On top of that, I am "on call" 24-7 and need to be available for troubleshooting if something comes up. This makes it difficult for me to find the time I would like to devote to clowning.

Moosecamp was the best time I've had in my whole life. Wish I could check in there 24-7!!

I guess what I should have said was, I don't get to use what I learned as much as I would like to.

[halfpint]

I think God loves men who date clowns too!!

[Fitzwilly]

Halfpint, Please post a picture or three. I was there both years (balloons and sound) so I am trying to place a name with a face.

[Jamz]

If Im not mistaken your daughter was in the bunny box
If she was she was great and a real trooper because it had to be 130 degrees in that box
and of coures it was a pleasure to meet you both
Jamz (Wayne )
PS glad you join the forum

[Toodle C. Doodle]

I love the name! Does that have anything to do with Laura from Little House on the Prairie.

[Fitzwilly]

Daughter... Bunny Box... got it! Thanks Jamz. Now a real welcome.