jusbytheclown

Match Party Extraordinaire and the 101st pied face

2009-04-22T19:02:36Z

I got invited to the Big Brothers, Big Sisters Match Party Extraordinaire and promoted in the newsletter as "Jusby and Friends". Bubble~Trouble accompanied me with her "Little Sister", and Orion came along to take pictures. When we spotted the bouncy house I had to reassign Bubble to photo duty while Orion waited for and took his turns in the bouncy house.

I'd picked up the 50 Gallon Stanley rolling tool chest that I'd been coveting. It held everything I needed and then some, but it was simply too big for the Honda Accord, so I returned it. I liked having a table space for building pies and so on, but honestly...

Once I started offering free pie-in-the-face... I didn't need any other clown supplies: face-painting, balloons, juggling, puppets, NOTHING!

My new giant pencil got used and appreciated. It especially worked well with the hatchet sharpener gag.

Successfully tore kids away from the bouncy house!

Which brings my total to 101 pied faces!

Volcano Blows Old Friend In

2009-04-21T19:18:30Z

Friday, March 27, 2009 7:34 07:34:04 PM AKDT
An explosive eruption of Redoubt volcano occurred at approximately 19:25 AKDT (03:25 UTC). National Weather Service reports the cloud height to be approximately 51,000 ft above sea level based on radar. For ash fall advisories, refer to the National Weather Service Redoubt Coordination web page http://pafc.arh.noaa.gov/volcano.php AVO is monitoring the situation closely, the observatory is staffed 24/7.

fcbk "Justin, Call Kate's cell! she's stuck in seattle!"

I call the number I usually use and the machine picks up. It happens to be her land line number.

Then I get a call on my cell. Her husband has tracked down my number from my fcbk profile. She begs for salvation. She's in an hour long line with a three year old. Three weeks into a one-week mission.

I go pick them up for a 3 day layover while we watch the skies using a graph similar to the recent one.

I take Kate and Ella to Rusty Cock Ridge.

I ride the pogo stick.

Kate rides the pogo.

Orion rides a Rusty Cock.

Ella rides a Rusty Cock

Kate rides a Rusty Cock.

And she crosses the Skywalker Bridge.

Kate gets the first mini-pie on April Fool's eve day.

Ella tries the pie on mommy's face.

Happy Birthday, Jackie Chan

2009-04-14T21:30:03Z

Jackie Chan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a Chinese name; the family name is 陳 (Chan).

Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE^[1] (born Chan Kong Sang, 陳港生, on 7 April 1954) is an actor, action choreographer, film director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer from Hong Kong.

Mud Bay Jugglers and Nanda Acrobaticalists

2009-04-14T21:29:27Z

Because she's been taking classes at SPSCC, Trish found out about a show she thought we'd like and had arranged for a birthday eve date to see Nanda. She said it was juggling, martial arts, acrobatics and clowning combined.

I thought, "What the...?! You're joking me! You're kidding me! You're pulling my leg! You're yanking my chain! You're flushing my commode! Why haven't I heard of this? I'm gonna look 'em up."

She tried to convince me to wait for the surprise, and I did. I put it off until that afternoon but I found their website http://nandatown.com I could hardly wait to see them in person.

We arrived at the Minneart center with plenty of time to get a seat. In fact, it wasn't nearly as full as their talent deserved. Trish got in for free by showing her student ID. She tried to pay with a check to get us in, but the promoter wouldn't take our money. He said, "Or... just go in!" With a big smile.

It seemed that he knew we really needed to see this show.

The Mud Bay Jugglers opened for Nanda as a special treat. They put on a fantastic 20 minute set. They stuck with juggling clubs, but they kept my interest with great passing, humor and singing. They are three marvelous bearded juggling geezers with a 29 year history in Olympia. Unfortunately, in my 16 years in Olympia I've only seen them a few times and not once since I became a professional clown. I shoulda!

Mud Bay Jugglers (Note the Comedy Central Logo on Harry's Chef Coat!)

I guess it comes down to the intimidation factor. Am I a peer or a fanboy?

Then Nanda hit the stage. Talk about intimidation! These are four young ninja jugglers! They totally spoke to my Jackie Chan clown heart.

Glow Golf Party

2009-04-14T21:28:39Z

After two hours of glowing and golfing!

Orion won a free game!

Orion's 5th birthday

2009-03-25T16:05:50Z

Trish made a 13" beeswax candle for Orion to use every year for 13 years.

Since our regular camera had been stolen the night before I had to use the Razr phone camera to catch this shot.

All in all, the Razr phone camera has produced some pretty good pics when the Canon hasn't been available. I'm sure my next phone will do an even better job.

On his actual birthday, 3/19, Orion got to have beans & rice from El Sarape. They let him wear the sombrero, but they've discontinued taking Polaroids! For dinner he got to have orange chicken from Panda Express. For dessert, chocolate fondue with bananas, mandarins, apples, and strawberries!

Trish had bought him two more PlayMobil Dinosaur sets. I got him a 26 drawer Lego sorter, a foot operated bike/ball pump, and a small Lego Pirate set.

Now our bikes are all pumped up and so is his soccer ball.

But more importantly, his Legos are sorted!

Burgled!

2009-03-24T19:07:55Z

On the way home after the field trip, Trish had to warn me that our front door was broken. She couldn't figure it out. It was the strangest thing she'd ever seen. She'd just pushed it open and it fell apart with a huge crack in the frame. We should call the landlord and get him to look at it.

We dropped her off downtown and went home.

I chalked it up to shoddy workmanship or wood rot. The house seemed normal. However, a box of mementos that usually lived on the closet shelf was on the bed, and somebody had knocked over a glass of water that had been on the floor next to the bed. Annoyed but not yet suspicious, I had a nap.

Then, I found the pdf of the manual for the camera so I could reset the auto timer to 10 seconds instead of 2 seconds. Trish had bought it from a pawn shop, and it only came with the Spanish manual, so I'd downloaded the English version. When I figured out what buttons to press I looked for the camera but didn't see it. No big deal. It was probably around somewhere.

Late that night I asked Trish to keep an eye out for it, and she did a search. She noticed more stuff missing: the video camera and portable dvd player (which was beside the bed) were gone. So was her gym bag and tennis shoes.

That night I dreamed about being trapped in a friend's house while a Grizzly Bear roamed beyond some French doors.

Goldilocks + Burglery= Bear Nightmare!

None of us handled it very well. Trish thought her final paper had been stolen. Orion was afraid of what would happen when the police came. Jusby ran off his mouth when he should've been stuffing it with his foot.

Storybook Theater

2009-03-23T05:06:41Z

On Wednesday, we took another field trip to the Washington Center for an Olympia Junior Programs presentation. This time we saw the Storybook Theater musical version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

I loved it, and so did many of the kids. This is Storybook's 12th season, and they're running a tight ship.

All the actors were women, but to their credit, the kids didn't seem to notice. The bears had inflatable furniture... and inflatable fat suits. The suits were filled with helium, no less. It decreases their weight. They've also got underarm pockets with ice packs to decrease the heat.

Momma Bear's first song had some great lyrics like:

"Children should come with a clicker. Children should come with a Mute button. Children should come with an owners manual... and an 800 number!"

Both Baby Bear and Goldilocks start out as spoiled brats. Goldilocks sings a song that goes: "Manners who needs them? Manners why use them?" It is later reprised after she learns they are useful.

When Goldilocks sits in Baby Bear's little inflatable chair we discover that it's been customized with a couple of Whoopie Cushions, so instead of 'breaking' it for every performance she just deflates it... with the sound of 'breaking wind'. The kids went nuts for this!

Goldilocks, herself, had a kind of burlesque-y appeal. So sassy with hot pink socks!

When she and Baby Bear started becoming friends they played a game of "I Spy with My Little Eye" and the house lights came up so she could pick a kid with a pink shirt. Very effective and clowny breaking of the fourth wall.

They also had another interesting gimmick. They thanked their sponsor, Parent Map, by including a copy on stage that Papa Bear read and identified as such. Then Goldilocks found it... and identified... twice!

After the show, they took some questions from the audience. That's when we learned about the suits. We also learned that the set was made of Gator Foam and had been designed by a children's book illustrator.

I wish that our school had downloaded the study and activity guide for the show. It's as chock full of goodness as a bowl of porridge that's Just Right!

http://storybooktheater.org/Links/GoldilocksGuide09.pdf

It even tells which EALRs are covered. [that's teacher code for the goodness]

Soul Alchemy pt. 2

2009-03-16T03:28:08Z

After 8 1/2 hours of clowning...

Jusby can't figure out how to change the setting on the self-timer!

Dawn has to take the pic: Jhanna, Heather, Jusby, Pauline, Heidi, and Eve.

Then Jusby gets a shot of Jhanna, Heather, Dawn, Pauline, Heidi, and Eve.

I kept coming back for more classes because I expect to learn something new. Each time I do. Although the format stays the same [interactive warm-ups and improv solos (and sometimes duos)], the esoteric connections and intimacy building is different and rewarding on levels usually unknown in conventional clowning workshops.

I imagined that I was on the path Dawn originally outlined on her website http://thesimplefool.com

Discovering the Clown Within
The Simple Fool as Performer
The Simple Fool as Artivist

But, each time I returned we used the many of the same exercises because there were always people coming for their first time. At the end of this workshop, as I was about to drive away, Dawn asked if I really wanted to 'graduate'. When I said"Yeah, sure!" she said that we'd have to plan a graduation ceremony. The alley used to have those, but new members have been so few that it hasn't seemed worth it to them. I'll have to invite them!

I'm curious what kind of commencement speech/ act I'll have to prepare, and what kind of diploma I'll recieve.

Soul Alchemy pt. 1

2009-03-14T06:24:05Z

The beautiful big room at Waldorf. It might have stayed empty on a Friday night, but for a few intrepid and industrious souls who insisted that this workshop happen. Firstly, Eve (pronounced 'ev' cuz she's French-Canadian), decided that she would fly up from San Francisco just to take the class!

I told Dawn that I would publicize the heck out of it, but it didn't actually spur anyone to contact her directly. On Wednesday, Dawn called after sending out an e-mail that it would be her last workshop in Olympia.

She's planning on splitting her time between British Columbia and Switzerland. She's also planning on taking an old bus to Burning Man and possibly the Yukon!

She asked me to look into some of the legal issues around insuring a former King County City Bus. I went willingly down the rabbit hole and found that it is definitely better to convert it into a House-Bus than leave the 22 seats in.

On Friday afternoon (around 5:15) I got a call from Bubble~Trouble. She was wondering what to eat and wear before the class. She was starting to peel potatoes for soup. I told her, "No way! You don't have time for that. It starts at 6!"

I arrived and found Jhanna waiting outside the locked building. She'd accepted a personal invitation from Dawn just 45 minutes prior. Then Dawn pulled up with Eve AND Heather. It was like a clown car, spilling forth with clowns, costumes, and props.

My mood lifted enormously. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic final workshop.

Then Heidi arrived and we all started playing. After about an hour we were exhausted and meditating when Dawn went over to open a windown and saw someone else arriving.

It wasn't Bubble~Trouble at all, but Pauline.

Eventually, we all got to do the sheet exercise.

It was full of epiphanies and catharses, empty nests and crones, inflated supermen and bits of fluff. But no potato soup.

Maybe it's in the crock pot, and she'll bring it tomorrow.

Heather, Eve, Pauline, Dawn and Jhanna (not pictured: Heidi)

Weekend Story (2nd Grade Style)

2009-03-09T06:12:05Z

This weekend I did many fun things.

On Friday night, I went to "Dance Oly Dance" with Orion. Dan said that he's planning a similar show, but it will be two hours long and all techno/ electronic music. Afterwards, I felt like a celebrity when I overheard someone say "He started it" and then a young woman asked "Are you one of the managers here?" She wants to plan another similar show for the Evergreen Hip-Hop Congress with b-boys (breakdancers). I wish both projects the best of luck. [suckers!]

On Saturday, we watched the Big Comfy Couch (with Lunette the clown).

Then, I checked out the Lacey Maintenance Center as a possible meeting place for the next alley meeting. I'll have to go in person between 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM to book it, but they have over a dozen parking spaces, and they're right next to Pints and Quarts.

We also dropped off blankets at Animal Services and saw kitties, bunnies and guinea pigs for adoption. We looked at the lumber in Olympia Salvage, but it really seemed too beat up to use for Orion's loft. Next, we went to Wind-Up Here. I made a wish list for my birthday there.

In case you're wondering what an almost 40 y/o clown would like, items on the list range from trick candles to a heat sensitive shower light.

Orion got a Playmobil catalog. He wants most everything in that for his birthday, but he also wants most everything from his Lego catalog.

Then, I got my hair cut by Toni from Euphorium. She showed me a map of where she went on her honeymoon in Hawaii and tried to make me look less like Herman Munster and more like the suave, sophisticated gentleman I imagine I will be at 40.

Then, I took Orion to Rusty Cock Ridge. He played Pajama Sam and had a root beer float.
We saw Keith Jewell and his lady companion, Jessica. She's a contortionist with the Pure Cirkus and has just started working with fire fans. They've got a new show at the Triple Door in Seattle on April 28th.

Then, we visited "Uncle" Luke and hooked up the computer to his network to recover long lost data... and a bunch of new mp3s from Duckhugger's collection. I also left my S-VHS deck there for more maintenance. When it gets working I will be able to archive tapes from Kagami butoh, Infectious Waste Theatre, and the first few years of Dance O' Dance.

On Sunday, I took Orion to the Eastside Big Tom's to redeem another Free burger certificate I got on myspace. Mike's trying hard to win the Best Burger Category at http://bestofsouthsound.com and he's not afraid to bribe the voters. How does he afford it? Well, I also bought Tater Tots and a White Chocolate Passion (Raspberry) shake too.
Last, we stopped at Home Depot and priced fresh lumber. I also started coveting a Stanley 50 gallon rolling toolbox that's big enough for pies, buckets of confetti, costumes, and everything. (Retailing for only $69.97)

Finally, Trish came home from the Women's Retreat at Camp Seymour and I cooked her up enough vegetable soup for the week.
All in all, it was a fun weekend.

Meeting the King of Olympia

2009-03-02T02:50:26Z

We inherited some furniture last July and left it to be reupholstered. It never happened, so Trish decided to reclaim it and find another guy for the job.

A client and her friends helped us get in in a truck and over to our house. Now it's taking over the office and Orion's using it to make forts.
[edit. The King drove his van over and picked up all the furniture! GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE!]

One of the friends expressed an interest in being a clown! Possible collaboration and possible client for his girlfriend's birthday party. The actual birthday conflicts with Monday's alley meeting, and he's taking her to the Olympus Day Spa. Last time he gets to go before he officially transitions! Woot! Just the kind of alternative clowns we need to spice up the alley.

Today Trish told me that I could meet the new upholsterer at his Open House. We brought Orion and Corbyn down for an adventure and snacks. They both enjoyed a vintage space game he had. We played Chess and Stratego.

Roger and Me! I'm happy to get some hummus! and a practically new couch, chair and ottoman!

Here's Trish with Roger Robel, The King of Olympia!

Trish gave out her card and I gave out mine. Then the synchronicity started flying. Roger said that a clown was coming! It was his friend Maureen. She didn't arrive before we left, but another fellow there wanted to start a clown group.

What a co-inky-dink! I'm looking for new clowns to join my group!

I gave Tim my card and he asked, "Are you the one who does the pies in the face?"

Tim was looking for something like a clown support group because the jugglers can get together; the cyclists can get together; but what about the clowns?

Well, we have an alley, and there's two meetings this month as a matter of fact. Also the NW Festival of Clowns will be in Olympia this October!

Tim's thinking of clown cops at the Artesian Well with Coke and Pepsi patches on their uniforms, checking people's names on their clipboards to grant them access to the water. Hmmm... okay. Roger says he'll be open on Arts Walk but has nothing planned yet. Hmmm. okay-OKAY!

Here's Roger's two daughters, Rocket and Lucinda cutting the ribbon outside the store, conveniently located at 206th 4th Ave near what used to be Plenty! (and is now plenty of EMPTY!). The girls don't want a clown at their birthdays. One wants a mermaid. The other wants gymnastics or bowling. The mom might want a clown.

Roger cuts the Pineapple Couch Cake made by Jesse. He's not a professional cake decorator, but he'd be willing to do a clown themed cake!

Then we all realized that no one had brought plates or forks or napkins, so we ate it with our fingers!

You could try to visit the website on Roger's card, but nothing came up for me.

http://kingofolympia.com or you could see a proto-site http://kingofolympia.blogspot.com

or just walk in, he's open for business!

T's B-Day

2009-02-28T16:24:19Z

For her birthday, Trish got to spend 8 hours at the Olympus Women's Day Spa (in Lakewood). It was the longest she'd stayed there in 11 years of going. It's free admission on your birthday, ladies.

Orion got picked up from school by Shannon and Cy and taken to Charlie Safari's! [Stormy did a birthday there once and described it as overwhelming!] Orion brought home a bag full of prizes. His favorite is the WHOOPIE CUSHION!

I got picked up from school by Steve Suski. [He's going to have an art show at the Minnaert in November!]

Around 7 PM Trish called and asked if we could go out for dessert. I called around to see what fancy places had cheesecake on the menu and we lucked out with Pellegrino's Tyee Grill in Tumwater.

Orion was happy to get a mini sword to go with the lime in his water. He had been bugging us about onion rings, but wasn't actually that into them. Trish was happy I suggested the Lady Godiva Martini. She also had a salad.

For dessert we had cheesecake AND creme brule.

Great service, beautiful atmosphere.

Meeting Miss Indiqo Blue

2009-02-27T05:53:40Z

Last Sunday we went down to Johansen School of Ballet for our class with Miss Indigo Blue, headmistress of the Seattle Academy of Burlesque. The 90 minute introductory class was "The Art of the Tease". We were to learn some glove and feather boa techniques, but we got so much more out of it. I want to take the 6 week class, Burlesque 101. I'm sure my life would never be the same.

See also this trailer for "A Wink and A Smile"

She started the class with introductions. There were twelve of us. I was the only man. Most of the women had found the class through another dance community either belly dancing or pole pilates. I'd found it because Puck (from the Mentor Carnival) had posted it on Olyblog.

Miss Blue then told us how she arrived in the world of burlesque. In high school she had been "the tease" which earned her a worse reputation than "the slut". She had then spent four years stripping at the Lusty Lady.

In 2001 she went to New Orleans for the first Tease-O-Rama Burlesque convention. Although she was too late to sign up as a performer, she later considered it lucky that she was able to give her complete attention to watching all the other artists. She found that she had been part of a much larger community than she had realized.

As we got into the practical exercises I knew we would be learning from a great talent.

She started us with the major orifices: the EYES and the MOUTH.

We paired up and practiced alternating between an agressive gaze and a receptive gaze. Something like "I want you" and "Come hither". It was very powerful stuff. We learned that confidence is sexy, and that burlesque is basically creating an illusion of intimacy.

We went on to practice removing gloves. I brought my own fraying fingerless clown gloves and worked on a gag of biting my finger, and gagging and getting the frayed end stuck in my teeth.

We also worked with feather boas. I thought I might try using my tie, but it was really too short for the job and not at all fluffy. Perhaps I could use the technique with a series of knotted silk scarves.

The idea of a burlesque clown is not new, but it's transforming my image of a market niche. I'm getting lots of ideas for fans and pies.

Twilight of the Clowns (Excerpt)

2009-02-27T02:51:46Z

Twilight of the Clowns by David Raffin

(the whole short story is about 9 pages, the e-book is 160 pages)

"My father was a Clown, and his father was a Clown, and his father before him," Bongo exclaimed as he balanced atop a snooker table.

"Preach on brother," shouted a short Clown named Lefty. "We be a dying breed."

Sure enough, we were a rare sight.

We were all there that day: Bongo, Lefty, Slappy, Pogo, Happy, Smiley, myself, Peterson, and the rest.

My name is Klinko. I had joined the circus at the age of sixteen, when I ran away from home to pursue my dream. It was a wild life; tramping around from town to town, eking out a living. Well, the last seven or eight years have been hard, sure; but when I got into the business fifteen years ago, the Clown was still the envy of every man. A lot of guys got into Clowning back then. Why, in the heyday about every fourth person was a Clown. Most everyone else was in some sort of a circus-based industry- even if it was only concessions. Back then, even the corner grocer knew it was to the glorious Clown that he owed his living. The circus was the gravy train; a bit of stability in the rough and tumble of life. And the Clown? He was the King! Long may he reign!

But people don't come to the circus like they used to. Bongo says the people just don't believe nowadays.

"They would rather be stockbrokers and car salesman," he would often say. "They got no soul. They just hurry, hurry, hurry- chasing after the next dollar. They got no time for fun. Why, we even have trouble keeping the few circuses that are left in carnival barkers, and you know what a glory job that used to be."

I knew it well. President? Hell, if a boy could grow up to be a carnival barker, be that he were lacking in the Clowning sciences, he would really know he had made it. Barkers got all the chicks. A fast mouth, a sense of spectacle, and a fiery spirit and you were on top of the world. You didn't make as much money as a Clown, sure; but for a guy with a poor sense of balance or an allergy to base-white it was as close as you got. And it was nothing to sneeze at, neither. Not everyone was made to be a Clown, after all. It was a gift. Hell, give a guy the smell of the greasepaint (mixed with fresh popcorn and elephant manure, of course) and any sane man is in seventh heaven.

[so after the circus closes..]

While a lot of the guys were wallowing in their depression, Slappy and myself got on doing telegrams and parties. It was demeaning work, but it allowed us to remain professional Clowns.

This was the worst time in my life. We weren't in high demand at the agency, who's specialty was really strippers, and we were sent out as gags. Mind you, we were never really wanted wherever we showed up. If we were delivering a telegram we would get cursed out and have things thrown at us when we showed up at the door. More often than not we were used as process servers: delivering subpoenas, summons, and notification of lawsuit. Slappy was once severely beaten before he could sing "happy birthday." After that we were always sent out as a pair.

We were living in a dive on sixth street when the rest of the guys were finally removed from the old circus grounds. Of course we invited them to stay with us, and so were living with twenty-two other Clowns in a one bedroom apartment with no hot water. We tried to get them on at the agency but were told that two Clowns were all that were needed, if that. The rest of the guys put out flyers advertising themselves as available for birthday parties. Birthday parties! There is nothing crueler than a child when presented with a Clown.

[eventually things really turn ugly]

.... Read the Rest by clicking below

Twilight of the Clowns (Word)

or Get the whole e-book of "Rhyme or Treason" http://manybooks.net/titles/raffindother09rhyme_or_treason.html

More McLane Pics pt. 2

2009-02-22T19:48:41Z

Thanks to Teacher Holly for these. Again, this was a Deluxe Visit Donation to the McLane Elementary Community to honor their 125th birthday (as an institution, not necessarily at that address or in that physical building!).

Crashing into the assembly at the bitter end to help sing Happy Birthday.

Balancing "Snowball" the white pie-rat on the medium stick

One balloon dog for 50+ kids to share! They never guessed I would talk about ancient animal sacrifice!

Here's one more (from Jen Flo of the PTSO).

That's Old Man McLane who started this whole deal!

[Still looking for another batch of pics from Teacher Julie...]

Olympia Junior Programs field trip

2009-02-20T21:55:56Z

Last week I got to take a field trip to the Washington Center w/o my usual charge. It had been determined that he probably wouldn't enjoy sitting still that long. We had to leave early last year during LASER Vaudeville, much to my chagrin. This time I sat next to some first graders who were also challenged to keep to their seats for the duration.

It was another opportunity for us to see a puppet show by the Tears of Joy theater out of Vancouver, WA. This time, they put on Anansi, the Spider. Our puppeteers were Ithica and Amy (in the title role).

Afterwards they showed us some of the materials and tricks of manipulation to put on a puppet show.

The Lion puppet was dressed in kente cloth, originally a pattern designed only for royalty but now available to the public. Puppet heads had been sculpted from pink foam blocks and covered with a cloth-mâché (similar to paper-mâché but using fabric). Puppet bodies had been constructed with PVC ribs. Ithica demonstrated how the elephant came apart and was packed into one of the boxes used as a set piece. Very handy tip for cleaning up after a show.

We practiced manipulating our hands as a puppet so it appeared to be breathing, looking, coughing, and talking.

She also taught the kids how to speak from different levels for different characters.

A head voice would be used for a mature female character, for example.

A nasal voice could be a goofy character.

A throat voice could be cute or a stage whisper.

A belly voice could be used for big characters or men.

Swag from Puck

2009-02-19T19:57:27Z

I came home to a wonderful stuffed envelope full of swag from Puck in thanks for my appearance at the "Take a Bow Carnival".

It included (in part) pencils, a ruler, stickers, keychains, bracelets, magnetic inspirational poetry, and a notepad all branded with pro-mentoring and/or anti-drug slogans.

Bunnies available from www.theteenline.org

It also included a testimonial:

"I've been a fan for a while, so I was thrilled when Jusby was able to stop by my event. Everyone loved him, they couldn't stop talking about it."

She also mentioned being devastated in a Stella Marrs "no pie?" way... and that got me to thinking that I should either give out the postcard with the kitten or design my own for those clients who opt out of the pie option.

For a $60 investment I could get a hundred of them.... OR I could reassess how I pitch the pie in the first place (and buy 60 pies). For example, I think I should proceed with the assumption that when Jusby brings a pie SOMEONE WILL GET IT!

With a self-assured air, I need to simply put that whipped topping in the pan. It's a sure bet that someone will volunteer once I start asking. With the addition of the mini pie tins I salvaged from the Big Lots Pecan Pies I can always start small and work my way up. There's a place for diplomacy, and there's a place for pie-in-the-face.

Puck's envelope did not include the spats, and I was devastated in a Scrooge McDuck kind of "I'm the SECOND richest duck!?" way.

Note the spats!

Another Ridiculous Valentine's Day

2009-02-15T04:09:49Z

A few weeks ago I got a call to do a party on Valentine's day. My pal, Fuzzle Bumpkins had referred a SECOND lead to me. [The first lead bailed on the night of the party.] I told the woman the deal, and she told her husband the price. He made an astonished/ horrified noise in the background. She told him it was "Even less than the other guy!" and put him on to give me directions. I asked them to e-mail me. They never did. I called back the following week and got THEIR email. They still seemed like they wanted me at their function.. in Centralia, in a banquet room...

In the interval before the big day, I got ANOTHER call for a Valentine's day party. This time, my pal, Dawn Stratton had referred them. She stayed in phone AND e-mail contact with me as the day approached. It was a Bratz themed party, so I arrived in the Alice wig with a Scottish golfing hat (the kind with the pom-pom on top).

Getting ready this afternoon I started to get suspicious about the first gig and called PJ's Pizza in Centralia to see if the banquet room had indeed been booked.

It had. By another group. The manager thought the name and details about my party seemed familiar, and he found that they'd booked it for MONDAY.

I called the mom. She sounded genuinely surprised and promised to call me back. I never heard from her. I guess I need to start asking for signed contracts and deposits for banquet room parties.

The local party went well, but I could have used an assistant, so I'm asking Heather "Honey" Duke to consider joining me. She's got the hook-up for bindis and jewels and stuff at Profoundia. The kids today each went through the face painting line twice. They liked the designs on the temporary tattoos but wanted them hand painted.

I also had a lead on a "Pie Party" from Bil Fleming. He wanted to redeem his gift certificate but later decided that it wasn't quite the right occassion. Some adults were getting together to bake pies. They didn't really need me to add chaos to their intimate gathering.

For a time, I had three parties scheduled on a single day! After the first party was over I realized that I hadn't taken any pictures, and itwas looking like I wasn't going to get any, so I had Trish take the above shot to recreate the look I had on Thursday after eating all the candy at school.

Mentor Carnival

2009-01-30T18:43:12Z

In honor of National Mentoring Month, the Be The One coalition invited me to attend their Take A Bow Carnival at Komachin Middle School. I wondered how they had found me. My friend, Heather, of Profoundia, had referred me. She and I met at one of Dawn's Simple Fool classes a year ago. It seemed natural that I should call her and make sure she came along. She decided on her clown name when we reached the parking lot: "Honey".

Honey and I surround Stephanie from Big Brothers, Big Sisters.

Our initial contact was with Jennifer, also of Big Brothers, Big Sisters (Foster Care enrollment/ Match Support).

Then I got in contact with the coordinator, Puck, of Thurston County Health and Public Services, who thought she might be able to provide me with great quantities of pies and towels. Although that was later vetoed, she did then promise to give me her spats and hooked me up with some pizza... from Brewery City, no less.

Here's Adam Lee, the illustrious balloon twister. He used to clown but tired of the make-up and had an uncanny knack for the balloons. (Not pictured, his mom who accompanies him.)

Honey was excited about the cotton candy Jackie's making. Jackie gave us the word from the North Thurston school district: No Pies!

So I only brought one pie and made discrete inquiries. Then left them wanting more

Facepainting with Missoula Children's Theatre

2009-01-30T17:24:00Z

We just had two members of the traveling Missoula Children's Theatre in our 2nd grade class.

Kerri and Katelyn gave a demonstration on the application of theater make-up, and...

.. the same ideas could be applied toward the face painting segment of a clown's visit.

They first asked for reasons why we need theater make-up.

The correct responses include:

To show characters who look different from the actors (or from any human)
To reduce the glare from stage lights
To increase the visibility of expressions from a great distance (the 30 foot rule)

They chose the students sitting criss-cross applesauce with quietly raised hands to be part of their demonstration. They painted them up with:

Sunburns (1st, 2nd, and 3d degree)
Old Age
Black eyes (fresh and healing)
Broken nose
Beard
The Wicked Witch of the West
Nana, the dog from Peter Pan

Eventually, they had to wrap it up, so they offered three choices to the remaining students: Mustache, Sunburn, or Harry Potter scar.

We have MCT with us for the week as they prepare Robin Hood. In our class we've got a horseman, an angry villager and two skunks in the cast. The lead, Robin, is played by the older sister of one of our classmates.

They'll put on two shows at McLane Elementary on Saturday, Jan 31st at 2 PM and 6 PM. Tickets are $3 or $10/family. Sounds like a hoot.

Clown can has ANGRY cheeseburger

2009-01-30T15:42:04Z

Always a sucker for a giant poster of a new burger, I finally got my Angry Whopper from Burger King.

It has a number of things going for it.

Jalapenos, Pepperjack cheese, Angry Sauce, and Angry Onions.

It cost us an EVEN $4. Made me less angry instantly not to have to handle change and not to pay over $5.

Captures the Zeitgeist perfectly.

Going against it?

Wasn't that spicy, actually.

Promo ends March 30th.

Supports corporate chain store instead of local businesses.

Extremely bad for my about-to-be-40 diet!

Hmmm... fit into pleather pants or start wearing sweats?

It started simply enough, getting angry before church that morning. It's the worse irony, but many mornings before church I start to get angry, generally because we're behind schedule and I don't want to miss my rare chance to sing without being heckled. This time I was also concerned about making better arrangements for Orion's playdate afterwards.

He had lucked into spontaneous playdates two Sundays running, and I felt it would have been better to pre-arrange one. Perhaps we could take their child instead. Perhaps we could all go to Rusty Cock Ridge. Each suggestion was invariably seconded AND vetoed by Trish and Orion in turns. That is, if he liked it she didn't, and so the time started to slip away until it became another mad dash to find peace of mind.

On top of that we were scheduled to teach "Sunday School" to the 3rd graders on the topic of Susan B. Anthony, and we had not prepared. Those scenes usually play out the same way: adults giving a history lesson they think is important and children coloring a scene from our weekly hero or heroine's life. Occasionally, they mount a minor rebellion.

After church we realize that the play-date can't happen, so we head for home. As we approach home Trish starts talking about p-i-z-z-a. We get gas from Costco, and I suggest just getting a slice inside or a take-and-bake, but she's suggesting Brewery City.

I bring up the Angry Cheeseburger, and she offers to get me one even though she's set on pizza. Then we remember the other place, Inferno's, but Orion would rather have Brewery City.

Here we go again!

We pull into Brewery City, but their parking lot is full, so we turn back around. Now I suggest going to the Ramirez Tortilla factory to stock up on locally made corn tortillas, and she lets me out there.

Back on the road, she pulls into the BK for my Angry Whopper. I finish it before we reach Inferno's. It really hits the spot and cuts back all the anxiety of making group meal decisions.

And a good thing too, since deciding on a pizza is no easy feat when you're starving.

Orion and I play video games while Trish orders. When it arrives, they've made a mistake. It was supposed to be half cheese. Now Orion has to wait while they fix him up a special cheese pizza all his own.

In the end, pizza and a salmon salad cost $30.

I start to get angry again.

Then I notice that Inferno's is right next door to LORD'S Gym, for body and soul. Out on the street the sign for LORD's is above Inferno's, but in the back their doors are side by side. You pays your money and you takes your ride as Bujanski used to say.

a first and a last

2009-01-22T07:54:19Z

Orion cooks us breakfast in bed for the first time. He toasts the jelly onto the bread and puts the butter on afterwards using a diamond shaped cheese trowel.

This picture is a recreation because we ate it so fast. He can also cook his own quesadillas.

Isaiah spends the night. In the morning they're playing in the office when there's a banging on the door.

The neighbor, Jesse needs my phone because "She won't wake up!"

I twitter this:

just lent the neighbor my cell phone to call 911... paramedics are here trying to revive his wife - asthma attack 1:03 PM Jan 17th from web

We watch them cart Sandy off, unresponsive. I see Jesse getting into the ambulance and go out to sign to him: "You got my phone still?" He asks, "Was it pink?" and pulls out a pink Razr phone similar to mine. "Yeah, actually, but it had a plastic case." He says that it's still inside. I go in and see another Razr phone, this one is black. Then I see mine. The paramedics warn me not to let the kids in.

I start wondering, (after the prior night's escapade with Tim and the $100 phone) "What is going on with all the phones?"

My next twitter:

neighbor's wife did not make it... landlord wants new tenants come March, not the getting arrested or dying kind 4:33 PM Jan 19th from web

We both have separate long heartfelt talks with Orion about death. At school he is extra emotional: mad and sad. He asks the teacher to help him make a card for Jesse.

On Tuesday a woman called me at school. I happened to be at recess, so I answered. She wanted to book me for Wednesday night. I called her back at lunch and went over details. The daughter would be turning 3. She would probably have 6-7 guests, but no more than 10. It would be from 7 PM to 8:30. We agreed on a price, but… she was not sure about the venue. It would probably be a banquet room, and most likely at the Red Lion, but she would call after checking it out.

Orion and I take the bus home from downtown. As we're walking from the bus stop to our house we see Jesse. He expresses his sincere gratitude to Orion for the card and gets a hug from him. Then we throw wishing pennies onto the frozen waterfall sculpture. One of his actually slides through a crack in the ice.

I did not hear back from Crystal about the party that night.

I'm still very optimistic. I twitter this:

Gig: b-day party for 3 y/o girl in Red Lion banquet room, then possibly get pie for Big Tom 7:37 PM Jan 20th from web

Wednesday I called to confirm, but only got a message machine. After I've got all my props arranged and packed and the music loaded and the make-up on the counter I hear the little voice of intuition telling me to check up on this party another way. I twitter:

called Red Lion... "Only one party here... NW Realtors assn". called client: "we don't know where it will be." Party supposed to start @7! about 4 hours ago from web

Before putting on make-up I had called again. I got the husband. “Hello, this is Jusby the clown. Are you having a party tonight?” He says, “Yes, we are, but we’re not sure where it’ll be. Can my wife call you back within a half an hour?” “That would be great.” I wait for a while and decide it's worth the risk getting into make-up. They are definitely having a party after all.

Time passes without a call.

Trish breaks the news to me. “They chickened out and they’re afraid to call you back.”

She’s just more astute that way. I hold onto the idea that they’ll call. Maybe I should go drive around and try to find a party. Maybe I should go to the realtor’s party for a quick walk-through, maybe pie Dino Rossi.

I reach Mike of Big Tom's. He's on his way to his Grandma's.

I go downtown and stare into traffic across from the 4^th ave tav.

Eventually, I go to Jake’s because I see that it is Karaoke night with NO COVER, and I sing “Hell” by Squirrel Nut Zippers.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uiYp8xKjLM]

I start by saying “I didn’t plan on coming here tonight, but did you ever get dressed up and then ditched? I was supposed to be at a birthday party for a three year-old girl… But the b- chickened out!”

During the breaks I mentioned, “My neighbor died. But she deserved it. She laughed at me.” Then later, “I have a co-worker who comes here sometimes and she’s deathly afraid of clowns. I thought I’d surprise her.”

At home I realize that I should get a picture of neighbor Jesse and me one last time. It might cheer him up, and I don’t have any pictures of him or Sandy. I can hear people watching TV and commenting about it loudly. He’s got family over to help him pack.

Instead I start taking pictures of myself out in front of the duplex. Someone finally opens the door wondering about the flashing.

Jesse comes out and I catch the moment. Then he introduces me to his mom and says, “This is my neighbor. He’s a clown.”

They offer me a fresh gingerbread cookie. It’s a delicious end to the night.

Obamafied Clown

2009-01-20T01:34:05Z

Go to Obamicon.com and give yourself a patriotic make-over!

Thanks to Sandman for the link, and sorry we missed your show. Next time we need to be during the daytime!

And haven't I done enough already? How's about a link back to ME!?

Reports - 2nd grade style

2009-01-17T17:18:07Z

Justin Wright 1/15/08

Yesterday, I did three fun things.

First, I borrowed a circular saw from the neighbor. Actually, I just wanted my handsaw back, but he offered his electric one that had recently been rediscovered in his closet of a garage. I plugged it in and pruned a few dead branches in the backyard.

Then, I watched a Harry Potter Lego video on YouTube. It was a preview for Order of the Phoenix. There are no new Legos out for Half-Blood Prince.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW5LrrWuoSM]

Last, I read the first few chapters of Deathly Hallows to Orion. I stayed in his room all night.

Clearly, it was a fun night.

Justin Wright 1/16/08

Last night I did three fun things.

First, I worked in the back yard. I pruned the apple and plum trees. I even let Orion go up the ladder and try the loppers.

Then, I pulled up some of the English Ivy and blackberry vines. I found a Donald Duck figure underneath.

Last, we had a surprise evening play date with Isaiah. His mom wanted to go to Miss Morgan's going away party. Isaiah got to stay for bath and story time. Orion got to sleep in the big bed. Trish stayed out late and got to see Yogoman at the Eastside with tall Sarah and Sandman.

He made his first hundred by selling his Fairy House in preparation for his big move (to Florida and then South Africa!) CLICK to listen or Dowload the MP3 of Isaiah's Message

Clearly, it was a fun night.

Justin Wright 1/16/09

Tonight I did three fun things.

First, we had another surprise playdate from Isaiah. His mom called to ask if he could have an actual sleep-over. We he arrived I made up some simple sushi of brown rice with sesame oil and Bragg's (liquid aminos) wrapped in nori seaweed.

Then, we left to go to the library's reopening celebration for cake and crowd, but we forgot Trish's keys to turn off her hot stones. We went home for them and one of the neighbor's new friends asked for a ride to the store and back... and then downtown. Apparently, he needed to buy a used phone for his new girlfriend. En route downtown the new phone rang and a guy told him that it was really HIS phone.

"You mean I just threw away a hundred dollars?"

Finally, we got to the library, but the line for the caricatures was too long for us. Sarah Adorable and Joey Casio knew it would be worth the wait. We got cake instead.

Last, we saw some friends and went home. We stopped at Jack in the Box on the way.

Clearly, it was a fun night.

jusbytheclown

Match Party Extraordinaire and the 101st pied face

Once I started offering free pie-in-the-face... I didn't need any other clown supplies: face-painting, balloons, juggling, puppets, NOTHING!

Which brings my total to 101 pied faces!

Volcano Blows Old Friend In

Happy Birthday, Jackie Chan

Jackie Chan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mud Bay Jugglers and Nanda Acrobaticalists

It seemed that he knew we really needed to see this show.

Glow Golf Party

Orion's 5th birthday

But more importantly, his Legos are sorted!

Burgled!

Goldilocks + Burglery= Bear Nightmare!

Storybook Theater

I loved it, and so did many of the kids. This is Storybook's 12th season, and they're running a tight ship.

Soul Alchemy pt. 2

Discovering the Clown Within

The Simple Fool as Performer

The Simple Fool as Artivist

I'm curious what kind of commencement speech/ act I'll have to prepare, and what kind of diploma I'll recieve.

Soul Alchemy pt. 1

She's planning on splitting her time between British Columbia and Switzerland. She's also planning on taking an old bus to Burning Man and possibly the Yukon!

My mood lifted enormously. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic final workshop.

It was full of epiphanies and catharses, empty nests and crones, inflated supermen and bits of fluff. But no potato soup.

Weekend Story (2nd Grade Style)

This weekend I did many fun things.

In case you're wondering what an almost 40 y/o clown would like, items on the list range from trick candles to a heat sensitive shower light.

Meeting the King of Olympia

What a co-inky-dink! I'm looking for new clowns to join my group!

I gave Tim my card and he asked, "Are you the one who does the pies in the face?"

or just walk in, he's open for business!

T's B-Day

Meeting Miss Indiqo Blue

She started us with the major orifices: the EYES and the MOUTH.

The idea of a burlesque clown is not new, but it's transforming my image of a market niche. I'm getting lots of ideas for fans and pies.

Twilight of the Clowns (Excerpt)

More McLane Pics pt. 2

Olympia Junior Programs field trip

Swag from Puck

I came home to a wonderful stuffed envelope full of swag from Puck in thanks for my appearance at the "Take a Bow Carnival".

Puck's envelope did not include the spats, and I was devastated in a Scrooge McDuck kind of "I'm the SECOND richest duck!?" way.

Another Ridiculous Valentine's Day

It had. By another group. The manager thought the name and details about my party seemed familiar, and he found that they'd booked it for MONDAY.

Mentor Carnival

Facepainting with Missoula Children's Theatre

.. the same ideas could be applied toward the face painting segment of a clown's visit.

Clown can has ANGRY cheeseburger

Here we go again!

I start to get angry again.

a first and a last

This picture is a recreation because we ate it so fast. He can also cook his own quesadillas.

The neighbor, Jesse needs my phone because "She won't wake up!"

I start wondering, (after the prior night's escapade with Tim and the $100 phone) "What is going on with all the phones?"

Trish breaks the news to me. “They chickened out and they’re afraid to call you back.”

Obamafied Clown

And haven't I done enough already? How's about a link back to ME!?

Reports - 2nd grade style