Possible South African Clown Convention 2012

[Bubbels]

Who of you would be interested in joining a clown convention right here in South Africa? I have been dreaming and hoping for something like this for many years. During my many visits to Clown Camp in the USA I have made many international clown friends. Some of them are very keen to come and visit our country but not only as tourists. They are also very keen to become part of a possible clown convention or other type of clown gathering. So far we are looking at 2012 for something like this to happen.

I am also the founder of The Mothly Clown Convabulation which probably was South Africa's first clown (alley) club. I started this some years ago with the sole purpose of trying to improve the general standard of South African clowns. I am happy to say that there indeed was a positive growth in the clowns that attended the Monthly Clown Confabulation. One year one of my Canadian clown friends came to visit her son here in Pretoria and it just was so that at that time we had a charity show underway for less privalge kids and senior citizens and together with her we total 14 clowns that put together a stage show and after that face paint and baloon modelling for the audience.

I had to put the Clown Confabulation on ice for what was to be a 2 to 3 month period due to a building project. The Clown Confab was held here at my home in Pretoria, where my wife and I also have our party supply business. The business has just grown so much that the original 2 to 3 month "on ice" period for the Clown Confabulation became rather "permanent".

I am however seriously concidering to get it started again with the view to possibly built it up and let it grow towards a hopeful Clown convention with an International presence in 2012.
I hope that this possible event won't be tagged as "my", or "BUBBELS's" clown event, but rather as "us- South African"
clown event.
Therefor I invite all and any clown and also other varaity artists for inputs, suggestions, advice and/or critique that can help such a planned event to become something where we all can learn to improve our fine art of clowning.

Tell me what it is that you want to see or would like to learn at such a convention. Perhaps you can think of, or suggest a suitable venue. What about the duration? Weekend, long weekend?

So please fellow clowns and other entertainers, if you would like to see the first ever South African Clown Convention, now is your time to speak up.

I was also thinking of a one or two day "mini-convention" or clown gathering later this year and/or one next year sort of a "practise" run towards the possible 2012 planned convention.
I am very happy and excited that Zimbo has started this forum, because I feel that this could become a very good way to also improve our artform of clowning.

I am awaiting any and all comments. With thanks.
Piet BUBBELS Nortje

[Zimbo the Clown]

I think it is a fantastic idea. Clowns in every country have conventions. You got this clowns support... lets do it. I am sure all the clowns in SA will participate as it brings our industry a little closer together.

[gavinstockden]

How about a semi regular mini convention for clowns and clown-like people. (Lets bring in the magicians, jugglers, stiltwalkers, face painters, balloon artists, unicyclists, fire performers, street performers, acrobats, circus types, carnies, freaks and other performers who don't necessarily think of themselves as clowns?) So a performers convention rather than a clowns convention?

What about moving it around, say one every 4 months, in Durban, Cape Town and Gauteng to try and make it a bit more of a national thing? Not everyone is going to be able to make it to all of them but it might start a bit of networking between towns for those who can get it together to travel a bit??

Just a thought. Use it, don't use it...

Gavin.

[Bubbels]

How about a semi regular mini convention for clowns and clown-like people. (Lets bring in the magicians, jugglers, stiltwalkers, face painters, balloon artists, unicyclists, fire performers, street performers, acrobats, circus types, carnies, freaks and other performers who don't necessarily think of themselves as clowns?) So a performers convention rather than a clowns convention?

What about moving it around, say one every 4 months, in Durban, Cape Town and Gauteng to try and make it a bit more of a national thing? Not everyone is going to be able to make it to all of them but it might start a bit of networking between towns for those who can get it together to travel a bit??

Just a thought. Use it, don't use it...

Gavin.

I like this idea Gavin. Thanks
Bubbels the Clown

[Kallie]

I'm sure this will work by the time we can see that there is enough forum users from the different areas. Also it is a great way of attract more entertainers to the forum.

[Bubbels]

And I now have a possible three different American clown friends who would love to come and visit our country AND be part of a possible clown convention.
So come on you other clowns, apart from Zimbo, Kallie, Poppy, Spanner and myself, Bubbels, let's hear get some noises from you on this idea of a clown convention. 

[Kallie]

Toot toot ohh ohh my hooter is blowing, can't wait !

[Bubbels]

I have once again received an e-mail from some of my American clown friends whom wants to visit our country and to part of a clown "something". By something we mean a clown get together of some kind, weather it be a full blown convention, a "mini convention", a "clown training day or two or three", whatever.
BUT, and this is important, I really need to get an idea of whom of you will seriously consider to attend or be part of such a clown get together. I do have some ideas on this but I really would love to hear from any and all of you about what YOU would like to see, gain, be part of at something like this.

This would help me to give information to my American clown friends and let me tell you all a little something, we South African clowns REALLY can gain a lot of information and exchange skills by rubbing shoulders with these specific American clowns whom would like to come to South Africa.

I know that all of us are busy and that we have to do those paid for shows in an effort to pay our own bills. But we all should also remember that sometimes we just might need to "offer" up some time, and money to improve our selves clown wise, skill wise and clown knowledge wise.

So all of you that are interested just give me a YES somewhere on this forum and if you know somebody else that would like to be part of a clown convention, let them also give a shout.

Thanks to you all. BUBBELS the clown

[Circus Jonathan]

Hi Bubbels:    YES!    Please do stay in touch about the S.A. Convention.

Jonathan Seglins    www.circusjonathan.com    circusj@total.net
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

2010 Performer, Workshop Instructor, Theatre Show Co-Director - International Clown Festival in Mumbai