Next Step Workshop

 

During Easter season, my wife and I were watching the Sight & Sound Theater’s presentation of “Jesus” on television.  It was professional, engaging, and inspiring.  Yet, there were times we had to choose to ignore the fact that these actors were wearing theatrical wigs and hairpieces. It was so obvious that it was actually a bit distracting!  Now, a couple years ago we had gone to the Sight & Sound Theater in Branson, MO and experienced one of their live performances.  We could never conclude anyone was wearing a wig.  Why is that?  Simply, these theatrical performances are done on a giant stage a minimum of twenty feet away from the front row.  The distance masked some of the little visual details. But, when the camera zoomed in for close-ups for their television special, the little details were clearly seen.

In theater, the actors often apply a flesh base make-up, rouge and eye-liner.  When they come off stage for the after-party, they may appear overdone in that intimate setting. What seemed as a natural look on stage could be overbearing when close up.

Historic clowns are often known for their comical exaggerated cartoon faces. Today, few clowns perform with that type of make-up design.  The reason is, in the early 1900’s as the audience attended shows in circus tents and vaudeville theaters, the lighting was quite dim. The larger highlighted features on their faces were able to be seen across the ring even with lantern/lamp lighting. Even as electrical lighting improved, the clowns continued with large features because they wanted their smiles to carry across the ring and up to that old gal in the 31^st row in the bleachers.

Chagy, who performed and spoke at our 2023 FCM Convention, shares that there are three main forms of live communication.  We use our faces, our body language and our voices.  Each one may have a significant role to play in communicating with an audience. Sometimes our physical communication may speak even more loudly than our voices!  Our facial expressions display our thoughts and emotions.

Mime make-up is usually quite standard and stereotypical:  White face, small red or black lips, black eye liner, black eyebrows. That’s about it. The purpose of a mime “mask” is to actually give the mime a blank sheet for expression.  The white is actually intended to take away personality. A mime may want to be a “blowing tree.” He may want to be an old woman, or a preschool child, or a sail on a ship.  Any use of stylized colors and design on the face may hinder his ability to portray the whole variety of characters he may be presenting in various skits.  He doesn’t portray one character (like a clown) but creates different characters in different settings. This is why the features drawn on a whiteface are minimalistic. Simple small lines accent the mouth, the eyes and the eyebrows so those features when moved, portray and accent the emotion the performer is portraying. The face becomes a tool, rather than a billboard with graffiti on it. The “mask” is a blank canvas that will not distract from but allow the emotion to be portrayed.

This is where many fledgling clowns err.  The clown make-up is to help portray a character while at the same time helping show one’s expressions. Make-up is not used to hide who a person is, but is used to help them express who they are and connect with their audience as the character expresses thoughts and emotions.

The most important features in a make-up design are your eyes and your mouth. These are the areas of the face that move with expression.

Many clowns are minimizing the size of their facial feature designs. Some are eliminating usage of any make-up.  This is understandable as many are doing a lot of close-up interactions. The over exaggerated features in a close-up situation would actually hide expression rather than help it.

I adjust the amount of eye-liner and feature highlighting based on the size of my stage, my audience, my distance and lighting in the venue.  I pay attention to my expressions along with my verbal script because, as Fred R. Barnard said, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” The visual aspect of our presentations can speak loudly!

 Housing

 Registration Form for Next Step Workshop 2023

 Name_____________________________________________________ Age__________ Guy or Gal? 

Mailing Address:____________________________________________________________________________ 

Telephone:__________________________________ 

Email:_______________________________________________________ 

Previous Training_____________________________________________________________________

 __________________________________________________________________________________

Foods you won’t eat __________________________________________________________________ 

Medical issues we should be aware of:___________________________________________________ 

Favorite comic actor/comedian?________________________________________________________ 

Where do you perform?________________________________________________________________

 __________________________________________________________________ 

What specific topics are you hoping to learn________________________________________________

 __________________________________________________________________________________

 Interested in sharing hotel room expense? Yes / No 

 Need transportation from the airport? Yes / No ($10 travel fee accepted at pick-up) 

Other stuff you want us to know:_______________________________________________________

 __________________________________________________________________________________

 Payment included: $_______________ (Registration is $395. Alumni rate is $345.) 

Please email to pastorclown@gmail.com or paper mail to: 

Randy Christensen, 2117 Peregrine Lane, North Mankato, MN 5600

 

Wednesday:

 

1:00  …Randy, Nick & Aurora walk through for Wednesday night program

 

2:30 Participants arrive at Hillside Church in Mankato

3:00 Opening Session

          -Meet other clowns

          -Creativity & Improve Your Improv - Randy

          -The Next Step Process & How To Get the Most Out of It – Randy

4:15 Body Movement and Facial Expressions - Aurora

5:30  Supper provided on site

6:30 Children’s Service presented by Randy, Nick & Aurora

7:45  Balloon twistin’ for the kids that are there! (by Next Step attendees)

8:00-8:30 Afterglow with snacks 

Thursday:

8:30 Prayer/Relection in sanctuary

9:00 Spiritual Warm-Ups with Aurora

9:30 Physical Warm-Ups with Randy

10:00 The Simplicity of Clowning with Aurora

11:00 Heart & Humor with Randy

11:40 Mime Concepts (Part 1)

12:20 LUNCH on site

1:15-45 “Using Misunderstandings As A Writing Method”  -  Randy

2:00-3:00  Character Development – Aurora

3:00 Circus Skills & Comedy Stunts - Randy

3:45  Developing Routines with Objects - Randy

4:30  Mime-based Communication with Randy

5:15 Supper off site with a friend

7:00-9:00?   Student Demonstrations (with coaching)

PLUS discussion of Sunday service development

Friday:

 

8:30 Prayer

9:00 Spiritual Warm-Ups with Randy

9:30 Physical Warm-Ups with Aurora

10:00 TBD with Aurora

10:50  Art of Clown / Comedy  with Randy

12:00 LUNCH on site

1:30 Walkaround Fun & Comedy Antics - Aurora

2:15 Writing Message-Based Material with Stories- Randy

3:00 break

3:15 Writing Message Based Material (Group Exercise)

4:00  Program Development for Sunday with Randy

4:30 The Power of Unified Movement / Tableaus -  Randy

5:45 Supper at Randy's house 

7:15 Student Demonstrations & Randy's favorite videos

Saturday:

 8:30 Prayer

9:00 Spiritual Warm-Ups

9:30 Physical Warm-Ups - Randy

10:00  Clowning & Working With A Partner - Aurora

11:00 Music In Performance - Randy

12:00 Lunch

1:00 Student Demonstration

2:30  Breath and Focus – Randy

3:15  Scripture Memory Methods – Randy/Nick

4:00  Blocking & focus for Sunday’s services - Randy

5:00 Supper off site

6:30-8:30 Run-through of program for Sunday 

Sunday:

 

8:00 Participants at church in “full-clown”

8:15  Clown meeting and prayer

8:30 Official service time start 

9:35 Service ends

*meet & greet

 

9:50 Official service time start 

10:55 Service ends

*meet & greet

11:15 Official service time start

12:30 Optional lunch on site  (Review & Rejoice!)

1:30 On the way “down the road”

 

The World Clown Association sponsors scholarships to various educational venues including the Next Step Workshop.  A few years ago, Laura Anderson attended with the aid of the WCA. This is her report that was published in WCA's magazine, Clowning Around.

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Thank you,  

World Clown Association

You gave me the opportunity to go to The Next Step Workshop.  Before you, I had never signed up for any scholarships outside of our local troupe. This was the perfect training for me. I felt as if I had won the lottery. If you are a clown that wants to add to your existing clown ministry this program is a must. I hope my whole family will want to go someday.  

Even if you have zero interest in clown ministry, I promise this program will make you a better clown.  You will receive gentle criticism, not harsh criticism. This is rare, because many of us (including myself) have strong personalities. We can easily be misunderstood. This may make some give up. At my first clown convention, I about gave up on clown conventions all together.  I was hurt by criticisms I received there. I had never cried so much in my entire life.  I thought if this was what a clown convention was like, then I did not want any part of it.

Well, I gave up my pride a year ago and tried once more. I learned that the people I thought were grumpy were super generous, kind, and even shared my faith.  I learned to love everyone else and their different personalities.

 Once I put my feelings aside, I reached “the Next Step.” I learned how to slow down and pause.  I learned to really play with the kids because I did not pack any of my normal clown stuff.  I had no choice but to learn.  I learned that Randy really takes time to figure someone out, even when you don’t know that is what he is up to.  He is a sneaky guy that way.  LOL!

 A long time ago I was told I did not know how to spit.  It was a very true statement, and I finally got it! . I learned Mime concepts.  For those that know me I will never try being a professional mime because I do not know how to shut my mouth that long.  I have a lot to work on because I am not where I want to be.  I don’t know if I will ever get there when there is so much to learn.  All I can tell you for this clown that has been clowning professionally since 2001 is that I learned more in this past week than any other experience that I have had.

Every person gave me something to strive to be.  Jeff McMullen trusts God to guide his paths, Colleen Fouts is super sweet and funny, I only wish I could cook and keep house like Karen Christensen, and Randy-- Next Step taught me I need to pay attention to people more and to listen.  If you don’t pause to listen, you won’t learn. Again, thank you World Clown Association, Randy Christensen, Karen Christensen, Jeff McMullen, and Colleen Fouts for helping me take the Next Step.

Laura “Daizy Dee” Anderson

 

Registration Form for Next Step 2021

In 2012 Angel, Randy and Janet Tucker taught at the Next Step Workshop in Eden Prairie, MN.  We are thrilled that Angel will be sharing his expertise once again in 2020!




Randy says, "In my estimation, his talent is only exceeded by his heart."

Don't miss this opportunity to come and learn and be coached by one of the finest!

The dates are set for the 2020 Next Step Workshop in Mankato, Minnesota.  We will start mid-afternoon on Wednesday, November 11th and conclude after lunch on Sunday, November 15th.

On Wednesday night, November 11th, Angel and Randy will perform a special kids event at Hillside Church where the attendees can see them live in action.

On Sunday morning, November 15th, the Next Step participants will perform Children's Church services full of the material that was written and worked on during the workshop. It's really a wonderful time for the participants to perform together with others in this great setting.

During these five days, Angel and Randy will be sharing insights, methods and coaching that will help you make your "next step" in your clowning.

Please note that only 15 people are allowed at this training. Participants are not officially registered until they've filled out the information page and have sent $75 to hold their spot.

You may contact Randy (the host) at 507.720.6306 or procomedy@earthlink.net to get more information.