Nov_Dec_1998

More documents

Info

November/December , 1998 How to split your personality By Margaret "Maggie the Maglcal Clown" Clauder 916 Wayland Dr. Arllngton, TX 76012 (817) 274-5210 Many of you who have been reading my articles must think I am schizophrenic by now. Anyone who would develop as many characters as I have must be crazy. As I mentioned in a previous article, I get bored easily. Also , I find that developing many different characters meant a lot more work for me, especially in schools and day cares that would have entertainment monthly but don't want the same person in there every time. If you are interested in being a "split personality ," there are three ways you can do it: 1. Always dress the same and offer different shows as the same character. Example: Maggie the Clown and her Christmas show, her Easter show, her birthday show , her self esteem show , etc. 2. Dress in different costumes and offer the same show every time. Example: Maggie the Clown and her birthday show. Mother Goose and her birthday show. Fairy Princess and her birthday show. Bucky the Cowgirl clown and her birthday show. 3. Dress in different costumes and offer a different show with each costume. Examples: Maggie the Clown and her birthday show. Bucky the Cowgirl clown and her Western show. Bernice the Bunny and her Easter show. Freckles the Dalmatian and her Fire Safety show. Mother Goose and her Nursery Rhyme show. (All of these can be turned into birthday parties.) ••~ Each way has its advantages and disadvantages. If you go with #1, the advantage would be a lower cost to you in wardrobe. You would not have to do costume changes between shows. I have done this and it is quite easy. I find, though , that if I am doing a particular theme like Christmas , Easter, Nursery Rhymes , etc. , my "Maggie" Clown character just does not seem to fit the theme as well as other characters might. Also , Maggie is expected to act a certain way all the time. I do not see her getting serious over a serious subject like fire safety with kids. She must always be stupid and funny. There is nothing stupid or funny about fire safety. So if you are thinking about keeping your same clown character and just doing different shows, make sure the show fits your character. The disadvantage of this example is that even though you have different shows, you will still not get repeat bookings by some clients, because they have seen you before. You would have several different shows to keep up with as well. Your set-up cost for having different shows would be greater because each show would have its own magic, props, etc. With choice #2, you can get a lot of work, but it is harder on you. I know several entertainers in my area who perform as different characters (not clowns). They have basically the same magic show but do quick changes between parties to dress in different costumes. They are busy all the time. The advantage of #2 is that you don't have to be a clown all the time. You can just change costumes and go from show to show . My company has several entertainers that do this.They may be a super hero for a show in the morning, and change to a big cuddly Teddy Bear costume 12 The New Calliope
November /December, 1998 for the second and third show in the afternoon, and then go to a prince for the fourth show in the evening. A big advantage in this type of entertainment is that you can usually charge much more for your services . In my area, clowns are a dime a dozen. There are literally hundreds of clowns here. I see as much as a $100 price spread and up in the charge for different clowns ' services. Top clowns in my area charge $125-$150 an hour. Bottom end "wave" clowns go for as little as $15 an hour. Unless you are a top of the line clown, you face steep price competition daily. In my area I can count the number of people who perform as GOOD characters at around a dozen. If someone wants Cinderella to come to their party , they only have three or four to choose from for an area of more than a million people. If 25 little girls all want a Cinderella birthday party on the same Saturday , you can imagine what that does to the price. Supply and demand. Cinderella can name her price . So can other specialty characters. The disadvantage is, where do you change costumes? These entertainers must build time into their day for costume changes. This typically takes five to 15 minutes. Where do they change? If they are not near home, a filling station restroom sometimes has to suffice. Professionals never change at an engagement. Another drawback to this type of entertainment is that if you do not change your show and you are re-booked by the same people as a different character, the children will all shout, "I've seen that!" not to just one magic trick but to ALL of them. We have started throwing in two or three customized tricks for each show to avoid this. · If you choose #3, which is what I do most of the time, be prepared to check into the loony farm soon. The advantage is that you will never get bored and you will be as busy as you want to be. You will make a lot more money. The disadvantage is that you have to be extreme ly organized and meticulous about preparing your shows and having them truly different from each other. This takes a great deal of time, imagination and creativity. Your initial setup cost is great, since it is like starting a whole new career. Another disadvantage is in costume changes. If you are in clown makeup and have to change to a completely different costume with different makeup, this can take some time. To avoid this pitfall I typically offer my specialty characters mostly for my school shows during the week. If someone chooses one for a weekend show.then I have to be a really good quick change artist Or, what I prefer to do, sell other weekend customers on taking that specialty character. Once Bucky is booked on Saturday I will end up booking the entire day being Bucky. On Sunday I may be Maggie all day. On Monday I may be Mother Goose all day. Tuesday I'm Freckles. You get the picture. The easiest way to do #3 is to have a comp letely different show for each character. If you go borrowing a magic trick from this show and a puppet from that show every time you have your secondary character show, sooner or later you will forget an important item and be up the creek. Believe me, I've been there . My clown puppet just doesn't go with my Mother Goose show. While this will certainly teach you improv very quickly , it also will give you high blood pressure. I now have a separate box for every show I do.I just transfer the box to my show trunk and I'm ready to go .I have four different trunks . Three of these stay packed all the time. The fourth trunk stays empty and gets repacked with different shows. I would like to have 15 different trunks , one for each show, but due to space limitations and the cost of trunks , I have decided against that. Each show , besides having a unique character , has its own music, its own magic, decorations, its own props and puppets . I only have two puppets that regularly travel between shows, and as soon as I can find replacements for them, they will have their own shows . I make a lot of my own custom magic, so the cost of magic is minimal to me. I will buy a new magic trick just for one show , though, and not use it in any other. I don't spend a fortune on magic for a new show unless it is a show I will perform year after year, like a patriotic July 4th show, a Christmas show or an Easter show. These shows should have special magic all their own that is big and flashy. I own a dozen thumb tips and dozens of special silks that all have their own place in shows. They get packed into each box along with scarves, juggling equipment, etc. Only about four of my shows are all magic or primarily magic. The rest of my shows have their own theme puppets and storytelling to go with the little bit of magic I put into them. if you decide to become a split personality, I know you will have fun. Whether you go with example 1, 2 or 3 is up to you . Just remember the advantages and disadvantages to each; and to be organized , and you will have a great time. USE THE BEST 11 0riginal 11 ALBERT THE STICKER MAN STICKERS See Full Page ad in Past & Future Issues. •. For Samples & Info, Send large Stamped Self Addressed Envelope to: HOLLY SALES 9926 Beach Blvd, # 114 Jacksonville, Florida 32246 .. • The New Calliope 13
Page 1 and 2: owns of America International ·e's
Page 3 and 4: November/December, 1998 Published f
Page 5 and 6: November/December , 1998 Everything
Page 7 and 8: November /December, 1998 KAGIC & FT
Page 9 and 10: Co-sponsor Quad City Clown Troupe C
Page 11: CAROUSEL OF CLOWNS FEATURING • CL
Page 15 and 16: November/December, 1998 As you deve
Page 17 and 18: Circus Magic Entertainer's November
Page 19 and 20: November/December, 1998 agree.) And
Page 21 and 22: November/December, 1998 happens too
Page 23 and 24: November/December, 1998 the questio
Page 25 and 26: usiness should go through them . It
Page 27 and 28: Novembe r/December, 1998 Clowns of
Page 29 and 30: November/December, 1998 JI nu.sf f
Page 31 and 32: Helpful hints for the working clown
Page 33 and 34: need to purchase a number of sets.
Page 35 and 36: if they would be willing to be a sp
Page 37 and 38: November/December , 1998 will learn
Page 39 and 40: November/December, 1998 A joey's fi
Page 41 and 42: our pajamas. Yes, I admit it, I'm a
Page 43 and 44: ICHOF • reorganizes governance Re
Page 45 and 46: '#; ~L Making t0und~ with D -~~ D :
Page 47 and 48: November /December , 1998 TO ORDER

Nov_Dec_1998

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?