JanFeb_2012

$5 per roll (roll of 250)
5 rolls for $20!!
“You Design – We Refine”
Custom Made Clown & Theater Footwear
Clown Jam • Mystic, CT
January 26-29, 2012
Circus Magic • Williamsburg, VA
February 23-26
COAI • Kansas City, MO
April 24-29
413-739-5693 - Days • 413-732-7184 Evenings
12 Orlando St. • Springfield, MA 01108 • www.spearshoes.com
Page 2
The New Calliope

Design-O
by Ann “Tuttles” Sanders
An Interview with
Richard Smith
“First place Senior Makeup, Richard Smith.” When
Competition Chair Cathy “Tots” Mackey spoke those
words April 24, 2010, during the awards ceremony at the
COAI Convention, a new page was added to the COAI
History Book.
Richard “Design-O” Smith of Shrewsbury,
Massachusetts, holds the distinction of being the only
member of COAI to have captured first place in every
COAI makeup category. His first Top Ten came in the
White Face Makeup category in 1995 while attending the
COAI convention in Houston, Texas. Appropriately, he
completed the monumental task in Houston at the 2010
convention.
When asked about his historic journey into the record
books, Richard said, “When I began clowning, I was a
member of Classy and Sassy of Massy - Alley #232. One of
the members told the Alley about a cancer treatment center
for children and suggested the Alley help raise money for
the center. In order to make the fundraiser a success, it was
recommended we attend the (1992) South Shore Joey’s
Winter Weekend Seminar in Plymouth, Massachusetts.”
“I was encouraged to enter competition so I could be
critiqued by the judges. Truthfully, I had no idea what
an Auguste or White Face was. I hadn’t read the rules. I
thought all you had to do was put a face on.”
”I didn’t think it mattered what the design looked like or
even if it was a different face each time you put on makeup.
I was however, always particular about costumes.”
“I entered Auguste and wore a costume I had made.
For my makeup I put white in the center of my face with
Auguste behind it, put blocks of color over my eyes, and
wore a nose.”
“Jeanne Woska (COAI’s 2010 Clown of the Year) was
one of the judges. She wrote on her judge’s sheet, ‘Do you
want to be a White Face or an Auguste? One or the other is
trying to fight to get out. Make a decision.’”
“I asked Jeanne what she thought of my face. She
looked me straight in the eye and said, ‘Do you really want
to know?’”
“When I assured her that I did, she proceeded to tell me,
continued on page 5
“Clowning Is A Blessing”
His attraction to clowning started in 1966
when he assisted his magician brother,
James, at birthday party performances. He
made his own costume, never talked while on
stage and always had a different look each
time he got into makeup.
Below: Richard looks in a miror at his 2010
1st place Senior Senior Makeup costume.
January/February 2012 Page 3

Your COAI Officers
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
President:
Pamela Bacher
3019 Smiley Rd.
Bridgeton, MO 63044
(314) 291-2048
p.bacher@sbcglobal.net
DIRECTORS
Page 4
Exec. Vice President:
Michael B. Cox
9415 Alameda Ave.
Richmond, VA 23294
(804) 270-1165
(804)337-6143 C
bonkerstc@aol.com
Secretary:
Catherine Hardebeck
6027 Deerwood Dr.
St. Louis, MO 63123
(314) 481-6808
catheoh@aol.com
Treasurer:
Candyce Will
32302 Alipaz St. #193
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
(949) 489-9971
clownbutterscotch@yahoo.com
Sergeant-at-arms:
Glenn Kohlberger
4155 Torres Circle
West Palm Beach, FL 33409
(646) 210-2238 (C)
(561) 687-1126 (H)
soundsfunny2me@aol.com
Membership:
Teresa Gretton
3411 Lisa Circle
Waldorf, MD 20601
(301) 843-8212
gretton@verizon.net
Education:
Cheri Venturi
P.O. Box 4382
Chesterfield, MO 63006
(877) 569-9447
cherioats@aol.com
Conventions:
Patricia Roeser
2840 Jordan Dr.
Woodbury, MN 55125
(651) 578-1573
coaidrconv@aol.com
Alley, Region Support:
Toni Dufrene
2001 Cypress Creek Rd., A208
River Ridge, LA 70123
(504) 812-9003 (C)
(504) 469-4740 (O)
toni_dufrene@yahoo.com
Director At Large
Tom King
PO Box 304
Tad, WV 25201
(304) 542-6408 (C)
thehumorman@yahoo.com
REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS
Northeast:
Bill Le Blanc
2 Dee Jay Road
East Bridgewater, MA 02333
(508) 378-1545
bildabbles@aol.com
North Central:
Vivian McArthur
155 Mikel Road
Kirbyville, MO 65679
(417) 546-2391
mcarthurvm@centurytel.net
Northwest:
Albert Alter
5848 S.E. 18th Ave.
Portland, OR 97202
(503) 231-8576
altered @europa.com
Mideast:
John Kral
42 Constitution Blvd.
New Castle, DE 19720-4404
(302) 322-3773
K1Lown@aol.com
Midwest:
Georgia Morris
4234 Woodworth
Holt, MI 48842
(517) 694-7100
clownshananigans@
comcast.net
Southeast:
Kent Sheets
4375 St. Clair Ave. W
N. Ft. Myers, FL 33903
(239) 995-8881
SheetsKent@aol.com
South Central:
Dale Flashberg
452 English Oaks Circle
Boerne, TX 78006
(830) 331-8941
patches@gvtc.com
Southwest:
Bonita Love
4916 W. Mountain View Dr.
San Diego, CA 92116
(619) 282-9668
bonbonsandiego
@yahoo.com
Canada:
Dale McKenzie
867 Raynard Crescent SE
Calgary, AB T2A 1X6
(403) 273-9047 (H)
(403) 606-7750 (C)
funehappenings@shaw.ca
Latin Countries:
Angel Morales
24 RR5 Jardines de
Caparra, Bayamon,
PR 00959
(787) 565-3205
jobolin@onelinkpr.net
International
Lee James
Meisenweg 26,49191
Belm, Germany
004916096744317
rolliepollie@web.de
STAFF
Business Office
Newton Studios, Inc.
Tom Newton
HOURS: Mon-Fri, 9AM-5PM EST
P.O. Box 1171, Englewood FL 34295-1171
(941) 474-4351 • 1-877-816-6941
Fax (941) 474-8317
Business@COAI.org
The New Calliope:
Newton Studios, Inc.
Tom Newton
HOURS: Mon-Fri, 9AM-5PM EST
370 W. Dearborn St., Englewood FL 34223
(941) 474-4351 • Fax (941) 474-8317
NewCalliopeEditor@comcast.net
NewCalliopeAds@comcast.net
COAI Website: www.coai.org
STANDING COMMITTEES
Bylaws and Rules: Mike Cox,
Cheri Venturi and Cleon Babcock.
Clown Week: Barbara Waters-Riddle,
2800 Kiskadee Dr, Englewood, FL
34224 (941) 468-6762 BTnuzzles@
aol.com.
Competition: Cathy Mackey,
151 Route 28B, Valatie NY 12184
(518) 784-2127 - ctots@aol.com,
Pat Roeser, Bill LeBlan & Walt Lee.
Ethics and Grievance: Albert Alter
5848 S.E. 18th Ave.Portland, OR 97202
(503) 231-8576 - altered @europa.com
Junior Joeys: Cheri Venturi, Ricky Burns,
Alex Zabrusky, James Cunningham,
and Chrissy Will.
Public Relations: Merilyn Berrett
P.O. Box 574781, Orlando, FL 32857
klownkop@prodigy.net
Historian: Walt Lee, Jeannie Woska, Pat
Cashin and Teresa Gretton.
Good Cheer: Fred Scholsshauer,
8 Alanon St., Whippany NJ 07981
(973) 887-2617 oscarboj@aol.com
Merchandise: Glenn Kohlberger
Parliamentary Procedure Advisor:
Cleon Babcock.
Regional Ambassador Appointments:
Toni Dufrene and Angel Morales
International Ambassador Program:
Paul Kleinberger • 518-489-2680
FuddiDuddy@aol.com
Audio Visual Chairperson: Merilyn
Barrett, P.O. Box 574781, Orlando FL
32857, klownkop@prodigy.net
Clowns of America International, Inc.,
Annual Membership Fees
US New Members: $40 • US Renewals: $35
Seniors (65+): $30 • Senior Renewal: $25
Junior Joey: $30 • Junior Joey Renewal: $25
Internat’l New: $45 (US funds) • Internat’l Renewal: $40
Internat’l Senior: $35 • Internat’l Senior Renewal: $30
Family membership, US and Internat’l: $17
Lifetime membership: $500
$20 of the COAI membership includes one-year subscription to
The New Calliope. Subscriptions are available only to full members of
Clowns of America International, Inc.
Send all membership fees to
Clowns of America International, Inc.
P.O. Box 1171 • Englewood, FL 34295-1171 USA.
Make all checks payable to Clowns of America International, Inc.
Questions regarding COAI membership concerns, including status of
membership, change of address, failure to receive The New Calliope,
should be referred to the COAI's business office.
Mon thru Fri: 9 am to 5 pm (EST)
877.816.6941
941.474.4351
The New Calliope

The New
C u A u L u L u I u O u P u E
The mission of Clowns of America International is to organize
all members desiring to pursue the honorable profession or art
of clowning and the dedication towards its advancement
and the education of its members.
l l l
January/Feburary 2012
ARTICLES
Design-O..................................3
Why Did I Wait So Long.........16
Circus Smirkus (part 2)..........20
Take 2 Red Noses...................28
Competition ... A Good Thing.38
Who Me?... Corporate Work...39
FEATURES
Members On The Move..........31
Foto Funnies..................45 & 46
Good Cheer.............................25
Scooter Etiquette....................40
SKILLS/IDEAS/TIPS
Train Wreck............................17
Stand Doggy! Stand!..............18
School Is In Session...............22
My Favorite Magic..................27
Mouth Coils............................41
Music......................................42
COAI NEWS
President’s Comments..............9
Annual AMembership .
Meeting Notice...................10
COAI 2012 Elections...............10
What? No COTY......................11
Requirements To Run .
For Office............................11
COAI Wants To Pay For Your
Membership.......................13
Roarin' Towards Kansas City..15
How To Register On .
The COAI Website...............25
COAI Ring Of Honor...............30
Membership Drive..................32
COAI Application.....................33
COAI Application (Spanish)....34
New Members........................35
Alley Report............................36
Financial Report......................36
Change of Address.................36
Calendar.................................37
Convention Report..................37
Editor’s Comments.................47
Ad Directory...........................47
Ad Rates.................................47
Deadline Dates........................47
The New CALLIOPE (ISSN 1072-1045) is published bimonthly:
Jan/Feb, March/April, May/June, July/Aug, Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec,
by COAI, P.O. Box 1171, Englewood, FL 34295-1711
Periodicals Postage Paid at Richeyville, PA
and additional mailing offices.
l l l
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:
COAI, Bus. Mgr. • P.O. Box 1171 • Englewood FL 34295-1171.
l l l
The New Calliope articles are protected by U.S. copyright and international
treaties and may not be copied without the express permission of
Clowns of America International,
which reserves all rights.
Re-use of any of The New Calliope editorial content and graphics online, in
print or any other medium for any purpose is strictly prohibited.
For further information on copyright and use policies,
contact Clowns of America International
Business Office, P.O. Box 1171, Englewood FL 34295-1171.
‘It looks like you want to be
everybody at once. You need
to decide if you want to be
an Auguste or a White Face.’
I still, at that point, did not
understand that they were
two distinct categories.”
“The next
morning I designed
and applied the
first stages of what
would become my
Auguste character. I
used less white around
the eyes, the mouth was
much smaller, and the
cheeks had a definite
design. THAT was the
beginning.”
“In 1995, in my
first international
competition, I
competed as a White
Face. I was the last
White Face competitor
to go on stage to be
judged. When they
announced the Top
Ten, I was the last one
to be picked. At the
awards banquet, I sat
there thinking there had
been a mistake and they
were not going to call my
name. They did and I came
in tenth. Tenth … tenth …
tenth.”
Richard's fist clown face after
attending the South Shore Joey's
weekend Seminar1992.
“From that point, I said to myself, ‘If you want to be a
good clown, you need to do things differently.’” Driven by
the COAI competition bug, Richard collected convention
editions of The New Calliope and studied the Top Ten
winners. He compared the winners in each category,
analyzing their features. He also studied the critiques he
had received, scrutinizing each score and comment, trying
to understand what judges wanted. Most importantly, he
studied the rules.
continued on page 7
ON OUR COVER
Richard's winning Makeup in the
Lite Auguste category at the 2006
convention in New Orleans, LA.
January/February 2012 Page 5

Don't Forget To
Renew Your COAI
Membership Today!
Page 6
The New Calliope

In Puerto Rico in1996, one year
after he had stepped on stage for
the first time as an international
competitor, Richard captured first
place in Auguste. He was also
successful in skits and finished in top
ten in both single and group skits.
“As you can see, I didn’t start out
as an award-winning clown. I don’t
think anyone does. Competition has
rules. There are specific things that
the judges are looking for. If you
want to compete and be successful,
you need to understand the rules, be
open to criticism, and learn from your
mistakes.”
“I don’t compete just to earn a
room full of trophies. I am fascinated
by the difference in the makeup types.
After I won a category, I would task
myself to create another character. It is
a personal challenge. I am constantly
trying to improve.”
”If you want to be a successful
clown, you need to go beyond just
looking the part – you have to become
one. Anyone can wear a pretty
costume and put on a clown face but,
you also need to be willing to go to the
conventions do skits and
paradeability so you can
show what your clown is
capable of. I have made
it a point that every time
I compete, I try to show
the development of each
character.”
“Without COAI, I would
not have judges that gave me their
opinions or people telling me, ‘Thank
you for being here and helping me.’”
“I want the miracle someday
of being 70 years old and, having
someone I judged, come up to me with
their grandchild or niece or nephew
and say, ‘That is the COAI judge who
helped me and made me the clown
that I am…’ I want to know that they
passed their expertise to another
generation and I had a part in that.
Clowning is a blessing. It is such a
gift.”
Richard has set the standard. We
applaud his accomplishments!
l l l
1st Place Classic White
Face Sturbridge, MA 1997
1st Place Character
Saratoga Springs, NY 2002
Coai Make Up Competition
Accomplishments:
1st Place 1996 Auguste Puerto Rico
1st Place 1997 Classic White Face Sturbridge, MA
1st Place 2000 Comedy White Face San Francisco, CA
1st Place 2002 Character Saratoga Springs, NY
1st Place 2004 Tramp/hobo Corpus Christi, TX
1st Place 2006 Lite Auguste New Orleans, LA
1st Place 2010 Senior Makeup Houston TX
January/February 2012 Page 7

Page 8
The New Calliope

President’s Comments
by Pam Bacher
I hope that you and your
families had a great Holiday
Season. 2012 is here and I
wish you all the best for this
new year. I can’t believe it’s
already time for elections
again. I do hope that more
of you will think about
putting your hat in the ring.
I know that being president
has shown me that the vice
president and regional vice
presidents are an important
step to the running the
bigger picture show of
COAI. There are many
talented people who can add
to our Board.
New ideas, fresh outlook
and fresh attitudes help to
keep COAI vital. I do hope
you will consider running
for an office, no need to
feel afraid. We have all
our shots up to date and
would welcome you into
the family. Also to clarify
a prior article in The New
Calliope, if you run for
office and win a seat, your
dues are paid for the term
you are in office. Once you
leave the office you would
pay for your dues yourself
as usual. Again, it is not
just running for an office,
it’s actually winning the
election where you would
have your dues paid.
The other day I had a
reaction to a pain killer
after a small surgery. I was
unable to talk as my tongue
was swollen along with my
face, so I decided to read
a few thing to refresh my
thoughts about why we
clown. “Whoever has heard
the laughter of a child or
seen sudden delight on the
Jerry “Dr. Dufus” and Martha “Dr. Giggle” Dodson, visit with the emergency room
nurses at Mary Immaculate Hospital in Newport News, Virginia. Jerry and Martha
were awarded with the Presidential Award for Volunteerism.
face of a lonely old man
has understood those brief
moments mysteries deeper
than love.” An interesting
statement. In the folklore of
the world is the persistent
claim that the heart of a
clown is sad, and that all
the gladness he provokes
is simply a façade for the
pain he cannot reveal to
the world. In the myth is
the kernel of reason: “The
clown leaves happiness
where he goes and takes
misery away with him.” So
true. “Clowns and the spirit
they represent are as vital
to the maintenance of our
humanity as the builders
and the growers and the
governors.” Do you know
where this comes from?
I’ll give you a hint, written
October 8, 1970, Public
Law 91-433. It’s from the
National Clown Week
proclamation by President
Nixon. There are some very
deep messages here.
While reading some
old reports from 1997 I
was delighted to know that
President Bill Clinton, while
in office wrote a letter of
recognition to Clowns of
America for National Clown
Week. So much history,
some of it very interesting,
some, well let me say I see
a 360 degree circle. Our
history is long and loud.
And I am proud to be part
of it all.
I have two new
Presidential Awards for
Volunteerism, that were just
approved. They come from
the great state of Virginia.
Jerry Dodson and Martha
Dodson were presented
with Pins and certificates
signed by President Obama
at the alley's annual holiday
gathering. Each volunteered
300 hours-plus this past
year. CONGRATS Jerry
and Martha and keep up
the great work you do.
Remember, if there is
someone you feel deserves
this award and has put in a
minimum of 50 volunteer
hours in one calendar
year, contact me about the
program.
Have you packed your
bags for Kansas City yet?
As our friend from Canada
Linda Loveday would say,
“How many sleeps do we
have till convention, EH?”
I think you will all enjoy
what the alley has in store
for you, great entertainment
and great education. So get
those flapper dresses out
and dust them off.
Nose Bumpers till the
End.
l l l
January/February 2012 Page 9

2012 Annual General Membership Meeting Notice
The 2012 Annual COAI General Membership meeting will be held on Wednesday, April
25, 2012 starting at 2:30 PM. This meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn, Kansas City
SE – Waterpark, 9103 East 39 th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64133. This meeting is open
to all current COAI members. Please bring your valid COAI membership card with you
and attend this meeting.
Michael Cox, Executive VP
Requirements To Run For Office
Should you decide to throw your “wig” into the mix and run for a COAI Board position on the 2012 ballot
you must meet all eligibility requirements as established by the COAI By-Laws and State of Minnesota's
Non-Profit Corporation law. Requirements are:
1. You must be in good standing and a member of COAI for two years prior to nomination.
2. You must submit a declaration of your candidacy of not more that 250 words.
3. You must submit a non-clown photo not more than 5”X7”.
4. Everything must be postmarked by January 15, 2012.
5. A nominee is not eligible for office if he or she is a voting officer of any National or International clown
oriented association. This does not apply to regional or local clown associations such as your local alley.
6. Only one member of a family shall serve on the Board at one time.
7. Send to: Kolonial Klowns of Williamsburg Alley 357
C/O Ann Sanders, Secretary
225 Lake View Drive
Toano, VA 23168
Guidelines for elections will be sent to all candidates as soon as the nominations have
closed. The guidelines will give you the do’s and don’ts of campaigning.
If you should have any questions, please email me at: coaiexecvp@aol.com.
Michael Cox, Executive Vice President.
Page 10
The New Calliope

WHAT!!! No Clown Of The Year?
by Teresa Gretton
Director of Membership
You probably noticed that
the magazine cover did not
highlight this year’s Clown
of the Year. Sadly, there will
be no recipient of the 2012
Clown of the Year for Clowns
of America International
(COAI). Three wonderful
nominee packages were
submitted but each package
was missing one or more of
the mandatory criteria.
A selection committee
reviewed and considered
each package; and after
careful consideration, it was
decided by the board to take
a “hard line stance.” All three
nominators were asked to
resubmit their applications for
next year with the additional
information that is needed.
When criteria are not
completely met by the
nominators, it throws a
monkey wrench into the
decision making of the
committee and the board.
Criteria must be “completely”
adhered to in order to make
a proper selection. The
website explicitly indicates
all criteria.
The committee has
suggested introducing a
screening process by which
the director of membership
may contact the nominators
with an opportunity prior to
deadline to adjust specific
criteria if needed. This
idea will be taken into
consideration.
A deeper look will also be
given to the criteria and the
Clown of the Year program
itself. New criteria will be
forthcoming in time for the
next program material to be
submitted. So please keep an
eye out for the new criteria
via the website and The New
Calliope.
Meanwhile, continue to
look for the best of the best
clowns in your community.
Look for clowns whom
you feel have individual
performance qualities and
can be a spokesperson for
all of COAI. Plan well in
advance to ask for letters
of recommendation. Make
a list of required criteria
and check each off prior to
sending the package and
don’t wait until the last
minute. While it seems that
nomination packages are
received by deadline, missing
criteria appears
to be a result of
not allowing sufficient time
to prepare the application
process. Keep in mind that
some nominations have been
resubmitted multiple times
before winning the award.
We have excellent and
wonderful nominations,
clowns well deserving of the
Clown of the Year award.
As a nominator, strive to
not only coordinate all of
the material, but aim to
serve the nominee in all due
respect by following all of
the requirements. You will
achieve your goal and make
one nominee very happy.
l l l
Candidate Procedures For Election
1. Convention procedure:
a. Ads may be placed in the convention program book, not to exceed ½ of a page or $50 cost.
b. Displays: There will be a designated area at the convention hotel where posters and flyers can be placed for all
to see. This location will be announced at the convention. There will be no posting of posters, flyers, or stickers
throughout the hotel or elevators. This will put the host alley in a disfavorable light with the hotel and may cause
added expenses for clean up.
c. Meet the Candidates: COAI will host a “meet the candidates” time during the annual convention. During this
designated time, the candidates can hand out inexpensive trinkets, stickers and flyers. Candidates not attending the
convention should designate a person who will hand out his/her information.
2. COAI Database
COAI reminds all candidates that any and all use of the COAI Database is restricted and not acceptable for use by
candidates.
3. The New Calliope
Due to cost of placing an ad or article, we are banning the use of The New Calliope for campaigning other than the
allowed one-time submission of declaration for your candidacy, at no cost to the candidate. No other submission
allowed.
4. Social Media – COAI Facebook page and COAI web site
No campaigning will be allowed on the COAI Facebook page nor on the COAI website forums.
The procedures listed above are put in place to make sure no one candidate will have an unfair advantage over
another candidate.
January/February 2012 Page 11

BeBePaints.com
For All Of Your Face Painting Supplies
And Clown Makeup Too
Kryolan Paints • Mehron Accessories
Brushes • Stencils • Glitter Tats
Sponges • Flat Cases • Books
Glitters • and lots more.
Visit at www.bebepaints.com or
contact me at: gobebegirl@aol.com
BeBe the Clown • P.O. Box 26275 • St. Louis, MO 63136 • 314-868-0770
Jared’s Goodies
Your #1 Place
To Get Glitter
At A Low, Low Price!
Glitter • Diamond FX Face Paint
Balloons • Magic • Candy
440-488-1963
www.jaredsgoodies.webs.com
Page 12
The New Calliope

COAI Wants To Pay For Your Membership
by Teresa Gretton
Director of Membership
Ladies and Gentleman, COAI
clowns of all shoe sizes … start your
engines. The Membership Drive
contest COAI Wants To Pay For
Your Membership, is now officially
underway and YOU are a winner at
every stage of this race.
Stage One
From now until the stroke of
midnight on ‘April Fool’s Day’ (that
is until 11:59:59 PM on April 1, 2012)
for each NEW member you bring into
COAI, you will have three months
added on to YOUR membership
immediately. That means one new
member equals three more months
and those months are added on to
your membership right away. So if
you bring in four (4) new members
during this drive, YOUR membership
is absolutely FREE for 2013. Let’s
make one point very clear, if you only
bring in one new member you will still
get YOUR membership extended for
three more months and you do not pay
a thing for those months. See, you’re
a winner already! Another possibility
would be ‘GIFTING’ a membership.
You purchase the ‘Gift’ for someone
and that person would receive the
membership, and you would receive
three months added to yours. Now
you’re a double winner.
Stage Two
There is no limit! If you bring in
six new members you’ll get a year and
a half added on to your membership.
Eight new members, you’ll get two
years. The more members you recruit,
the more months and years you can
have added to your membership. There
is no waiting, as soon as they are fully
registered you get your additional
months. So stage two is no waiting
and there is no limit, what could be
better than that, except …
Stage Three
We are going to make this a real
race to the finish! On April 2 we
will add up all the “new” joeys. The
ONE member with the most “new”
joeys will be declared the COAI TOP
RECRUITER and will receive:
• One ADDITIONAL full year
added on to your membership
• A brand new black COAI
logo shirt with 2012 TOP
RECRUITER embroidered on
it
• An article about YOU in The
New Calliope.
• A picture of you with your new
shirt, in the slide show, on the
home page at www.coai.org.
• A ‘Certificate of Appreciation’
as COAI’s TOP RECRUITER
• A special presentation at the
2012 COAI International
Convention in Kansas City,
MO, if you choose to attend
Stage Four
Congratulations, wave that
checkered flag, because if you made
it to Stage Four then you are the
sole WINNER of the COAI TOP
RECRUITER race … AND if you
have recruited more than 25 NEW
MEMBERS, you and you alone will
receive one FULL REGISTRATION
to the 2013 COAI International
Convention held in Richmond,
Virginia PLUS you will hold the
COAI Top Recruiter WORLD
RECORD.
The best part of this Membership
Drive is that we all benefit by it. A
COAI membership is a very special
prize all by itself, so let’s get out there
and share it with as many people as we
can.
Rules
• Any and all active COAI
members are eligible.
• A new member is anyone who
has not been a member of
COAI for the past three years.
They will receive a new COAI
number.
• The new member must have
your name and COAI number
on their registration for you to
get credit.
• We prefer new members to
register on the website at:
www.coai.org but will accept
membership forms (also found
in The New Calliope) by mail,
fax, or email. These should be
directed to the business office
listed on page 4.
• If you cannot make it to the
COAI Convention in Kansas
City, MO, you will still be
announced as the winner at the
banquet, and will receive all
your rewards by mail.
• This membership promotion
begins January 1, 2012 and
ends 11:59:59 PM of April 1,
2012.
• In the event of a tie for the
COAI Top Recruiter, the person
who recruited the most new
joeys FIRST, will be declared
the winner.
• Lifetime members can gift
their reward months to a nonlifetime
member after the
contest is over.
• This promotion is intended for
individual members; Alleys
may work in unison but must
use individual COAI member
numbers for rewards. Rewards
are transferable after contest
results, if requested in writing.
l l l
January/February 2012 Page 13

Page 14
The New Calliope

Roarin' Towards
Kansas City
by Lohren Meier
We are excited that you will soon be
attending the COAI Convention, April
24-29, 2012. We wanted to update you
on some of the exciting events you will
experience at this year's convention.
Besides all the great educators,
vendors, competitions, jam sessions
and general clowning around, we've
filled your week in Kansas City with
professional entertainment for you to
enjoy! Opening night of the convention
will feature local performers, including
your hosts, The Northland Clown
Guild. The next two evenings feature
our headliners, including Duane &
Mary Laflin as “The King and Presto,
Norm Barnhardt as “The Great
Normando” and David Bartlett as “Mr.
Rainbow.”
The Wednesday BBQ buffet
luncheon includes “The Golden
Era Radio Show” presented by a
professional theater company. The
Mystery Players have been hired
to perform a live radio broadcast.
Suddenly, the actors learn part of the
troupe has come down with some rare
disease and cannot perform. Knowing
that this is a very special performance,
impromptu auditions must be held
for the positions that have to be filled
immediately. Roles to be filled include
various acting roles, sound effects,
music, crowd responses ... Also-there is
another problem - the scriptwriter has
combined two scripts into one which
means the murder mystery and soap
opera are in one script. Be careful not
to laugh too hard with all that BBQ
sauce.
Friday evening brings back our
professional actors for an interactive
murder mystery. Mama Lasagna, the
Godmother and head of the notorious
Lasagna crime family, is celebrating her
birthday. Unfortunately, the celebration
is cut short when Mama’s arch rival,
Mickey Mozzarella, is found murdered
in his Maserati, outside. The problem is
that Mickey Mozzarella is a made man,
and it’s up to Guido Linguini, one of
the Mafia’s most feared hit men, to find
his killer. Was it Mama’s incompetent
son, Vinnie? Or Vinnie’s cheating
wife, Lola? Or Mama’s faithful
bodyguard, Giacomo. Or maybe
it was Mama herself. Whoever it
was, the syndicate wants Guido
to find them and bring them to
justice, because…nobody whacks
a made man and gets away with
it. Can your clown brain figure out
this mystery? Don't take too long,
because our 20th Anniversary Birthday
Party is ready to roll as soon as the
mystery is solved.
We even have entertainment
scheduled right till the end. Saturday
night is the awards banquet (don't
forget your award receiving clothes).
During dinner, some of our headliners
will be back to add to the evening.
A whole week of entertainment is
included in your registration!
If this isn't enough for your week,
you can also register for one of three
pre-convention workshops on Tuesday
morning:
Foam Prop Making
By Lohren Meier
Make over $90 worth of retail props,
plus learn how to get free foam, cut
the foam, glue the foam, and color the
foam. Notes Included. All for only $50.
Limit 20 people.
UV-Blacklight Painting
By Barbara Carter
UV reaches a vast audience from
preteens to nightclubbers to sexy
seniors. All levels are welcome to this
lecture/hands-on workshop. Each of the
25 who register will receive a UV color
wheel, sponges and brush to get you
started. Cost $40 per person. Limit 25
people.
Caring Clowning
By Curt and Diana Patty
Learn the secrets of working in
a hospital: costuming, bags, name
placement, sticker use, routines,
hospital approved face painting,
hospital etiquette with difficult kids,
and making staff relationships that last.
This workshop is also good for nursing
homes and other medical venues.
Cost $45 per person. Limit 25 people.
Separate registration in addition to your
convention registration is required,
details online.
We're getting close to the big week
and finalizing all the details. We almost
have the airport shuttle figured out and
will let you know ASAP. Don't worry,
we won't leave you stranded. To get
some special perks like early seating,
a bigger goodie bag and convention
t-shirt, we still have a few “Godfather”
packages available (full details online).
We're also still working on some extra
side trips like a Kansas City Gangster
Trolley Tour and a Royal’s baseball
game (just across the street from
the hotel). Even if you have already
registered, be sure to keep checking.
Go to www.coai.org and click on
“Convention” for updates. We look
forward to seeing all of you for the
Roaring 20's in Kansas City this April!
l l l
January/February 2012 Page 15

Why Did I Wait So Long
by Jayne “Twinkle” Urquhart
Chances are, if you are read The
New Calliope, you are a clown. Can you
remember back when you first thought
about being a clown? Did you hunt for a
clown school or drag your feet? Can you
remember when you first went to clown
school? You may have thought about how
much fun it would be to entertain people
with tricks or the balloons you would
learn to tie. I’m sure you never dreamed
about that warm fuzzy feeling you would
have the first time someone laughed at
something you did while performing as a
clown. I remember.
I got started in the summer of 2006 at
the age of 59. My husband worked with
two guys named Bruce Kerr and Lynn
Hopkins at General Electric in Eire, PA.
Even the people they worked with called
them by their clown names, Bruce was
Rollo and Lynn was Happy Hoppy. They
would talk about clowning and how I
would make a good clown. Rollo told my
husband that “Squeeze” was going to start
a clown school down in Meadville. At that
same time I had read an article in the local
paper about a clown school starting at the
Market House in Meadville. A voice said:
“You know you’re 59 years old.” I called
to sign up anyway and the lady said to
come down before 2 p.m. and register. I
was surprised to learn that my name was
already on her list! I guess Rollo just took
it upon himself to register for me.
A few weeks later I was a member of
the first ever Squeeze U Clown School
with 11 other “newbies.” It was a rush.
The excitement was high but the speed of
morphing into a clown was at lightning
speed. I picked the type of clown and
learned to put my face on. I picked a
name, bought a wig, made a costume.
Whew! Who was that person looking back
at me in the mirror? I learned some jokes,
pocket magic, tricks, and learned to tie a
balloon dog.
While all this was going on the 12
newbies and two instructors Squeeze
and Rollo had turned into a very special
group. We all graduated and went to the
Erie Alley which some of us joined. Some
of our clowns wanted to have an alley
closer to Meadville, so we started Clown
City Clown Alley in Meadville, PA.
Life was good for a while. I clowned
with both Erie Alley, Clown City Clowns
and occasionally by myself. There is
nothing in the world like the first time
you hear someone laugh at something you
did. I was hooked. I couldn’t get enough
clowning. Squeeze suggested we all go
to the MACA Convention in Harrisburg
that November. Most of us went.
She introduced us to Leon “Buttons”
McBryde. He offered to spend some time
with us answering questions we might
have. We were in awe, even more after
the one and a half hours he spent talking
to us. He asked if we would want to be in
his show! You all know Buttons and how
tall he is, but you can’t imagine how tall
he was in our eyes! Life was good and
Willy from Philly would say, “I love being
a clown. Why did I wait so late in life to
become a clown?”
Seven months after I graduated I was
solidly hooked on clowning. Then my life
took one of those unexpected turns. I was
working two jobs besides clowning. I was
a rural carrier associate at our post office
and I worked at the Stone Methodist
Church. I had 21 years invested at the post
office. On March 5 th I fell down a flight of
stairs. Three weeks later I left the hospital
with a severe concussion, 6 pins in my
right wrist and three more pins in two
fingers of my right hand. Mostly, I left
with a sinking feeling the I would never
strap out the mail again, I wouldn’t be
able to do the church job and most of all,
there would be no more balloon twisting,
face painting, or magic. Clowning was
also gone.
I had signed up for Clown Town,
but decided not to go. Why should I?
I couldn’t face paint, twist balloons. I
was in a major depression. Squeeze,
my husband, and my friend Mort said I
should go, it would do me good, besides,
I had already paid my money. I agreed to
go but I wasn’t taking “Twinkle.” I took
a lipstick clown costume from a Mardi
Gras party I had a few years earlier and
I didn’t take a wig. Nobody understood
how heartbroken I was, I had just lost
everything. I couldn’t even clown. Then
Squeeze took me to see a clown named
Bubba Sikes. “Hey Bubba, this is the
clown I told you about.” Oh my, what has
she said! I didn’t want to meet anyone.
I do believe if you can’t be happy and
have a good time then you shouldn’t be
around clowns. Well Bubba gave me the
speech about what you think about when
you think of a clown ... a nose, big shoes,
funny hair. Nobody mentions balloons or
face painting. Those are not the things you
should concentrate on if you want to be a
clown. Needless to say, I went home with
a different point of view. I could continue
being depressed, or I could choose not to
be depressed. I could be a clown, or not
be a clown. I chose to be a clown.
I started attending everything I could.
I went to Paint the Town Red, COAI
conventions, Shrine Clown seminars,
MACA Conventions, Red Skelton’s First
Inaugural Clown School and Priscilla
Mooseburger's Moose Camp. I used
twisting balloons as therapy for getting
my wrist and fingers to move. Face
painting was still a challenge, but I can
get the job done. I helped Erie Alley grow
by working at the Alley Clown School
every year. I tried to attend every event
the Erie Alley participates in.
Now I am involved with the startup
of Erie Alley’s new Junior Joey
Program. Along the way I have met many
wonderful clowns, from people who let
me pick their clown name to those who
were students of instructors I’d met along
my journey. I’ve met people who worked
with Red Skelton; Priscilla Mooseburger,
who made my second costume and taught
me much about clowning techniques,
Karen and Greg DeSantos who inspire
me, and most of all I got to be great
friends with Toby. Toby is a friend to
clowning and my mentor. He encouraged
me to pursue storytelling. It’s been five
years since my first clown school, and
now I only have one regret ... Why Did I
Wait So Long To Become A Clown??
l l l
Page 16
The New Calliope

Train Wreck Rehersal
by Brian “Topper” Lees
Great performers do great shows. But,
in my opinion, there is one element that
takes a great performer to the fantastic
level. That is smooth recovery and cover
for mistakes, problems and bad situations.
If you are in the audience chances are you
never knew something went wrong.
We have all been there at one time
or another. You set up a trick or routine
and when you get to the blow off it fails.
Perhaps you forgot to load the gimmick.
Maybe the selfworking part just didn’t
work. You picked up the prop and the
load fell out while you flashed the trick to
the audience.
I refer to it as train wreck. Everything
is moving along nice and smooth. Things
are happening as they should the show
is going well. Then for any reason
whatsoever something goes wrong and
it is like a train derailment. If you get
flustered or panic then even more things
can go wrong. The bottom line is you get
blindsided with a problem that slaps you
like a cold bucket of icy water.
I watched a magician work the magic
rings. When he picked up the two rings
that need to appear to be individual but
are actually already linked, he flashed it.
Not taking a moment’s
breath he held them
up for the audience
to see they were
already linked. He tossed them aside and
loudly said “That will save us a lot of
time”. He then picked up the next series
of rings and moved on with the routine.
If you know the rings routine then you
know what happened. But the audience
had no clue there was a problem at all.
At the end of the show I spoke with
him and we talked about the situation.
He told me that he intentionally looks
at his show and tries to visualize where
problems may come up. In short, he has
considered all kinds of problems with the
rings and has an idea of how he would
react if any of those problems come up.
Just like a light bulb coming on in
a dark room my mind captured that
concept. I have recorded my show many
times. And since that discussion I have
intentionally set my show up for rehearsal
the night before and left out a load, or set
up the wrong silk, or otherwise set myself
up with train wrecks. The following
morning after coffee I turned on the
recorder and run through my show. This
forced me to react as I stumbled onto
problems. It also prepares me so I was
ready during my live performances.
Train wreck rehearsal has worked
for me. I have been performing in front
of audiences and run into problems.
This type of rehearsal provides ideas
that have helped me keep moving. On
many occasions I have recovered and
let the problem seem to a normal part
of my show. And, just last year one of
the audience members came up to me
mentioning that I covered well. I forgot
to load a silk in my square circle. From
rehearsal I knew I could reach into my
back pocket, palm a load, and recover.
I shared the story of the magician
and rings that prompted me to rehearse
train wrecks. That audience member
now practices train wrecks with his
presentations too. He does motivational
lectures and has incorporated ideas for
failed overhead, lost notes, etc. I have not
talked with him since that show. But my
guess is that he is prepared for problems
and ready to recover as needed.
Keep your rehearsal productive.
Practice your show over and over again.
But occasionally set yourself up for a
train wreck. Record your show and see
how you handle these problems. You
would be surprised as just anticipating
problems makes you more aware. And,
when those unexpected things happen
you will have some ideas of what to do.
That is a lot better than standing there
in shock with a major dead spot in your
performance.
l l l

STAND DOGGY! STAND!
Mr. Rainbow a.k.a. David Bartlett
Photos by Tim SAWDUST Laynor
Take a pencil balloon
And start twisting
and soon
It’s...a doggie!!!
Stand doggy! Stand!
Ohhhhhhh nooooooo!
Hummm……
Photo byAlex Zaprudsky
Page 18
The New Calliope

Tah Dah!
Simply put, David MR. RAINBOW
Bartlett of Durham, North
Carolina, is a clown. He is also
a renowned balloon sculpture
artist and designer as well as an
accomplished writer, lecturer,
singer, song writer, award winning
actor, director and, penny-pincher!
Legal disclaimer: Illegal for use in most balloon
competitions! Everywhere else...Enjoy!
January/February 2012 Page 19

Page 20
CIRCUS SMIRKUS
Living the Dream
by Ann “Tuttles” Sanders
Photo by Alex Zaprudsky
If you are a Junior Joey
with ambitions to perform
in center ring, consider
auditioning for Circus
Smirkus, headquartered
in Greensboro, Vermont.
According to Jesse
Dryden, Creative Director,
“Candidates must submit an
audition video (maximum
2 minutes). At least one
minute must showcase
their talents and it should
also include an interview
of why we should choose
you. The auditionees can
be as creative as they want.
If chosen, they get invited
to ‘live’ auditions and will
get further interviewed and
present a performance piece.
Again, 2 minutes.”
Marialisa Calta, public
relations, wants Circus
Smikus wannabes to know
it is not a requirement that
the performers receive
their training from Smirkus
Summer Camp, a sleepover
camp specializing in circus
arts. “Some of our kids —
like Sam Ferlo — are mostly
self-taught. Others train
with artists in or near their
hometowns. I would guess,
however, that half to twothirds
of our troupers went
to camp.”
“About 100 kids send in
video audition tapes. Of
those, 45 or so are selected
for live auditions. Of these,
25 to 30 are chosen. The
more skills they have, the
better the chances of being
selected to come to live
auditions. Clowns often
audition with such skills
as juggling, balancing, or
acrobatics,” she said.
Per Jesse: “From there,
Troy (Troy Wunderle, Big
Top Tour Artistic Director)
and I select the next season's
troupe based on the needs
of the show, the talent,
the personalities etc. It is
a complex and thorough
process.”
Photos by Alex Zaprudsky
Being on the current show,
however, does not guarantee
you a position in the next
year’s performance. Marialisa
adds, “Coaches want to
make sure you are working
on your skills and growing
as a performer. Returning
performers are, however,
invited immediately to live
auditions; they do not have
to submit a video audition.
The number of returning
troupers depends on how
many have ‘aged out.’”
(Once you turn 18, you
are no longer eligible to
apply).
Jesse
adds,
“When Troy and I do the
casting we are searching for
that initial sparkle; the funny
bones of a fledgling clown.”
”Smirkus offers a unique
training ground; a living
laboratory for clowns to
perform again and again
with a fresh crowd. This is
key to the development of
clowns, to repeat and learn
from each audience,” he
continued. “To listen to
reactions and laughter; to
experiment with timing,
and eventually find the
ease to play with new
material; all within the
safety of the Smirkus big
top. What more could a
clown wish for?”
The New Calliope
Photo by Tim Laynor

Before the show goes
on the road, the troupers
train, with their coaches,
for three weeks at Smirkus
Headquarters. They have
a choreographer from off-
Broadway who comes to work
on the chari vari and finale
and other dance moves.
They have coaches for
juggling, rola bola, clowning,
diaiabolo, trampoline-wall,
aerials (trap, lyra, triangle,
fabric, ropes), wire, and
acrobatics. In addition,
three coaches are traveling
with Smirkus, and they offer
additional training on the
road. This year coaches came
from New Zealand, Canada,
Switzerland, Morocco and
the United States.
In addition to the
touring circus, for which
Circus Smirkus is perhaps
best known, the company
offers overnight Smirkus
Camps and year-round
Smirkus School Ringmaster
Residencies in Vermont
schools.
Smirkus Camps are
offered, for a fee, on a
separate campus in Vermont.
Camp, founded in 1990,
offers a variety of classes
from beginner to advanced
skill levels, to children as
young as 6 and upward to
age 18, and of all abilities.
The camps are offered both
2 day and 2 week residential
sessions. Campers are
accepted on a first-come,
first-served basis and the
sessions have a reputation
of filling quickly. FYI Junior
Joeys: Registration, for
Smirkus Camp, opened
online for the 2012 season
on November 1, 2011.
In addition to Camp,
Smirkus offers the
Ringmaster Residencies
School programs.
Classrooms are transformed
into an exciting and funfilled
learning environment
where children are taught
circus history, as well as
how to juggle, tumble, and
clown. The programs are
a non-competitive physical
art form that extends easily
to any part of the school
curriculum. Each lesson
is designed to meet one
or more state standards of
learning. The residencies,
taught by a circus
professional, are
customized to fit
the school’s needs
and are offered
daily for one day,
one week or two
weeks, in school
or after school.
Historically,
Smirkus
Residency is
taught in New
England and
upstate New York
but is available
throughout the
country.
For Junior
Joeys interested
in auditioning for
the show and/
or for additional
information about
Smirkus Camps,
please visit them
at: http://www.
smirkus.org/
l l l
Photo by Tim Laynor
Photo by Alex Zaprudsky
Photo by Tim Laynor
January/February 2012 Photo by Tim Laynor
Page 21

SCHOOL
is in
session
Pricilla Mooseburger
a.k.a. Tricia Manuel
School is in session and it is
time to hit the books because
it is never too late to learn
something new. Some of us
have been out of school for a long
time. The idea of learning a new skill
can be a little frightening. How do
you go about learning something
new?
It is a good idea to figure out
how you learn best. I love to read,
but I am a very visual learner. When I
try to read an instruction manual my
head starts to spin! However if there
is a diagram I have better luck. Some
folks learn audibly. They can benefit
from tapes or DVDs. There are more
books and DVDs on the market now
more than ever before! From face
painting to magic to ventriloquism,
someone is putting a DVD out on
the subject. Not all education is
created equal! Talk to your friends to
find out who has the best product.
See if you can get them through
your local library.
The biggest thing to remember,
regardless or how you learn best,
is that it is OK to make a mistake.
That first bag of balloon animals may
end up looking like refugees from
a nuclear plant – no matter! You
will improve with practice. Accept
from the beginning that you will not
astound yourself with your “natural”
ability. Kids really don't care if each
bubble is not in perfect proportion.
They will love you all the more if
you tell them you are just a beginner.
Little kids especially can relate to
that and will be on your side.
Giving yourself permission to fail
or at least not be perfect is the first
step. I knew a guy who taught people
how to juggle. He said you are going
to drop the balls at least 100 times
before you get it. So you might as
well get started dropping those balls
and get it out of your system! I love
that idea!
Now you may be new to
clowning or trying to learn a
new skill. Yikes! You are going to
make mistakes but it is OK and an
expected part of learning something
new. As adults, we are not supposed
to make mistakes. We have this
misguided notion that we should
have it all figured out by now.
WRONG. Making mistakes makes
Page 22
The New Calliope

us feel uncomfortable. By now, most
of us are competent at what we
do, or we are really good at hiding
our mistakes!!! When you start to
learn something new get ready to
feel uncomfortable. Just by making
a mental note about this makes all
the difference. Remind yourself that
with practice, this feeling will go away
and it is all a natural part of learning
something new. If you don't make
mistakes or fail at something you
try, you are not trying very hard or
challenging yourself very much.
What happens when you try to
learn something new and you just
can't get it? Ask for help! Don't
be afraid to call the company you
purchased the trick or item from and
ask for assistance. Take the trick or
prop to your next clown club meeting
and see if someone else has figured it
out and can help you. A few minutes
of hands-on help can make all the
difference in the world. But first you
have to ask for the help you need and
just “get over it”. Most clowns are
generally happy to help.
This can also make for a great alley
meeting activity! In advance, let your
club members know that you will be
having a “What the heck do I do with
this” night. Have members bring those
challenging items and then share the
fun and knowledge. You can have a
“show-and-tell-me-how-to-do-this”
kind of event. You can share skills,
learn something new, and have a few
laughs. Sessions like these can build a
sense of teamwork and self-esteem
within a clown club as well. Everyone
wins!
When learning a new skill, set
reasonable goals. Set a specific time
when you will practice. Put it on
your calendar. For real results, you
need to be committed to practice.
In Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey
Clown College, we put our makeup
on EVERY day for weeks! That is what
it takes to get proficient at a skill
commitment. At Moose Camp, our
Clowning 101 course, students put
their makeup on every day. It
keeps the ideas in your mind
fresh. If you only think
about improving
a
skill once
a month,
then when
you have a
performance
lined up you
will not get good
results.
If you are having
trouble getting motivated,
invite a friend to practice
with you. That will keep you
on track and it is more fun that
way. Sometimes you have to put
your feet to the fire. If you are
pretty good at something, but
you just need that extra push,
book it!!!! What I mean is, set up a
performance using that skill or new
show! Your sense of commitment
will nag you until you get it done. If
there is no set goal, it is very easy
to put learning something new on
the back burner.
School is in session.
See you in class!
l l l
Pricilla Mooseburger, a.k.a.
Tricia Manuel, started her
clown career with Ringling
Brothers, Barnum & Bailey
Circus. While working at
the Greatest Show on
Earth, she learned the art
of indestructible costume
design. She is a long time
member of COAI.
JUGGLING
SKITS
M A G I C
CLOWNING BASICS
January/February 2012 Page 23

Page 24
The New Calliope

www.coai.org
How To Register On The Website
• Log in to www.coai.org and Click on “Register”
• Fill In your Username, First Name and Last Name
in the spaces provided.
• Next screen, choose CURRENT MEMBER
• Continue, filling out all the pertinent information.
• In the billing section, put a 0 in for family
members. If you have family members, have them
register after you. In the comments field please
note who your family members are. Select “Bill
Me” - you will receive a bill for $0 (because this
is an automated system, we need to get your profile
information without you being charged.)
• Once your submission is approved you'll be
able to start working on your profile preferences
and exploring our site.
• For more information on registering, see your
January/February 2011 New Calliope or call the
business office: M-F, 9-5, EST.
Our Good Cheer List
Please take a minute and spread a few words
of cheer with a card or note to one of
our less fortunate members.
Ms. Jackie “Lollibells” Garner
418 Sharmain Place
San Antonio, TX 78221-1846
Barbara “Patches” Nichols
504 College Place
Kingsville, TX 78363-4901
Betty Schultz
8300 NW Barry Road, Apt 238
Kansas City, MO 64153
Frank “Famus Fumbles” Recor
C/O Crystal River Health & Rehab
136 N.E. 12th Ave., Room 19N
Crystal River, FL 34429
Sissy Womack
2602 Maplewood Road
Richmond, VA 23228
Roland “Rolo the Clown” Wood
60 River Road
Edwards, NY 13635
Fred Schlosshauer,
Good Cheer Chairman
8 Alanon Street
Whippany, NJ 07981
973-887-2617
oscarboj@aol.com
January/February 2012 Page 25

Page 26
The New Calliope

MY FAVORITE MAGIC
Math
by Kent Sheets
This is an easy mental magic trick.
You may already be familiar with this
trick, since it comes in various forms.
I have seen a version with numbers
up to 60. I believe the harder the trick,
the less likely clowns will use it. This
version is easy, repeatable, can be in the
size of a business card or larger than an
8” x 10” sheet. You can customize this
trick with various contrasting colors
and/or add graphics for holidays or
special occasions. It only uses numbers
1 to 15 and four colored cards. It is
very easy to make on your computer.
A volunteer selects a number. After a
couple of questions, you mentally guess
their selected number.
The Trick:
A volunteer is selected. You will
need someone who is capable of
identifying and remembering their
selected number. Four cards with
various different background colors and
contrasting color numbers are shown
to a volunteer. They are asked to select
one of the four colored cards that are
shown. That card is displayed and the
volunteer is asked to select one number
that is on that card. I usually ask the
volunteer to write the number down or
tell the number quietly to a person next
to them. All the other cards are shown
to the volunteer. As each card is shown,
the volunteer is asked if their selected
number is on the card. After all four
cards are shown, you mentally select
their number.
The Secret:
Each colored card has some of
the same numbers and some different
numbers on them. The important
observation is the number in the top
left corner. These numbers are one,
two, four, and eight. As the cards are
shown to the volunteer, add each top
left corner number of the cards where
the volunteers number appears. If the
volunteer's selected number is one, they
will only identify one card (with one on
Mental Magic
it) that has their selected number on it.
If the volunteer selected 15, they will
identify every card (all four) having
their selected number on them.
My Story:
“Excuse me, would you like to see
a mental math trick?” In a group, ask,
“Are there any mental math wizards
here? Just kidding. I am looking for
a very intelligent person to help me.”
Please look at these cards and select
one of them by their color! It is a
free choice.” Sometimes I repeat the
colors, “Red, Yellow? Blue? White?”
Once they have chosen a card, tell
them to select a number on this card
and write it down or quietly tell their
neighbor.
“Is your selected number in the red
square?”
“Is your selected number in the
white square?”
“Is your selected number in the
yellow square?”
“Is your selected number in the
blue square?”
“Please concentrate on your
number so I can mentally determine
it.” (Go into your acting routine.)
Calculate their selected number by
adding up the top left corner numbers
on the cards that the volunteer has
identified. (1, 2, 4, 8, max is 15)
“Is your number (answer)?”
Ask group to give volunteer a
round of applause.
“Thank you for your help. You are
a mental math wizard.”
Enjoy and have fun.
l l l
January/February 2012 Page 27

Take 2 Red Noses &
Call Me in the Morning!
Tips for a Hospital Clown
Spending seven years on the road with
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus,
I was given the opportunity to visit many
hospitals from the East Coast to the sunny
shores of the West. It was on these visits that
I was able to meet many patients and their
families, to see what they were going through,
and to bring a little joy to the situation at
hand.
For some, we were there to bring a little
“circus magic”, since the patients were just
too sick to come see the show when it came
to town. Others just wanted to meet someone
new, not a doctor or a nurse or any other
character you might encounter along the
winding halls of a hospital.
We were “outsiders” and brought a little
glimpse of the outside world that lay just
beyond the front doors of the lobby. I always
felt great joy in the knowledge that what I had
brought to the patients (and families) really
gave them an escape from the real world.
They were able to abandon the situation they
were in, if even for just a few moments, and
come join us in the “world of imagination” we
carried with us.
After leaving Ringling, I joined the
Funnyatrics program at Children's Medical
Center in Dallas, Texas. The program, started
by Brenda Marshall and Tiffany Riley back in
2005, had been established as a fully functional
therapeutic program at the hospital. In the
Funnyatrics program, the clowns work in
teams of two. When I was on the circus, we
would actually split up and go by ourselves to
the rooms. In my opinion, having a partner
makes the work easier, because you have
someone else to play off.
As I have moved from circus clown to
hospital clown in my day-to-day life, I have
learned a few things that apply to the hospital,
and clowning within its walls. If I can, I would
Page 28
By Kelly James Ballagh
“Dr. P. Brain”
like to share those thoughts with you!
In our orientation we learned about
hospital signs. We learned that signs on
the patients’ rooms are very important to
follow. If you see a sign you must read it, since
most rooms with signs are isolation rooms.
That means we cannot enter. Most ICU rooms
have signs up! As a circus clown, the patients
know you are coming to “entertain” them with
all the magic of the circus. Their expectations
are set to that wonder and excitement.
As a hospital clown, you are dressed in a
costume (i.e. a doctor’s coat, nurse’s scrubs,
or a patient’s gown) that the patient and
family recognize from the hospital.
You’re no longer an “outsider” coming
in to visit, but rather someone who
belongs there inside the hospital.
This can be tough for a clown, since
the doctor’s coat, as an example, is
symbolic of a doctor in a young
patient’s eyes. To them, the
doctor is the person who comes
and “pokes and prods”, even
if for the patient’s own good,
which may cause a little
apprehension when they
see the coat. The “doctor”
clowns must use the
humor they embody to
win over the patient.
One trick
in doing this
is allowing the
PATIENTS to be “in
charge”. Ask them questions, let
them decide what you should do, and
above all else, let them have fun with it.
The reason you to do this is simple; the
patients have been told what to do
and when to do it ever since they
entered the hospital. Allowing
The New Calliope

them to make the decisions
gives them a sense of control,
something they haven’t had
while being in the hospital.
Another trick is to approach
with caution! Reading the
situation and being able to
tell how accepting the patient
(and family) will be is crucial.
This little step, above any
other, is probably the most
key “ingredient” to hospital
clowning. If the patient isn’t
ready for a visit from a clown,
no matter how hard you try,
they will stay within their
bubble and not come out.
Body language, emotion, and
atmosphere inside the room
are all part of that puzzle.
Being able to read them and
know if it’s okay to visit is the
first step.
Once inside the room, if
allowed, your next step is
finding out HOW LONG
you can stay. Sometimes the
visit will last five minutes, and
at times only two. The patient
will let you know when they
are done with the visit, either
verbally or physically. And
when they do, it is time to
leave graciously.
to say “yes” and “no” to the
things you ask. When you
reach the moment to exit
the room, leave them with
something they can remember
you by. Be it a clown nose,
a clown baseball card, or a
keepsake, this will allow them
to hold onto something to
remember their encounter
with you that day.
In contrast, when you
enter a waiting room, the
“audience” will be different.
Most people in the waiting
room are family members
who are, drum roll please,
WAITING for their patient
to be done with the doctor.
You still have to “read your
audience” to know how
much you can do; but in this
situation you can always do
more. You have fun magic
tricks, can juggle objects, or
are skilled with other tricks,
this is your stage. The people
in this room have nowhere
else to go, so you performing
for them is their escape from
the reality they are in.
a residue on the ground that
is hard to clean up. The best
thing is to ask before using
any item you think might
be on the “no-no” list. All
hospitals have different rules
and regulations.
Most of the people in the
Funnyatrics program have had
some sort of training from
acting to improv comedy, but
only four people in the eightperson
program were clowns
before coming in. A lot of the
training is in-house, where
we learn in workshops led
by guest instructors. When
we joined, we went through
the hospital orientation all
employees go through, and
every year we have a health
screening, to check that we
are okay and get a flu shot.
As you approach your
hospital clowning, you will
find the rewards endless. The
people you meet in the halls,
the encounters you have
with the patients in their
rooms, and the smiles you
receive as you depart each
visit brings your job into a
whole new light. These are
things that make your life
more complete, because of
what you have given and
received from the work you’ve
done. As a comical character
wandering the halls of the
hospital, you bring something
out of the ordinary to the
situation at hand.
Oh, and remember, take
two clown noses, and call me
in the morning!
l l l
Something else I have
found while working at the
hospital is BUBBLES. This is
Following along this same
probably the BEST “tool” for
thought, another thing you
a hospital clown. No matter
must do is assess how much
what the situation, bubbles
clowning you need to do
are always a crowd pleaser,
while in the room (be it
espically for the young ones.
a waiting room, patients’
Bubbles can calm a crying
room, or a prep room in day
baby, sooth a cranky twoyear-old,
and entertain the
surgery). In some rooms,
just being a goofy character
young at heart! You can put
Kelly James Ballagh started his career in clowning when he joined
is all the patient really needs.
them in your pocket and carry the Blue Unit of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in 2001.
For example maybe you are
them around, just waiting for It was here he spent his first year learning the art of clowning from
entering the room of a sevenyear-old,
who is just about
the moment when they are
a clown who went to the famed Ringling Bros. Clown College. As
needed most. Don’t over use the years went by, he became a more accomplished performer, as
to eat lunch. You want the
them, but allow them to be
well as a more rounded entertainer, learning additional skills from
patient to eat, so don’t take up
your safety backup plan when performers including the high wire walkers and jugglers on the circus.
too much time, but give him
all else fails!
In 2005, Kelly was promoted to the higher ranking as Boss Clown
of the Red Unit, where he was placed in charge of the entire clown
or her a good encounter to I know hospitals do not
alley for the show. Instrumental in the hiring and training of new
remember. In this situation, allow use of Latex balloons
clowns, Kelly became a skilled teacher of the “art of circus clowning”
you can ask funny questions because of Latex allergies. We
in his remaining years at the circus. At the end of 2007, Kelly left the
about the food, or ask if you have not had any issues with
circus to begin his post Ringling career. He can now be found working
might have some, too. This bubbles, except for the use of
at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas as a therapeutic clown, doing
gives the patient the “control” bubbles with glycerin. These
advance clowning for Ringling Bros. Circus when needed, teaching
in the relationship between bubbles are the ones that hold
clowning workshops across the United States. You can visit his website
the two of you, allowing them their shape better, yet cause
at: www.KellyJamesBallagh.com.
January/February 2012 Page 29

The Ring of Honor
Specializing in gadgets for the caring clown
Clown Stethoscopes • Bubble Toys • Stickers
Juggling Supplies • Mehron & Wolfe Dealer
www.clowngadgetstore.com
Doc ICU & Nurse Sniggles or their staff
Curt & Diana Patty can be contacted at:
(314) 853-5912
9335 Berry Ave. • St. Louis, MO 63144
The Ring of Honor is a new recognition presented
by Clowns of America International to members who
have passed away. The recipients must have made a
significant difference within COAI. The Ring of Honor
is not simply an extension of the “last walk around;” it
is a tribute to those who have stood out undeniably as
a member, guided our organization to new standards
by their leadership, or have brought about a profound
distinction in the world of clowning and COAI. Simply
put, the Ring of Honor is a small group of very special
people whom we have been lucky enough to have had
as members and leaders of COAI.
Any COAI member can recommend a nominee for
consideration. COAI will consider nominations for The
Ring of Honor twice a year at the semi-annual Board
meetings. All nominations should be sent to the COAI
membership director to be reviewed by committee. The
committee will recommend up to three (3) inductees
per year, who are then presented to the COAI Board for
ratification.
The Ring of Honor criteria is very simple:
1. The nominee must have been a member in
good standing of COAI before passing.
2. The nominee must have stood out undeniably
as a member, made a significant difference
within our organization, lead COAI to new
standards or brought about a profound
distinction in the world of clowning and
COAI.
3. Nominations must be in the hands of the
membership director before January 1 to be
considered at the spring board meeting and by
July 1 to be considered at fall board meeting.
4. Nominations can be sent by mail or e-mail and
should include a picture(s) of the nominee
either in clown, out of makeup or both.
Page 30
The New Calliope

Members On The Move
I wanted to share with you what Clowns Like Us, Alley 303
in Englewood, FL has been up to. We participated in the 38th
annual Venice Holiday Night. Thanks to the following Joeys
who decorated one of our very best floats: Huggles, Peachy,
Sky and Ray for a great and wonderful float and to Buttons,
Bella And Birdy for your great performance. (right)
We also participated in the Christmas parade in Rotonda, FL
on December 3rd. (below)
Congratulations to Elaine “Val N
Tine” Person on receiving the 2011
President’s Call to Service Award
for volunteering over 8000 hours to
her community. She was nominated
by the Verizon Telcom Pioneers. She
is pictured here with Gabe Olah,
president of the Mt. Valley Empire
Chapter of the Verizon Telecom
Pioneers.
Joe & Annetta Otto of
the Caloosa Clowns
promote clowning
and COAI at the Fall
Festival in North Fort
Myers, FL.
Paul Belanger (center) shares his New Calliopes with some of his
cohorts in China. Paul has been involved with a circus competition
and festival traveling through Asia for the past four years.
January/February 2012 Page 31

COAI Membership Drive & Contest
January 1, 2012 - April 1, 2012
Member Benefits:
• A stronger COAI that can provide more benefits.
• You will receive 3 extra months of Membership for each
New Member you bring into COAI. There is NO cap on
how many New Members you can bring into COAI.
• The Top Recruiter will receive:
- One additional FREE year of membership.
- A new COAI black-collared shirt with your name
and Top Recruiter embroidered on it.
- An article about you in The New Calliope.
- A picture of you in your new shirt on the COAI website
- A certificate of appreciation.
- A special presentation at the Kansas City
Convention if you attend.
- If the Top Recruiter gets more than 25 New
Members they will receive one FREE Full
Registration to the 2013 COAI International
Convention in Richmond, VA.
Rules:
• A New Member is anyone who has not been a member
for the past three years.
• If the New Member had previously been a member they
will be issued a new COAI number.
• Your name and COAI number must be on the Registration
Form when submitted.
• We prefer to have the New Member register through the
website. We also accept them by fax, USPS or email.
Information can be found on page 4 of The New Calliope.
• Lifetime Members can Gift their reward months.
• This promotion is intended for individual members,
Alleys may work in unison, but must use individual COAI
Members for the rewards.
• For complete information go to page 13 of the Nov/Dec
New Calliope or www.coai.org?page-MembershipDrive.
Why Not Give A Gift That
Will Keep On Giving?
Why Not Gift
A COAI Membership?
See the application on page 33
or call the Business Office.
USA Toll Free 877.816.6941
941-474-4351
Page 32
The New Calliope

Clowns of America International
Application and Renewal form
Name: First Middle Initial Last
Street:
City:
State: Zip: Country:
Phone (required):
E-mail:
Date of Birth (required): Age: Male/Female
Clown Name:
Alley Affiliation:
Your COAI Number(if renewing):
Referring Sponsor (if any): Sponsor’s COAI Number:
Gift A Membership
Please gift a membership to the person on this form.
I wish to remain anonymous.
I wish for you to identify me to the recipient.
I wish to write a note: ___________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Please give us your name and phone number so that we can
contact you if necessary. If you wish to remain anonymous
check the box above and we will not reveal your identity.
___________________________________________________
Name Phone #
Annual Membership Dues Rates
NEW U.S.: $40 Active Renewal: $35
NEW International (U.S. funds): $45 Family Renewal (U.S. & Intl.): $17
NEW Senior (65 +): $30 International Renewal (U.S. funds): $40
NEW Senior Intl. (65 +, U.S. funds): $35 Senior Renewal (65 +): $25
NEW Junior Joey (age 8-15): $30 Senior Intl. Renewal (65 +, U.S. funds): $30
LIFETIME Membership: $500 Junior Joey Renewal (age 8-15): $25
• Seniors and Junior Joeys must provide proof of age with application (copy of Birth Certificate, License, etc.)
• Seniors must be age 65 or older within the enrollment or renewal year. Junior Joeys must be age 8 to 15 in the
enrollment year.
• Children age 8 to 15 can choose to join as Family or Junior Joey. Family members can be any age.
• Full members and Junior Joeys receive The New Calliope. Family members do not receive The New Calliope.
Check No. __________
Visa
MasterCard
Discover
Payment Method
Credit Card # __________________________________________________________________
Expiration Date: _______________________ CC Verification Code (3 digits) ______________
Signature
Send Form To:
Clowns of America Intl. Inc. • P.O. Box 1171 • Englewood FL 34295-1171 USA
Phone: 877-816-6941 • 941-474-4351 • Fax: 941-474-8317 • Web site: www.coai.org
All memberships to COAI are on an annual basis.
January/February 2012 Page 33

CLOWNS OF AMERICA INTERNATIONAL
FORMULARIO DE APPLICACION Y RENOVACION
Nombre: Primero Iniciales: Apellidos
Calle:
Ciudad: Urbanización / Barriada: Pueblo: Zona Postal:
Número de Teléfono: E-mail:
Fecha de Nacimiento: Edad: Masculino/Femenino:
Nombre de Payaso/a: Afiliado: Nombre del alley
Número de COAI (renovación):
Referido por:
Numero de COAI del Referido:
Regale Una Membresía
Por favor regale la membresia a la persona indicado en esta forma.
Deseo permanecer anónimo.
Deseo que usted me identifique al recipiente.Deseo escribir
Deseo escribir una nota.________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Por favor dénos su nombre y número de teléfono de modo que
nosotros podamos ponernos en contacto con usted si fuera
necesario. Si usted desea quedarse anónimo, haga una señal in la caja
indicada arriba y no revelaremos su identidad.
___________________________________________________
Nombre
#Teléfono
Tarifas Anuales de Membresía
Nuevos miembros (US) $40
Nuevos miembros (Int’l) $45
Nuevos miembros Seniors (65+ US) $30
Nuevos miembros Seniors (65+ Int’l) $35
Nuevos miembros Júnior Joey (edades 8-15) $30
Membresía de por Vida $500
Renovación (US) $35
Renovación (Int’l) $40
Renovación Miembros (Seniors 65+ US) $25
Renovación Miembros Senior (65+ Int’l) $30
Renovación Júnior Joey (edades 8-15) $25
Membresía Familiar *(cada uno) $17
para miembros adicionales de un hogar
* Estados Unidos o Países Internacionales)
* Seniors y Júnior Joeys deben proveer prueba de edad junto a su solicitud.
* Seniors deben ser de 65 años de edad o mayor durante la matrícula o año de renovación
* Júnior Joey debe estar entre las edades de 8 y 15 años durante el año de la solicitud.
* Niños entre las edades de 8 y 15 años pueden escoger entre Familia o Júnior Joey… los miembros de familia pueden tener cualquier edad.
* Miembros completos y Júnior Joeys reciben The New Calliope, miembros de la familia no recibirían copias adicionales…
Favor de enviar en US $ dólares solamente.
Cheque a nombre de: __________
Método de Pago
Visa
MasterCard
Discover
Firma y Teléfono: (Se requiere para las tarjetas de crédito) Número de Teléfono:___________________________
Número de Tarjeta de Crédito __________________________________________________________________
Fecha de Expiración : _______________________ Código de Verificación (3 dígitos) ______________
Firma
Enviar formulario a:
Clowns Of America, International, Inc. (COAI), P.O. Box 1171, Englewood, FL 34295-1171 USA
Teléfono 1-877-816-6941 • 941-474-4351 • Fax 941-474-8317 • Página Web: www.coai.org
Clasificación de Membresía
1. Todas las membresías a COAI se hacen en bases anuales.
Page 34
The New Calliope

James Beauregard
Springfield, MA
Wingnut
Rich Ellsworth
Fargo, ND
Pookie
Jean Riggs
Athens, TX
Blue Jean T. Clown
John L Stephens
Port Townsend, WA
Sillee Scottee
George
Blackstone
Franklin Square, NY
Mary H. Ernst
Milwaukee, WI
Petals
Marilyn J. Rogers
Mooresville, IN
Mable
Keri Vanadore
Ware Shoals, SC
Dimples
Timothy Blasiman
Albuquerque, NM
Digbee the Clown
Christine Grisham
Evansville, IN
Petals
Scott Rosenfeld
Altamonte Springs, FL
Dr. Drumtastick
Cindy Vincent
Petersburg, IN
Queenie Bee
Linda Ciston
Safety Harbor, FL
Bling-A-Loo
Halee Grisham
Evansville, IN
Miss Petal Pants
Tracy Rosenfeld
Altamonte Springs,
FL
Jo Cowan
Dunedin, FL
Lynn S De Carli
Milford, MI
Sparkalee
Carol A Edeker
Winter Haven, FL
Ragga-T
Erica Kathryn
Albion, PA
Quackers
Susan B. Kullmann
Prescott, WI
Sunshine
Timothy Neal
Greensboro, NC
Tyca the Clown
Janice M. Rozhon
Tinley Park, IL
Dee De
Colby Richard Ryan
Auburn, NH
Colbster
Jim Sklenar
Treynor, IA
Hambone
Earl J. Renshaw
Erie, PA
Chappie
Michelle Smallwood
Buena Park, CA
Clueless
January/February 2012 Page 35

Alley Report
by Toni Dufrene
Director, Alley Region Support
Happy New Year! And a
new year means it will soon
be time to send out the alley
reports for 2012. This year
the forms will have a slightly
different look. We’ll be
asking for a little additional
information. We would like
to know when your alley
holds its election of officers,
where your alley meets and
on what day of the week do
you meet. As the director
of alley/regional support, I
am frequently contacted by
prospective clowns looking
for a meeting close to their
home. They also want to
know when the meetings
are. The more specific
information we can give
them about your alley, the
more likely they will be to
follow up.
Page 36
We’d also like
to try something
new. We want to send out
alley report forms near the
time of your election of
officers. It’s possible some
alleys hold back on returning
their reports pending the
outcome of their elections
and, in the process, report
submission are overlooked
or forgotten. If we can get
the reports to you in time for
your elections then we’re
sure of having the most upto-date
records. Of course,
you can always go online to
file your alley reports. It’s
really easy and fast. Just
fill in the blanks and hit
the submit button and it’s
done. This saves time, paper
and money. What could be
better?
Peace and giggles,
Your
New Calliope
will be missing
if you don’t notify
us of your change
of address.
Don’t forget!!
If You Move You Must Notify
The COAI Business Office
PO Box 1171
Englewood, FL 34295-1171
If you have registered on the website
you can change your address
your self by going to your Bio.
Don’t Miss A Single Issue!!
Financial Report
Clowns of America International
Income, expense and balance statement
September/October 2011
Year To Date
Revenue
Membership $6,625 $48,445
Lifetime Membership $0 $0
Magazine Ads $5,639 $10,701
Merchandise $113 $150
Education $0 $0
Convention $0 $5,000
Interest $226 $283
Lowe Collection $0 -$255
Miscellaneous $30 $30
Web Page $0 $0
Education Auction Revenue $0 $0
Junior Joey Auction Revenue $0 $0
TOTAL $12,633 $64,354
Expenses
Bank Chgs / Returned Checks $648 $1,389
Checks $0 $0
Credit Card Fees $365 $1,139
New Calliope Editor Fees $5,300 $10,600
New Calliope Production $4,666 $9,383
New Calliope Postage $2,000 $4,000
Other New Calliope Fees $99 $236
Nat'l Office Business Manager $2,474 $7,197
National Office Phone $0 $0
National Office Postage $167 $340
National Office Misc. $0 $292
Board Expenses Other $0 $0
Fall Board Meeting $6,078 $6,078
State And Intern. Ambassadors $0 $0
Spring Board Meeting $0 $0
Officer's Phone & Postage $127 $127
Educational Support $0 $267
Convention Expense $3,250 $3,250
Trophies $0 $0
Printed Material $0 $0
Grants $0 $0
Alley Support $0 $0
Merchandise $0 -$188
Excellence In Clowning $0 $0
Clown Week $0 $0
Clown Of The Year $8 $8
Jr. Joey Expense $0 $0
Special Projects $0 $0
Audio Director $0 $0
Lowe Collection Expense $0 $0
Promotion & Publicity $0 $0
Miscellaneous Expense $0 $0
Shipping $0 $0
Organization Dues $0 $0
Professional Services $0 $206
Web Page Expense $0 $0
Insurance $1,194 $1,194
Directory Expense $0 $0
Media Liability Insurance $0 $0
Federal Income Tax $0 $0
TOTAL $26,376 $45,518
Florida Shores Bank $85,538
Money Market Accounts $32,366
Scholarship Account $21,355
Contingency Reserve $17,051
National Office Operating Fund $400
TOTAL $156,710
(Amounts given to the nearest dollar)
Respectfully submitted, Candyce Will, Treasurer
The Financial report shown above meets the motion made by
our general membership to provide a financial statement to
the general membership every 6 months of its fiscal year.
Based on the view of 3 CPA’S and legal counsel.
The New Calliope

Calendar
Convention Report
January 25-29, 2012
Clown Jamboree
Mystic, CT
www.ClownJamboree.com
January 28, 2012
Florida Clown Day
Largo, FL
adrienne_flash@msn.com
February 9-13, 2012
Kapital Kidvention
Arlington, VA
www.KapitalKidvention.com
703-765-1923
February 23-26, 2012
Circus Magic
Williamsburg, VA
www.CircusMagicConvention.
com
March 11-14, 2012
Face Painting & Body Art Conv.
Las Vegas, NV
www.fpbaconvention.com
March 23 & 24
Bubba University Training
Abington, MA
myalenezian@comcast.net
781-293-5180
April 24-29 2012
COAI National Convention
Kansas City, MO
www.coai.org
coaidrconv@aol.com
May 16-19, 2012
Jubilee Performance Workshop
South Charleston, WV
www.jubileeworkshop.com
304-542-6408
June 5-10, 2012
Red Skelton Clown School
Vincennes, IN
www.RedSkeltonClownSchool.com
July 11-15, 2012
Clown Jam
Branson, MO
www.ClownJam.com
July 30-August 5, 2012
California Clown Campin'
San Bernardino, CA
www.californiaclowncampin.org
951-310-7087
September 13-15, 2012
Circus Magic West
San Diego, CA
www.CircusMagicWest.com
November 1-4, 2012
Kentucky Clown Derby
Clarksville, IN
www.KentuckyClownDerby.com
H H H
April 24-29
2012
COAI
National
Convention
The Roarin' 20s
Kansas City, MO
coaidrconv@aol.com
H H H
by Pat Roeser
Director of Conventions
The Northland Clown
Guild Alley #217 has
volunteered to host the
convention this year
to celebrate their 20 th
anniversary. Does your
alley want to do something
REALLY BIG? How about
hosting a COAI convention?
Think and act on this.
Would you like to have
great instructors, interesting
workshops, merchandise
vendors, competitive
competitions close by so you
could attend all events? Has
the expense of transportation
been holding you back
from attending a Clowns
of America International
convention? Have you and
your alley considered hosting
a COAI convention? How
about for 2014? This may
be the perfect time to put
a committee together and
research the possibilities.
Maybe there is another club
in the area that would like
to share the experience with
your alley. For added help
contact the Convention and
Visitors Bureau in your area.
The Convention Bureau can
assist you in the following
ways:
• Can help with the selection
of hotels to suit your needs
• Can assist with letters,
presentations, and tours
• Can provide visitors
guides, maps and
brochures
If this interests you and
your alley, here are some
things to consider:
• Location near an airport
and other forms of
transportation
• Off property attractions,
restaurants, and
shopping
• A hotel with a secured
area for exhibitors with a
Tuesday through Saturday,
24-hour hold
• A hotel that can
accommodate several
classrooms running
simultaneously and an
area for competitions (skit
competitions need higher
ceilings than 10 feet).
One problem that may
occur is that we are not a very
large attendance group but we
require a lot of space. Also,
we are too large for some
smaller hotel properties.
Host alleys are eligible
for a $1000 loan from COAI
to help with the startup. This
loan is to be paid back after
the convention ends. We are
very willing to help in any
way to make your convention
a success.
Contact me with any
questions. My contact
information is on page 4 of
The New Calliope. There
is a simple form to send to
each COAI Board member
30 days before the 2012
COAI Convention being held
in Kansas City, MO. The
2014 convention site will
be selected on Friday, April
27 th and announced at the
Saturday evening banquet.
Yours in clowning,
P.S. Don’t forget to check
for updates on events and
the schedule for the 2012
convention in Kansas City.
Go to coai.org and click on
the convention button. It
will bring you right to the
convention website.
l l l
January/February 2012 Page 37

Competition ... A Good Thing
Page 38
by: Jim “Soapy” Dixon
In the fall of 1994, I started
clowning with the intent of making
money. I would love to say I loved
the art form from the moment I
started applying makeup, and all my
life I was destined to do this, but that
would be a stretch.
I took a class for stress relief, and
upon completion, the instructors
offered to hire me to be a clown
contractor for them. I immediately
started performing at birthdays,
company picnics, and grand
openings for this company as its
number three clown. This went on
for three years, and for personal
reasons, I decided to break off and
start my own company. This isn’t
the most honorable thing I ever did
and I’ve regretted the way I handled
it for years. But this article isn’t on
regrets and clown ethics, so let’s
move forward.
I kept my rates where the
competition was, and advertised
in the same places and it worked!
I was working three to six shows a
weekend, and Soapy was becoming
a good clown. What I failed to
mention was, there were at least nine
other clowns in Wichita that were
working just as much if not more
than me. I now think of this time as
Wichita’s golden age of clowning
(1994-2005).
This pattern went on till around
2005. The economy crashed, and
aircraft plants started laying people
off. I bumped up my advertising,
and watched as the calls dwindled
to almost nothing. I racked my
brain trying to figure out how to get
business back to the golden age, but
to no avail. I went from three to six
parties a weekend to where I’m at
now (one to three).
Then, on the road to a convention
in Sedan, Kansas where I was
going to give a lecture on birthday
parties, it hit me, and it hit me hard!
There are now only two clowns in
Wichita performing on a weekly
basis! It’s not about the amount of
money in Wichita to be spent. It’s
not about layoffs, or foreclosures.
It’s about not having clowns out
there letting parents know that
clowning is an option. To make it
clearer, let’s do the math.
1. The average party has 10-15
kids.
2. An average of five parents stick
around and watch.
3. If there are nine clowns in
town each doing three parties
a weekend that is 135 new
parents that now know that a
clown is another option for
their kid’s birthday party, each
weekend!
4. Out of those 135 parents if 10%
call and book a party, that is 14
parties to be split up between
the nine Wichita clowns.
5. Most won’t call that next
Monday, but they now know
that clowns are at least an
OPTION.
Now lets look at what’s been
going on since almost all of
Wichita’s clown’s have retired:
6. The average party has 10-15
kids.
7. An average of five parents that
stick around and watch.
8. If there are two clowns in
town each doing three parties a
weekend, that is 30 new parents
who now know that a clown is
another option for their kid’s
birthday party, each weekend.
9. Out of those 30 parents if 10%
call and book a party, that
means there are three parties
to be split up between the two
Wichita clowns.
See my point? We are
advertisements for each other. The
craft is the most important thing
here, not the amount of cash in your
pockets on Monday. If all clowns out
there are doing very good work, the
craft itself benefits and we all make
more money. The other side of the
coin is unfortunately not desirable,
but is out of your contole. Let’s face
it, not all clowns love their craft, and
have no desire to improve past the
class they took at the community
college or rec center. These folks
have been doing it forever, and seem
to get worse instead of better. They
are in every city and town, and I’m
sure you’re nodding your head right
now with someone in mind. My
answer to this is this: Email ’The
New Calliope editor YOUR solution
to this dilemma, and it may be
printed. I don’t know the answer.
I do know this - because it has
been proven. A city full of top-notch
entertainers working, increases
work! Competition should not be
discouraged. Education of all clowns
should be strongly encouraged! I
strive to have every clown in this
city better than me (because I feel I
am pretty darn good) and if my goal
is reached, I will be making a nice
secondary income till I call it a day,
or die. (Whichever comes first).
l l l
The New Calliope

Who Me? ... Corporate Work?
by: Dan “Fitzwilly” Langwell
There are two main questions clowns
have about working corporate events–
how to get corporate work, and how
to keep it coming back year after year.
Answers to both hinge on one word:
professionalism. A parent seeking a
clown for her child’s party is looking
for someone to keep the kids entertained
and make her look good to the other
parents. Many times, a person from the
corporate world is someone who has 50
or 60 plus hours of work to accomplish
in 40, and really would rather not be on
yet another committee. They are looking
for someone who makes their job quick
and easy. They want someone who runs
their business like a business.
The first step is to make it easy for
people to find you. Corporate types aren’t
going to look very far to find someone
to fill their time. Even if you are the
only entertainer in your area, that is no
longer enough. It is critical that you sit
down with a pad of paper, pencils and
a big eraser. The goal is to develop a
business plan. Simple, probably a little
vague at first; perhaps even something
like “Each year I want to make enough
money clowning to pay for the COAI
convention; travel, hotel, registration and
incidentals.”
Over time that bare bones, skeleton
of a business plan gets fleshed out with
details and qualifiers. How much actual
money is needed to reach the goal?
$1000, $3000, $10,000 more? How many
gigs will it take to reach that level? This
is where the fun really starts! In order to
get the work we need to reach our goals,
people need to know about us. That way
they either go directly to the phone and
call, send us an email or go directly to
our website. They need to find us easily
when they do a general search, either
using one of the major search engines
or a service like Gig Masters, Party Pop
or one of the many others that come and
go. Often these are as easy as signing
up (for free) answering a few questions
to create a profile and then checking
your email on a regular basis. Many
small companies and entertainers have
increased their visibility with dedicated
Facebook pages. Climbing the ladder of
effort and involvement a little brings us
to personal webpages. A website can be
simple and basic or have lots of bells and
whistles. The key is to keep it clean and
uncluttered looking; and to make sure all
your contact information is easy to find
and read.
A corporate person doesn’t have the
time to call 15 or 20 people, look through
pages and pages of websites and have
hour-long conversations. Once they find
you the clock is ticking. Whether it is a
phone message or an email, you need to
respond within 24 hours, 48 hours on the
outside and within 30 minutes is ideal.
When you respond there are a couple
of things to keep in mind. Energy and
excitement, concise information and your
recommendations are all key to sealing
the deal in your favor.
Let’s start with concise information.
Get out your pad and pen again, it is time
to work on a special type of sales pitch.
It is a sales pitch about your services.
In the sales and marketing world it is
often called the elevator speech. The
idea is that you condense all the vitally
important information and eliminate
everything else so that if you stepped
onto an elevator as someone asked you
what you did, by the time they got off
about 30 seconds later they would know
what makes you unique.
So often when people start planning
a party they get bogged down with
all the details: they need your energy,
excitement and professionalism to reignite
their own waning enthusiasm.
By painting a picture in their minds of
how much fun everyone will have and
how easy it will be for them if they hire
a professional like you, you trigger an
emotional response which overpowers
the critical thinking process and redirects
it. Now that they want your services,
help them to justify hiring you by giving
them solid reasons they can use when
discussing this great decision they made.
Ask questions that lead to the
information needed to make quality
recommendations. Things like: location
of the event, number of
participants, age range
of those to be entertained,
any other entertainment to be present,
and so on. Now is the time to put your
experience as a professional entertainer
to work. Match your strengths, and those
of your team if you have one, with the
customer’s needs (both those expressed
in your conversation and those that
you recognize from past experience)
and make a solid recommendation.
State it with conviction, not as a weak
offer of a suggestion. “Well, with an
event like this, what usually works
well is …” This type of lead in to the
recommendation positions you as the
expert with an answer to their problem,
while still allowing them room to tweak
the proposal if they wish. This is a nonconfrontational
way to say “Look, you
plan one or two events a year; I am
involved in hundreds. I know how people
will react and there is no way I’ll be able
to stroll around the event after the kids
realize I’ve got balloons, so just hire me
and let me do what I do best and your
event will be a success; otherwise, not so
much.”
After the conversation send a followup
email as soon as possible. At the
very least recap the conversation: date,
location, number of people expected, age
range, theme, reason for the event; any
recommendations with modifications
and relevant pricing. Even better is to
include an attachment of a formal “Quote
Request” containing much of the same
information. With minor changes this
form also becomes the client’s “invoice.”
Now your information is laid out in a
manner the corporate world is familiar
with, making it easy to process.
The central idea of this article is right
out of a Staples commercial - “The easy
button.” Make it as easy as possible for
people to find, contact, get a response
from, and work with you. Speak their
language, “quote request”, “invoice”, and
so forth. They are professional, and so we
must be if we want their business.
l l l
January/February 2012 Page 39

Scooter Etiquette
by Bonita Love,
Southwest RVP
As our clown population
grows older, more of us
will be on scooters due to
mobility issues. We need to
set some rules for scooters
at conventions.
If you are on a scooter,
you cannot block aisles
and you cannot park in
the middle between the
two sides of seats. Hotels
set up the chairs with the
knowledge of the fire
department requirements. A
person on a scooter may sit/
park on the side, but not in
the middle. People would
not be able to get out in case
of emergency. Also, you will
no doubt be blocking other
people’s view of the lecture.
Everyone on a scooter
should turn their speed
down to “turtle’ while
inside. Most scooters have
a choice of turtle or rabbit.
Inside requires turtle; you
don’t need to run anyone
over to get anywhere faster
than the walking person.
Always, always be very
aware of other people’s feet!
I have had my foot run over
and boy does that hurt! My
friend “Dizzy Dave” had
his foot run over as he was
sitting during a lecture. Who
would have ever guessed
that would happen?
I gave scooter lessons at
the convention in Anaheim.
It appeared to go well. I
will always be available
to give lessons anytime.
I believe a number of
people rent scooters for the
conventions. We all need to
be considerate of others.
We are extremely lucky
to live in the U.S. where we
have American Disability
Act laws. Twenty years ago,
disabled people just stayed
home. Wouldn’t that be
awful?
l l l
COSTUMES by Betty
Quality Clown Costumes
Accessories & Supplies Since 1967
Check Out Our Clearance Page At
www.BettyCash.com
40% OFF
Clearance Items
Clownstuff
We have the best prices for all
your Facepainting needs.
12 Color Professional Case
800-47-CLOWN
or 651-771-8734
Dresses • Suites • Accessories • Hats • Make-up • Wigs
Page 40
Call For Your
FREE Catalog
2181 Edgerton Street • Saint Paul, MN 55117
Paula “Stickers” Biggio
P.O. Box 1023
Park Ridge, Illinois 60068
847 698 3378 Fax 847 384 1822
www.clownstuff.com
The New Calliope

1.
Whether
you call
them
streamers,
mouth coils,
or coils, the
manufactured
spirals of paper
make a colorful
addition to your
performances.
Mouth
Coils
PERFORMANCE TIP:
Spirals of Fun
2. 3.
Prior to loading the coils into your production
prop, reach into the center and remove
approximately 2” of paper. Be careful so you
don’t rip or tear the paper.
The 2” portion of paper serves as
an easy-to-grasp tab, aiding in the
removal of the remaining ribbon
of coiled paper.
Coils come in several lengths and
a variety of color combinations.
Be sure to check out the variety
of coils, as well as
the wide selection
of other fine
merchandise, offered
for sale by
the vendors
listed in
The New
Calliope!
Photographs: Tim SAWDUST Laynor
Feature: Ann TUTTLES Sanders
Hand Model: Tom TOM E. BOY King
January/February 2012 Page 41

Music
Page 42
The New Calliope

Sounds Funny To Me
January/February 2012 Page 43

Page 44
The New Calliope

28 Days
Starring: Lisa “Chickadee” Hewett and Evelyn “Giggles” Smith
Photographer: Tim “Sawdust” Laynor Script: Ann “Tuttles” Sanders
28 days!
I am a genius!
28 days!
Foto Funnies
Giggles, it only took
me 28 days!
What took
you 28 days?
I just finished a
puzzle in 28 days.
Why does that
make you a genius?
Because on the
box it says
3 to 5 years!
If you have a Foto Funny you would like to submit, send high resolution photos along with your script to:
New Calliope, P.O. Box 1171, Englewood, FL 34295-1171. Email: NewCalliopeEditor@comcast.net.
NOTE: If sending jpg electronic images, please take the digital pictures at your camera’s highest resolution!
January/February 2012 Page 45

Starring: José “Charlie” Sponberg and Danae “Merry Heart” Kent
Photographer: Tina Hernandez Script: John Clay and José Sponberg
Submitted by Rose City Clowns #196 Portland, Oregan
Feed the Horses
Charlie, please go
feed the horses
Foto Funnies
And bring me
some pears from
the tree
I’m on it,
be right back
OK
Ewwww,
yuck!
I didn’t get the pears…
but I found a big pile of
horseapples!!
If you have a Foto Funny you would like to submit, send high resolution photos along with your script to:
New Calliope, P.O. Box 1171, Englewood, FL 34295-1171. Email: NewCalliopeEditor@comcast.net.
NOTE: If sending jpg electronic images, please take the digital pictures at your camera’s highest resolution!
Page 46
The New Calliope

A Final Word from the Editor
Happy New Year! I
trust that everyone had a
wonderful holiday season.
As I write this column,
Katie “Candy” has just
returned from New College
and we spent Sunday
picking out that perfect
Christmas tree, setting it up
and getting it and the house
decorated for Christmas.
Jimmy “Racket” doesn't
arrive home from Ithaca
College until the 23rd. I'm
really looking forward to
having him home as he
hasn't been here since last
January. We're looking
forward to a better holiday
season this year.
The COAI elections
will be heating up and I
believe that there will be
The New
CALLIOPE ADVERTISING RATES
BLACK & WHITE Full 1/2 1/4 1/8
OPEN $375 $220 $150 $85
3X Contract $350 $205 $135 $75
6X Contract $330 $195 $125 $70
4 COLOR
OPEN $470 $275 $190 $110
3X Contract $440 $260 $170 $95
6X Contract $420 $245 $160 $90
SPECIAL PAGES (4 Color ONLY)
Outside Back Cover: $550
Inside Front & Inside Back: $500 (full) - $300 (1/2)
Newton Studios, Inc.
370 West Dearborn Street, Suite B, Englewood FL 34223
941-474-4351 • Fax 941-474-8317
editor: NewCalliopeEditor@comcast.net
production and ad sales: NewCalliopeAds@comcast.net
several contested seats.
Your March/April New
Calliope issue will have the
candidates' bios along with
the voting ballots and ballot
envelopes. Please be sure
to study the candidates and
cast your vote.
The Godfather has
been very busy putting
together COAI's National
Convention in Kansas
City, MO. Its theme is
“The Roarin' 20s” and The
Northland Clown Guild,
Alley 217 is doing a great
job getting this convention
set up. The Godfather has
some very special deals
going on. You can check
these out by going to www.
coai.org and clicking on
“conventions.” This will
All Alleys who have 100% COAI Membership may purchase ads at the lowest rate
available less 10%. For more details, contact Tom.
take you
directly to the
convention's
website where you can
register and get the
information that you need.
If you still have questions
you can find their contact
there.
I'm sure that you've
heard/read about our
Membership Drive and
contest. Get crackin' and
find those new members
who will help us move
COAI forward while
extending your membership.
What better to spread the
joy of clown than to grow
the rank and file.
l l l
Note: All emailed items
must have a resolution
of not less than 300
pixels per inch at 100%
size).
High resolution PDF files
must had the photos and
fonts embedded.
Microsoft Publisher files
can not be used. If you
use Publisher contact us
and we can send you
instructions on how to
convert your file to a
jpeg.
Any questions re:
emailing files,
call Tom Newton at
941-474-4351 or
email him at
NewCalliopeAds
@comcast.net
The New
C u A u L u L u I u O u P u E
Our Advertisers in Jan/Feb 2012 Issue!
We appreciate your support!!
All American Balloon................. 6
Angel’s Artistic Endeavors....... 30
Balloons To You....................... 14
BeBe the Clown....................... 12
Bubba’s.................................... 30
C&B House of Clowns............. 14
Cherri-Oats & Company........... 12
Clown Gadget Store................. 30
Clown Supplies.......................... 2
COAI Membership Gift............. 32
COAI Merchandise................... 24
Costumes by Betty................... 40
Gag Bag..................................... 2
Jared's Goodies....................... 12
La Rock's Fun & Magic............ 48
Laugh It Up Clownstuff............ 40
Rocky Five Badges................... 14
Spear's Specialty Shoe Co......... 2
T. Myers Magic........................ 26
EVENTS
California Clown Campin......... 26
COAI 2012 Convention.............. 8
FPBA convention..................... 22
Moose Camp........................... 14
Red Skelton Clown School...... 12
TnT University......................... 44
Articles and advertising should be sent to
Newton Studios,
370 W. Dearborn Street, Ste B,
Englewood FL 34223
941.474.4351 Fax 941.474.8317
NewCalliopeEditor@comcast.net
NewCalliopeAds@comcast.net
Unsolicited articles or pictures must include
return postage, self-addressed envelope.
DEADLINES:
March/April 2012: Feb 1
May/June 2012: April 1
July/Aug. 2012: June 1
Sept./Oct. 2012: Aug. 1
Nov./Dec. 2012: Oct. 1
Jan./Feb. 2012: Dec. 1
January/February 2012 Page 47