THE FUNNIES

This Month

Our speaker for our September meeting will be our own "Skippy Dee Clown". He wants each of us to bring three objects to the meeting. Also, put your name on them. He will be teaching us how to use any and all objects. No matter what situation we are in as a clown, we may have to improvise at times. This will be a lesson on how to do just that. Come with your three objects, clean the cobwebs out of your brain and be ready to learn!

And last month Lou Gordon taught on " Love And Laughter - Rx For Healing." Her career as a registered nurse and her 20+ years as a clown (Lu-C-Love) gave us a multitude of information. Those who did not attend the meeting missed a great learning experience. Thank you Lou!

In October we will have Nancy Grey teaching us puppet movements and character voices. More on her in next month's newsletter.

It is getting near the time for our December holiday party. Does anyone know of a place that is centerally located for our party? Put on your thinking caps & have some ideas at the September meeting.

This N' That From President Pam

For all of you smokers - remember - when you are at a gig - do not smoke! Many people are allergic to second hand smoke. And many parents do not want their children to become smokers. In general, be considerate of others. From my Baraboo research: Joseph Grimaldi (1778-1837) lived in England. Mr. Grimaldi is known as the father of clowning. He was one of the first clowns to wear makeup. Today, clowns are sometimes called "Joeys" after Mr. Grimaldi. Circuses traveled by road, steamboat and train. In 1872, P.T. Barnum's circus became the first to travel using a train of specially built cars.

A Hard to Answer Question

How does a square meal fill up a round stomach?

On July 31st, member John Whiteriver (Spots The Clown) and his wife Lisa celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Happy belated 50th. And keep John Whiteriver in your thoughts. He will be having two separate surgeries before our September meeting so he will be recuperating and not at our September meeting "that's all floks!"

There are two main types of performing at stage shows. One is to perform for the entire trade show. The other is to perform for an individual company at their booth. This month, we will discuss performing for the entire trade show. And in October we will discuss performing for individual companies.

Working the whole show can be as simple as doing strolling entertainment like pocket magic, balloon sculpture or whatever else you like to do to entertain small groups. Some trade shows are geared to family audiences, and as a strolling artist, your focus will be to entertain the children while the parents are talking to the exhibitors.

Remember, when strolling, not to block the walkways, and make sure you do not block the view of any of the booths. Often times at these events there will be pockets of empty space where you can gather a small group to do an impromptu performance. It a stage is provided, it is a perfect opportunity to schedule some performance time and showcase your talent in front of a large group of people. Suggest the possibility of shows at scheduled times to the organizer who books you.

When performing on stage, try to incorporate as much of the trade shows theme as you can. For example, at a sports show, how about juggling basketballs or balancing a baseball hat? If you have experience as an M.C., you can sell yourself as the master of ceremonies for the show stage. Let the people who hired you know that you will provide them with quality entertainment and that you will also promote the exhibitors. At the show be sure to go around to all the exhibitors and write down a little something about them. As an added bonus to your presentation, arrange ahead of time to get door prizes from the exhibitors that you can give away to attendees by way of drawings.

(LAUGH MAKERS VOLUME 16 No. 1 - Fall 1998)

COAI NEWS by Candy

Hello Fellow COAI members,
As we have all seen and heard recently, Hurricane Katrina has done some real devastation on all of the Gulf coast including, and the worst hit, New Orleans. Our President, Cheri "Cheri Oats" Venturi, was forced out of her home the day that Hurricane Katrina hit. Her husband, Rick Venturi, head coach of the New Orleans Saints was evacuated out with his assistant coaches and team to Los Angeles, leaving Cheri to get what she could with the wives of the assistant coaches and get out of there. Fortunately, Cheri and her group made it out in time making it to Alabama and finding a hotel to stay there. She has since caught up with her husband in Texas and has found out that her home was not hurt at all. Guess what she grabbed first when she headed out the door? Her clown costume! Now that is dedication!
I'm sure all of you have been wanting to help the hurricane victims all you can. There is even an organization started called:
"Red Nose Relief" where if there is a clown who would like to go and clown in the shelters, they can direct them best as to what is needed. The website address is:

http://www.rednoserelief.com/

Now there is probably the question for some of you, "Is there still going to be a convention in New Orleans?" Well as one of the board members I can tell you this, we are having a convention, no matter what, it may not be in New Orleans, but we are hoping it will be. What better way to show the community how much clowns care than to enter into a city and instead of doing everything inside, we move it outside and interact with the community, bringing smiles where smiles are greatly needed right now?
Pleas pray for all those who have been affected by this trajedy and help where you can.
Take care,
Candy "Butterscotch" Will
COAI SW Regional VP

Volunteer Opportunities

1st Sunday of the Month
Anytime between 9:30-11:15
French Park Care Center
600 East Washington Avenue
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Call Khai Pham Cell phone (818)919-6745
Or Mimi Cell phone (818)288-1843

CHOC Hospital

one day a week
call Paulette (714) 539-4472

25th Annual Orange County Heart Walk

September 18
6:30am -- 12:00pm

Irvine Spectrum Center
Fortune Drive at Gateway
Irvine, CA 92618

They need clowns 7-11 am for meet and greet and to do bubbles. They already have face painters and balloon artists. It is ok to hand out your cards, there will be thousands of people there.

Call Carol McCarthy 714-742-6344

Airfair (an organization to stop expansion of John Wayne Airport) Needs clowns to make balloon airplanes at Newport Dunes on Sunday, October 2
from 11:00 to 5:00 Call Jean Price (949} 675-6366
bump a nose, Pom-Pom

Your Funny Business Board and Associates:

Pam "Twinkles d'Clown" 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
and Webdesigner and 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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