Al's Mini-Freeroll

The above photo shows what you like after doing some clowning in muggy weather in south central Texas. I sweat most of my makeup away and must have drank five gallons of water. It was rough and it wears you out. The upside is you also get some yummy food like this: barbecued chicken, fajitas, beans and Spanish rice. Actually it was Tex-Mex rice which I prefer. Viva la barbecue!

Friday Roundup- More Circus, Please

This week was a lot of Doc Ed work to set up bookings at schools and libraries and working on a Doc Ed prop. The best part of the week was catching the Kelly Miller Circus and hanging out with Steve Copeland and Ryan Combs for a couple of days. It sure made us miss clowning in the circus. Circus clowning is in good hands. 'Nuff said. Have a great weekend!

From The Sketchbook- Bigfoot

I've got Bigfoot on the brain lately.

March Sky #4

Doc Ed Rides Again!

Here are some of the upcoming dates for Doc Ed school visits. The end of the school year is looking to be a very busy one. And that's just the way I like it!

March 31st Witte Museum
April 3rd Medina County Fair
April 4th Northside Enviro Fair
April 13th Carson Elementary School
April 14th Girl Scout Community Fair at Matthews United Methodist Church
April 21st Kidfest
May 1st Shultz Elementary School
May 4th Mission Academy Career Day
May 10th Jackson Kellar Elementary School
May 19th Government Canyon
May 25th Madison Elementary School

What A Fine Day!

Steve and Ryan posing with some very cool pirate props in a blurry photo taken by me.



First of all, allow me to preface this post by stating that it's good to be around showfolk again. It's been way too long. And it's been way too long since we've spent some time around fellow clowns.

Pammy and I drove out to Seguin to visit with Steve Copeland, Ryan Comb and his lovely wife Tatiana and their beautiful and funny son Nico. Steve and Ryan are the featured clowns for the Kelly Miller Circus where they get to showcase their fine comedic skills. Both Steve and Ryan are top notch circus clowns putting together gags that have all you'd expect to see from circus clowns but seldom ever see these days including some really amazing pratfalls.



We had lunch at a diner in the old downtown section of Seguin where we joked around and shared stories about the circus and clowning. The food was okay but the company was great! Steve is a walking encyclopedia of clown history. He's really quite amazing. I can see him writing a book or two on the subject and hopefully also about his life as a circus clown too.

And Ryan is a genius of a prop builder. The photos above and below show some of the props he's made for the show. He builds everything from scratch.




I've been wanting to make a water squirting rig of the kind that creates the illusion water is shooting out of your ears. I've asked around and gotten some advice on the supplies I'd need and how to put it together. I tried a few times but the rigs never worked. They leaked water and fell apart so I figured one of two things: 1)I'm a terrible prop builder or 2) I was missing some crucial information on making the rig. Fortunately, it was the latter. A couple of days ago I had mentioned to Steve and Ryan how I'd tried unsuccessfully to make one for a job out at Seaworld back in October. Ryan gave me some very detailed advice on making one. I mean it was precisely the technical advice I'd needed for so long. Then, not two days later I got another priceless gift from Ryan: He drew a blue print with instructions on making the water rig along with a bulb for the water and a tool to cut the copper tubing for it. What a generous soul! Thank you Ryan. I'll have a rig to play with before the end of the month!! Wahooo!!!!





After lunch we went back to the lot and got to see some of their gag videos from their previous years on Kelly Miller. When we finally had to go it was with great reluctance but we left feeling inspired and rejuvenated. They are very talented performers and they've got a very bright future ahead of them. We'll definitely being seeing them again when the circus rolls into town.

"I lack the adjectives and nouns to do justice to clowns." - Ogden Nash

March Sky #3

I Clown Therefore I Am!

We saw the late afternoon performance of the Kelly Miller Circus in Pleasanton today and got to enjoy some marvelous physical comedy by the clown duo of Steve Copeland and Ryan Combs. Whenever we watch them perform Pammy and I leave with our clown spirits lifted and our batteries fully recharged in order to better face our lives as townies. More on our visit with them on Wednesday's post.

Slapstick Theater- Abbot and Costello, Who' On First (1945)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who%27s_on_First%3F

Fun Gizmo

Our new camera has a panoramic mode so naturally I decided to give a go this morning. I hope this camera lasts longer than the last one. I like it. Click on the image for a bigger view.

Sunday Morning Matinee: The Giving Tree (1973)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Giving_Tree