No, I didn’t go to Clown College, but my dear friend Bill shared with me an article he read on the above. I wondered why he was sharing it with me, and like most lessons learned, it applies to life. Of course it turned into a MMC to share with each of you!
- We stand on the shoulders of giants. During its more than 130-year existence, Ringling Bros. named only four master clowns. 3 of them were among the many instructors at Clown College. Clowns know that their work is much better when they’re taught by the best.
- Appearances are important. A good, sturdy pair of all-leather, custom-made clown shoes costs at least $300. Professional clown wigs are handmade from yak hair. Clowns put a lot of time and effort into their costumes. Applying makeup often takes an hour. Good clowns spend the time and money to get everything right because they know that appearances are important.
- The show must go on. The Flying Wallendas had a seven-person, three-high human pyramid walking a tight rope in Detroit in 1962 when the lead walker lost his balance and the pyramid collapsed. Two people fell to their death and a third was permanently paralyzed. All were family members. Karl Wallenda, the patriarch of the troupe, suffered several broken ribs. But the next day, he was back on the wire.
- It’s important to have contingency plans. Ringling used Jeep-like vehicles to move animal cages and prop wagons. During intermission at one show, these vehicles were moved into a circle around the big-cat cage that started the second half of the show. Each vehicle faced the cage and had a driver ready to turn on its headlights. A clown asked the performance director the reason for this unusual arrangement. The director replied, “Earlier today, this building lost power because of thunderstorms. Storms are still in the area. If we lose power again, I don’t want a performer in that cage in total darkness with all those animals.”
- Almost anyone can master the basics. Decades ago, as an undergraduate, the author taught juggling as a physical education class. He’d tell students that anyone can learn to juggle if they receive good instruction and they practice. He would provide the good instruction; they must provide the practice. The students did indeed learn to juggle.
- To get good at something requires hard work. The first thing taught in juggling is the basic three-ball cascade. From there, a new juggler might learn to throw from different positions—under the opposing wrist, behind the back, under a leg. A juggler can move on from balls to rings and clubs—even flaming clubs. All these skills require significant training and practice. Difficulty increases exponentially.
- Pursue your dreams. Have long-term plans. The author learned about Clown College while in high school when Ringling Bros. came to his hometown. Because he expressed interest, one of the clowns talked to him about Clown College and gave him an application. Seven years later, he was walking down the streets of New York City with a bag of juggling equipment in one hand and homemade stilts in the other, heading to an audition at Madison Square Garden.
- Give credit where credit is due. In 1967, Irvin Feld bought Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s Circus from descendants of the original Ringling family. The circus had only 14 clowns, most of them older than 50. Feld said he knew that Ringling clowns could fall down, but he didn’t know if they’d be able to get back up. Within a year, he opened Clown College. During its 30-year existence, Clown College trained 1,400 clowns. Thanks to Feld, American clowning was reinvigorated.
- We have different strengths and abilities. At Clown College, some people seemed to be natural musicians, and they formed a clown band. Some had a knack for unicycling or stilt walking, while others struggled with both. Some excelled at juggling or pie-throwing, others did not. That’s okay. The circus needs all of these skills, just as the world needs people who have all sorts of strengths and abilities.
- What unites us is greater than what divides us. The circus routinely had acts from at least a dozen countries. Many years ago, most clowns were White males. But over the past 50 years, the circus has had many talented female and Black clowns. The question always asked of a performer has not been about race, ethnicity or sexual orientation, but rather, “What can you bring to the show?”
Now, take these lessons learned at Clown College and apply them to your daily life. Not all at one time, but you’ll know when!
Make it a great day!
Source: A Tentful of Lessons by Larry Sayler