Archive for July 30, 2014

Circus Life – By Rick Struve

I had the pleasure of meeting artist Rick Struve on Facebook. Rick used to clown as Soda Pop the Clown and once ran Soda Pop’s Funhouse which was one of the first online clown websites. Earlier this year, he introduces himself by saying,

Rick Struve

Rick Struve

Hello fellow clowns – it has been about a decade since I put on my make-up, but I still love the clowning lifestyle. Some of you may know me as ‘Soda Pop the Clown’ out of Cedar Rapids, IA – for years I had a weekly online newsletter for clowns (before Facebook was around, and the internet had not blown up quite yet). Anyway… I have recently started creating a cartoon for a local weekly newspaper – the title of my cartoon is, “Circus Life”. It will be appearing in about 2 weeks, but I thought the clowning community would enjoy a little bit of fun too.

Oh – and yes, the main character is a clown, and though he’s smiling… he usually has a sarcastic look upon his face. Please be aware, that I would never make him look bad though… I have much respect for the clowning community! I just figured sarcastic lines come out better when coming out of a sarcastic face…

Rick has given me permission to publish his cartoons on Just For Clowns. Please don’t reprint without Rick’s permission. To contact Rick, email: richstruve -at- yahoo.com

Circus Life by Rick Struve

Circus Life by Rick Struve

Making Bubble Solution

Chief Scientist, Carl Nelson from the Imagination Station, wraps a soap bubble around a person using a super bubble solution. The video also shows how they mix their own bubble solution using distilled water, Dawn dish soap, and glycerin.

Imagination Station (formerly known as COSI Toledo) is a hands-on science center located on the riverfront in downtown Toledo that has welcomed over 3 million visitors since originally opening in 1997. Having blended the best of the former science center with dynamic new additions, Imagination Station promises to immerse visitors in a multi-sensory experience that’s as educational as it is fun! Any way you experience it, you’ll have fun!

Clowns DFW

Clowns Dick Monday and Tiffany Riley clowning around. Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Max Faulkner

Showmen’s Rest

The following message came in an email about the Chicago area celebration during International Clown Week…

JOIN US FOR THE 15th ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF (INTER)NATIONAL CLOWN WEEK AT SHOWMEN’S REST

From August 1 thru August 7, clowns all over the world will be clowning around for International Clown Week. We are the official Chicagoland location in celebration of this event.

This event is a loving and festive remembrance of circus artists past, held in the nation’s most well known final resting place for circus artists, remembered especially for the elephant statues and roustabout headstones. This event includes speakers, laying of flowers, circus arts performances, lots of fun stuff for kids including activities and entertainment, PRIZES, snacks and refreshments, and many many clowns. Bring lawn chairs or blankets and a youthful attitude.

FREE event and open to the public; all ages welcome :o)
FREE prizes, games and entertainment
FREE food and refreshments, Vegetarian option available
**There are no animals at this event.

Performers (clowns, acrobats, jugglers, etc) are welcome to come in costume and share your talents at the end of the ceremony. This event is open to all.

Sunday August 3rd, 1-3pm, FREE, all ages.
Woodlawn Cemetery, 7750 W Cermak Rd, Forest Park IL.
East of Des Plaines Ave. Western end of cemetery.

Want more info?
Check out the official event website:
http://performforthelove.com/showmensrest

Circus Jokes

Q: How do lions like their meat cooked?
A: Medium Roar!

Q: Why can’t clown noses be 12 inches long?
A: Because then they would be a foot.

Q: Why did the clown eat a dollar bill?
A: It was her lunch money.

Q: Why did the clown cover his ears when he walked by the hen house?
A: He didn’t want to hear the fowl language.

Q: Why are circus performers called artists?
A: Because they can draw crowds!

Q: Why did the lion eat the tightrope walker?
A: He wanted a well-balanced meal!

Q: What happened to the kid who ran away with the circus?
A: The police made him bring it back.

Q: Which circus performers can see in the dark?
A: The acro-bats!

Q: Did you hear about the human cannonball?
A: He got fired!

Q: How do you raise a baby elephant?
A: With a fork lift!

COAI Call for Candidates

The following was from an email from Mike Cox, COAI Vice President

Call for Candidates for Open Board Position

The COAI South Central Regional Vice President position has been declared vacant and is now open for appointment. This position represents the COAI members in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Louisiana (South Central Region). Candidates for all Regional Vice Presidents (RVPs) must be members in good standing for the past 2 years and reside in the region they represent full time. RVPs work with existing alleys in planning, organizing/staging of regional conventions; assisting with membership concerns and overseeing the administration of COAI programs. An RVP acts as the voice of the members of the region on the COAI board. They are required to report regional activities to the board; attend board meetings as well as the General Membership Meeting and the COAI annual convention. A home computer or ‘tablet’ with internet access is necessary for this position. This term of office will begin immediately following appointment and continues until June 30, 2016.

If you are interested in filling this position, please send a letter of declaration including your qualifications, an overview of how you feel you can help the membership of the South Central Region along with a photo (out of clown) that will appear in the New Calliope if appointed. Declarations will be given to the President and the COAI board will decide the final appointment to fill this vacancy shortly after August 1, 2014.

The deadline to receive your declaration is: August 1, 2014.

You may send it by email to: coaiexec@aol.com (please put “Appointment Declaration” in the subject line)

Or mail your declaration & photo to:
Mike Cox
ATTN: COAI Appointment Declaration
9415 Alameda Avenue
Henrico, VA 23294

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mike Cox at coaiexecvp@aol.com or call him at 804-337-6143.

Thank you,

Mike Cox
COAI Vice President

Clown Balloon

Let’s make a Clown Balloon Animal! – Balloon Animal Tutorials with Holly the Twister Sister

Like it? Leave a tip! http://www.patreon.com/thetwistersister
The Circus was recently here in my town so I thought it would be a perfect time to make a clown balloon tutorial! This clown balloon makes an adorable bracelet or headband. Dress him up with as many fun accessories as you can think of! Let me know what you think of this cute clown balloon in the comments and don’t forget to share your photos on my facebook page!
http://www.facebook.com/twistersisters

Patrick Taylor – Mime Magician

Patrick Taylor as mime magician Francois

FRENCH mime-magician Francois has appeared on Channel Ten talk show The Project, and in a Disney Channel children’s documentary. Underneath the white clown make-up, Patrick Taylor is one chuffed 13-year-old. “The character Francois came about in year 5 when my French teacher asked me to do a magic show in school and she wanted it to be French based, so I thought ‘French, magic, mime’,” Patrick said.

More videos with Patrick Taylor…

Patrick Taylor aged 10 performs at the school French evening.

You’re A Natural – Patrick the Magician – Disney Channel

Melbourne Magic Festival on “The Project”

GreasePaint

GreasePaint is a documentary film by Daniel Espeut that follows Joey Thurmond and his family as they travel around the country performing the art of American circus clowning.

The movie is a glimpse into a year of traveling in the most significant and dynamic year in the business’ history while examining the clowning world as a whole. The audience sees the backstories of quite a few of the characters including Joey’s rise from professional wrestler, to police officer, to clown. It is about the love of a family and how they manage to live and work together 24 hours a day while following their circus dreams.

Order you copy of the video from Cinema Libre

Clowns in a Car Commercial