Monday, December 22, 2008

Zimbo the Clown is Going on Holiday

I am very glad to announce that I (Zimbo) will be away for a much deserved holiday in January 2009. As mentioned before, I only work on weekends, but this will also be changing until the 4th January 2008. (Yes Zimbo can work weekdays up until the 4th). Just so everyone understands my working schedule for the Christmas Season, I have posted it below.

Zimbo will not be available for the following Days:
  • 22-26th December 2008 (Christmas Break)
  • 5-14th January 2009 (Zimbo will be lying on a sunny beach in St. Lucia)
  • 14-21st January 2009 (Zimbo will be attending his brother’s wedding in Cape Town – He is a clown without makeup)
After my nice long holiday I will be available to work from the Saturday the 24th January 2009 as per my regular schedule on a weekend’s only basis. Also don't forget that starting 2009 I will be performing the Giant Bubble Shows.

I hope you all have a wonderful Holiday Season and New Year. I know you will spoil your kids rotten.

Take Care
Zimbo

Monday, November 17, 2008

Zimbo Adds Giant Bubbles to His Clown Routine

Clowning Around is delighted to announce an addition to Zimbo the Clowns' already fantastic performance. As of February 2009, I will be introducing giant bubbles into my clown routine as an additional option. When I say giant I mean HUGE. I have finally concocted the right bubble solution to create bubbles large enough to contain your child, that’s right! Your children can be completely surrounded by a bubble in his/her own bubble world. The coolest part… if your children blow while in the bubble, they can create their own stream of bubbles from within the bubble they are standing in.


How does Zimbo do this?
I have created an amazing formula which will only be fully complete by the end of January 2009. With a few very hard to find secret ingredients I will perform a bubble routine for your party that will dazzle all.


How much will it cost?
I have tried to make it as cheap as possible but due to the ingredients not being found locally, I need to cover costs. The show will be included into Zimbo’s one hour routine at an additional R300 per party.


What is included in the show?
  • Every child will get a chance to stand inside a giant bubble.
  • Zimbo will create some awesome bubbles up to 2 meters in diameter.
  • The children can have fun making their own bubbles using many different types of bubble making gadgets.

Does anyone else do this?
As far as I know, Zimbo will be the only bubble performing clown in Johannesburg. :)

Take Care
Zimbo the Clown

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Kidney Beanz Trust Spinathon 2008

What a fantastic day it was, many volunteers sweating as they rode for hours and hours at Sandton Virgin Active for an excellent cause. The Kidney Beanz Spinathon was wonderfully organised by Annamarie Wagner, a trust member of The Kidney Beans Trust in a joint initiative with The Virgin Active Group and Morningside Clinic.

The Spinathon was organized for one sole purpose, to raise awareness and funding for kids with severe kidney disease. What amazing kids these were, some of them were awaiting transplants and others had already had their operations and told of their wonderful success stories. The kids showed their appreciation to the spinners by spraying them with water and found it hilarious to spray Zimbo too.

I had so much fun at this charity event and I have agreed to fully support the kids at The Kidney Beanz Trust by dedicating my time to visiting these kids at Morningside Clinic on a regular basis.

You can make a donation to this amazing charity or you can offer your time and support too by filling out a simple contact form. Make a difference today and you will realize that these kids are well worth the love.

Take Care
Zimbo the Clown

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Kids love pony rides and cowboy parties

Why are kids so fascinated by these magnificent beasts? I know adults wouldn’t even consider riding an animal more than five times our size. My guess is that kids don’t even see the sheer size of these creatures; they see right into their hearts and connect to the souls of these animals on a level that adults could never achieve. Children want to love these animals so why not give them the chance to make a new friend?

SA Trail Kids offers all of this and more. Many kids dream of being cowboys or cowgirls. I don’t blame them, you know how much Zimbo loves funky hats and there is nothing cooler than beaten down cowboy hats. SA Trails Kids do it all, when it comes to cowboy theme parties then why not allow a real cowboy to show your kids how it’s done.

Your child will learn how to handle the horses using cowboy methods, a style which has proven to be gentle on horses. Your kids will be spending their day riding ponies on the range of Northern Farms and then head back to the cantina for some tarantula juice and fried rattlesnake (cold drinks and food). Every cowboy comes across dangers in the wild. At SA Trails Kids there is a petting zoo containing snakes, lizards & dragons, geckos and tarantulas. Beware, before the day is done, your kids might be lassoing the family pet or little sister.

SA Trail Kids will cater for your party or you can bring your own food and they will prepare the fire pit to do all of your cooking.

Don’t forget that Zimbo loves to be a cowboy clown so any bookings at SA Trails Kids will get R200 discount off Zimbo’s regular rate. Just be sure to tell SA Trails that you want Zimbo the Clown at your party.

Take Care
Zimbo the Clown

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Kids Foam Parties


The trend is here, and in this heat foam parties have become a favorite amongst the kids. As a follow up to last weeks article on Kids Summer Pool Parties, Zimbo is going to give you some inside tips and advice on foam parties.

What is a foam party?
Well its quiet simple really, its like being in a very large bath tub with all your friends. The kids get lathered up with soap-like suds shooting out of a large bubble machine. The soap machine fills up a large pit (jumping castle) with tons and tons of suds.

What type of foam party should I get?
For kids, Zimbo recommends the medium or large foam pit. These pits will keep your kids clean and save your grass. Try to avoid the stand alone machines (the ones without the pits) as these machines can create quite a mess because the foam is not contained and gets to wonder all over your garden or house out of control (you will be amazed where foam can get).

What do I need for my foam party?
  • Costumes (your kids won't soak but will get damp)
  • Goggles (for those sensitive eyes and under foam exploring)
  • Sunblock (beware, just like swimming, your kids will bake}
  • The whole family (thats right, foaming is for all ages)

How do I book a foam party?
Foam parties are available all over South Africa. Zimbo recommends X-treme Foam Parties if you are in Gauteng as their service is fantastic, clean and professional.

How much do foam parties cost?
The prices vary, but you can expect to pay in the region of R1800/2hrs for the medium sized units and up to R2500/2hrs for the larger units.

Will Zimbo the clown join us?
If your foam party is the last party on Zimbo's schedule then Zimbo will be more than happy to join in the fun.

Take Care
Zimbo the Clown

Monday, September 8, 2008

Kids Summer Pool Parties

Hello all. Summer is here and Zimbo is more than just a little bit excited. Why? Well summer can offer some of the most exciting, fun and fantastic parties yet. It's time to get wet, cool off a bit and use that summer heat to throw a fun filled party your child will never forget.

Summer parties usually include pool parties, bubble bonanza's and picnic tea parties. Zimbo has kindly done all the work for you and sorted everything out by age, so take a look, maybe you can pick up a few ideas.

Soapy & Squishy Water Balloons.
Pool parties are not just about the swimming (although this is my favourite part). Dash off to the supermarket and grab the following:
  • water balloons
  • sunlight dish liquid
  • a bucket
Now fill up half the bucket with some water and then squirt in about a cup full of sunlight. Fill up the water balloons and then put as many as you need into the bucket. Now get the kids all lined up opposite each other and have them toss the balloons to each other. Have you ever tried to catch a slippery slimy water balloon all covered in soap? The kids will have a blast and may not even need to bath afterwards. Safety Note: rather do this on the grass as the poolside can become very slippery.

Balloon Shaving
What you need to get:
  • Balloons (regular)
  • Shaving Cream
  • Cheap single blade razors
  • Poles
  • Permanent marker

This one is for the older kids (boys seem to love it a lot more as it can get destructive)
Blow up 10-20 balloons and attach them to a pole (one per pole so that the balloon sits steady on the pole - about the height of the smallest child attending). Draw a face on each balloon and then apply the shaving cream to the balloon to make a beard. Have the children make two lines and get each child to try shave the balloon without popping it. See which team shaves the most balloons without popping them. Safety Note; This game should only be played amongst older kids (age 8-12)as they will be handling razors. Parent supervision is a must.


Baking Baby
This one I saved for the little ones. Beware, this is messy
What you need:
  • Very Large Baking trays
  • Whipped cream
  • smarties, hundreds and thousands, candy worms, marshmallows etc.

Put the baking trays on the grass and fill the trays with a good amount of whipped cream. Place the sweets into the tray and be sure to spray whipped cream over them to hide the sweets. Now, grab the babies and let them explore the very sweet, very sticky baking tray. You will probably notice that they prefer to play around with the stuff rather than eat it as it feels great. The more babies you have the better it is. If you really want to get messy you can add some chocolate sauce. (Be sure to lock the dogs away)

Jungle adventure story
This one can be played with all ages
What you need:
  • Lots of junk food like candy worms, marshmallows, sour worms etc
  • Lots of things to drink like chocolate milk, creamesoda etc
  • Plastic Cups
  • Chairs
  • Blindfolds

Have the kids all sit in a row with blindfolds on and then allow Zimbo or another adult (if for some reason Zimbo is not at the party) tell the wild jungle story. The story must be said in a mysterious and fun way. You can make up whatever story you wish but the main object is to include the food in your story... eg. You are walking along a long dusty road and you have not eaten for days, you fall to your knees and start to eat the hot desert sand (at this time you give each child powdered chocolate milk - without the milk). As the the adventure continues you can have them eating live worms (you feed them sour worms) or crunchy bugs (you feed them smarties). Whatever you decide, be sure to practice your story before hand. safety Note: Be sure to check with parents to make sure no child is allergic to anything.

Take Care
Zimbo

Monday, August 18, 2008

Supporting Big Brother Big Sister South Africa

To follow up on last months article on Why Charity Should Be Important to Any Clown, I would like to highlight an organisation that has become a big part Zimbo the Clown's life.

Big Brother Big Sister of South Africa (BBBSSA) is an amazing loving organisation that cares for the children of South Africa. Lauren from BBBSSA approached me (Zimbo) at the beginning of the year to participate in a charity event. Not knowing what to expect I arrived at the event ready to entertain the masses. To my surprise the event was very well organised and very well run. The kids were all put into neat lines without much shouting from the organisers. What this shows me is that the children have respect for the organisers and volunteers, most probably because they have formed close relationships with all the volunteers (their Big Brothers and Sisters). The impact these dedicated volunteers have on these children's lives is something you have to experience to be amazed. Just a little bit of care and appreciation towards these kids goes a long way. BBBSSA understood the unique challenges and needs of the children and found a solution to the problem.

We know we cannot possibly look after all the children in need, but if we take it upon ourselves to look after one child, then we will change a life forever. We will be blessed with the unique opportunity to have a direct impact on a child, changing his/her life and help create wonderful memories and self-esteem that the child can use in his/her future.

Zimbo is proud to participate in yet another BBBSSA event on the 13th September 2008. Why not do your part and become a volunteer today. Visit Big Brother Big Sister South Africa and become a volunteer or add to the BBBS wishlist to help support a child who is in need of care and attention. A simple smile from one of these children will assure you that you have made the right decision.

If you would like to volunteer as a face painter or entertainer for the next BBBSSA event please contact Zimbo directly

BBBS Websites:
Big Brother Big Sister South Africa

Big Brother Big Sister International

Big Brother Big Sister Main Wesite

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Why Charity Should Be Important to Any Clown

Have you ever had that feeling of pure joy, a feeling that you are doing something for a purpose? Let me tell you something, there is absolutely nothing that brings me more joy than visiting kids in hospital that are not feeling the best. To walk into that room which is usually associated with hurt and sadness and see a little face light up is truly heart warming... "Are you here for me?"


Very gentle I am. I tread with care, making sure that every child is comfortable with my entry. Any sign of despair and I back out and offer balloons from the door. They usually accept and warm up to me within seconds. I must always remember that I am entering their little world of problems, so I need to be fully aware of their feelings at all times. It always seems to play out the same, a small smile from the corner of the mouth, a quick look to mom like they are asking permission to be happy at this sad moment. It does not take long to get the stamp of approval from the child, giving me the opportunity to be show them that yes… I am here for them.


The movie ‘Patch Adams’, has always been an inspiration to me. Yes I look utterly stupid and clumsy as I walk into doors and play with the hospital equipment, but if I glance over my shoulder I’m sure to see a child giggling away.
One of my favorite balloons to make is ‘Zimbo’ s Super Sword’. This is one of the larger swords in my inventory of balloon ideas. I tell the child that this sword is to protect them from those nurses next time they come in to visit. Sure enough, as I’m entertaining another child down the hall I hear a shriek from the nurse followed by a hysterical giggle from the child. (whistle) it was not my idea :)


I don’t always spend all my time in the kids ward, many times I end up running around the hospital entertaining the nurses and doctors. They deserve to smile too.


I am honored to be a hospital clown, the smiles and giggles leave me all gooshy inside. The visits allow me to recharge my week with warm, fuzzy feelings. It brings me so much more joy than any paid job. I don’t plan on throwing in the towel any time soon.

Take Care
Zimbo the Clown

Monday, July 21, 2008

Clowning as a Career in South Africa?

Have you ever been called 'the class clown' , or do you enjoy being the center of attention?

We all know how hard it is to keep ahead of interest rates here in South Africa. Almost all of us need a second job to survive. Do you want a job that does not seem like HARD WORK? If entertaining kids is something you have a passion for then you might as well get paid for having fun.

This is how I, Zimbo the Clown started clowning all over Johannesburg. I took my passion and ran with it and the results have been more than rewarding. There are a few criteria s to meet, and if you treat clowning like its 'just another job', then you are sure to fail. Your heart needs to be motivated in order to succeed in this very in-demand job.

Why should I consider being a clown?
  • In South Africa clowning is an open market that not too many venture into. With hardly any competition this leaves a wide open gap for you to be welcomed into this fun and friendly world. Clown stick together and will help one another.
  • After the first couple laughs and smiles you will feel wonderful.
  • To be a clown their are rules and requirements, however if your heart is in the right place you can easily be trained and ready to perform in as little as a couple of weeks. However it does take a few years to perfect your skills.
  • Its a wonderful job to consider as part-time, you only have to book one or two parties per weekend.
  • When it comes to expenses, you are sure to make up the cost of your costumes, balloons and magic after as little as two jobs.
  • You may never get a ticket again after being pulled over for speeding :)
What does it take to become a clown?
  • It is essential that you have a passion for people, most of all a gentle nature towards children.
  • You are there to make a fool of yourself and not other people
  • You have to be tolerant and open to stares, laughs and criticism. Children will tell you exactly what they think of you so you need to take it all as a positive advise on how to improve.
  • Patience, Patience, Patience
  • It is important to keep your acts up-to-date and constantly changing. As you get popular you will start to see the same kids so you don't want then seeing the same old tricks
  • Be open to learn new tricks, new balloon shapes, new skits. Wherever you go, always look for new ideas to add to your act.
  • Don't be afraid to do charity work.
  • You must have a professional mindset, Clowns are professional entertainers.
  • YOU HAVE TO ENJOY YOUR JOB - OR DON'T BOTHER
What is covered in the training?
  • You will be shown how to build a clown character you will keep forever.
  • You will be trained on the clown essentials like twisting balloons, basic magic, skits and face painting.
  • You will be taught on how to interact with children and the rules and regulations involved with entertaining children.
  • If you meet all requirements you may be chosen to work alongside Zimbo the Clown or join the troop at Clowning Around.
“I don't want to be called 'the greatest' or 'one of the greatest'; let other guys claim to be the best. I just want to be known as a clown because to me that's the height of my profession. It means you can do everything-sing, dance, and above all, make people laugh.” ~ Red Skelton


If Clowning sounds like something you wish to do and you live in South Africa with a valid ID book, please call Zimbo the Clown on 084 597 7655 for more info. Training classes begin on 4th September 2008.

Keep Clowning Around
Zimbo the Clown
www.clowningaround.co.za

Monday, June 23, 2008

Simple Clown and Simple Fun

In today's world of kids birthday parties, a lot of weight is put on the parents to go out of their way to make their party the most impressive party of the year... but who is this really for? Believe it or not, the hype of a huge party is usually something the parent has worked their child up to. If the parent has decided that a huge amazing birthday party is the way to go then this is what a child will expect, but be warned, a child's expectation way be much more than what you had in mind. Their imaginations might very well out do yours. This can lead to a disappointment on the child's part when the party is not as WOW as it should be.

Having said this, maybe it is a better idea to keep the party simple. I can assure you that your child will be happy with whatever you decide so long as your heart is into the project and you are not running around like a chicken without a head. Smaller, simple parties allow you to spend more time with your child and less time worrying about the donkey in the flowers.

As Zimbo the Clown I have had much experience in the dynamics of what makes a good party, after all, the kids tell me exactly what they think of a party. I make it a point to ask every child about their day and how much fun they are having. So here are some first hand tips to an awesome, simple, cost-effective party.

First of all make sure there is enough food and make sure you put some out before the party starts. Don't put out all the food at once as it might get chowed before all the kids arrive.

Be sure to get a jumping castle to keep the kids busy as they arrive, if jumping castles are out of your budget then have some soccer balls or hoola-hoops for the kids to play with. Kids want to play the minute they walk in the door, so be prepared. If it is summer then the swimming pool works as a great pre-party activity, blow up a few floating animals and balls and the kids will do the rest.

About an hour into the party is the time for the kids party entertainer to take over. Whether it is a Clown with his wonderful balloons or a Magician with a bit of walk around magic, these are trained professionals who will no doubt keep the kids occupied. The most important tip for the parent is to stay involved with the entertainment. If you look excited then the children will pick up on this and they will have a wonderful time.

After the kids entertainer has met all the kids then allow them to put on the show. Have an area where the kids can sit on the floor and a small table for the entertainer to put his magic or tricks on. It is important that the parents help to control the kids during this time. If a child is trying to get their hands into the magic box then it is the parents duty to put the child in line not the entertainer. The entertainer may tell a joke about a shark being in the magic box, this is a hint to the parents that the child needs to be controlled.

After the Magic Show is a good time to do the birthday cake and sing. Have all the kids gather around the table or even better sit at the table. Have the knife ready... you will not believe how many times the candles are blown out and then mom has to run and get the knife. The clown or magician will be happy to help cut the cake while you click away with the camera.

If you have a Magician then your time is probably up after the cake cutting. If you have hired a Clown then you can go the extra hour and have them do some face painting. Again, have a table and two chairs available for this. Please note that clowns and entertainers do get thirsty so during the face painting might be a good time to hydrate them. Entertainers are not there to eat all the food but a little snack/drink will sure keep him/her fresh and at that point they will very well appreciate it.

After the second hour is up the clown or entertainer will be heading out and its time to start winding down the party. By this time the kids now have full tummies and are probably running around looking like super hero's and princesses. Get the party packs ready as the kids will soon be leaving. Allow the birthday child to open a couple presents or all the presents Play some 'pass the parcel' type last minute games. Last of all let the air out the castle, take a deep breath and smile. You have just pulled off a fantastic party.

Take Care
Zimbo the Clown

Monday, June 9, 2008

Choosing The Right Birthday Party Entertainer for Children Aged 4 - 8 Years Old

Engaging a good professional entertainer for your childs birthday party is almost a sure-fire way of making the party an enjoyable and successful one. But what type of entertainer fits the bill, the most important consideration is the age of your birthday child.

If he/she is between 1- 3 years old you may want to keep things simple. Children of this age are generally unpredictable and there is no cookie-cutter formula on choosing the right entertainer for children of this age. Children of this age tend to have shorter attention spans and varied temperaments. On the other hand kids aged 9 -12 consider themselves all grown up and usually scoff at what they consider kiddy forms of entertainment. But if your kid is between the ages of 4 - 8 then he/she is at an age where they are old enough to understand jokes and enjoy fun-filled interactive games or activities with lots of movement. This makes hiring an entertainer for kids in this age group easier and more worthwhile for all.

When it comes to hiring the entertainer the many people think of hiring a clown. Clowns are bright colourful and perform weird tricks that make people laugh. No clowns are not magicians but they sure have a great time trying to be one. Clowns are also masters of face painting, after all, they have plenty of practice on themselves. Clowns also have the ability to keep children entertained for a longer period of time so keep this in mind if you are planning a fairly large party. Another highlight of any clown is balloon twisting, wonderful colourful balloons that take the shape of whatever your child's imagination will allow.

Another popular choices of entertainers to consider for your kids birthday party might be a magician. Magicians specifically those specializing in children audiences are common choices as kids party entertainers. Good kids magicians perform bright and colourful magic such as producing a huge bouquet of flowers from an empty vase or making colourful handkerchiefs appear and disappear in the blink of an eye. Magic is a popular choice of entertainment for children because it gives the children a sense of wonder where they can suspend their disbelief. When a magician makes an object appear disappear or float in front of their eyes it lets them believe that such things are possible and that they may one day be able to do such things as well. It inspires creativity and wonder that is only lacking in today's modern world. If you looking for a magician check his experience and ask how he intends to tailor his show to cater to your young audience.

Jugglers are fast becoming a popular entertainment choice at birthday parties. Their sublime juggling skills combined with entertaining routines make them a hit not just with the kids but the whole family. Jugglers who perform at kids parties are usually prepared to demonstrate different kinds of juggling skills. They may also juggle with different items such as balls clubs rings and more. Their props are usually brightly coloured to give them more visual appeal as there is nothing more eye-catching than seeing a juggler keep 3 or 4 different coloured balls in the air at the same time. Some jugglers also involve the audience in their routines making the show audience participative and fun for the whole family. It is also not uncommon to see jugglers who combine elements of magic into their show as well. As with magic shows juggling shows require the audience to appreciate the skill that the performer is exhibiting. Younger children may not fully understand or realise a jugglers skill while older kids may tend to get bored after a while seeing the same performer attempt to juggle different things. However a good performer will be able to make his her routines entertaining enough and engaging enough to suit most kids of different ages.

Puppeteers or Ventriloquists add an extra dimension of fun to any party. Kids love to see a funny looking puppet animal telling stories and cracking jokes. Puppets also make the entire show look bigger as it appears that there is a cast of performers rather than just one performer doing the show. This is one of the main reasons ventriloquist shows are a hit at parties.the classic image of a ventriloquist is usually of a performer sitting on a stool with a wooden dummy on his or her lap performing with that character throughout the show. However many ventriloquists these days perform with brightly coloured foam or latex puppets instead and they usually have more than one puppet character in the show.

This adds an element of variety to the show which is crucial for keeping kids engaged. Some performers also add more interactivity to the show by getting the puppets to interact directly with the kids and crack impromptu jokes with them. A ventriloquism puppet show is versatile enough to entertain almost all kids and even adults. Younger kids will be captivated by brightly coloured talking puppets while older kids will be able to appreciate the jokes and interact with the puppets. A ventriloquism puppet show is something that can be a fun for the whole family. The good news is that these days you dont just have to settle for one or the other. There are professional birthday party entertainers who provide multi-dimensional performers. So the next time your kid has a party consider looking for a magician , a ventriloquist, a clown or a expert juggler... the choice is yours!

Monday, May 26, 2008

Clowning Around - The Essence of a Clown


"Comedy has had no history, because it was not at first treated seriously." – Aristotle


Where does one begin to find the essence of the clown? This is a figure so well recognised by all of us and yet, what do we really know about our white-faced friends? For instance, did you know that the first week in August has been declared International Clown Week? In honour of this larger than life character, this archetypal human expression, we went digging around for a few facts about these farcical folk.

The English word ‘clown’ comes from the Old Icelandic, klunni, which denotes a clumsy person. According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, a clown is “a familiar comic character of pantomime and circus, known by his distinctive makeup and costume, ludicrous antics, and buffoonery, whose purpose is to induce hearty laughter. The clown usually performs a set routine characterized by broad, graphic humour, absurd situations, and vigorous physical action.”

Clowns do all that and then also a little more. They heal, they scare, they mock, they amuse. White faces; red noses; painted smiles absurdly exaggerated; wee little hats with a daisy sticking up; braces barely bolstering puffy pants... They tumble from tiny cars and trip over their outsized shoes. They know every trick in the book and they live for a roar of laughter from the crowd. They fool about and clown around and mostly we don’t think much about them.

Yet, they are the keepers of the sweet spot on the human psyche – the part that sees the absurdities and tells the truth, the part that is not afraid of being hurt or embarrassed or of showing emotion. Clowns represent at the same time our greatest vulnerability, fragility even, and the robustness that enables us to get right back up again every time we fall. Similarly, they hold the dichotomy of our innocence, the child within that never grows up, as well as the wisdom that enables us to see through the farce.

Clowns have always known what educators are only cottoning on to now: humans learn best while laughing. Clowns are never mean: the joke is always on them. When they make elaborate and conspicuous plans to make fun of someone else, the joke always backfires. Sometimes literally. Clowns are courageous: in ancient times at the royal court, clowns (or jesters) were the only ones who dared to contradict or criticise the king. Clowns are multi-talented: not only can they tickle the funny bone but they often juggle, walk tightropes, ride unicycles or tumble from trapezes while doing so.

"Wearing underwear on the outside of your clothes can turn a tedious trip to the store for a forgotten carton of milk into an amusement park romp." – Dr. Hunter “Patch” Adams


The exact origins of the clown are lost to us but this archetypal character has sprung up in all cultures and nationalities across the face of the earth. John Cech, a clown expert, points out: “The Zunis of the American Southwest had a name for this creature: he was called the Contrary. He appeared at all the most sacred festivals, dressed in a striped costume and wearing a cone-shaped hat. His job was to make fun of serious things, to call attention to the absurd, impossible side of our experience and thus to complete a kind of cosmic circle. He reminds us of that other shadowy, tricky, wobbly side to our nature. He was supposed to do what you aren’t supposed to do – fall down, eat the wrong things, say the wrong things, behave the wrong way.”

Across the globe, clowns came to entertain and gently confront in many different guises and under many different names. There is the Arlecchino, or Harlequin, from Italy; the Pierrot from France and that most intrepid of the species, the Rodeo Clown from the United States.

Clowns are also differentiated by their type of costume, make-up and performance. The whiteface clown, one of the most well-known of modern clown types, uses make-up to exaggerate their facial features and expressions rather than modify or conceal them. The grotesque clown, on the other hand, uses exaggerated make-up and costumes, such as a large nose and a skullcaps to dramatically alter his or her features. The character clown adopts a specific common character, like a butcher, a policeman, housewife or hobo. The Auguste clown is self-important and displays every appearance of dignity. Auguste clowns often work as part of a duo and their counterparts always get the better of them. Since the Auguste clown so obviously thinks of himself as smart, superior and wise, when the joke is on him it is doubly funny.

"I remain just one thing, and one thing only – and that is a clown. It places me on a far higher plane than any politician." – Charlie Chaplin


As an expression of the human psyche, the archetypal clown is associated with three major characteristics: making people laugh, making them cry, and wearing a mask that covers the clown’s own real emotions. “The Clown reflects the emotions of the crowd, making an audience laugh by satirizing something they can relate to collectively or by acting out social absurdities. In general, the messages communicated through a Clown’s humour are deeply serious and often critical of the hypocrisy in an individual or in some area of society. Because of the mask he wears, the Clown is allowed – indeed, expected – to cross the boundaries of social acceptance, representing what people would like to do or say themselves,” says Carloline Myss in her book, Sacred Contracts.

Psychologically speaking, the clown of course also has a dark side, which finds expression in cruel, personally directed mockery or betrayal, specifically by breaking the confidences gained through knowledge from the inner circle. This shadowy clown type is in reality distressed by his or her unconscious lack of power and is often driven by greed or an inordinate desire for fame. It is this dark aspect of the clown that sometimes inspires a phobia, known as coulrophobia. Most discussions on this inordinate dread of clowns seem to agree that the most fear-inducing aspect of clowns is the heavy make-up that, accompanied by the bulbous nose and weird hair colour, completely conceals the wearer’s identity.

"Everyone who goes to a job he doesn’t like is a lot weirder than I am.” – Dr. Hunter "Patch” Adams


Performing clowns, however, portray the good in this archetype. They are, for the most part, honourable folk with pure intentions and a firm grasp on integrity. Within the clown community there even exists an informal code of conduct that also protects the individual clown’s informal right to a costume, makeup and other unique performance attributes that must not be infringed by other clowns. In Britain, in recognition of The Code, each clown has their own clown face painted onto an eggshell and no two eggs can be alike.
One of the best known and most benevolent modern day clowns must surely be Hunter “Patch” Adams, whose story was told so eloquently by Robin Williams in the movie, Patch Adams. A qualified medical doctor, Adams became increasingly convinced of the relationship between wellness and environment and, subsequently, the healing power of laughter. Adams still works tirelessly to provide better, more affordable healthcare in an environment more condusive to healing.

And so, if you are looking for a reason to become festive this August, why not let your inner clown come out to play? Since laughter remains the best medicine, you would be doing your mind, body and soul a kindness. Heaven knows, we take life so seriously – fretting about anything we can lay our weary minds on. In honour of the ancient tradition of fools everywhere, this August, let us clown around a little.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Kids and Weddings

Kids at weddings has been a huge "no no" during the past ten years, however, the trend has shifted to let them share in your special day.

To combat the problems of tiny tot boredom during the reception and to allow parents to totally enjoy your shindig here are a few suggestions to keep the young ones occupied and happy:

Hire a babysitter - most hotels have a baby sitting service or a kids club and you could probably pay an extra fee to have them entertain and supervise the little ones during your reception fiesta.

Seat children together at a special "kids table"- cover the tables with butchers paper and throw crayons in the middle.

Give each child an activity pack including games and puzzles, bubbles, crayons, colouring books

Consider hiring magic makers, clowns or puppet shows.

Zimbo note: Zimbo loves Weddings - allow me to entertain those kids while you boogy down on the dance floor. Yes we may very well join you for that part, just as soon as I've finished my fantastic magic show. Go ahead, party the night away and good luck picking out your kid at the end because there little faces will be covered in one of my eloborate face painting masterpieces.


Serve a kids meal consisting of chicken nuggets, pizza’s, cheesy potato’s, pasta, fish fingers etc.

Give older children jobs at the reception ie. getting messages in the Guest Book, passing around favours, handing out disposable camera’s.

Have a special cinema corner set up for young ones, with comfy pillows, popcorn and juice showing tiny-tot favourites: Finding Nemo, Shrek, The Lion King etc.

It may seem like a lot of additional effort, but this day is one to remember for the rest of your life, and if having children at the wedding means you can ensure your closest friends and family can be there also, it’s well worth it!

Why hire a Party Clown for your kids party?

Master party clowns will provide wizardly magic, performing puppets, plate twirling, face painting, juggling shows and more. Clown entertainers supply children (and adults) with a charming birthday party experience that will be remembered for years to come.

A clown is commonly a fantastic option for a Birthday event, but similar anything else you do for your kids - Do some preparation! Check over references, be sure that you understand who you're considering hiring for your Kids Party.

The phrase clown historically stood for "clod" or "buffoon" and was frequently used to refer to a fumbling country "hick", "bumpkin", "Joker" "Jester", "fool," "minstrel," and "mime" Many were gypsys, with no fixed address who spent their times travelling from town to town, some were organized and travelled with Fairs and Circuses, though many were loners who plotted their own course of entertaining the public.

These travelling entertainers were looked upon as being very funny, and comedic actors and before long others copied their styles. During gothic times, these performers began to be known as "Clowns". Whichever term is applied, a clown and his skills to execute eccentric acts of skill in an daring, yet funny style became a important part of modern circus and carnival clowning.

Nowadays, several types of clowns provide us with their entertaining ways. There is the classic circus clown, who provide amusement and laughter as part of a larger show. There is also the child's party clown, who can take on the persona of a sad clown, a clumsy clown, and a party clown for smaller private groups such as birthday parties.

Kids party clowns today are very skilled and cognizant of how to make all the children at a party feel comfortable. They come armed with an array of games, singsongs, dancing and other laughter - inducing Clown fun. Still, some kids do get scared of the makeup and red noses no matter how friendly your party clown may be. You should what the clown looks like before you consider hiring him/her. I'm sure they would gladly send you a picture if you asked.

Article Author: Unknown
www.clowningaround.co.za

Monday, April 14, 2008

Themed parties for children

Is your child asking for another birthday party at the local pizza place or skating arena?? Are you looking for an inexpensive alternative? It's easy to create a fun and unique celebration with a theme party! Here are some ideas and tips to host a successful themed birthday party for your child:

First, ask your child what his/her favorite characters, interests, etc.. are, once you have decided on a character or a theme that you would like to go with, start jotting down yours and your child's ideas. Don't forget to include ideas for: partyware...decorations...invitations....games/activities...party favors...food to serve... and the birthday cake.

You can either choose to go with already made character ensembles, or use solid partyware and make your own decorations, or a little of both.. depending on how creative you are feeling... Whatever you choose you can make your party simple or over the top.

There are so many themes to choose from... or you can even create your own, based on your child's favorite things. Here are a couple of favorites for girls and boys in the following age categories:

Tea party (ages 3-7) Decorate tables with pretty fabric tablecloths and china or plastic tea service...Gather teddybears and dolls and place in the seats in between other guests... provide hats, gloves, fancy clothes and jewelry for guests to play dress up...serve mini sandwiches, cookies, and decaffeinated tea...hand out faux jewelry, ring pop suckers, and a small teddy bear to each guest.

Train Party (ages 2-7) Decorate party area with large cardboard R/R signs...Obtain large appliance boxes and cut and decorate to resemble an engine, box car, and a caboose...this will serve as wonderful decorations, fun for the kids to pretend, as well as, a great photo op. Set up your child's train table (if available), and allow the kids to play to their heart's content. Make hobo bags for lunches: make sandwiches wrapped in wax paper, bag of chips, and an apple for each. Lay out a bandana. Place these items in the middle of the bandana. Pull all 4 corners up and tie. Tie this to a wood dowel rod for each guest. Hand out an engineer cap and train whistle to each guest.

First birthdays: Polka Dot Party....Sesame Street...Elmo...Bob the Builder...Party Pups...Rubber Duckie...Barnyard...Baby Einstein...Daisies....Classic Pooh....Strawberry Shortcake

General Birthdays: Beach party...WWF...Outer Space Party or Star Wars...Clown Party...Train Party or Thomas the Tank Engine...Horton Hears a Who...Magic Show...Wild West Party...Tea Party...Princess Party...Robots Party Zoo Party or Madagascar Party...Circus Party...Hot Wheels...The Incredibles...Mickey Mouse Party...Pirate Party...batman...Spongebob Party...Scooby Doo...Spiderman...Sharktales...Sports Party...Totally 80's...Unicorn Party...Construction Party or Surfs Up..

Clowning Around is a great place to find everything in one place. You can order a complete 'party in a box', or order ala carte.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Things to Consider When Hiring A Clown

When hiring a clown for a party, you want to think about a few things in advance.

Should you have a strolling clown? Is your event a child’s birthday party? If it is an adult’s event, what kind of clown would be best?

A strolling clown wanders from group to group or table to table, creating balloon sculptures or performing simple clown magic. Sometimes they will face paint the children. At no time will they attempt to engage everyone’s attention at once, rather, they can spend a bit more one on one time with the children. The strolling clowns are ideal for events that need entertainment for a longer period of time, where there are large crowds, and where people are not seated and are not all able to pay attention at once, such as a picnic or a large holiday party.

We offer special shows with special rates for children’s birthday parties. The magic is geared to the age group and is usually coupled with balloon animals for each child. The clowns encourage the children to take part in the show, but they’re gentle—they recognize that not all children are ready to be the center of attention.

Our clowns who perform shows for adults require space: a stage is ideal. Their performances are funny, but geared to adults. They often use props, and most of these performances are by clowns with a more elaborate background: vaudeville, clown school, etc’. Time length differs from clown to clown and according to the type of show, but generally the shows last from twenty to thirty minutes. All eyes are focused on them and shows are best for banquets, holiday parties, corporate events…any event when everyone is able to watch at the same time.

Skills vary from clown to clown, and here is a list of some of the things you might expect to see, in decreasing degrees of likelihood: Slapstick Comedy, Clown Magic, Balloon Sculpting, Face Painting, Juggling, Slapstick Acrobatics, Storytelling, Plate Spinning, Stilt Walking, Unicycling, Chin Balancing, Miniature Bicycle Riding, Human Statues, Fire Manipulation, Ventriloquism, Whip Cracking and Targeting, Rope Spinning, Devil Stick Manipulation, Cigar Box Manipulation, Diablo Spinning, Rolling Globe Walking, Rola Bola Balancing, Mini-Trampoline Acrobatics, Tap Dancing, Aikido, and Slack Rope Walking. A few of our clowns have rabbits, as well. No clown has all of these skills, but they can all do a few things, and they are all very entertaining.

Small children: children two and younger present certain challenges to clowns. Balloons inevitably pop and the clown cannot be everywhere at once to keep small children from swallowing latex, which can block passages. Also, the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology states that 'estimates of the prevalence of allergy to latex allergens in the general population vary widely, from less than 1 percent to 6 percent’. Either way, the number is high enough to keep an eye on young children who may not have ever touched balloons before. Keep an eye on your children, and the more parents present, the better. In addition, young children sometimes take a little while to get used to clowns when they meet them for the first time. Our clowns are aware of this, and treat them gently. If you’d like your clown to entertain without wearing clown makeup we’ll be happy to accommodate you.

When you are planning your event, if you would like to have the clown face paint, plan ahead. They can face paint approximately 15 faces per hour, (and once one child gets done they will all want to get done!), so if you only have your clown scheduled for an hour and you have 15 children, face painting is all he will get to do for you. If the number of children makes it tight timewise, reserve an additional hour, or hire a face painter in addition to the clown, or dispense with the face painting and concentrate on other fun activities like clown magic, balloons and entertainment.

Book in advance and if you think you may run over or want an additional hour, let us know as early as you can. Our clowns are very much in demand and often book more than one event in a day. If we know you’d like an option to extend, we’ll make sure to allow your clown enough time between jobs to accommodate you should the occasion arise.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Clown News - She nose it works

Popular culture has it that children are scared of clowns, but the mood at Sick Kids suggests the opposite: As one patient's mother says, 'He loves the clowns, especially Mary Sunshine. He loves her the best' ... read more of this wonderful Clown News Article

Dressing Up

Costumes play an important part of special events, holidays, and entertainment as they let the wearer and the viewer to have a much better experience of the given situation. Such as the clown suit the clown wore who made you a balloon animal during your birthday or the cowboy who was riding the stallion down the street while you were watching a parade from the sidewalk. Costumes allows people to play out their imaginations and fantasies to however they wish and allows for them to appreciate the given situation many times more if there was no costume involved.

During a sports game there may be a mascot character that appears before an audience to try to rally them up to cheer for their team to win the match, or during the Christmas season there would be many people in Santa Claus outfits to try and spread the holiday cheer. Costumes allow a person to enjoy the ambiance of the occasion a lot more than it would have been if there was no one in costume.

Movies, plays, musicals, and operas wouldn’t be the same without a costume or as it is more commonly known, a wardrobe. Imagine trying to watch a classical opera with the singers wearing 21st century New York street clothing or a science-fiction action film that takes place deep in space with the actors in business attire. As amusing it may be, it wouldn’t give the same sense of enjoyment and suspense as it would have if they were wearing frilly dresses and suits or clothing that seems futuristic and allows for the addition of alien creatures.

Probably the biggest holiday that revolves almost entirely on costumes is on All Hallows’ Eve or as it is more commonly known, Halloween. While the majority are young children and teenagers, adults are also known to participate by dressing up in a costume to celebrate on this pagan holiday. People dress up in a variety of costumes such as protagonists from their favorite stories such a super hero or a princess from a magical kingdom to series clothing that reflects upon a certain type of stereotype in the general public like a French maid or sumo wrestler to a costume that may portray their interests such as a certain person from history, an object of interest or an animal of interest.

Other holidays where it involves people to dress up include but are not limited to Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter. You wouldn’t feel the same holiday cheer if you didn’t see someone dressed up as Santa Clause or his elves that work in the toy shop at the North Pole. Thanksgiving wouldn’t be the same if you didn’t see a person dressed up as a pilgrim or an Indian and Easter would definitely be ruined if the Easter Bunny didn’t make an appearance.

Costumes allow for a person to enjoy a movie, a special event, and holidays to a much fuller extent and can leave positive memories for us to cherish in the future.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Plan A Great Kids Treasure Hunt Party

Kids parties have become the latest craze, and coming up with unique and fun themes and activities for children's birthday parties and other events can be daunting. More and more parents are faced with the need to find new and creative ways to entertain throngs of classmates, neighborhood friends, and siblings of various ages.

One simple, low-cost, and very popular way to entertain children at any kind of celebration or gathering, indoors or out, is with a good old-fashioned treasure hunt. A treasure hunt is the one party game that truly promotes interaction, naturally evokes squeals of excitement, and leaves your party guests with lasting memories of their adventurous day at your child’s party.

What if your child doesn't want a pirate-themed party? No problem! Treasure hunts aren’t just for pirates. Tradition has dictated that pirates are the great treasure hunters, but the fact of the matter is treasure hunts are loved by boys, girls, and grown-ups alike, and make a great addition to any party theme. Treasure hunts can be simply adapted with a storyline and a variety of decorations to fit into any party theme. This is the one area of planning where your child might already have a very clear idea of what they would like, and it would be wise to involve them in this decision, as it makes the party their own.

To adapt a treasure hunt for a princess-themed party, for example, you might announce that someone has stolen the princess's jewels, and whoever finds them by following the clues will be rewarded with a share of the loot. You place a jewelry box overflowing with plastic beads, candy necklaces and rings, and other gem-like treats in the center of the party table, and have someone sneak the treasure away during the party before making the announcement. Other themes and decorations might revolve around the latest TV cartoon characters, superheroes, pop idols, a holiday, or your child might want to create their own theme.

That being said, be careful not to fall into the parent trap of spending a small fortune buying themed party goods. Consider purchasing just a few themed bright and colorful decorations and/or centerpieces, and then either complement them with less expensive coordinating party supplies and decorations, or make your own -- there are plenty of great fun ways to put you and your child's artistic talent to work to customize your party.

Some crafty ideas kids may love making or having at their party include authentic-looking weathered pirate treasure maps, princess crowns and jewelry, spyglasses made from paper towel rolls, pinatas (handmade or bought), cardboard hooks inserted into the bottom of styrofoam cups to wear on their hands like Captain Hook, paper or felt decorated pirate hats, and bejeweled and personalized loot bags, to name only a few.

Although it requires some time, creativity, and resources, you can make and stage your own treasure hunt game to play as a group or competitively in teams. Design and hide 10 clevel clues that lead players step-by-step from one clue to the next, hidden amongst common objects, to ultimately discover the hidden treasure, which might be sacks of “loot” consisting of candy such as chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil, or party favors, toys, and other items valuable to children.

Alternatively, if you're short on time, money, and party ideas like many busy parents and party planners, online sites such as Treasure-Adventure.com offer affordable complete treasure hunts with pre-made custom clues full of rhymes and riddles that kids love to solve, the design of which can be the most time-consuming and difficult part of preparing a treasure hunt.

Use creativity to build your party further around the hunt for a truly fantastic and memorable party that your child and his or her guests will talk about long after the party is over. Although the treasure hunt will likely be the main attraction since it is the most action-packed and engaging, don't necessarily limit other activities that might complement the hunt such as a cannonball toss using bean bags or water balloons, "Walk the Plank" using a shallow pool full of plastic alligators and snakes, pan for gold using gold spray-painted rock nuggets, dress in costumes, hold a peg-leg relay, make a castle or pirate ship out of an appliance box, play "Blackbeard says," etc. -- the sky is the limit!

Treasure hunts are also not just limited to children or birthday parties, but are perfect for family fun night, slumber parties, classroom parties, picnics, and other group events. Treasure hunts bring parties alive with hours of challenging and fun entertainment, with the thrill of the hunt along with the solving of puzzles often being the most enjoyable and memorable part of the day. And don't think you can't top your last party. By using a variety of themes, new treasure hunt clues and decorations, and a little creativity, you can throw many more successful and unique parties for years to come that never go out of style.

“If you're up to the challenge, spyglass and compass in hand, yer prize is in sight, so let the adventure begin!”

 
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