Should I start a career as a clown?

I separated your question into a separate subject. It deserves it's own conversation.

There are a lot of questions that should be asked. Are you going to work in a circus, for an agency, on your own? If you are a party clown is your city big enough to support a clown? What sort of skills do you have?

Well I live in a big city. I juggle a little and have been learning balloon animals from youtube. I borrowed a unicycle. I want to do parties. Do I need insuracne? Why are the clubs called alleys?

Well if you have enough customers that is good. Insurance is helpful. Juggling well enough so you don't hit people with your clubs is more helpful. 

Most of my birthday parties are some juggling, a little bit of magic and a whole bunch of balloons. So learning balloons is good. Magic you should start with shuffling and handling cards. Mark Wilson's cyclopedia of magic is a good place to start. Don't get too crazy with magic. It gets expensive fast. you don't want to buy equipment that is not going to make your money.

As for the Alley thing. In the service tent of the circus they are curtains separating section where different group are getting ready. These subdivisions were called Alleys. One of the Alleys was dedicated to clowns. At some point noncircus clowns started calling their groups Alleys. The circus I came from had a Masonic Lodge. So our club was Red Lodge or Purple Lodge depending on you rank. My club was founded as a Special Service Brigade within the Salvation Army. So we are a Brigade. It is just a wee bit silly. Still, it is part of the noncircus clown tradition. 

Should I join Clowns of America or the World Clown Organization?

What should I juggle?

Where do I start in Magic?

Don't join either of them at this point. If you have a local club join that first. Many local clubs have an affiliation with one of those. If you like the local club join whatever national group they are part of. Be aware COAI has had one well known incident where someone stole the dues of it's members. If you join them put them put the membership on a credit card you trust. That way you can get your money back if the "loose" it again.

Also look to regional organizations first. The Mid Atlantic Clown Association has a convention centrally located for people in that area. The Texas Clown Association is also doing a better job than either of the national ones. 

I would suggest you juggle 3 balls, then 3clubs. After that adding in Rings and Scarves is very easy. We have the Sunday Class on the Calendar.

Magic start with card handling and coin manipulation. Practice shuffling the cards and cutting the deck. You want this to be smooth and even. You should not have to look at what you are doing. Keeping eye contact is an excellent form of misdirection. 

Posted by: @zeeppo

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As for the Alley thing. In the service tent of the circus they are curtains separating section where different group are getting ready. These subdivisions were called Alleys. One of the Alleys was dedicated to clowns. At some point noncircus clowns started calling their groups Alleys. The circus I can from has a Masonic Lodge. So out club was Red Lodge or Purple Lodge depending on you rank. My club was founded as a Special Service Brigade within the Salvation Army. So we are a Brigade. It is just a wee bit silly. Still, it is part of the noncircus clown tradition. 

 

What was the name of the lodge?

@buttonzandbowz 

We moved around so we did not have a name like Grand Lodge of New York. We misused the term lodge much like clown alleys misuse the term alley.

Purple Lodge was for the master clowns and 33rd degree Masons. Red Lodge was for 32nd Degree Masons and Standard Clowns. Our meetings were not that secret and they were male and female. Thus, it was not even fraternal organization. Mostly we had diners and planned and executed charity events. 

I think someone in a bygone decade wanted to join a Masonic Lodge and was not allowed because they were circus folk. So, they just made something up. 

Has anyone here been to Mooseberger? I am considering going next year. I don't have a clown Alley in my town. Any other suggestions?

@pinky-buttons I have attended Mooseburger Clown Arts Camp, What would you like to know?

Well, it costs a lot. Is it worth it? How is for someone brand new to clowning.

I would love to go to Mooseburger and become a real clown better than those "inner clown" theater workshops. The thing would be the base price of camp and all the extra materials required for the program. Plus the distance traveled there, and method of travel.