Clown skits and gags.

[Bubbels]

I have often wondered about the "technical correctness" of the descriptions of, for example the term "clown skit", clown gag, clown routine, clown act and others.
Being a live member of the World Clown Association and a member of Clowns Of America International I often read about the rules when entering into competitions at the annual conventions of said organizations. And I think that it is important that one should understand those rules if you want to compete in any of the competitions at these, or other conventions.
However, I often wonder how many of our audience members knows about, and/or cares about the technical correctness of a skit, a routine, a sight gag, an act etc.

What is important when you are doing clown skits the "traditional way", such a skit should have a definate begin, a middle and an end, also known as the blow-off or punchline.
There are many traditional clown skits that have been used by clowns in and out of circusses over the years. Some of them are: dead and alive, the great mirror,
stargazer, or also known as the telescope gag, washer women and others. Barry "Bonzo" De Chant has written and published at least two books on clown skits.
Most clown skits requires two or more clowns, but there are a view that can be performed by a single clown.

Clown routines will be that funny routine that you do by using a skill such as juggling, magic, balloons, physical comedy, playing a musical instrument etc.
Combine a couple of routines in a sensible and nice to follow way and you have an act.

Sight gags are often used in parades, which is very popular in America but not so in South Africa. A sight gag is a clown prop of sorts that needs no, or very easy resetting. You share it with one or two spectators on this side of the road, then you move over to the other side of the road and repeat whatever you have done and keep on doing it as the parade progresses through the streets. Sight gags can also be used in places such as hospital visits and old age homes.

Clown props are all those funny toys that are used by clowns. This could be anything from your performance table to that large oversized foam shotgun, from funny bubble blowers to funny clown cars and comedy cameras.
Even your magic tricks and juggling balls are props. Part of a clowns uniqueness is indeed his/her props simply because the "man in the street" can't find it that easily. There is not really a clown supermark where anybody can just walk in and buy a clown or funny prop. There for it is important that we as clowns should take care of our props and "jealously protect" them from "praying eyes and investigating fingers". That means never leave your props lying around so that just anybody can play with them.

[Kallie]

Beautiful Dead and Alive skit on youtube :

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkCpbw4EpEI" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkCpbw4EpEI</a>

[Bubbels]

Now for those of you who don't know, one of the clowns in this skit that Kallie refers to on You tube is Steve Smith, former dean of Ringling Bros, Barnum and Baily's Clown College. He is and excellent clown and a real gentle man. It was him who has put me in touch with Dr Richard Snowberg, director of Clown Camp.
During 2005 I not only had the fine oppertunity to met him in person, but I was also asked to perform with him on stage at both the opening and closing nights of that specific week of Clown Camp. Doesn't matter who you are, you become humble in the presence of such great clowns.

[Zimbo the Clown]

I worked for Barnum Bailey and went to their clown college oh those were the days. THe hardest part of that routine is the smack in the face...what professionals

[Bubbels]

Can you imagine if we could have a clown school here in South Africa that could be like RBBB Clown College? There were so many ex RBBB circus clowns that was teaching at clown camp and which had an influance in my clown carreer. To name a few; Jim Howle, Earl Chaney, Kenny and Brenda Ahern, Terry Da Volt, Steve Smith, Priscilla Mooseburger and others.
Like you said Zimbo, those where the times.

[Kallie]

Lets see if we can come up with a new skit between Zimbo, Bubbels and Kallie as I'm sure they are the first clowns who used the forum the most on it's start, to may be presenting it at the first mini convention etc.

Lets get some skit idea's first I think : (*Have some great idea's)
3xChefs,
*Arabian, camel & fatima,
Teacher & students,
3xSailors,
*The Dustbin,
*3xMusicians,
*3xMagicians, . . .

[Bubbels]

  I like this idea VERY MUCH! I will actively bring my side on this a little later during the week. To much going on right now, none of it clown related, new stove and oven and kitchen cupboards and two truck loads of party stock for the shop.....

I would also like to ask Gerard and the other clowns to throw in a thought or two. Gerard just seems to be quite but I know he often has some very good ideas, so come on Gerard don't be shy.

[Kallie]

I use the Dustbin with a musical flyswatter, a bee that fly like zombie, conduct an orchestra, and the play the bassoon with background music.

[Bubbels]

Kallie while you are on the topic of skits and dustbins, this is not my own idea, I have seen two different versions of a funny skit which very basically goes something like this: There is a dustbin on the stage when clown 1 enters with a music stand and a music instrument, let's say a saxophone. With much "pizzas" he sets up his music stand, takes out a music book or sheet music and place it on the stand and blows some notes on the saxophone. He pauses a little bit and ajust the sheet music on the stand....... Behind him and "un noticed" clown 2 comes in with a big oversized tape player (or ghetto blaster) on his shoulder. With much overdone gestures he switch on his big sound and wild disco music blast over the speakers while he is performing a wild clown disco dance of sorts.

Clown 1 jumps with skrik and runs towards clown 2, grab his ghetto blaster and turn it off while shouting; "In here, NO disco music", and turn around and proceeds to his saxophone playing. Typical not here, over there, not there, there and here are the same place type of routine follows. This swithcing on and off of the ghetto blaster happens 3 times when finally clown 1 grabs the ghetto blaster, gets a big oversized (foam) hammer and starts to destroy the ghetto blaster. After this mission is succesfully completed he grabs the radio spares and throws it into the dustbin. He dust of his hands and walks towards his saxophone to start playing again. Clown 2 walks sadly towards the dustbin and slowly lift the lid to look inside the dustbin. As he do so, loud, but somewhat disturbed sounds of the disco song "escapes from the dustbin. Lid is slapped back onto the bin and clown 1 comes closer to see whats going on. He too lift the lid and once again the out of tune and "damaged" little bit of the remainder of the disco song sounds out.
  Now I stop here on purpose because I want to see how we can give other possible different blow-offs (ends) to this routine. I will however give theoriginal blow offs sometime later, but let us first come up with some variations on 1. the routine and 2. the blow off.

[Zimbo the Clown]

How about making it a step bin. Clown two will step on the bin to a beat and clown one will then play with clown 2 and together they create a new tune.... from a different perspective  

[Bubbels]

Maybe after the beat has been played clown 2 opens up the bin and removes the ghetto blaster, only to discover that the tune they have just played are now playing on the radio....as they walk off stage.