A Little Update

[Theologian in Training]

So, I was finally a solo clown after not having done anything since last summer. I first was a clown at our parish carnival and made many many rookie mistakes. I learned to never bring out the balloons first thing, otherwise, that is all you will wind up doing. Also, as much as I kept trying to give the balloons to the little ones, the older ones (middle school and high school) wanted swords (how old are they again?)

Anyway, once I cut off doing balloons I was no fun or any good to anyone. I did do a couple of juggling routines and a couple of magic tricks with two little boys and a little girl, but otherwise, after the balloons stopped, I was being heckled by the middle and high school kids since the little kids left by then.

I then was a clown for the kindergarten classes at the center I work for in the inner city. That went much better.

I was a "silent clown" because I figured I would hold their attention better and since I was not talking all eyes were on me. Besides, they were a kindergarten class and you know how hard it is to talk over them Incidentally, I performed for about an hour, and they were captivated the whole time.

Anyway, I did a juggling routine I came up with, did a few magic tricks with them (kids absolutely love, something known as the bible magic coloring book) and just general clowning around. I then ran out of things to do and so I brought out the marionette I brought with me just in case. I had him shy, and he would come out of the bag, unless they were quiet. (Incidentally, if any kindergarten teaches are out there, this works great) You could hear a pin drop, so I "let him out" and for added flare and fun and made them start clapping so he could "dance." The kids loved it as well as the adults.

They were quite entertained and I had a great time doing it.

It also just so happened that my supervisor there called the diocesan paper, so he was there and took pictures and did a very long interview with me.

It was a great time and I am glad I actually did it. I am just not looking forward to doing one more time for the carnival. Perhaps, I will go earlier when I know the little kids will be there, and most of the older ones will still be sleeping

God Bless

Edited June 24, 2005 by Theologian in Training

[philothea]

Hee! It all sounds very cute.

I'm glad you had fun. I'm sure the next time will be easier. :clown:

[Fides_et_Ratio]

oooh, you can juggle! props to your clown-ness then! I have some juggling clubs if you need to borrow some? (they are a little beat up though... keep them away from your older brother!)

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

did you go to clown college?

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='Extra ecclesiam nulla salus' date='Jun 24 2005, 08:50 PM']did you go to clown college?
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Clown camp, last summer. [url="http://www.mooseburger.com/"]http://www.mooseburger.com/[/url]

God Bless

[homeschoolmom]

I remember that! You stopped by the MofA, too, didn't you?

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

cool. So you are a deacon who also is a clown thats sweet

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='Fides_et_Ratio' date='Jun 24 2005, 06:44 PM']oooh, you can juggle! props to your clown-ness then! I have some juggling clubs if you need to borrow some? (they are a little beat up though... keep them away from your older brother!)
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I have my own, but thank you for the offer. Besides, I don't juggle clubs that much. My "expertise" is with the devil sticks. I also juggle balls (obviously), rings, and the diabolo.

God Bless

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' date='Jun 25 2005, 03:13 PM']I remember that! You stopped by the MofA, too, didn't you?
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Yep. It was all so overwhelming and just too much. I actually did not like it that much. However, I can say that I went to the Mall of America

God Bless

[Lounge Daddy]

[font="Courier"]Clowning is fun – and exhausting
And all I’ve done were a few magic tricks and a LOT of balloon animals

But it’s still a good time in the end


Btw – I called myself “Slappy the Clown”
[/font]

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='Lounge Daddy' date='Jun 26 2005, 10:08 PM'][font="Courier"]Clowning is fun – and exhausting
And all I’ve done were a few magic tricks and a LOT of balloon animals

But it’s still a good time in the end
Btw – I called myself “Slappy the Clown”
[/font]
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I had so much fun when I was a clown for the kindergarten classes. I did all sorts of things, but had a lot of fun doing it. I am still learning balloons, however, I will never bring them to carnivals again

BTW, people recommend Juggles, as a clown name for me.

God Bless

[Fides_et_Ratio]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' date='Jun 25 2005, 02:15 PM']I have my own, but thank you for the offer. Besides, I don't juggle clubs that much. My "expertise" is with the devil sticks. I also juggle balls (obviously), rings, and the diabolo.

God Bless
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way cool. what about bigger stuff? basketballs? beag bag chairs? can you eat an apple while you juggle balls?

the diablo is also cool, I usually end up getting mine all tangled up in the string once I really get it going... but then I just pretend I did the ladder trick for my finale! lol.

catholic jugglers are the coolest... there's so many!

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='Fides_et_Ratio' date='Jun 27 2005, 12:17 AM']way cool. what about bigger stuff? basketballs? beag bag chairs? can you eat an apple while you juggle balls?

the diablo is also cool, I usually end up getting mine all tangled up in the string once I really get it going... but then I just pretend I did the ladder trick for my finale! lol.

catholic jugglers are the coolest... there's so many!
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Yes, I can juggle bigger stuff, but I have not done so in a while. I also used to know how to eat something while juggling, have not tried that in a while as well. Probably won't be that hard to do again. It is all in control, which is why I am making sure to build up my left as well as my right. Otherwise, the right looks good and the left looks horrible, usually resulting in a crash when trying to juggle four.

The only thing I don't like about the diabolo is that when you drop it, it takes a while to start it up again, especially if you had it going nice and fast. I do the ladder trick, but also like the grinds, those go over real well, and are real easy to do. Or, for a real crowd pleaser, pull the two sticks apart as fast and hard as you can, you get a lot of air, and when you catch it people are amazed. It is actually quite easy to do.

Nice to know I am not the only one who juggles. That is pretty cool.

God Bless

Edited June 28, 2005 by Theologian in Training

[Theologian in Training]

Fides et Ratio,

Thought you might be interested. I graduated from non-forced bounce juggling to forced bounce juggling. I don't know if you know the difference, but essentially, non-forced, means you juggle pretty much normally, except bouncing off the ground. Whereas, forced, means your hands face the ground and the balls bounce harder and much faster, so you need to leave the cascade open more.

They say that this is forced, but I don't know, this looks non-forced to me.

[img]http://www.toddstrong.com/images/balljugglingimages/ball_bounce_videos/3b_bounce_fource.gif[/img]

God Bless

Edited July 2, 2005 by Theologian in Training

[Theologian in Training]

BTW, you might check this site out. It offers help in all facets of juggling. I found it when I was trrying to learn Cigar Boxes. The pics take some time to load at normal speed, but they are initially slow, which helps when trying to learn.

The site is here [url="http://www.toddstrong.com/index.htm"]http://www.toddstrong.com/index.htm[/url]

God Bless