Another " Big Top" story Written and Published

Hey Mikey….Try it you’ll like it..!!!!

 

   So How many of you guys remember that Ad campaign for Life Cereal??

If ya do, you are showing your age, but it’s a great point.  Mikey’s brother wanted him to just try the cereal.  Sometimes in Clowning we need to just try a different skill or way of doing something to make a difference. Did ya try something new at the past MACA convention?

 

  For the past 3 years I have attended the American Clown Academy in Newark OH.  It’s a “camp” setting, but the instructors are the best of the best.  The 1^st year I decided to go I didn’t know much about the camp, other than the instructors .  They had Chagy, Jeff Potts, Randy Christensen, Dave Bartlett ( Mr. Rainbow) and Peachy.  Going out to a new area  and  new concept for clown learning, was a leap of faith to spend a week at.  I just knew I wanted to learn some different skills to improve my clowning.  I learned so much, I went back 2 more years.  I felt challenged to not   only “keep up” with the others attending, but to meet the level of expectation from the instructors.  What I found was a whole new level of learning.  You have time to learn a different skill you would never had thought you would be able to learn.  On top of it all, you gain a multitude of Clown connections from all over the United States and Canada.  We learned, not only some “Circus Style” skills and Stage productions skills but many other skills that could be used during a birthday party or walk around event.

 

  No, this is not a commercial for American Clown Academy. My point is, not that you should go to ACA, but you should seek every opportunity to learn a different skill.  Try something new and challenge yourself on a daily bases.  One of the worse things you can do is be content in what you do. After a while, it becomes boring and complacent.  You may say, “I’m too old to learn a new skill” or “I don’t see a need to learn something new”.  I’m just asking you to “Try “ something new.  You May not use that particular skill but it may morph into another skill to get that “look” or a chuckle from a little one.

 

   You may think the routine or Joke is hilarious but once you try it on someone , it bombs. Well, at least you tried, and now you can take note and either try something different, never do it again or Tweak it to improve. You really need to develop an open mind to improve. Putting yourself “out there” is hard to do, but it’s what needs to be done to learn. Your ego always needs to be “left at the door” to improve. How bout trying something new?

 

    We did this year’s worship service a little different than the past.  One year Bubba did the whole service as did Chagy.  Last year we worked with Randy but this year Pinky asked if we could do some skits she wanted to pass on to others.  During her Christian Clown workshop we went over 3 skits we thought we could do during the service. Some of the member’s of the class volunteered to help.  I was excited to see people try something different.  Pinky had told us that seeing a skit is much different than actually doing the skit and think it was worth every effort.

 

    Try not to “pigeon hole” your talents into one category.  Be like Mikey..TRY IT..You might like it.  It worked for Mikey.  Today, in “real life” “Mikey” aka  John Gilchrist, is the director of Madison Square Garden media Sales dept.  In an article written in the Newsday magazine, he attributes his comfort of doing the commercial when he was three and a half years old to having his actual brothers with him in the commercial. His older brother is the one who says “he likes it! Hey Mikey!” 

 

  We just experienced being with our Clown Family at MACA.  Each of us wants the best of each other.  It’s never a good idea to put someone down just to build yourself up, in life and in  clowning.  A very good Text in the bible to live by is:  Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that is may benefit those who listen – Ephesians 4:29

We are all in this together, so go ahead and “Try it …you’ll like it”

 

Bump a nose,

Shobo

 

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Wow..It's been a while since I posted...but a lot is going on since last post....Shady is leaving us!!!...not long though..he was hired to be No-Joe the clown's side kick in his one ring circus. Shady will be traveling most of the spring and summer months in the southern states..We are SO Excited for him and the opportunity to experience this adventure.  He left in Feb but will be back with us in March for a few LAUGH Clown gigs...

With Shady not around as much we asked George from Kid's alley to Join us.  His Clown Name is Slo-Mo and  his character is anything by Slo...LOL..Feb 15th is his Debut at Kemble UM church for 2 services...After our practice Carol and I are excited to see how this addition works out.
LAUGH Clown has a busy schedule coming up in the spring since we have had at least 3 call back churches from last year ask if we can come again.. Kemble, New Beginnings Bible and Williamstown UM  all wanted us back again this year...PLUS all the stuff we do for Kid's alley keeps us busy for HIM.
During Christmas time I also got to clown at the Neighborhood Center in Camden and again Kids alley

Before all that in NOV  I was asked to be the MACA chaplain again this year....I'm sure glad God has a sense of humor ..this was one of my outfits during the convention...

Before that...I got to go to another American Clown Academy camp with Shady and renewed my friendship with some of the 1st and 2nd class clowns and made some new ones...

And BEFORE that...I became a GRRAANND Papa for the 2nd time..this time it was Kristen's turn..Luke Benjamin was born a few week early as his mom had some complications..He's a growing talking little man now...

Through it all God has really Blessed me and the ministry..God is Good all the Time!!!
until next time..
Bump a Nose...