Storied Pop

[tim]

I'd like to routine needle through ballon with some sort of nice little (maybe even meaningful, and hopefully humorous) story.

Let's brainstorm!

[Paboberto]

Oh it is easy: try and pop it.

Wait that is not a story... hmm...

Tell people how the ballon symbolizes your heart, or your carrer or your academic potential or you life long dream of wanting to be a tap dancing hippo, and then go in to a humourous rant about how that thing was completely an utterly destroyed, like so and then push the needle into the ballon waiting for the pop. When it doesn't be very surprised. Wiggle the needle, and if you can shove a second needle in, do it. Then you can just play with your ballon on a stick, until it pops and then when it does, take a fall!

Actually don't do this, I'll learn to stick a needle in a ballon, and do this.

Actually we are on different continets, and we will do it differently... so I guess we can both do this!

[Fitzwilly]

The balloon is like Chip's ego... People are sticking pins in him all the time but he just doesn't pop.

[tim]

Thanks guys.

What I have in mind is some sort of nifty little storyline which is meaningful (and can maybe even teach a lesson without being overly direct and preachy - I don't usually like it when clowns try to instruct in that latter manner), while being simple and interesting enough for children (as well as adults) to follow. I think that the concept would probably be something like how something failed or something bad happenned where a balloon (perhaps of differing colors) pops to symbolize this. But then on the third try with the "magic" baloon, the needle surprizingly and wonderfully gets through without the balloon popping as a sign of accomplishment or things working out for the good winning out in the end. Kind of a "cycle of threes" thing, in that way.

So, at least, that is where I am leaning in concept. (Though I'm certainly open to alternative concepts.) I need to flesh it out in detail of actual storyline, though. Which is where I need some ideas as to where I can start.

[Fitzwilly]

This is going to take a little thought. I like the concept. Fairly rudimentary and yet new and different.

[tim]

One thought: I wonder if it could work in a Christian ministry clowning context with the needle representing the lance of sin which takes the breathe of life from us with the final balloon through which it passes while remaining unscathed being Christ's piercing on the cross. That may not work out properly theologically, though. But it's one idea. Others are plenty welcome. I'm just brainstorming, afterall.

[Scruffy]

Actually the lesson I thought of was on losing your temper. The balloon symbolizing stress, Problems, taunts, irritations, etc. and not letting our temper get the best of us. At the end pop the balloon as an illustration of what happens when we lose our temper and "Pop".

Many Scripture verses would work. However, I am on the way out the door, So Get out your Bibles and start lookin'!

[Paboberto]

I think y'all are forgetting the unexpected as an essential part of clowning. I maintain that the fact that the ballon does not pop should suprise you. It should come as a complete and utter shock. You should be flabergasted by the absence of the quality of poppingness in the ballon.

If you expect it not to pop, or indicate that you can make it not pop, then it is a mere magic trick with a cute story, perhaps interesting but not hilarious.

I think clown magic should baffle the clown as much as the audience... if it is noticed at all. I have started to lose my thumb everytime I magically take it off.

I am still not sure what I think about moralistic or educational clowning. I think the only way it works is incidently. Like If I were to be "teaching" safety, I would appear to be as unsafe as humanly possible... or I would be overly careful and then be unsafe anyways. Think of how lessons can be soaked in from Calvin and Hobbes.

[Fitzwilly]

I loved Calvin and Hobbes! That had to be one of the all time great comics.

[tim]

Originally Posted by Snugglesnort

I think y'all are forgetting the unexpected as an essential part of clowning. I maintain that the fact that the ballon does not pop should suprise you. It should come as a complete and utter shock. You should be flabergasted by the absence of the quality of poppingness in the ballon.

If you expect it not to pop, or indicate that you can make it not pop, then it is a mere magic trick with a cute story, perhaps interesting but not hilarious.

I think clown magic should baffle the clown as much as the audience... if it is noticed at all. I have started to lose my thumb everytime I magically take it off.

I agree. In fact, I'm not entirely opposed to partially giving away the trick, even, as part of the element of surprize. I mean, I like it magical, but everyone knows that there is some gimmick rig to it all, anyway. So the element of surprize and comedy is more important, ultimately, than keeping everything entirely secret and mysterious. I'm a clown more than I am a magician.

I am still not sure what I think about moralistic or educational clowning. I think the only way it works is incidently. Like If I were to be "teaching" safety, I would appear to be as unsafe as humanly possible... or I would be overly careful and then be unsafe anyways. Think of how lessons can be soaked in from Calvin and Hobbes.

I tend to agree. This is why I don't particularly like the "lessons" to be overly direct or didactic. That can work in some situations, but often it just comes off preachy rather than entertaining, I think.

Again, the surprize, the story, and incidental nature of the situation is more important and overriding.

I don't necessarily want to focus on the potential Christian possibilities of a storyline here too much. This was just one idea. Like with many scenarios and tricks, it can be one of many presentations available. But, that said, if I want to point to a good example of how storytelling can be primary in clowning with the illustration of a Christian context, the kind of thing which Roly Bain does would provide an excellent model of what I am going for, more generally speaking - whatever the actual context and presentation.