how many skills?

[nadie]

Hi there,

I've just decided a few days ago that I should have a proper go at the first thing I ever wanted to be (when I was 3). In fact, it was more than a year ago -the decision ;-)... never mind. I've ordered a couple of books, searched the net, found your site... I intend to a attend a course later in the year, as well as get together with some friends who have done some clowning, develop my character and makeup. I think my name is going to be nobody (nadie in spanish) at the moment.

Now, I've gone nuts with the amount of skills a clown seems to need: ballooning, magic, music, face painting, juggling, balancing, ventriloquism, etc. I would appreciate your advice here on how to prioritise. Take a deep breath...

Lets start with a quick inventory of what I've got.

- sports (that at least I know the basics of): karate (with throws and breakfalls), kick-boxing, kali (stick fighting), aikido, taichi, soccer, basketball, voley ball, table tennis, swimming, baseball, canoeing, gymnastics, basic inline skating, cycling

- dance (know at least a couple of steps or moves): tango, salsa, vals, rock and roll, flamenco, hip-hop, moonwalking, some Michael Jackson's moves, robot, can learn some pop song choreography

-music: play guitar a little, can sing along -in tune but not fancy stuff, some basic melodies in a flute

- arts and crafts: I love splashing colour on a surface, call it abstract painting, better if it is with my fingers... can draw with resemblance, but takes too long (and I'm the only one to recognise the subject . make quick puppets out of paper plates for children to colour. I'm normally handy, havne't tried the auguste way yet. May be able to borrow an air brush

- other: done first aid course, access to basic medical equipment; my father always complain I abuse gesturing with my face, I rather think of myself as a multimedia person, what my mum would call expressive. mmm and I can juggle 3 balls for a few passes (I know, not very impressive) Speak english, spanish, a few words (literal) of italian, french and dutch

- I like children but didn't want to be a teacher. I'd like to be a professional, even though a part time one: I mean I want to do a professional work and and get a proper pay as well. l'd like to make laugh children in hospitals and with special needs... their are my weakness. My initial market is children's parties... thinking already of some friends's kids I could start up with.

Now from this I reckon I should focus on physical comedy. I have also set my eyes on balloons (I can only make a sword but not a dog yet) and think of face painting with air brush and a few stencils as a not so hard beginning. On the other hand, juggling and magic are amazing, but difficult to master... or not?

So, my questions are:
1- do I have enough skills to get me started? which ones should I use initially (from my inventory)
2- which new ones should I start with? -I prefer those which are faster to master and or give the biggest result
3- is it better to have few skills but a repertoire of 'tricks' in each of them?
4- or is it better to know a couple of tricks of many disciplines? both questions, in the context of starting out
5- any suggestions on this regard? at this stage I don't mind composing a show entirely of things other people do or have done, I'm already coming up with a Karate Kid moment or two, of my own

apologies for the extension...
ps I've noticed there is not emoticon here with a red nose

thanks a million clowns
nadie

[nadie]

I forgot to tell you the important bit... thanks for being there, the questions of those starting out and the answers of those with more experience really help

[mr_buckaroo]

WOW sounds like you are well on your way. you have alot of skills to throw into the ring if you where here id hire you as my sidekick Can ya do a cowgirl clown? Its great to have you here in our little group. hope you can join us in the chat room on thursday night. It starts at around 8 or 9 pm eastern time. as for your questions.
sounds like you have alot of skills to get you started now what you can do is put them into a act that your target audience will enjoy. and if they are kids ya might want to learn balloon twisting all kids love a balloon and they are not hard at all to learn. First thing you might want to do is work on your character what kind of clown are you gonna be, what kind of personality does it have.I am a cowboy clown and gear my character and my acts tward Mr. Buckaroo Cowboy Clown. that would be your first direction to go then from there you can build on it in any directions you feel comfortable. im sure someof the other clown in here will be able to help you with your questions also. Again it is great to have you here and hope to talk to you more.
Dave "Mr. Buckaroo" Gittings

[BIPS]

Hey there Hi There Ho There Nadie....

Your list of knowledge is impressive, and will help you in the long run to become the best clown you can be.

One of the first things that you can do to begin on this great journey is find out about your character Nadie and what she likes doing best. Balloons seem to be what I am naturally best with, and I've managed to work in some really great magic with it. Whatever you choose to do, it must be something you're comfortable with. I tried to learn some of the more involved magic, but just doesn't work well with my clown character.

I would also suggest checking out some of the great books on clowning. I found some of the best ones at my local library, and now I have a few in my collection, although most of them deal with balloons.absorb as much reading as you can, and practice practice practice.

Congratualations on coming aboard. This place is a great resource, and we even have Thursday night chats at 8pm central standard time so you can join us if you like.

Remeber to have fun.....

[Scruffy]

Hello, Nadie. Welcome to our cyber alley.
It sound like you have a great start at clowning. Concentrate on three things that you now can do well. EG, Juggling, Gymnastics( Physical comedy for lack of a better term) and face painting. concentrate on those three things and then add one thing like, Balloon twsting, or magic, to learn.
I think you have a good foundation, however, Are you funny in a non obnoxious way? Are you good with kids? I think at this point the best thing to do would be to concentrate on developing your character and makeup. Sit down with pen and paper and write a short biography about your clowns character.Inculding:
Name:
Birthday: Mines Oct. 31. The date that I first tried the tramp face
Mental Age: are you a little kid, or an older person,
Physical description: tall, short, awkward, lanky,
Personality:Are you happy or sad? are you a giggly little girl, or a very awkward tomboyish type?
Favorite color:
Siblings:
This will make you think about your character and how you will act in character. it will also help you to keep your story straight about yourself when you are talking to people.
You've got a lot to draw from. But focus on just a few things at first, then add to the repertoire
Hope this is helpful.
Remember, there pullin for ya. Were all in this together.
Scruffy

[nadie]

Hi guys,

thanks for the replies. I need to ask first of all, when you say you chat at around 8-9 pm, can you tell me where you are and what time would it be in the UK -where I am? I'm confused about the times that appear in the messages.

I think I'll start as you say, with what I've got (mostly physical skills). Face painting doesn't seem too difficult, specially if I use stencils and air brush. However, my juggling is quite limited, so I may pick 5 different animals to do with balloons to start with.

I won't be practicing much in the next couple of months, but I can do character development. I'll keep make up minimal, but I want to be a clown with the red nose and the big shoes (auguste type, the first one I remember).

Funny that you assumed Nadie is female. Nadie means literally, NObody, and it's inspired in a famous charater called Who, who plays in the first base, or something similar, according to the Marx brothers. We have a joke: "Nobody is perfect, but who wants to be Nobody?". I think it may be a good intro... Anyway, it was mean to be gender-neutral. I'd like to be a gender neutral clown. I thought they all were, by definition, unless a very specific character is defined. Like angels ;-) I haven't read enough about this topic, what do you think?

Whatever, since I have to start where I am, Nadie is 5 years old, my mental age. I'm curious, get excited about new things, I will attempt anything, I'm shy and frienly, emphatic and smiley, and get distracted easily, but I can be stubborn too. I'm self motivated and will persist until I get what I want. There is not failure for me, there are challenges, and I'll always try again. I enjoy jokes about poo too. I feel very bad if I see a child crying, and I'm really, really, scared of angry adults and frigthened children (well, and dogs and bees). would you want to play with me?

Now, I have a question...does anybody know how long after seeing a clown's show people still smile?

thanks a lot
clown hug to all

[nadie]

birthday:29th of february..

[mr_buckaroo]

hey nadie thanks for the education on the name.
im not sure what time it would be there for the chat but its very early in the am I think
as to where it is in the list of what is in here where it says clown chat just click on that and it will take you right to the chat room. Figured it out and I think its gonna be about
1 or 2 am your time for the chat

[Scruffy]

...does anybody know how long after seeing a clown's show people still smile
[/quote]

THE MEMORIES LAST FOR YEARS. 8)

[saphireSue]

Welcome Nadie. the only thing I would add to every ones's suggestions is that you think carefully about any magic or skits you plan to do, if nadie is 5 can nadie read?, Write? remember to do things that are with in Nadie's age of experience.

I also think balloons are the easiest skill to learn, atleast the simple one, which is what most children want and they tend to expect a clown to know how to do balloons.