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Educational Tips
I Never Thought
of Until I Met You
(Part 2)
Jackie Newton get away with is your own. As a clown, I often
act broken. This is okay. I am clumsy, goofy, not
Until I met all of you and watched and the sharpest tool in the shed, but never bring an
listened and studied others in clowning, audience member’s faults to light. Make them feel
good about themselves. Never create laughter at
I never knew the things I know now, their expense.
so I decided to create a list for you
of the greatest things I’ve learned in 15. Safety first in all things that you do with an
clown skills, antics, performances and audience. Be aware of where they are sitting, be
aware of safety at all times.
expression. Here’s the list:
16. Know when to go to Plan B. Always have a plan
11. Know your audience, who are they, where do they B and maybe even plan C. Example: I was hired
come from, how many will be there? This is for to work at a waterpark this summer. They wanted
your sake and theirs. me to do a magic show. I told them that a magic
show would never work with kids at a pool…
12. Try not to have shows through a lunch hour or no one would listen. So, I bring two walkaround
dinner hour unless it is a dinner show, hangry is magic things to do with certain individuals, then
not pretty. had to find waterproof tattoos for the kids and I
make balloons that will hold up to water. I have
13. Never feel discouraged if your audience isn’t also gone to venues that were totally not what the
quite with the flow. Several things can affect your client explained at first. I always have a backup
show. Climate, outside interruptions and overall plan or backup service just in case. I have shown
environment can make or break a show, but keep
going.
14. NEVER think that comedy is at the expense of an
audience member. I do kiss bald heads, but never
insult bald heads. The only depreciation you can
22 MAGAZINE