Clowning in Resort and Leisure Settings

Tom Rives

Some Hints for Clowns in Resort and Leisure Settings

DO:

• Look and act your best—God deserves our very best!
• Have something you can give to people or some activity you can do besides just standing there and looking funny.
• Approach children on their level—squat down to their eye level.
• Take a "non-clown" partner along to handle problems, share in the witnessing, and so forth.
• Have a secluded place to rest, if possible.
• Stay in make up and costume when you are in public.
• Let people know that you are a Christian clown—and act like one!
• Practice over and over what you plan to do: skits, illusions, music, animal balloons, and so forth. Again, God deserves our very best!

DON'T:

• Infringe on people's space or their privacy.
• Embarrass people.
• Ask for money—this is a ministry.
• Turn down a gift—allow people the privilege to give.
• Force yourself on small children—many are afraid of clowns.
• Go half-dressed—stay in clown character.
• Argue with or rebut hecklers—let your "non-clown" partner handle them.

Some Ideas or Concepts for Use in Resort and Leisure Settings:

• Pantomime an activity related to the setting: hunting trip, shopping, eating, volleyball game, sightseeing, and so forth. Make sure you over accent the movements and reactions of the activity.
• Make-Up Routine: You can put your make up on in front of the crowd and share a witness at the same time. The Broadman Press tract, Bring on the
• Clowns may aid as a guideline here.
• Verbal Skits: These might be humorous just to provide wholesome entertainment or they might have a spiritual meaning.
• Pantomime or Mime Skits: Usually it is best to have an introduction and/or closing to the skit as these are trying to tell a story and you want to make sure that the message is received. You will also want to consider background music during the skit as it helps with flow.
• Entertainment: This can be an illusion ("magic") show, making balloon animals, playing games, performing music, etc. In most cases you will just be entertaining people for the privilege of being able to tell them Who you represent.

Adapted from an article by Tom Rives in the 1993 National Resort Ministries Conference notebook. Used by permission.