Petrified and losing it...

[Pinky59]

And on that note...taking to heart what you all said about just getting out there and trying it...there was an announcement in church this morning that a walk for life will be this weekend (a charity event for a pregnancy center our church supports). They will have games for kids, and entertainment. Do you think I should call and ask if I can come as Pinky? It's 4 hours long...I have no idea what I would do...I guess I could come for an hour or so and hand out stickers. But I need to get comfortable around people in character. I'm scared to death...any suggestions, greatly appreciated.

[Elsie]

Go for it Pinky, you have to start somewhere, you will be awesome you are an adorable clown, stickers are good things to start with. Kids love them, also just interaction is all you need, just talk to people. They will ask you all kinds of questions, after you see and talk to that first person you will begin to feel comfortable.
Just go and have fun and the smiles will come and that is what its all about, you will be hooked.

[Fitzwilly]

Call, call call... If you don't want to perform for the entire four hours then I would recommend that you don't show up at the beginning of the event. If you only want to try being out and about for an hour or so wait until three hours into the event to show up that way people will be leaving about the same time you want to leave. Trying to leave in the middle of the event can be somewhat awkard until you get used to the idea of managing the crowd.

[azzy]

Pinky, go for the walk - I'm watching this post because I'm having the same feelings as you are here, but I'm not nearly as far along. I'm using you for inspiration at this point. Thank you!

[Duckie]

I too think you should go for it, but like Fitzy says, go a little later on. You could also get inexpensive little give-aways from Oriental Trading Company. I don't know if you've ever heard of them, but they can be found on-line @ Party supplies, crafts, party decorations, toys: Oriental Trading. They even have stickers and temporary tatoos.

Just go mingle and have a great time!!! It will be great and the kids will love you and you will love doing it!!!!!

[Pinky59]

Thanks, everyone. It will be really hard to go alone and walk in there, but I'm going to try. Dan: I thought about going late. I realize that it would be hard to leave before anyone else, but thanks for verifying that. Azzy, I will be sure to write and let everyone know how it goes. Duckie: I don't think I have time for Oriental Trading (I used it before for Agape for Emmaus), but I think I might be able to use party favors from a party store. You all are great.

[Scruffy]

Pinky,
Don't worry. The kids will love you if you do nothing but play peek a boo or duck, duck, goose. If the only balloon you know how to make is a dog. If they ask for something else, tell them you haven't learned another animal in school yet, or that everything you make looks like a dog. Remember this: Comedians do funny thing things. Clowns do things funny. Take the kids over and introduce them to your pet fire hydrant. tell them he's the strong silent type. If they say thats a fire hydrant, say "shhhh, he really sensitive about that." Little gags will come to your mind while you are there. Run with them. if they fall flat, figure out why, if they a great, then use them again! Give out stickers, or go get a 400 piece back of tootsie roll mini's and give them to people or kids. play hopscotch in the parking lot. swing on the swing set. Try to get a bunch of kids to push, or try a teeter totter. and put half a dozen kids on the other end.
Do the ordinary in an unusual way. And have fun!
Also remember. "God has not given us a spirit of fear. But of power, and LOVE and a sound mind."

... and for a clown, two outta three ain't bad...

Cheers, Scruffy

[Elsie]

Great post Scruffy, some very good ideas, Keep it simple and just have fun, be a big kid, I love playing with the kids, puppets are great entertainment too, you dont even have to do much with them, they fasinate the kids.

[Waldo]

Hey Pinky, try some easy walk around gags. I have an invisible dog on a leash (Casper) that I use when doing walks like that, and he is always a big hit. I ask the kids if they want to pet him and 7 out of 10 do! Also I have some poop bags that I use with my real dog and pretent that he does his business and I have to clean it up. I have one kid hold the leash as I reach in my pocket for the bag, I also have tootsie rolls in my pocket and drop them in the bag as I pretent to clean it up. I then tie it up and hand it to the kid as a reward. You get all kind of reactions, but they know that there isn't real stuff in there and see that it is tootsie rolls.

Another easy gag that I got from this forum is to get an artificial flower (short stem) and green pipe cleaners (long stem). Offer a flower to an adult (not the kids) and then as they take the strem, you pull the flower away.

Just an idea some other folks may have some good walk around gags as well.

[Pinky59]

Thanks, Scruffy. Do I need to worry about kids choking on tootsie rolls? I was in law in my previous life (paralegal) and I always worry about being sued (karma for all the lawsuits I helped bring...LOL)