
Performing 17 summer reading program library shows schooled me as a clown performing artist. If you are a more seasoned veteran of clowning, you’ve probably been thinking, “Ha! You rookie!! Welcome to Big Boy Clowning!!!” as you’ve read through these musings. Yes, I did make some rookie mistakes this summer!
I thought I knew many of these things before this summer, but I hadn’t really ‘learned’ them to the point that I actually DID them until now. To review, here are the nine lessons I learned this summer:
1. There’s routine and rigor and play to good rehearsal.
2. A show is a guided journey.
3. Know the show.
4. Listen to the audience.
5. Know the venue.
6. Don’t assume anything.
7. Learn from every performance.
8. Have a support system.
9. There is no ‘off-season,’ just different seasons.
Today’s blog post looks at Lessons 7, 8, and 9.
7. Learn from every performance.
Every performance is good, because there’s always something to learn, grow from, and improve on. A little learning method I use is: 1) Observe, 2) Think about, 3) Apply, 4) Do, or OTAD for short.
After each performance this summer, I took time to think back on how things went, what I (and others) observed, what went well, and what didn’t
go so well. I captured these observations in writing in a journal, and used those notes to debrief (think about) the performance and plan for improvements and/or changes (apply). Rehearsals and performance routines were then tweaked (do!) so I could continuously improve. And then the OTAD cycle would start all over again as I observed and journaled how the changes worked the next time performed for an audience.
This four-part blog post has been a direct off-shoot of that journal.
There was another writing routine that I did right away after each performance – sending ‘Thank You’ notes as soon as possible. A Greek proverb says: “The swiftest gratitude is the sweetest.” While the performance was still fresh in my mind, I thanked the presenter for having me, noted something fun that happened, expressed gratitude for anything supportive they did, and invited them to have me back “anytime!”
8. Have a support system.
As a solo clown performing artist, I’m not only performer, but also writer, producer, stage manager, tech crew, stage crew, roadie, security guard, webmaster, publicist, and sole proprietor of a small business. That’s a lot for one person to do, let alone do well.
I discovered early on that I’d need a solid support system of ‘heroes’ in order to deliver the level of performance I wanted. My wife, Sharon, supported my transition to full-time clowning after my (third and final) retirement from public education this spring. She respected my work out and rehearsal time, accompanied me to my more challenging gigs, gave honest non-performer feedback, and took pictures. She is my red nose (and life) guardian angel.
My kids, while grown up and out on their own, also were supportive, and even the three grandchildren made it to one performance and met and experienced ‘Buster’ for the first time. There’s a grin-inducing, heartwarming peace knowing that your family supports a two-footed immersion into clowning!
Payaso amigos and master clowns Angel Ocasio and Albert Alter became mentors and cheerleaders (pardon the momentary flashback on old SNL
skits), providing constant verbal support and feedback. They convinced me I could do this through huge doses of red nose confidence boosters, as well as ale for positive reinforcement. They are friends for life.
Unexpected grace blessed my support system this spring in the form of a cardiologist who worked quickly to diagnose my heart arrhythmia and
perform pacemaker implant surgery, allowing me to barely miss a beat (pun intended) in rehearsing and preparation for what was to be, for me, a demanding summer season of performances. Amen, alleluia, and can I get a big, “Woo hoo!”
It probably goes without saying, but every audience became an ad hoc member of my support system, as I discussed in ‘4. Listen to the audience’ in a previous post.
All of you are my red nose heroes; I love and appreciate you all!
To round out my support system, I made sure I had a set of internal, self-sustaining supports in place, too. I set aside and dedicated the time to work out to get and keep the clown in shape physically and mentally, ate well and kept the clown healthy, prayed and gave thanks, and relaxed and refreshed and occasionally did other things to stay happy and balanced, such as gardening, volunteering at a children’s parade, attending a concert, and getting out of town for a weekend. All work and no play make Buster a dull clown (or something like that).
9. There is no ‘off-season,’ just different seasons.
At the end of the summer season, I was energized! I was pleased with my performances, audience response, what I’d learned and how I’d grown as a clown, and my head-first plunge into full-time clowning. Excitedly, I asked “OK, now what? What’s next? What do I do in the off-season?”
Then, the voice of red nose reality shouted in my ear, “Whoa, there, big fool! There is no ‘off-season’ when you’re a full-time clown, just different
seasons!”
Prepping for the summer and the frequency and level of performing it called for, I had very little time (or vision) to look past summer. Now that I have some time to think about it, look to the future, and build a full-time, all-seasons practice in the art of clowning, I can think of a ton of areas for focus and effort and “what’s next.”
They include:
1. Continually practice and improve routines, gags, and set pieces.
2. Make adjustments (perhaps simplify, but no need to completely re-do
routines or show).
3. Get and/or stay in shape with regular, rigorous workouts and practice.
4. Fix and repair props and clothing; build new physical properties.
5. ‘Season’ the show and routines for different holidays, seasons, and themes.
6. Tickle my own funny bone (read the comics, attend a show, watch old
movies and TV shows).
7. Study the art (read books on clowning, take a class or workshop, get
coaching).
8. Enrich and expand my clown skill set by learning something new
(ukulele or concertina, perhaps?).
9. Market, promote, and communicate through a variety of media to create
future audiences.
10. Put something back into the art (such as teaching, writing, coaching, or
volunteering).
So, now you know the story about how Buster went to clown performing arts reality school this summer and got schooled. What’s next after this Summer School of Clown Knocks? Bring it on.
Laugh long and hard and with each other,
Mike “Buster” Bednarek