Do you ever turn off the clown?

[PuppetsAndPals]

I would love to know first off how each of you got into clowning. For me, I am still wanting to BECOME a clown. I feel as though that it is a talent that you naturally have because I have found that I do "clowning acts" in my daily life without ever really realizing it until a few nights ago while I was at work.

I was washing some windows where I work and saw a young boy walking by who looked sad. I started dancing while I washed the windows with facial gestures....it worked...he smiled...and came back for more with his dad!!!

So, do you find yourself doing things in your "day job" if you have one that you would consider a clown move?

After that night, I came home, found this wonderful forum to see if it is indeed clowning that has been missing in my life....or maybe not missing but that I have finally found my niche to accompany my puppetry.

Anyways.....let's hear from you. My inquiring mind wants to know. How did this all happen for you?

Aloha,
Nikole

[Fitzwilly]

What a great story Puppet. There is another recent thread where another new member asked just about the same question. I'll try and find it and let you know what it is called before I repost here.

[Giggles the Clown]

Nicole: You obviously are meant to be a clown because your story illustrates that you have the "essence" or whatever you call that magic or talent that inspires people to get outside of themselves for a little while and have a good laugh.

And, yes, I do find myself clowning around at times in other-than-performance situations. I really can't control it (and I'm pushing 70), nor do I want to. I have worked with thousands of kids as a substitute teacher, and my spontaneous clowning around in the classroom has not only kept me alive (a little substitute humour), but helped keep the students on track with their studies.

AND, remember, you are already a clown; you are just learning more about your craft. Spontaneous clowning around will help you try out different characters, acts, etc. and do wonders for your motivation. Good luck!!! Giggles

[Happy Chappy & Daisy]

I'm always sort of a comedian, but when I'm really "on," when I've been "in clown" for a while, I find myself strutting or bouncing like I'm still the character. Not that I really try to shut off; I like being me.

[Scruffy]

I never really "Turn it off". To quote Popeye: "I yam what I yam."

A Clown.

[Ty-Me]

I don't never turn off either. and it's not just kids, it is also adults. If I walk in a restarunt, bank, store, and even offices and I see someone having a bad day I have to make them smile.

I carry two cards in my wallet one is the pride and joy card (a picture of a bottle of pride and a bottle of Joy)and the other is my kids card(baby goats)and I ask them "can I show you my Pride and Joy" and they uselly say sure, when I show them the P/j card i say "you thought you were going to see the kids didn't you" then I show the kids card. both cards have my name and phone number on the back and this just leads into the clown story cards.most of the time when I leave they are smiling and wanting a copy of the cards.

[Paboberto]

Fitz it was me Seperation of clown and normal personality]

I did that sort of thing at work all the time. I gained valuble clowning experiance messing around at my coffee shop. Actually come to think of it, I still do it all the time. I am a ESL teacher in Korea and have a captive audiance of four to fifteen year olds. It is hard to resist. It is also hard to keep the class under control and on task when I get going. So I have cut back some.

[Wowza]

I don't turn the clown off. More appropriately, I adjust the volume on my clown to Eleven when I'm actually performing, and just dial it back some in my normal day to day life.

Bonus points to anyone who got the "This is Spinal Tap" reference.

[Bumbles]

My clown comes out to play whenever he feels the need, so I guess you would say he was on idle.

[pixcoco]

Some times my friend would turn to me and say "your clown is out". It sneaks out all the time.

I worked EMS for YEARS. Thing are always happening where you just have to find a lighter side. Or you have a kid who needs to be calmed down so you sing a little song or tell a story. I don't know if that was the clown or the mom.

I was raised with a sense of humor and have always used it. If you can't laugh you can't live. But once I let the clown loose things just got more fun. You do have to have the ability to be serious sometimes. But those moments are fewer than the clown ones, so which are you turning off and on? If you don't know how to turn your off try hospital clowning. When you take report from the nurse and she tells you this child will have her leg amputated tomorrow you find your real side and then have to find your clown side to go in the room.