Jan_Feb_1997

January/February, 1997
Meet tbe Artists --
'Boomer' and 'Minnie'
Clown Camp. She has instructed in
clowning at Clown Camp, Kellogg
Community College, Midwest Clown
Association Roundup, COAi, WCA
and ISCA. The couple began teaching
in concert in 1992, when they
originated Back 2 Back lectures.
Terry "Boomer" Bloes and Marti
"Minnie" Vast-Binder are in their fifth
year of team clown seminars and in the
second year as COAi Clown Artists in
.Residence.
These dynamic Midwesterners
have been clowning for more than 20
years each. In their first year as AIRs,
they had more requests for alley
appearances than they could
schedule -- which is one of the
reasons they wanted to participate in
the program again in 1997.
Terry, a Nebraskan, began
clowning in 1976 and became active in
his clown alley in Omaha, NE. He was a
McDonald's clown four years, has
judged in both COAi and WCA
compet itions, and served as President
of the Midwest Hall of Fame (both Terry
'Charlie'
For the second straight year,
Bruce "Charlie" Johnson has
been selected as a COAi Clown
Artist in Residence.
A graduate of California State
University Long Beach with a BA
in Technical Theater, Bruce has
been clowning since 1974.He
spent six years with American
outdoor circuses, and in 1980
introduced his juggling clown act
with the Carson & Barnes Circus.
He co-produced spot date
circuses for two years, was
principle entertainer for 11
summers at Raging Waters and
was a special events juggler for
Disneyland. He has international
performance experience: A
headliner at the 1991 World Clown
Convention in England, and the
14 The New Calliope
and Marti are members).
Marti gained her clown education
through attendance at local and
national conventions and at the
University of Wisconsin -Lacrosse
American performance rep at the first
World Clown Congress in Sweden .
Bruce has written extensively for a
variety of clown publications (including
The New
Calliope), and is
editor and
publisher of the
Clown In Times
Magazine. He is
known internationally
as a
clown
historian.and
supplements
material from his
personal library
of some 400
books with
continuing
research.
As a full-time
freelance
performer, Bruce combines
pantomime, magic, juggling, audience
"Brainstorming together , we have
continued to improve our own
clowning skills as well as our teaching
techniques," Marti says. The ir classes
offer basic hometown clowning and
comic philosophy. Classes are all
hand~ on and participatory. Among
their subjects: makeup , skits,
walkarounds, professional promotion
of your clown business, company
picnics, body movement and facial
expression, and brainstorming. In
addition, they tailor lectures to the
specific requests of groups.
To contact them: Terry's at
7753 Greenleaf Dr., Lavista, NE
68128. Ph. (402) 592-7419.
email: TBloes@aol.com. To
reach Marti: 662 Timberlane
Dr., Battle Creek, Ml 49015.
Ph. (616) 963-5334. email:
MVBlnder@aol.com.
interaction and chalk talks.Whether
performing in a theater variety show
with an audience of thousands, in a
birthday party, or one on one, Bruce
always strives to give the best possible
entertainment and to be sensitive to
the audience 's needs of the moment.
As a Clown Artist in Residence,
Bruce has more than 30 lecture topics.
His goal as an instructor "is not to create
clones , but to help each person find
their individual clown and their own
performance style. " His presentations
include both general theory that can be
applied by participants in many ways
over the years , and specific practical
suggestions that are applicable
immediately.
Bruce can be reached at
P.O. Box 82165, Kenmore, WA
98028-0165. Ph. (206) 481-
7143.