Clown Alley in Action
Today, Freestate Clown Alley (Maryland based) gave a show to a day camp for developmentally disabled adults. Like many alleys, our members have passions for particular causes. Several of our members belong to the Archdiocese of Baltimore, which offers this particular camp (Camp Glow), and so our alley has an “in” for this gig. We do a show for about an hour, and support the bingo after our show. Freestate has been doing these shows for as long as I’ve been a member (some 8 or so years now).
It’s a very informal show: we count up our clowns, and then draw numbers as to which order we go in. Today, we had 8 clowns. I drew number 3, and think I ended up with 3 different “slots” to do a bit. The rules of engagement are simple: don’t do the same thing someone else did in the same show; keep your bit relatively short so that everyone gets a chance to go a few times; and stay quiet while your other alley members are performing. You can partner with someone else to do a bit or you can go out on your own. You can use a tried and true gag, or you can improv a bit. The intent is to bring joy to the campers and have a chance to sharpen our performing skills.
Because we know we’ll get a chance to go a few times and because the audience hasn’t previously really met us beforehand, I opted to do a bit of silly juggling bits for each item. E.g., Clementine became a juggling fool, temporarily avoiding doing other kinds of things, so that the audience was then looking specifically for juggling silliness each time I came out. In the first slot, I established that I can juggle — do a bit of craziness with 3 bean bags. In the second slot, I juggled “dangerously” (behind my back, standing on one hand — uh, those are both clownish interpretations). And finally, in the 3rd slot, I spun plates after taking my “lunch” (large fish, rubber chickens) off of them. Hoisted said plates well into the air using pole extenders, and leaned them out into the audience “trying to get a better lunch”. I’ve seen folks do that with a plate that’s done up to look like a spaghetti platter. Things to try for the future! Not to mention, potential bits with trying to eat as the plate is spinning.
The first two of my spots, I did things I’ve done before, though I amped up the silliness in movement in the first spot and opted to not talk — stretching to try things in new ways. The third spot was made up on the spot given things I had on hand. I had grabbed the kit I used at my last birthday party which had a variety of props in it, and then riffed with what I had. A blend of practicing and honing existing material, with trying out new ideas. Other clowns in the rotation worked in traditional skits (“Let me have it!”), physical comedy (Marble, our newest clown, did some great things with a stack of chairs), and prop tricks (magic coloring book). Everyone brought something to the show.
We’re going to do another Camp Glow performance in two weeks, which will be our third and final one for the summer. We’re expecting to have fewer clowns able to make it, so we’ll each need to come prepared to do more spots. Already thinking and scheming! Regularly performing keeps you thinking and preparing and practicing. I hope you have an alley near you that lets you have performance opportunities like the ones Freestate has through Camp Glow. Online alleys are a growing thing in clowning: they have the advantage of helping folks share ideas and learn from each other even if they’re not geographically close. But, if you can, find or start a local clown alley to give yourself an opportunity to perform and parade together. There’s so much value in doing something and then watching something and then trying it all again. If you’re near to Maryland, let me know — will happily loop you into what we’re doing with Freestate, or create something for us to try together. Clowning at its heart is play — let’s set up a playdate!
