THE FUNNIES

Back by popular demand is our SWAP MEET! We hold our club elections in May and we always have our SWAP MEET then.  Time wise, to have club elections and a demonstration, it really is not fair to the demonstrator, as they will have less time.  A number of members wanted the swap meet back so GET ALL OF YOUR “CLOWN VALUABLES” together and bring them to the meeting to sell.  And non-club members only need to pay $5 for a table.  We have a limited amount of tables, please call or email Pam, Candy or Paulette (see bottom of newsletter) to reserve a table. And there is always that certain clown “SOMETHING” that you’ve wanted to have and somebody brought it to sell.  Bring your change and your items to sell.  And ENJOY!

Our April demonstrator was our own Wendy Olson.  She did her demonstration on storytelling and had ZILLIONS of WONDERFUL ideas for us.  Those that did not attend, you really missed a great learning experience.  And those that attended think of all the new ideas that you learned for your upcoming clown gigs.  THANK YOU Wendy for giving us a great learning experience

This is my final time writing this column for our clubs newsletter.  Our elections are in May & the by-laws state that the President can only be in office for two terms.  MY TIME IS UP!  Somebody new will “officially” take office in May as the new President.  I hope that you have enjoyed me as much as I have enjoyed being your President.  I had “many a challenging months” but each meeting always came together with everyone’s help!  It always is a team effort and as I always say, “YOUR CLUB IS ONLY AS GOOD AS YOU MAKE IT!  Thank you for allowing me to serve two-terms as your President!  And thank you board for sticking with me and assisting me as needed!  GREAT JOBS!  And we always want to thank ALL-AMERICAN BALLOON for allowing us to hold our meetings at their facility.  A huge THANKS to Alan and all of his crew.  And to the nights that Juan came in when needed!  YOU ALL ARE FANTASTIC!

And my dad “SNIKKERS” fell & got a hairline fracture in the neck of his right femur & had surgery on April 13th.  He did not have a full hip replacement but three screws were put into the area.  He just had his 12 staples removed & the surgeon said he would have to not put weight on his right foot for at least another month.  They want everything to really heal.  You can send cards to him (or visit?) at:  Robert House / ALAMITOS WEST HEALTH CARE CENTER/ 3902 Katella Avenue – Room 111 / Los Alamitos, CA  90720.  And to think, I clowned there a few years back.  SIGH!

And another hard to answer question:  “IS BREEDING RABBITS A HAIR-RAISING EXPERIENCE?”

Remember:      MAY IS MOTHER’S DAY AND CINCO de MAYO!

COAI NEWS by Candy

It is good to be a member of Clowns of America International!  there are so many wonderful things about being a member!  If you are in need of Insurance, Clowns of the US is now giving discounts to all members of COAI and all you have to do is look it up in the next New Calliope!  Clown Week is coming, during the first week of August.  Any activity you do a as a member of COAI to promote clowning during that week, you can send in to the Clown Week Chair, Bob Gretton.  You will need to record your activities and have pictures to back it up.  You should put it in a nicely decorated binder, and make sure it gets to Bob Gretton  before September 1st, (you can find his address in the New Calliope).  Your book will be displayed at the next convention and will receive a plaque.  The winner of Clown Week will receive the Charlie Award!   So many fun things to do and SEE in your New Calliope!  Want to know more?  Come and talk to me at the next meeting, I'll be glad to share anything you would like to know...

Butterscotch

COAI SW Regional VP and Junior Joey Chair

Restaurant Clowning
By Terry Parrett 
Laugh Makers Magazine – Vol. 13 No. 1994

It is time to look at what to do during the actual appointment with the restaurant manager.

SALES APPROACH – A restaurant’s situation determines the sales approach you’ll you’ll take with the manager.  (1) If the restaurant doesn’t seem to be doing as well as it could, and then your approach can be the live entertainment is a way to bring in new customers and to give regulars a reason to bring their friends.  In my own restaurant work, I know many regular customers bring their friends back to see me, and, often, specifically to see a particular trick!  I always make sure that this information gets back to the manager somehow.  (2) If the restaurant is already doing well, you might take the approach that your entertainment can help ease those bumpy times when the waiting list gets long, or when the kitchen gets backed up and people must wait longer for their meals.  If you can go to their tables with some entertainment, they won’t be looking at their watches.  The evening will be improved for everyone.  (3) If you are trying to work at a new restaurant, stress how you can help differentiate them from the other restaurants in town.  Entertainment can help the restaurant develop a core of “regulars” something every restaurant wants to have.  (4) And, almost every restaurant has one or two nights, usually earlier in the week, when business is not as good as other nights.  Having special entertainment on a slow night can be a business builder. 

PRICING: HOURLY RATES - Now that you have your approach mapped out, the issue of pricing requires some decision-making.  Obviously, I can’t tell you what to charge, but I will make some suggestions. First of all, you cannot charge your normal hourly rate, which I’m assuming to be somewhere starting around $75.  Most restaurants can’t afford it.  I would refer you to Jim Sisti’s excellent publication, The Magic Menu, where he states that he has heard the hourly rate for restaurant magicians to be anywhere from $15 - $75 per hour.  For most family restaurants, however, I feel the $75 figure would just be too high.

Find a number where you will feel comfortable, and stick to it.  Do not go below that number, and remember, there are plenty of available restaurants.  Your negotiating strength is the ability to walk away from the deal, if it is not right.

PRICING:  TIPS  - If you decide to accept tips, do not include them as part of your hourly foe, as tips can vary tremendously.  I have heard of performers who work only for tips.  I personally feel this isn’t the right way to go and will do more to damage the restaurant entertainment business than almost anything else.  If a restaurant wants you to work solely for tips, walk away. 

When the subject of tips comes up, I tell the manager that if someone offers me a tip, I will tell them no tip is necessary.  If they insist, I will take it, but I do not hustle for tips.My reasoning is that you are swelling this to the manager as a way to make the customers visits more pleasant.  Someone hustling for a tip does not accomplish that goal.  If you are being paid fairly, then you will not need to hustle tips.  

NEXT MONTH WE WILL CONTINUE WITH MORE IDEAS FOR THE ACTUAL RESTAURANT APPOINTMENT!

WITH MORE & MORE DISASTERS HAPPENING AROUND THE WORLD, RED NOSE RELIEF IS NEEDED MORE THAN EVER.

Red Nose Relief (RNR) is alive and well! Just to remind you that RNR is a charity/service organization. Simply stated, it will be clowns serving their fellow man in times of crisis caused by disaster.  My goal as state co-coordinator would be to have every clown that is or will be involved with RNR in California to be Red Cross Certified.  We will someday have “the big one” and the RNR clowns should be ready to assist at all levels with our response to disaster.

Paul “Fuddi-Duddi Kleinberger, the Vice President of Red Nose Relief, sent a message to all state RNR coordinators as follows:  “Our coordinators in Louisiana are looking for some help.  They need toilet paper, all sizes of Depends and cleaning supplies.  Gathering these types of products could be a great alley or community project!  Reach out and spread the word.  Details are attached.”

And another note from a clown to Paul as follows:  Hey Paul, If anyone wants to help out they can send any of the following items:  toilet paper, Depends….all sizes, paper towels, and cleaning products.  This is the list I have for now.  I haven’t put it on any of the lists yet because we have been so wrapped up in getting the prom dresses to places they are needed.  If you want to post it anywhere please do.  If anyone wants to mail anything here is my address:
Karen Boudreaux/P.O. Box 1810/ Raceland, LA  70394.
Sonny and Rainbeaux will be glad to see it gets to where it will be a blessing.  Thanks and Be Blessed.  Karen B.

You can send stuff individually or our club could do it as a project.  And you can talk to your churches, temples, other clubs and such to get them involved also.  LET US HELP PEOPLE LESS FORTUNATE THAN WE ARE!  Get off your duffs and make a difference.      Pam House - California RNR State Coordinator

Club Elections

Once again, it is time for our club elections.  We need some new blood to “TAKE CHARGE” of the club.  You can look up the description on each office on our club’s website.  The offices are as follows:

 
           PRESIDENT–VICE PRESIDENT- SECRETARY-TREASURER

Our Newsletter Editor and Web Designer for Clown Pages, our Funny Business Website is Paulette “Pom Pom” Rosen.  Who is that somebody out there who would be perfect for this position?

REMEMBER – YOUR CLUB IS ONLY AS GOOD AS YOU MAKE IT!   President Pam!

Your Funny Business Board and Associates:

Pam "Twinkles d'Klown" House, President
562-431-6955 klassyklowns1@yahoo.com

Candy "Butterscotch" Will, Vice President and COAI Regional Vice President
949-489-9971 Btrsctch4h@cox.net

Wendy Olson "Wendy" Secretary/Treasurer
714/524-2897 dolson970@sbcglobal.net

Jackie McDoniel "Sweetheart" Co-secretary
714-636-7966 jmcdoniel@socal.rr.com


Send all Articles by the last Monday in the previous month to:
Paulette "Pom-Pom" Rosen, Newsletter Editor
Webmaster for "Clown Pages" our Funny Business Website
714/539-4472 pom-pom@pom-pomclown.com
Funny Business Website http://clownpages.com

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