Jan_Feb_1997

January/February, 1997
About those JO-year-olds
By Jack "Trlkl" King
921 Duskin Dr.
El Paso, TX 79907
I have clowned around Texas, New Mexico, Central
America and Mexico and have entertained possibly
thousands of 10-year-olds and would like to add my two
cents worth to the "You're not a real clown" syndrome which
seems to be bothering a lot of my fellow joeys. -
I for one never attempt to match wits with a 10-year-old,
who perhaps in his or her younger years was frightened by
a clown and was told by the parents that "It's just a person
with clown makeup," or a 10-year-old who's trying to prove
to his "peers" that he is smarter or for whatever dozen
reasons. Nor do I try to razzle-dazzle them with my best
magic trick, either. But rather, I ignore the statement and
continue clowning.
You see, I know I'm a real clown, and I also know that
once that (or those) 10-year-olds see my show, they 'll know
Penne Peterson
9th Annual
FELIH HDLER
DRYS
June 13-15, 1997
Clinton, Iowa
Kenny Rhern
performs
"R Slippery Uniuerse"
Sewall
leads clown worship seruice
Clown parade, performances,
seminars and moref
For more information write
FeliH Rdler Memorial Rssociation
P .0. OOH 752, Clinton, IR 52733-0752
or call 319-242-1903 or 815- 772-2115
I'm a real clown, too. How do I know? Because those same
10-year-olds have either come up and shook my hand, or
hugged me, and told me so. As a wise philosopher once
said, "Actions speak louder than words."
Are you a real clown? Let your audience be the judge.
-----------------
Reaction to makeup flap
By Richard "Deslgn-O" Smith
97 Grafton St.
Shrewsbury, MA 01545
I have read The New Calliope articles about makeup
competition and have discussed some of them with many of
the clowns that competed with me recently. We have al:
come to similar conclusions. I know I can speak on behalf of
many of the clowns I have talked to when I say that we all
enjoy competing annually in whatever category we have
chosen, whether it be makeup, skits or any other field we
wish to enter. I personally expect to compete as well as
learn when I attend any of the conventions. Part of
competing is knowing the rules and being properly
prepared to be judged fairly and constructively by the COAi
judges I recognize that on occasion I too may have felt
judges were being less than fair ... At times I have also
believed that some of the judges needed to take a
refresher course. However, when a judge doesn't know the
difference between a clown and a character that is not a
clown, and gives an unwarranted award, then all one can
say is, "Whoops." None of us are perfect and we can only
hope we are all capable of learning from our mistakes.
I agree strongly that Whiteface needs to be split into
two categories ... There has been obvious favoritism with
judges picking Classic Whiteface over the Comedy
Whiteface ...
Since attending my first convention I know I have
witnessed the growth of competition. I feel the changes
from year to year have helped many of us grow, as it has
introduced us to new changes versus staying with the same
old thing. I have gone from one convention to the next
learning the rules and guidelines of what defines different
clown types. Bringing clowns from the old-fashioned look
up to the 20th Century and competing helps us all grow and
change by watching and learning from other clowns.
I believe change is always necessary to progress and
learn. I think there are many people out there that simply
need to read the guidelines to be opened to change and
recognize that judges and conventioneers don't always see
Continued on page 6
4 The New Calliope