I just noticed that a well-known clown is on Facebook ( and we friended each other). His name is Bubba and he has a wealth of ideas. I have attended more than a few of his classes at Clown Conferences and I remember one time in particular that he was talking about the clowning opportunities he finds in his numerous travels. He said that he was at a truck stop, or restaurant, and noticed the restroom signs and saw an opportunity to clown around. I should mention that he also has a clown ministry. He said that it popped into his cranium that he should attach the letter "A" in front of the sign for the Men's room. Now, clowns don't steal other clown's gags, even though they might give permission. So, if you are in a truck stop or at a restaurant and see an altered restroom sign, you can be sure that Bubba was there! He has an active clown mind and is always looking for opportunities to share some wackiness.
Bubba also has an amazing clown store. Whenever someone asks where I get some of my gags or props I always use my standard line, "From the Secret Clown Store!" It is not that I don't want civilians messing around with Clown Stuff, it's just a line that I came up with one time when I couldn't remember where I had actually bought the thing...but, I will share the link to Bubba's Clown Supplies because he has the biggest variety of any clown store ! **** click on this ---> BUBBA
That is a part of clowning. Seeing something normal and finding a way to inject some humor into it.
I posted a video yesterday that demonstrates that attitude:
Clown Nose Life Extension (video link)
Someone asked how I thought of leaving the nose in the package and I figured that it popped into my head as I was just looking at the package...but, upon further reflection, I realize that it must have been a subconscious explosion from an experience from my toddler years. You see, my mother used to give my brothers and I a treat occasionally and I remember how she would sometimes give us suckers that still had the cellophane on them. The little, colorful suckers with the white stick. We would have them in our mouths while we were playing and after an hour of tasteless enjoyment, we would lay them down. My mom would notice this and then take the wrapper off. Voila! A brand new sucker--with Flavor !!! Years later I asked her about this and her only explanation was that we were fairly poor and, we being so young and gullible, the suckers would last all afternoon!
My father also had a weird sense of humor. I remember him and my mom arguing (mildly) one time about toys. He mentioned that he never had any toys while he was growing-up. My mother responded by saying that he was "full of it" because he was spoiled because he was an only child. My father said, no he didn't have any toys. But, growing-up on a farm, he remembered one time when his mother was out in the barnyard and looking for something for dinner. He said she grabbed a duck and wrung it's neck and then proceeded to clean it. When she was finished, she called my dad over and handed him the duck's bill and told him to go play. He said he ran around the barnyard all afternoon with that duck bill in his hand and yelling "Quack, Quack, Quack...". He said that was the only toy he remembered and that ended the argument in a hail of laughter !
So, I don't know where my ideas actually come from. I only know that having been exposed to parents with a wonderfully skewed sense of humor and by attending Clown Conferences...and by always looking for the "Zany" in my life experiences--there is always a treasure trove of ideas.
Life is Good...Life is an Adventure !!!
No comments:
Post a Comment