Creative Clowning [Paperback]

Bruce Fife (Author), Tony Blanco (Author), Steve Kissell (Author), Bruce Johnson (Author), Ralph Dewey (Author), Hal Diamond (Author), Jack Wiley (Author), Ed Harris (Illustrator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0941599167 | ISBN-13: 978-0941599160 | Publication Date: January 1, 2003 | Edition: 3rd

This is an excellent book for both beginner and advanced clowns. This book is aimed at clowns and would-be clowns who want to improve their skills. Included are comedy routines as well as instructions on riding a unicycle, juggling, stilt-walking, applying makeup, mime, puppetry, and magic. The advice on employment possibilities is less useful than that on acquiring specific skills. Anyone interested in being a clown or becoming a better one will find this a treasure trove.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Piccadilly Books; 3rd edition (January 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0941599167
• ISBN-13: 978-0941599160
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #712,797 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An inspiring book indeed!, September 27, 2001

By 

Amund Bisgaard (Trondheim, Norway) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Creative Clowning (Paperback)

Having read four customer reviews of this book, I might have had high expectations. Maybe I didn't realize it's true value at first, but after learning various skills, you may want to try others, which didn't catch your interest at first. Then you realize how powerful a tool this book is.

Until now I've focused on juggling and unicycling. The book not only teaches you how to ride a unicycle, -it also provides a lot of amusing variations. Though I knew how to ride before buying this book, it taught me how to ride in a very ridiculous way, seemingly out of control. I've experienced a tremendous effect when acting upon these hints in front of an audience. ...

Just recently I grew interested in the stiltwalking sections and made a pair of wooden tie-on stilts. I'm not exactly an engineer, but following the instructions, all I needed was a saw, some wood, a drill, some glue, some bolts and screws.

Reading the ingenious instructions given sometimes make me laugh out loud, thinking of how it would work in real life. The illustrations are really amusing, and I do enjoy all the hints on starting a clowning business. Lots of detailed information.

Also, the book is packed with numerous jokes and material that can be used for shows. The next stage for me will be learning how to twist balloons into different animal shapes.

I was actually looking for a book on how to put on clowns' make-up for my unicycling. This book is all you need to know about various types of make-up for various clown types, plus so much more. If you're thinking about clowning, either for fun or for money, I highly recommend this book!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars !The! clowning book, excellent for professionals & amateurs, June 4, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Creative Clowning (Paperback)

If you have only one resource on clowning, make it this one. That's no exaggeration. It's a resource with numerous contributors, including sections on the history of clowning, creating a unique clown character, the mind of the clown, make-up, costuming, talents (juggling, balloon twisting, magic, balancing, stilts, etc.), marketing and being booked. If it's not on your shelf, go buy it. (No, I don't work for the publisher & am not related to anyone involved in the book -- I simply think it's that good.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE! one book on clowning! Highly recommended!, February 2, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Creative Clowning (Paperback)

An excellent introduction to clowning. Topics covered include everything from the history of the clown, make-up & costuming basics, the clown's mindset, juggling, balloons, puppetry, creating an act, booking, etc. Excellent, with many, many color photos of dozens (if not over a hundred) different clowns, etc. Recommended highly.