Got a friend

bolinger65 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-23-2006, 05:26 PM

I have a friend named Karl Voltmann. He wants to get into clowning but he is affraied to tell his parents. Could you give me some advice to give him.
Thanks for the last help.

Willace-the-Clown · #2 (**permalink**) 11-23-2006, 06:20 PM

i think he should come out with it so to speack & let them know his reasons why clowns do help alot of people

ibimus · #3 (**permalink**) 11-23-2006, 06:55 PM

Honesty is the best policy.

Is there a reason why he might not want to tell them. I mean, are they against clowns, or the entertainment business at all? If they are, he should approach it from the fact that, as Willace said, clowns can help people. Hospital clowning, for example, is a very good thing to do.

He could try bringing it up over dinner, "so, what do you think about the clowning business?" etc...
Or tell some funny jokes, get a friend to say "hey, you should get into comedy!" and then he could continue that on to say that he had actually been considering clowning, and then inform his parents on all of that.

Jitterbug · #4 (**permalink**) 11-23-2006, 07:11 PM

Yes, I'm wondering the same...do the parents have a phobia of clowns, or they just don't look upon it as a noble endeavor? Have him look up some websites or some info and present it that way. So they can see the good that it does, or the fun that it is! It doesn't have to be a career, but can just be a side thing like an extracurricular activity. Just encourage him.
Jitterbug

Scruffy · #5 (**permalink**) 11-23-2006, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jitterbug

Yes, I'm wondering the same...do the parents have a phobia of clowns, or they just don't look upon it as a noble endeavor? ..... It doesn't have to be a career, but can just be a side thing like an extracurricular activity. Just encourage him.
Jitterbug

I think you are close. Many parents just don't see it as something that a person can support a family on. I know mine didn't. my mother was literally afraid that I would run away and join the circus. They didn't think I could make a living as a guitar repaimen. I did that.
I think bottom line; they want what is best for their child. They don't want them to get hurt. They want them to have a better childhood or life then they had so they plan it. But. kids have a mind of their own. It's a hard thing to do...be a parent. I love the job. However there are days That I think lion taming might be easier. Cut the parents some slack.
BTW, qhat is the age of the kid?

tim · #6 (**permalink**) 11-23-2006, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scruffy

However there are days That I think lion taming might be easier.

OOOOO.......THERE'S an idea! Tell the parents that you think maybe clowning isn't that great of a choice, afterall. Instead, you're going to get into the cage and train wild animals. That ought to be incentive enough for them to agree that clowning is a nice, safe profession, albeit filled with pratfalls.

saphireSue · #7 (**permalink**) 11-23-2006, 09:49 PM

you didn't say how old you and your friend was, so I'm assuming teenager. Research the field and find out what the average income is in your area. Clowning is a wonderful fun field, but as with any, there is lots of work to do and dedication, and practice. Researching it may help you to be able to answer the parents questions better and any you may not have thought of.

Scruffy · #8 (**permalink**) 11-24-2006, 12:44 AM

I started doing birthday parties as a clown when I was about fifteen. It's good experience.

Willace-the-Clown · #9 (**permalink**) 11-24-2006, 01:47 PM

I wish i could have started earlyer then i did i wanted to be a clown years beforei started but did't know how to start & i didn't want to be a circus clown & be away from my family for who knows how long then i met Funky

Luki Loki · #10 (**permalink**) 11-25-2006, 04:53 PM

Quote:

I think you are close. Many parents just don't see it as something that a person can support a family on. I know mine didn't. my mother was literally afraid that I would run away and join the circus. They didn't think I could make a living as a guitar repaimen. I did that.
I think bottom line; they want what is best for their child. They don't want them to get hurt. They want them to have a better childhood or life then they had so they plan it. But. kids have a mind of their own. It's a hard thing to do...be a parent. I love the job. However there are days That I think lion taming might be easier. Cut the parents some slack.
BTW, qhat is the age of the kid?

Hey Scruffy, I think my parents were hoping I WOULD run off and join the circus