Who's the Party About?

At the end of a birthday party show I go to the birthday boy/girl and give them my complete undivided attention.  I whisper a secret in their ear (usually, it was great to be at their circus).  I Get a high five.  Make them feel special.

A good buddy of mine told me about a fairy princess he hired for his daughter when she was 5.  He's a professional magician.  He's seen everything.  He's a great performer himself.

He thought the show and songs were so so.  But that last moment made him cry and he gave her a big tip.

I heard this and incorporated this into my birthday party show.  I don't know what it looks like.  I don't know if it gets me more tips.  I do know that if this were my child and the performer spent a second focused on my child. I'd like it and appreciate it.

You have to stop and ask.  "Why am I doing this show?"  Most of my shows are birthday party shows.  The focus of the birthday party show is the birthday child.

I ask.  "what's my checklist to make sure it's special for the family?"

Make sure I take a picture with the birthday child and me.  If it's a baby, even more important.
Make sure I use the birthday child's name in my show.
Make sure I spend a few seconds with the birthday child and thank them for having me.
Make sure I send a thank you.

There is nothing more special to a family than their child's birthday.  I always have this in my mind. I do a lot of children's parties.  I never let myself take for granted how special this is and what an honor to be part of something so important to the family.

So.  I take minute and just let the birthday child know, I'm so happy THEY invited me.  

One Balloon Animal Per Child...Nah!

Quite a while ago, when my son was in preschool.  One of the mothers was talking to me and said she saw an entertainer at another party.

When I had little kids and I was in those social circles, people gave me opinions of performers they had seen.  It was natural, it's like meeting a dentist at a party, then talking about some bad experience you've had with a dentist.  What I do is an unusual occupation, it was their way of opening something up.

One thing that struck me about our conversation.  Her son wanted another balloon and the entertainer held to the only one balloon per child custom.

She took away a meh attitude toward this performer.  Everything else was good, she was left with a bad feeling.

How you leave an event is everything.  It's a weird human behavior but a bad feeling at the end will taint our whole experience.  We may have a great meal but the waiter took forever to bring the check and then was slightly rude.  The whole experience diminished.  You'll remember the meal for not being great because of a little glitch at the end.

When I started, I held to the same rule.  One balloon, if you pop it, hey, that's what balloons do.  Tough it out kid, life's tough.

On the other hand. Who cares.  give the kids as many as they want.  Why not?  So what, you go over your time by 15 or 20 minutes.

15 or 20 minutes and you leave with not only a satisfied customer but a customer that loves you forever.

I totally ruin it for all other performers.

You can have a five year old looking at you with big eyes asking for a dinosaur.  You can can say, "Everyone only gets one balloon, you already got a balloon, that wouldn't be fair to the other children"

They hear. "Mean clown mean clown mean clown"

Or, you can just do it and it takes the same amount of time as explaining.  If you are running out of time.  Just say you can't make a dinosaur how about a sword or a dog or a bear?  In case you don't know this.  Children are easily manipulated!

The kids are happy, birthday parents are happy, you get hugs and a tip at the end.  Seems like the way to go.

How Blogging Changed My Life...

I started blogging because I wanted to work on a book.

I could have used a personal journal.  I could have typed on the computer.  But, I view myself as a public person.  In fact, I have a feeling that I'm always being watched, like I'm on the Truman Show.  I've always felt this.

I also figured doing a blog about children's entertainment would put me in a teaching or consulting position. As I created my vision of the blog, I looked at other blogs.  I saw lots of crap out there.

Here's the sin of the blog.  Quitting.  And there's lots of quitting out there.  It's easy to write 3 entries. Then apologize on the 4th for how long it's been since you wrote.  Try the 50th entry.  Or the 150th.  Continue coming up with topics when you're sure you've covered everything.

I've found I'll never run out of topics to write about.  I care deeply about the art of clowning.  I am passionate about the idea of children's entertainment being taken as a seriously.  Those of us that specialize in children's entertainment are good at what we do and do not consider our art form the forgotten step of the entertainment community.

I got disheartened in 2013.  I look back and I have very few entries.  I spent a ton of time linking this blog.  Submitting to specialty sites.  Not much happened.  I got 5 views a day and most of those views were from robots trolling the internet.  I was spinning my wheels.  No one was listening.  Why shout out when there are no ears?

But here's what happened.  My career is about to burst. I am the focus of a major news article about clowns.  The article profiles me, my feelings, this blog and my life.  Where the clown community is busy copying itself over and over till it becomes a faded Xerox.  I forged something new and was discovered.  I've put my whole heart into this thing.  I didn't see it paying off in this way.  I wanted to be a guy that did workshops with other clowns.

The reporter that has been studying me for three months, studied every part of this blog.  I've not only put my thoughts about how to pick clown shoes.  I've put my total passion into this.

I'm being discovered not by magic.  By perseverance.

My last entry was about a party that was not great, everything went wrong.   When things go badly, I get to be a clown.  Being funny, trying to control chaos that's what I strive for, the messier the better.  A clown in peril is funny.  A clown is trying to make the world work when it just won't, that's why clowns are so interesting.  

Of course, I don't like it when things go badly.  But who cares, it's funny to watch a clown deal with the mess and mayhem.  Kids poking at me with plastic magic wands, kids hitting my shoes, the birthday boy trying to hit me, getting in my things.

I got home after that show and was happy it was over, ready for my next show.  A better show.

I called my good friend Mike.  Funnybone the clown.  He told me to share the story with the reporter.  I did that and one better.  I shared it on here.  And I got to see the good side of the show.  The amazing part of the show.  Where I wanted everything to work, that's what made it really funny.  It was because it was not working.

One dream I hold onto is to be able to pick the shows I'd like to do.  The reason I'm so funny and so good at what I do, I've never allowed myself to choose. I always take what's offered.  I hear about other entertainers that will only do certain ages.  Only go to certain areas of town.  Sorry Nancy Reagan, I never say no.

I've done

Senior Centers
Alzheimers
Blind Children
Deaf Children
Inner City Gangs
Housing Projects
Kids with Cancer
Adults with Cancer
Battered Women's Shelters
East Los Angeles After the Rodney King Verdict

I would not choose to be in these places.  But the clown needs to be in these places.  The clown in a nice controlled environment is just a cute character.  A clown in uncomfort is funny.

And that's what I want to be.  Funny.

(yup that's me!  In trouble)

This blog has changed my life.  I realize I'm the court jester.  A lot of times I'm just doing this for a living.  At my best, I'm risking myself.  I get to see that here.

It's only taken 225 entries and a lot of discouragement.

The Tough Party...

Last night I did a show.

Tried to do a show.

Yet, I was super funny.  The moments where everything is truly going wrong, not the controlled wrong.  I get people laughing.  I get to be a clown.

Here's what it is to be a clown.   Everything is your stage and you comment on it.  Comment, meaning joking, acknowledging, a body language gesture, making physical or eye contact. Everything. that's what's funny about clowns, it's the reflection of what we see.  Most people don't see the world.  A clown brings everything upfront.

I always remember in elementary school.  The teacher had us put our heads down, we listened.  She said, "can you hear the train far away?"  "Can you hear the bird outside"  etc.  Stuff you just process.

By acknowledging EVERYTHING the audience notices the absurdity of the world.  That's what clowns do.

My party last night had everything wrong.  They held it in a local Chinese restaurant, no banquet room, just in the middle of the restaurant.  So, hmmm, how do I deal with people that might actually be there to eat that are not part of this party?  Point them out and say, "I guess you didn't go out to eat for this tonight..."

Absolutely no room.  I had some parents move the tables a bit but there were 35 kids.  Lots and lots of adults.  The children were at my feet.  I mean, at my feet.  Being a clown, I can step on them, pretend to step on them, use a whoopie cushion on them for being so close.  Acknowledging the situation.

i had kids that were "older" meaning 9 or 10.  They were in the "that's not magic, this is boring"  part. And they shouted it out a lot.  So, I acknowledge that.  "You sound like my wife"  "You think this is boring?  Try my day job, urinal cake testing"  whatever.  I don't think I said that.

The birthday boy was special needs and totally in my stuff.  It was hard to do routines with me having to get him out of my stuff, every few seconds.  I do this in a fun gentle way.  He was overly excited and tried to hit me and kick me a lot too. More potential for jokes.  

And of course comment on it.

Plus it was a magic themed party, all the kids had magic wands they were poking at each other and my face.  I made a joke about Kaiser.  That's our big hospital chain.

For me.  The show was way less than ideal.

It doesn't matter.  If you pick and choose your shows, you'll be stuck, to be a clown you can't choose

.  A clown, just by definition (see above) has to go into the unknown, has to get into life threatening or just horrible situations.

That's why clowns are funny.  Because you put your career, your physical well being, everything on the line.  I got lots of laughs and today huge praise from the parents about how memorable it was for their son.

I'm not sure how I feel about a show like this one.  I was truly a clown.  I made memories, I was super funny.

On the other side, it was crowded, I didn't do a lot of my routines very well.  That part failed.

And that's what clowning is.  Nearly always success/failure.  That's truly what's funny.  Not so much to me.  But I'm sure a truly funny show to watch.

My Funny Exit...

It's a bit rude to do a show, have all attention on you, then simply disappear.

Find a place for business cards.  Best, a small table by the front door, you want people to take them as they leave.  Often this doesn't work.  A likely place for people to see my cards.  The cake, goodie bag area.  You can have kids hand them out, I find that a bit over the top but it might work for you.

I want to take a few seconds with the birthday child to ask if they had fun.  Get a high five.  After all this whole event was all about them.

If I didn't feel I got enough pictures, just before I leave is the time I'll gather all the kids for a group photo. I will blatantly ask people to take pictures.

Even if I've been offered food, or I've been dealing with payment, giving someone a business card.  I want to bring everything back to a big goodbye and make it about the children.

If the children are not occupied (eating cake).  I shout out to come over.  I tell them to give me a big push out the door.  They think this is really funny.

They push my backside.  They are little so they can't push too hard.  I have all my things under my arms and make an S through the room or crowd.

The children are laughing I pause before leaving and say a big "Bye Everybody"  Usually I'll get some applause.

Then they push me out the door or gate or wherever.

I like an exit like this because it involves the children.  It's funny, cute and memorable.  It's also a book end to my big entrance.

Think of funny character ways of exiting.  Children holding your hand and guiding you out.  Children hopping like bunnies around you.  Maybe just a big crowd with you showing you out.  Make the exit as big as the entrance.

Leave a big impression.  

Best Birthday Party Entrance...

Generally when you go to a birthday party.  The mom (I'll just use mom as the general person that hired you) will say, "where would you like to set up"  or "we're not quite ready, would you like to eat something?"  or "The children are in the backyard let me go get them"  

I don't let any of that stuff happen.  I always always call before I come in.  I make sure I have a back up number so I can get someone on the phone.  I don't enter without calling first.  

When I get them on the phone, I ask if they are ready.  I don't want to start if the children are just eating or they are doing a pinata.  I want all that stuff out of the way.  

I ask to be met by the children.  Tell the mom to tell the children you're there, they can meet at the front door, back gate in the playground. 

The children see me.  I'm in character walking up.  I can do funny physical comedy.  I get no one screaming because they see I'm coming in, nothing shocking.  I've completely taken over.  Adults are removed.  This is what I want.  

Parents don't always know the best place to set up, how to gather the children, how to warm them up. By meeting me at the front door or greeting me I'm in total control.  Well not total but you know. 

While goofing with the kids at the front door I make the children laugh.  You can ask for the birthday child and shake the wrong child's hand.  You can say I don't see any boys here, the children will laugh and say there are lots of boys.  Play with that.  You can pretend to sneeze and chase them with a gross giant handkerchief.  All nice warm ups.  In the corner of your eye, check out the space, look for the best area.  Then lead the children to the best area.  Move furniture if you need to.  

Don't be afraid to start late.  When I call, I ask if they are ready for me or if they'd like me to wait a few minutes.  I think it's better to wait so you have all focus and all the guests have arrived.  Late comers are disruptive.  

Get in there and take over.  That's what entertainers do.    

Big Time Photo Shoot...

The big big article is almost here.

Maybe this will change my career. 

Maybe not.  

It's just interesting to be in on a story that will change how professional clowns, especially the ones that do children's entertainment are viewed.  

Wednesday, I was flown to Los Angeles for a photo shoot.  

I dealt with my own huge insecurities, my need to please everyone, my wanting beyond measure to be famous.  

I tend to sabotage good things in my life.  See "Hey Mr. Sub!"  my very funny youtube channel about being a substitute teacher.  oops. got fired again and again.

When I talked to the photographer last week, she wanted me to change my look, my make up.  It was super upsetting to me.  There is nothing sacred to me about the clown.  I would do another make up if I were being hired but this is about me.  

I will make fun of clowns, I will put myself in harms way.  But my make up is incredibly personal. This was like asking me to make fun of my own children.  I was really hurt.  

I held my ground.  I don't care about what I do, I don't care about the costume, just my look is me.  

When I arrived. She loved all my props but had an image of a white face clown.  I held to no.  But was so upset.  I hate letting people down.  

The shoot was a long one.  6 hours.  Lots of very interesting positions and sad faces.  My in my underwear.  balancing ladders on my finger.  juggling old fashioned juggling pins.  doing the splits.  

I was tired.  I do a lot of long clown days but I pace myself.  This one, I never took breaks.  Even when I ate lunch.  I took 10 minutes ate very little so I wouldn't get sleepy and went back to work.  

Life throws a few opportunities.  I can't blow this one.  I don't have a lot left.