Combatting the Clown Drain
Mood:
Wigged Out
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http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/4778527.html
Need a clown? You may have to suit yourself
Jon Tevlin, Star Tribune Staff Writer
May 16, 2004
WANTED: Man or woman for position with high public visibility. No experience necessary; will train. Requires discipline, creativity, ability to work with variety of people, including children. Highly developed sense of whimsy preferred. Must provide own uniform, including rubber nose. Ability to squeeze into comically tiny car a bonus. Bozos welcome.
For Darlyne Erickson, membership chairwoman for the Minneapolis Aqua Jesters, there's nothing sadder than the tears of a clown when there's no one around -- except maybe the tears of a clown when there are no clowns around.
And with the parade season marching at us like 76 trombones, Erickson is afraid there just aren't enough people anymore who want to don a wig and whiteface and twist balloons into the shape of a wiener dog.
"We are facing a dire shortage of clowns," said Erickson, also known as Jingles.
The Aqua Jesters, founded in 1946, has shrunk from a steady pool of more than 100 clowns to about 50. The average age is 56, and only about 20 members are active -- not nearly enough clowns to meet all the requests from festivals, hospitals and charity events.
To combat the clown drain, the Aqua Jesters have stepped up their recruiting campaign. Recently, they appeared at the reopening of the Brookdale Library, luring passersby with the opportunity to be anonymously silly. Jingles and Johnny Crisco d'Clown worked the crowd, alternately delighting and frightening the children, and occasionally sidling up to an adult with a pitch to run away and join the Jesters.
...
(Much more at site)
(Thanks to MikeB!)
Need a clown? You may have to suit yourself
Jon Tevlin, Star Tribune Staff Writer
May 16, 2004
WANTED: Man or woman for position with high public visibility. No experience necessary; will train. Requires discipline, creativity, ability to work with variety of people, including children. Highly developed sense of whimsy preferred. Must provide own uniform, including rubber nose. Ability to squeeze into comically tiny car a bonus. Bozos welcome.
For Darlyne Erickson, membership chairwoman for the Minneapolis Aqua Jesters, there's nothing sadder than the tears of a clown when there's no one around -- except maybe the tears of a clown when there are no clowns around.
And with the parade season marching at us like 76 trombones, Erickson is afraid there just aren't enough people anymore who want to don a wig and whiteface and twist balloons into the shape of a wiener dog.
"We are facing a dire shortage of clowns," said Erickson, also known as Jingles.
The Aqua Jesters, founded in 1946, has shrunk from a steady pool of more than 100 clowns to about 50. The average age is 56, and only about 20 members are active -- not nearly enough clowns to meet all the requests from festivals, hospitals and charity events.
To combat the clown drain, the Aqua Jesters have stepped up their recruiting campaign. Recently, they appeared at the reopening of the Brookdale Library, luring passersby with the opportunity to be anonymously silly. Jingles and Johnny Crisco d'Clown worked the crowd, alternately delighting and frightening the children, and occasionally sidling up to an adult with a pitch to run away and join the Jesters.
...
(Much more at site)
(Thanks to MikeB!)
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