I will come clean, I am so guilty of having big conversations with people and I'm in full clown make up and costume.
I am so trying to break myself of this habit. I mean does anyone want to know my political feelings? I get so confused, people are so curious about me after a show and I get caught up in it.
Yesterday, I had a discussion about how the economy has effected me.
I am so full of adrenaline after a show, I just blab and blab, when really, I should be chasing kids or getting in my car and call a friend on my phone if I need to talk.
So much of clowning is from a distance. For the children, they get up close and right in my grill but the adults watch from behind. They are involved and not quite involved. So, seeing me just having a conversation is not what I want out there, if someone took a picture at that moment, I would be pretty dull.
I write a lot on my blog about being in character getting out of the car, about coming into an event with full energy. There is also a point when you're done and you are still being watched.
The character stuff...it's important before, during and after the event. The test...could someone take a picture of that moment you'd be happy to put on Facebook?
Monday, January 31, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
"My Favorite Clown... Stephen Colbert!"
I'm always asked what a clown is.
It's a such a broad term. You might as well ask a dancer, what is dance. You could name Sammy Davis Junior to Baryshnikov to Michael Jackson. But you know it when you see it.
A clown is a physical costumed performer that takes situations to the very absurd extreme.
This is always changing but right now, I love Stephen Colbert. He is certainly someone you wouldn't think of right away as a clown but I watch and see him wear his suit like a costume and he physicalizes his routines way beyond the normal stand up comedian.
There is always a heavy political component to clowns. I think it's something a lot of folks overlook but it's what makes a clown funny and able to get away with so much.
Colbert can get away with a lot because of his extreme antics. He got as far as testifying in front of congress. That's taking the comedy to the extreme. I'm a pretty hard core clown but I would be pretty nervous to not be serious in that situation.
In the same breath, I can certainly add Glenn Beck. It's very compelling to dress up like a professor and talk history.
Dressing up, a key component.
Think about someone like Larry the Cable Guy. If we dissected the character, he is a working class doof observing the world. He's got not no education, a crazy family and just watches and take notes from the outside.
And maybe that's key to the clown. Being on the outside taking notes. Certainly Pee Wee Herman, as a man child, is living in his own world commenting on ours.
It's always been this way and the clown can get away with it. Way back Will Rogers was on the outside directly beating up politicians. Andy Griffith in his routine about football (if you didn't know Andy Griffin became very famous as a comedian, long before the TV show). Mark Twain, even though he was a respected author, in his time was possibly more known for his comedy talks (think of him, a white haired white mustached man, smoking a cigar in an all white suit, talking about how congress is like a mule).
There is something here we can take in. I make most of my living taking care of kids at events and parties. I don't think people want to get into politics here. But still there is always a commentary on the world. You have to make decisions on your character and embrace it.
Why do children want to know what kind of car you drive? Where you live? Because you are outside society coming in. Obviously you don't live in a house with two cars and a modern kitchen. Everything you do is a comment on the world. It could be your comment, we need to pay attention to details, that's why you open a can and spring snakes pop out.
The audience doesn't need to know what your comment is. The audience doesn't need to know what you are thinking about. But when you bring a depth to your character, people are compelled to watch, they can't turn away. The simple act of arriving makes people very aware of their surroundings. You are the outsider looking at them and trying to figure out their world.
Or like Stephen Colbert. You can be an outsider that thinks he conquered your world. But really, he's always going to be baffled each new turn.
It's a such a broad term. You might as well ask a dancer, what is dance. You could name Sammy Davis Junior to Baryshnikov to Michael Jackson. But you know it when you see it.
A clown is a physical costumed performer that takes situations to the very absurd extreme.
This is always changing but right now, I love Stephen Colbert. He is certainly someone you wouldn't think of right away as a clown but I watch and see him wear his suit like a costume and he physicalizes his routines way beyond the normal stand up comedian.
There is always a heavy political component to clowns. I think it's something a lot of folks overlook but it's what makes a clown funny and able to get away with so much.
Colbert can get away with a lot because of his extreme antics. He got as far as testifying in front of congress. That's taking the comedy to the extreme. I'm a pretty hard core clown but I would be pretty nervous to not be serious in that situation.
In the same breath, I can certainly add Glenn Beck. It's very compelling to dress up like a professor and talk history.
Dressing up, a key component.
Think about someone like Larry the Cable Guy. If we dissected the character, he is a working class doof observing the world. He's got not no education, a crazy family and just watches and take notes from the outside.
And maybe that's key to the clown. Being on the outside taking notes. Certainly Pee Wee Herman, as a man child, is living in his own world commenting on ours.
It's always been this way and the clown can get away with it. Way back Will Rogers was on the outside directly beating up politicians. Andy Griffith in his routine about football (if you didn't know Andy Griffin became very famous as a comedian, long before the TV show). Mark Twain, even though he was a respected author, in his time was possibly more known for his comedy talks (think of him, a white haired white mustached man, smoking a cigar in an all white suit, talking about how congress is like a mule).
There is something here we can take in. I make most of my living taking care of kids at events and parties. I don't think people want to get into politics here. But still there is always a commentary on the world. You have to make decisions on your character and embrace it.
Why do children want to know what kind of car you drive? Where you live? Because you are outside society coming in. Obviously you don't live in a house with two cars and a modern kitchen. Everything you do is a comment on the world. It could be your comment, we need to pay attention to details, that's why you open a can and spring snakes pop out.
The audience doesn't need to know what your comment is. The audience doesn't need to know what you are thinking about. But when you bring a depth to your character, people are compelled to watch, they can't turn away. The simple act of arriving makes people very aware of their surroundings. You are the outsider looking at them and trying to figure out their world.
Or like Stephen Colbert. You can be an outsider that thinks he conquered your world. But really, he's always going to be baffled each new turn.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
"The Beginner's Mind..."
Today, I'm taking some workshops...
This is hard for me because I feel like I should be the one teaching, I should get my "respect" and be an invited guest. Some of the teachers have even taken classes from me.
Then I look at myself and say "BS" Who am I but a guy just trying to make a living the best I can. My hope is to learn new things as long as I'm able.
Usually, I don't take classes because they fall when I'm working. And if I chose which classes to take, I tend toward esoteric stuff like character development, how to breathe onstage, the roll of the volunteer in your show.
I'm going today, because I want to learn some new balloons! I'm going because you never know what you'll learn and it's fun to be part of a group.
I think we work so hard for prestige that it puts us in a corner. I had to wake up a 4 in the morning, saying. "I need to take some classes, so I can be better at birthday parties. I need to take classes so I can create some new routines"
I've been on this kick for years to not confuse skill with clowning. that is my ability to juggle or make balloons as being a clown. Clowning is an entirely separate entity. What I've recently forgot, skills are really fun for the audience.
In Aikido (my martial art), we talk often of the beginner's mind. I've been shut down by many people over the years as I try my magic tricks or gags. My beginner's mind, let that stuff go, I am like a 7 year old around magicians. I can do quite a few things but I don't think like a magician, I just love it, I love seeing it, i love being shown how to do it, I don't even mind bringing home a bag full of tricks that end up sitting in a drawer because I bought things that weren't right for me.
It's just neat to be around this. It's a pretty exciting day for me!
This is hard for me because I feel like I should be the one teaching, I should get my "respect" and be an invited guest. Some of the teachers have even taken classes from me.
Then I look at myself and say "BS" Who am I but a guy just trying to make a living the best I can. My hope is to learn new things as long as I'm able.
Usually, I don't take classes because they fall when I'm working. And if I chose which classes to take, I tend toward esoteric stuff like character development, how to breathe onstage, the roll of the volunteer in your show.
I'm going today, because I want to learn some new balloons! I'm going because you never know what you'll learn and it's fun to be part of a group.
I think we work so hard for prestige that it puts us in a corner. I had to wake up a 4 in the morning, saying. "I need to take some classes, so I can be better at birthday parties. I need to take classes so I can create some new routines"
I've been on this kick for years to not confuse skill with clowning. that is my ability to juggle or make balloons as being a clown. Clowning is an entirely separate entity. What I've recently forgot, skills are really fun for the audience.
In Aikido (my martial art), we talk often of the beginner's mind. I've been shut down by many people over the years as I try my magic tricks or gags. My beginner's mind, let that stuff go, I am like a 7 year old around magicians. I can do quite a few things but I don't think like a magician, I just love it, I love seeing it, i love being shown how to do it, I don't even mind bringing home a bag full of tricks that end up sitting in a drawer because I bought things that weren't right for me.
It's just neat to be around this. It's a pretty exciting day for me!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
"Do You Deal With The Youngest...The Oldest or The Adults?
My natural inclination is toward sarcasm.
Over the last few years, I've decided, very very consciously that I want to work on a developmental level with kids; get them laughing on their level.
The toughest for me have always been after school programs in the school auditorium. These are great fun shows but the breakdown is usually 30 or 40 kindergarten 1st graders, 30 or 40 2nd, 3rd, 4th. and 15 5th and 6th graders. And of course a smattering of adults.
You can guide things toward the older kids but they are in the "I know how that's done" phase. That is they decide they know how a magic trick is done and then they are done with you.
There is certainly fun to be had with that attitude but it just includes the younger kids, it doesn't focus on them.
So, my thought is to generally find your age you want the most laughs from. I'm really geared toward the 1st grade crowd. That easily picks up the kindergarteners and the 2nd and 3rd graders. Big development shifts happen toward the end of 3rd grade into 4th grade.
By picking a group that will give the most laughs, in this case the most there, I get everyone else laughing like crazy. It's strange that it took me years and years and years to figure out. But laughter is very contagious. Even if what I'm doing is just plain old silly to the older kids, the younger kids start laughing and laughing till the older kids come on board.
There are tons of shows like I do. I do a lot of summer camp programs, YMCA programs, where the breakdown is pretty similar. A lot of younger kids and a few older kids. I get heckled by the older kids but simply ignore them until they say something interesting or shout out something I can get a laugh with.
When the older kids get on board, I've trained them what kind of show we are doing. They let go and have a great time.
Over the last few years, I've decided, very very consciously that I want to work on a developmental level with kids; get them laughing on their level.
The toughest for me have always been after school programs in the school auditorium. These are great fun shows but the breakdown is usually 30 or 40 kindergarten 1st graders, 30 or 40 2nd, 3rd, 4th. and 15 5th and 6th graders. And of course a smattering of adults.
You can guide things toward the older kids but they are in the "I know how that's done" phase. That is they decide they know how a magic trick is done and then they are done with you.
There is certainly fun to be had with that attitude but it just includes the younger kids, it doesn't focus on them.
So, my thought is to generally find your age you want the most laughs from. I'm really geared toward the 1st grade crowd. That easily picks up the kindergarteners and the 2nd and 3rd graders. Big development shifts happen toward the end of 3rd grade into 4th grade.
By picking a group that will give the most laughs, in this case the most there, I get everyone else laughing like crazy. It's strange that it took me years and years and years to figure out. But laughter is very contagious. Even if what I'm doing is just plain old silly to the older kids, the younger kids start laughing and laughing till the older kids come on board.
There are tons of shows like I do. I do a lot of summer camp programs, YMCA programs, where the breakdown is pretty similar. A lot of younger kids and a few older kids. I get heckled by the older kids but simply ignore them until they say something interesting or shout out something I can get a laugh with.
When the older kids get on board, I've trained them what kind of show we are doing. They let go and have a great time.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
"what's In You Bag of Tricks To Control Kids..."
I'm a bit horrified when I get calls from people saying something like "last year we had someone that yelled at the kids".
I actually get these calls a lot more than I would expect. People will tell me similar stories at parties.
Who are these people that are getting mad at kids? Who are these people that would step out of character? Weird, it's totally foreign to me.
Yes, there are times I don't like what's going on. I am frustrated but who cares, it's not about my feelings.
If you the kids get out of control, which happens, hey they are kids so what. That's actually the first thing to say, so what. Then know what your character is going to do.
Do you run around with the kids? This will make them laugh but pretty tiring. You can try it, it might change the children's focus then they are all watching and you can bring them back.
You can whisper. One of my favorite tricks, I'm sure you can figure out a way to do this in character. Whispering almost always gets kids attention.
Simon says...In the middle of the mayhem simply say. Boswick says (Your clown name of course) , says touch your toes. Boswick says touch your knees etc. This will get them and is fun.
Sing a song. Put your finger on put your finger on put your finger on your nose....easy fun, well within your character. Hey even if you can't sing, just sing loudly, it's ok.
Announce, I'm going to stand like a statue. Do it, then break, say "I need help, who can stand like a statue?" Do this two or three times, you'll likely get all the kids acting like statues. Then have statues sit and go on.
Do something rude. Say loudly excuse me I burped. This will get the kid's attention. Say it again. Get them to come really close then make a burp noise. (you don't really have to burp just brap.). Tell them, when everyone is sitting, you'll do it one more time.
Sometimes kids get out of control. It's part of the job. Stay in character, do what is in your contract. It might be the most frustrating magic show of your life but get through it. You might have to use all sorts of tricks after each magic routine to get the kids sitting. But some people are really into having you do what you said you would do on the phone. A magic show, balloons, face painting. If you said it, you better do it.
Stay silly, feel free to ask me about specific instances. I'll come up with a few tricks to use, I promise.
I actually get these calls a lot more than I would expect. People will tell me similar stories at parties.
Who are these people that are getting mad at kids? Who are these people that would step out of character? Weird, it's totally foreign to me.
Yes, there are times I don't like what's going on. I am frustrated but who cares, it's not about my feelings.
If you the kids get out of control, which happens, hey they are kids so what. That's actually the first thing to say, so what. Then know what your character is going to do.
Do you run around with the kids? This will make them laugh but pretty tiring. You can try it, it might change the children's focus then they are all watching and you can bring them back.
You can whisper. One of my favorite tricks, I'm sure you can figure out a way to do this in character. Whispering almost always gets kids attention.
Simon says...In the middle of the mayhem simply say. Boswick says (Your clown name of course) , says touch your toes. Boswick says touch your knees etc. This will get them and is fun.
Sing a song. Put your finger on put your finger on put your finger on your nose....easy fun, well within your character. Hey even if you can't sing, just sing loudly, it's ok.
Announce, I'm going to stand like a statue. Do it, then break, say "I need help, who can stand like a statue?" Do this two or three times, you'll likely get all the kids acting like statues. Then have statues sit and go on.
Do something rude. Say loudly excuse me I burped. This will get the kid's attention. Say it again. Get them to come really close then make a burp noise. (you don't really have to burp just brap.). Tell them, when everyone is sitting, you'll do it one more time.
Sometimes kids get out of control. It's part of the job. Stay in character, do what is in your contract. It might be the most frustrating magic show of your life but get through it. You might have to use all sorts of tricks after each magic routine to get the kids sitting. But some people are really into having you do what you said you would do on the phone. A magic show, balloons, face painting. If you said it, you better do it.
Stay silly, feel free to ask me about specific instances. I'll come up with a few tricks to use, I promise.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
"Pockets Should Be Pockets..."
When you buy a suit, they sew the pockets shut. This has always annoyed me, what's a pocket for except to stuff it full of Kleenex and wrappers from your Lifesaver package?
I think this started when I had to get my first suit. My mom took me shopping because I needed a suit for my Bar Mitzvah. The suits all had this fake lining, it was only lined on the sides but not the back, so you could be really embarrassed if you had to take your jacket off. Everyone would know you had a cheap suit.
Since I became a clown, I've had this thing about decorative clown items that pass as real. If you wear a hat...don't pin it to your head, it should be there to flip, fall off or balance on your nose or put over a kid's head. If you have a handkerchief sticking out of your pocket, it should come out, blow your nose and dump the confetti out.
If you have a zipper, you should be able to unzip and let your pants fall to your ankles and try and run away!
I believe clowns are real. Living cartoon characters.
If you are a living cartoon, you should be able to use any wardrobe piece and bring it to life.
There is a whole world of beautiful clowns. Competitions and what not. I'll step on some toes here, I have no real use for this. Clowns are funny. The most famous beautiful clown, Pierrot, was nasty, dirty and bawdy, he would chase women around with a fake penis.
Pierrot has become an icon of a gentle beautiful clown. That's cool but it's not where the legend came from.
I'm all for looking good, I'm also all about funny. So, what is the purpose of clown make up? What is the purpose of a costume? It's an exaggeration, it's to walk in a room and people start laughing because you are so extreme and so funny.
Let those hats fly!
I think this started when I had to get my first suit. My mom took me shopping because I needed a suit for my Bar Mitzvah. The suits all had this fake lining, it was only lined on the sides but not the back, so you could be really embarrassed if you had to take your jacket off. Everyone would know you had a cheap suit.
Since I became a clown, I've had this thing about decorative clown items that pass as real. If you wear a hat...don't pin it to your head, it should be there to flip, fall off or balance on your nose or put over a kid's head. If you have a handkerchief sticking out of your pocket, it should come out, blow your nose and dump the confetti out.
If you have a zipper, you should be able to unzip and let your pants fall to your ankles and try and run away!
I believe clowns are real. Living cartoon characters.
If you are a living cartoon, you should be able to use any wardrobe piece and bring it to life.
There is a whole world of beautiful clowns. Competitions and what not. I'll step on some toes here, I have no real use for this. Clowns are funny. The most famous beautiful clown, Pierrot, was nasty, dirty and bawdy, he would chase women around with a fake penis.
Pierrot has become an icon of a gentle beautiful clown. That's cool but it's not where the legend came from.
I'm all for looking good, I'm also all about funny. So, what is the purpose of clown make up? What is the purpose of a costume? It's an exaggeration, it's to walk in a room and people start laughing because you are so extreme and so funny.
Let those hats fly!
Friday, January 14, 2011
"Socks and Underwear"
I am one of these fellahs that believes comedy goes all the way down.
I remember long ago reading about an actor, it may have been Marlon Brando, that started his character development figuring out what the character had in his pockets (keys, rabbit foot, change, money clip etc).
When I was in the circus, the Boss Clown had a meeting with us, no white socks, clown socks only. Such an interesting thing to have a meeting about.
But it's one of those things that can ruin the character. I wear clown socks even when I'm doing a photo shoot. It goes with the notion of always being the character. I go so far as to have funny underwear. But I pretty much do that all the time. Some women want to feel sexy under it all, I want to feel funny under it all. I have one of the most extensive Simpsons Boxer short collections in California.
This is just one of those homework things you need to do as a performer. It's the same as what's in the character's pocket. No one knows but you know if you are that character. Mostly no one sees my sox but it's possible I'm clown from head to toe.
I remember long ago reading about an actor, it may have been Marlon Brando, that started his character development figuring out what the character had in his pockets (keys, rabbit foot, change, money clip etc).
When I was in the circus, the Boss Clown had a meeting with us, no white socks, clown socks only. Such an interesting thing to have a meeting about.
But it's one of those things that can ruin the character. I wear clown socks even when I'm doing a photo shoot. It goes with the notion of always being the character. I go so far as to have funny underwear. But I pretty much do that all the time. Some women want to feel sexy under it all, I want to feel funny under it all. I have one of the most extensive Simpsons Boxer short collections in California.
This is just one of those homework things you need to do as a performer. It's the same as what's in the character's pocket. No one knows but you know if you are that character. Mostly no one sees my sox but it's possible I'm clown from head to toe.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
"If You Knew How a Child's Mind Worked...You Could Create The Greatest Magic Trick Ever!"
Why study children's development? Or why be familiar at least?
As children's entertainers, we have great power, we can get kids into hysterics, why? That's the question. If you know a bit about they why you can get the kids laughing harder. You will also understand how to structure a trick to it's maximum potential.
I'm a real believer in entertainment for children as a means of getting them to become better readers and to be critical thinkers. I also hope kids see what I do and will think beyond the obvious.
Our brains work in images and symbols. We don't dream in words, we don't read a book and get involved in the words, we make everything image.
A trick I've enjoyed forever is to ask if a 4 year old is this old (holding up 4 fingers, hiding the thumb), then saying I thought you were this old (lowering my ring finger holding up the other 4). Kids will insist they are only the first way and scream with laughter as I switch fingers. I can even show them they are the same and they will still insist they are the first.
Why does this work? it's the way kid's are recognizing the world, in pictures. The leap to the different shaped hand has not happened.
Knowing this is a trick of their developing minds, I have used it to maximize comedy. I can do a similar trick with 3 year olds and 5 year olds. They do have it figured out by 5 but not always.
It's a nice switch on something so common, "how old are you?"
As children's entertainers, we have great power, we can get kids into hysterics, why? That's the question. If you know a bit about they why you can get the kids laughing harder. You will also understand how to structure a trick to it's maximum potential.
I'm a real believer in entertainment for children as a means of getting them to become better readers and to be critical thinkers. I also hope kids see what I do and will think beyond the obvious.
Our brains work in images and symbols. We don't dream in words, we don't read a book and get involved in the words, we make everything image.
A trick I've enjoyed forever is to ask if a 4 year old is this old (holding up 4 fingers, hiding the thumb), then saying I thought you were this old (lowering my ring finger holding up the other 4). Kids will insist they are only the first way and scream with laughter as I switch fingers. I can even show them they are the same and they will still insist they are the first.
Why does this work? it's the way kid's are recognizing the world, in pictures. The leap to the different shaped hand has not happened.
Knowing this is a trick of their developing minds, I have used it to maximize comedy. I can do a similar trick with 3 year olds and 5 year olds. They do have it figured out by 5 but not always.
It's a nice switch on something so common, "how old are you?"
"There's Nothing Like a Line In The Sand..."
I like painter's tape. I like it a lot. I don't love the price, it strikes me as one of the most overpriced items on the market next to bottled water... (I'm one of those people that has a glass of water from the faucet. AND I live in San Francisco!)
Painter's tape is a great trick for kid's performers. It's already brightly colored and you can lay it out as a front row. You can use the tape to tape off an area for a stage (if you have time) And it looks funny already.
Painter's tape comes in blue, it comes in purple and other colors.
Here's the cool thing about having a line, people won't cross it. I mean of course they will but you can just say, "this is the front row, stay behind this line!" And kids will actually just line up behind, it's pretty cool. A nice natural barrier.
I have been cornered slowly by kids for 20 some years, they slowly move in on you. Tape is cool because it also gives me a visual on how close to work.
I've used my tape line as a time killer too. As I'm setting up my show, I can do clown stuff trying to keep one side taped to the ground and turning my back and pulling it up. Or I can start taping my line and tape over a kids shoe or I take a piece of tape and try and get it off my fingers.
This tends to be all pre-show stuff for me but it's really funny. I use these routines when I am in a library and the kids are there 20 minutes before the show, they are waiting for my show to begin, I don't want to do routines from my show, then I would run out of material. I need to tape a line anyway, so it's fun.
Because my show is circus themed I have the kids walk a tightrope on the blue line.
I can't remember where I discovered it, I'm sure I saw another performer tape down a front row and thought, "that's a good idea". Or it came to me in a dream. Either way, tape is a kid's performers good good friend!
Painter's tape is a great trick for kid's performers. It's already brightly colored and you can lay it out as a front row. You can use the tape to tape off an area for a stage (if you have time) And it looks funny already.
Painter's tape comes in blue, it comes in purple and other colors.
Here's the cool thing about having a line, people won't cross it. I mean of course they will but you can just say, "this is the front row, stay behind this line!" And kids will actually just line up behind, it's pretty cool. A nice natural barrier.
I have been cornered slowly by kids for 20 some years, they slowly move in on you. Tape is cool because it also gives me a visual on how close to work.
I've used my tape line as a time killer too. As I'm setting up my show, I can do clown stuff trying to keep one side taped to the ground and turning my back and pulling it up. Or I can start taping my line and tape over a kids shoe or I take a piece of tape and try and get it off my fingers.
This tends to be all pre-show stuff for me but it's really funny. I use these routines when I am in a library and the kids are there 20 minutes before the show, they are waiting for my show to begin, I don't want to do routines from my show, then I would run out of material. I need to tape a line anyway, so it's fun.
Because my show is circus themed I have the kids walk a tightrope on the blue line.
I can't remember where I discovered it, I'm sure I saw another performer tape down a front row and thought, "that's a good idea". Or it came to me in a dream. Either way, tape is a kid's performers good good friend!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
"What To Know In Your Audition!"
Every now and again, if you put yourself out there, you'll be called to audition for a commercial a tv show or maybe a movie.
A few years ago, it used to be casting directors would open a phone book and call all the clowns to come in. Those clowns would tell their friends and it would be "old home week" when everyone showed up.
What was fun in those days, the actors that didn't know anything about clowns and tried to put on make up were completely intimidated by all of us giving hugs and saying what's up?
Now, it's more of an internet thing and lots of variety performers are a lot more savvy about registering with the casting agencies.
I've been to a lot of auditions in my career. I've taken a lot of classes on the topic of auditioning. I've had an agent forever and my older son auditions for commercials and photo-shoots all the time. So I'm around this stuff quite a bit.
That's my short resume, so I'll let you know what to expect. First off, it's not like a regular job. When I get a call, I have a really good shot of booking the gig. If you get a call from a casting director, it's a one in fifty shot, maybe less but don't call your mother and say, guess what?... You can do that but after you know you got the job or not. Telling your family just causes problems. You'll probably forget about it in a week. They won't, who needs to be reminded you didn't get something? Tell them about the audition after you know. It will be better for your ego.
Camera is a very different medium than what we are used to. So, keep in mind you can't move a lot. You can't look at what's on screen and compare it to how you audition. At the shoot, they will tell you how to move or capture what you do to their liking, that's their job.
The audition, likely, has a camera on a tripod in one spot. They will probably not have your clown shoes in the shot, it will be from your waist up. Try framing that on your own camera, turn the viewer around so you can see how much you can move and still be in the middle of the shot. It's not much.
Do your best to be professional. You can make everyone laugh but take a second to actually answer questions, like "what's your name?"
Auditions, especially the big ones where they are looking at 50 people, are usually 2 minutes long. And it feels very odd to have all that adrenaline and then it's done so quickly. But remember, they have to see a lot of people, it's very draining to look at person after person. Explain what to do, answer the same questions, have a little sympathy for them, be kind.
As far as I can tell there is no particular advantage or disadvantage to going first or last or in the middle. It's a total crapshoot. you just need to do a good job.
A good job means, be positive, keep a big smile on your face, a big smile in your eyes, look into the camera, don't look at the person behind the camera, look right into the lens as if it were a 6 year old. Use the improvisation rule, yes and...that means, if they ask, "have you been a clown for a long time?" Don't say "no, this is my first time..." or "Do you like being a clown" "No, I'd rather be a tuna boat captain"
whatever conversation, keep it forward moving and positive. If they say "how long have you been a clown" You can goof around think about it and say a hundred and twelve years. In dog years seventy. Do you like being a clown? Of course! the only other thing I'm qualified to be is a politician but this has more respect.
Saying yes, leads to other questions, which is your hope. The longer you can stay on camera the better your odds of booking the job.
Bring in a few pictures. Put together a resume. An actors resume has a certain format. There are millions of them online, copy it, keep it to one page. When the casting company looks at hundreds of resumes, they just want to flip through it and be able to read it quickly, too many words slows them down and shows you are not professional. Basically, you performed at Six Flags Amusement park as a clown. Stuff like that. Put specific skills at the bottom. Juggling, magic etc. just list them. If it's needed, they'll ask you to do it or show them.
It's really a fun process. I have actually had a really good time over the years auditioning. I think it's a mini performance. When you can just do well the things you have control over, being on time, looking good, being ready with your pictures, memorizing the lines while you're waiting. Then, the rest is up to them. And who knows why they pick people?
For clowns, it's probably because they have an image in their head. I do a European style clown, so it's a more subtle looking clown. They may want a clown from a faire that is shabby and doesn't look that good. There is probably a joke in there, showing a clown on tv, and that might be funnier.
But if you get a few of these things, it looks pretty good on your resume!
Good Luck!
A few years ago, it used to be casting directors would open a phone book and call all the clowns to come in. Those clowns would tell their friends and it would be "old home week" when everyone showed up.
What was fun in those days, the actors that didn't know anything about clowns and tried to put on make up were completely intimidated by all of us giving hugs and saying what's up?
Now, it's more of an internet thing and lots of variety performers are a lot more savvy about registering with the casting agencies.
I've been to a lot of auditions in my career. I've taken a lot of classes on the topic of auditioning. I've had an agent forever and my older son auditions for commercials and photo-shoots all the time. So I'm around this stuff quite a bit.
That's my short resume, so I'll let you know what to expect. First off, it's not like a regular job. When I get a call, I have a really good shot of booking the gig. If you get a call from a casting director, it's a one in fifty shot, maybe less but don't call your mother and say, guess what?... You can do that but after you know you got the job or not. Telling your family just causes problems. You'll probably forget about it in a week. They won't, who needs to be reminded you didn't get something? Tell them about the audition after you know. It will be better for your ego.
Camera is a very different medium than what we are used to. So, keep in mind you can't move a lot. You can't look at what's on screen and compare it to how you audition. At the shoot, they will tell you how to move or capture what you do to their liking, that's their job.
The audition, likely, has a camera on a tripod in one spot. They will probably not have your clown shoes in the shot, it will be from your waist up. Try framing that on your own camera, turn the viewer around so you can see how much you can move and still be in the middle of the shot. It's not much.
Do your best to be professional. You can make everyone laugh but take a second to actually answer questions, like "what's your name?"
Auditions, especially the big ones where they are looking at 50 people, are usually 2 minutes long. And it feels very odd to have all that adrenaline and then it's done so quickly. But remember, they have to see a lot of people, it's very draining to look at person after person. Explain what to do, answer the same questions, have a little sympathy for them, be kind.
As far as I can tell there is no particular advantage or disadvantage to going first or last or in the middle. It's a total crapshoot. you just need to do a good job.
A good job means, be positive, keep a big smile on your face, a big smile in your eyes, look into the camera, don't look at the person behind the camera, look right into the lens as if it were a 6 year old. Use the improvisation rule, yes and...that means, if they ask, "have you been a clown for a long time?" Don't say "no, this is my first time..." or "Do you like being a clown" "No, I'd rather be a tuna boat captain"
whatever conversation, keep it forward moving and positive. If they say "how long have you been a clown" You can goof around think about it and say a hundred and twelve years. In dog years seventy. Do you like being a clown? Of course! the only other thing I'm qualified to be is a politician but this has more respect.
Saying yes, leads to other questions, which is your hope. The longer you can stay on camera the better your odds of booking the job.
Bring in a few pictures. Put together a resume. An actors resume has a certain format. There are millions of them online, copy it, keep it to one page. When the casting company looks at hundreds of resumes, they just want to flip through it and be able to read it quickly, too many words slows them down and shows you are not professional. Basically, you performed at Six Flags Amusement park as a clown. Stuff like that. Put specific skills at the bottom. Juggling, magic etc. just list them. If it's needed, they'll ask you to do it or show them.
It's really a fun process. I have actually had a really good time over the years auditioning. I think it's a mini performance. When you can just do well the things you have control over, being on time, looking good, being ready with your pictures, memorizing the lines while you're waiting. Then, the rest is up to them. And who knows why they pick people?
For clowns, it's probably because they have an image in their head. I do a European style clown, so it's a more subtle looking clown. They may want a clown from a faire that is shabby and doesn't look that good. There is probably a joke in there, showing a clown on tv, and that might be funnier.
But if you get a few of these things, it looks pretty good on your resume!
Good Luck!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
"I hate hate hate chairs!"
One too many chairs but I just hate to see a bunch of kids sitting around in chairs, it sucks the energy out of a room.
When I see a bunch of kids in chairs (this is assuming I'm not doing a stage show!), I get them out of their chairs, sitting on the floor. It's a warm up, it's a get to know you and it's way more comfortable for the kids.
I feel pretty strongly about this. At a preschool, does the teacher put kids in chairs to do story time or sing songs? Um no, I'll just answer, because I can't hear you. In first grade, when the teacher reads a story, all the kids sit on the carpet in the story telling area. Why? Because this is the fun area, this is the area, where creativity happens.
Chairs are for adults. Chairs take the kids out of the show, it makes them shy. I need freedom and creativity.
No chairs allowed for this clown!
When I see a bunch of kids in chairs (this is assuming I'm not doing a stage show!), I get them out of their chairs, sitting on the floor. It's a warm up, it's a get to know you and it's way more comfortable for the kids.
I feel pretty strongly about this. At a preschool, does the teacher put kids in chairs to do story time or sing songs? Um no, I'll just answer, because I can't hear you. In first grade, when the teacher reads a story, all the kids sit on the carpet in the story telling area. Why? Because this is the fun area, this is the area, where creativity happens.
Chairs are for adults. Chairs take the kids out of the show, it makes them shy. I need freedom and creativity.
No chairs allowed for this clown!
Monday, January 10, 2011
"Why I haven't Shaved In Two Weeks!"
When I don't work, I get really down.
I can't tell where the clown begins and the person takes over. So, in slow times, which thankfully, there aren't a ton of through the year, I question my whole existence. I start to listen to people that don't like clowns and I can't get a thing done.
The last part is the biggest drag. When I'm really busy, I just can't find the time for blogging, for editing my videos, working on new material. Well here I am plenty of time and I am having trouble motivating myself to make my bed.
So, I've said "hello" to all those little voices that tell me I'm a slug of a performer and today I'm back.
And it's just that simple. Well not really but it's just a declaration of starting over. It's just like exercise, losing weight, starting a new career, you have set backs and you stop and say, well I fell off the wagon, lets start over.
So, I start over.
And I think that's really all a professional entertainer is. It's a person that gets set backs, takes hits, falls down, questions their life's work, then stands up, dusts off and says, this is what I'm about.
And it's hard. I would so much rather sit around surfing the internet, feeling sorry for myself. That is just so much more fun.
Today, I start with feeling lucky. I'm lucky to have my family. My wife has never questioned what I do for a living. Imagine that? She has pretty much always made more money than me and has a job with health and dental. For that, I'm so lucky. I have two sons that are my true joy. They certainly make me pull my hair out but they are so funny. They do well in school and they would never admit it but they adore me. I bounce ideas off of them and they give me feedback. I have a little brain trust just a bedroom away. Boy I'm lucky.
I've found a club of middle aged guys that love martial arts and the eternal search for inner peace. They are always at my dojo eager to joke around and ask that question, "we hurt each other and we're paying to do it?" I love them for that.
I have a small group of performer friends that I talk to daily. We complain, we kvetch, and when I need them, they are there. They help with creative ideas. They donate their homes for my crazy video projects, they listen to me, they help design things and they understand. I'm pretty lucky.
I have a drive. A drive to say something to the world, to make people laugh. I get to do that. I get hired to do that. I get fan letters, I get pictures. I get pats on the back. I'm darn lucky.
And because there has been a lull in my work. I almost have a beard. I wish it wasn't nearly all white but hey, we can't have everything. For the time being until my next show, in a mere two days. I'm truly thankful, I can look scruffy!
I don't shave today, because, I'm a lucky boy!
I can't tell where the clown begins and the person takes over. So, in slow times, which thankfully, there aren't a ton of through the year, I question my whole existence. I start to listen to people that don't like clowns and I can't get a thing done.
The last part is the biggest drag. When I'm really busy, I just can't find the time for blogging, for editing my videos, working on new material. Well here I am plenty of time and I am having trouble motivating myself to make my bed.
So, I've said "hello" to all those little voices that tell me I'm a slug of a performer and today I'm back.
And it's just that simple. Well not really but it's just a declaration of starting over. It's just like exercise, losing weight, starting a new career, you have set backs and you stop and say, well I fell off the wagon, lets start over.
So, I start over.
And I think that's really all a professional entertainer is. It's a person that gets set backs, takes hits, falls down, questions their life's work, then stands up, dusts off and says, this is what I'm about.
And it's hard. I would so much rather sit around surfing the internet, feeling sorry for myself. That is just so much more fun.
Today, I start with feeling lucky. I'm lucky to have my family. My wife has never questioned what I do for a living. Imagine that? She has pretty much always made more money than me and has a job with health and dental. For that, I'm so lucky. I have two sons that are my true joy. They certainly make me pull my hair out but they are so funny. They do well in school and they would never admit it but they adore me. I bounce ideas off of them and they give me feedback. I have a little brain trust just a bedroom away. Boy I'm lucky.
I've found a club of middle aged guys that love martial arts and the eternal search for inner peace. They are always at my dojo eager to joke around and ask that question, "we hurt each other and we're paying to do it?" I love them for that.
I have a small group of performer friends that I talk to daily. We complain, we kvetch, and when I need them, they are there. They help with creative ideas. They donate their homes for my crazy video projects, they listen to me, they help design things and they understand. I'm pretty lucky.
I have a drive. A drive to say something to the world, to make people laugh. I get to do that. I get hired to do that. I get fan letters, I get pictures. I get pats on the back. I'm darn lucky.
And because there has been a lull in my work. I almost have a beard. I wish it wasn't nearly all white but hey, we can't have everything. For the time being until my next show, in a mere two days. I'm truly thankful, I can look scruffy!
I don't shave today, because, I'm a lucky boy!
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