The picture on
the left was
taken at my first company picnic performance in 1993. When I began I
used all the resources I could find to learn how to be a clown. I had no
instruction and really no clue where to start. I bought a book called
Creative Clowning. This book is by far the best book I've ever found on
clowning. I started performing at birthday parties for friends at no charge.
I was terrible! The parents didn't mind too much since I was free. I definitely
learned as I went. Eventually I put together my own routines and bought
some videos on how to make balloon animals. Books are good for pictures,
but to learn balloon sculpting, you need to see every move. After a year on
my own, I was hired for my first Christmas party. I enlisted some of my
friends to help and we had a riot. That was nearly nine years ago! The rest,
as they say, is history.
On the right is a photo of me at Clown
Camp with some great people. We had so much fun! We exchanged ideas
for marketing our clown businesses, as
well as how to apply makeup. My makeup was done by Jim Howell from the
Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus. He is a great man and a living legend in the clown world. I have had the pleasure of meeting him on several occasions. Everyone has a
different way to apply makeup. I figured I would learn the best techniques
from one of the best makeup artists around.
Can you find me?
This
is an annual tradition. Clown Camp is located at the University of Wisconsin
LaCrosse for two weeks a year. Each week a picture of all the attendees is
taken. I'm wearing a blue top hat with a red flower.
Now do you see me?
Write me