Monday, April 14, 2014

 

Specifics About "The Next Step" Workshop

The Goal:
This workshop is intended to help clowns with platform ministry presentations, to gain control and understanding of their physical communication, to improve their connections with their audience, to deepen their understanding of character and the art of clown, and to help them present strong messages combined with comedy clown concepts. This is a physical mime-based workshop that will help clowns better share truths through effective movement, timing and clear communication. We will focus on these topics: mime technique, advanced character development, physical comedy techniques, portraying emotional content, writing comedy routines with messages, directing focus, stage blocking, and more. Attendees will be encouraged to share a presentation piece each day for a coaching critique from the instructors. Other attendees listen to the critiques to learn along with the presenter. Various pieces will be practiced and then will be presented at the Sunday a.m. kid’s service at the church.

Staff:
Rev. Randy Christensen is the “Next Step Workshop” founder and your host. Randy began clowning in the Fall of 1980 while training for ministry at North Central University. Since that time Randy has taught and performed across the United States and in seven foreign countries. He was the featured performer at the 1999 Induction Ceremony for the International Clown Hall of Fame. For more info. on Randy check out www.RandysInfo.com

Jeff McMullen is a college instructor, motivational speaker, and certified karate coah. Jeff is a distinguised graduate of the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus Clown College and, in his earlier days, toured nationally with the circus. Jeff also has represented McDonald's restaurants as part of its personality-based marketing programs. His work earned national recognition and was directly responsible for significant business gains in his assigned region. 

In 1989, he was asked to serve as an instructor/curriculum developer for the Clown College's history-making founding session in Japan. In 1991, he became the star performer and Director of Western Entertainment at Reoma World, in Southern Japan.

Today, Jeffrey "puts on the greasepaint" only to perform with some of America's finest symphony orchestras in special family programs, or in his role as a staff instructor at special events such as the annual, nationally known Clown Camp at La Crosse, Wisconsin. More information on Jeff at: http://www.jeffmcmullen.com

Location
Mission Hill Baptist Church, 4653 Business 61 So., Palmyra, MO 63461. This is about 15 miles from Hannibal, Missouri and 20 minutes from Quincy, Illinois. It is an hour and 45 minute drive (northwest) from the Saint Louis airport.

Make-up & Costume
We encourage you to bring your make-up and costume to wear as part of our Sunday morning presentations in the kid’s services at local church locations.

Since “The Next Step” is intended to be an advanced training workshop, we assume that the attendees basic skills of make-up and costuming are already developed so we will not be offering any classes on these areas at this workshop experience. We want you to have your clown shoes, nose, hat and wardrobe, jacket or vest with you for some of our practice sessions and student demonstrations, but applying your actual make-up will only be needed for the worship services on Sunday.

Staff are willing to give feedback and advice in this area on a one-to-one basis during break times.

Time Schedule
We will plan to start on time in the morning, after lunch and in the evening. We will not be pressured to end sessions on time though. Our desire is to help you work through various concepts and exercises that will really be beneficial. We’re not going to try to run on a rigid timeline. This is not a conference where numerous classes are beginning and ending at the same time. This is a time where we can spend some personal time together and really dig into some areas of clowning and ministry that we often don’t have time to focus on. We are offering an interactive participatory learning experience from learned instructors. See tentative schedule on separate attachment.

Professional Mentoring
Besides the intensive schedule combining over 37 hours of instruction, involvement and performance, you may request an additional four hours of personal mentoring with our instructors in a one-on-one advisory session. This additional coaching is tailored to the clown to help with business planning, show development, skill development, goal setting systems or other requested advice. This four hour session will be placed prior to the Next Step workshop (i.e. Wednesday morning) or following the conclusion of the workshop (i.e., Sunday afternoon, evening, or Monday morning). The additional fee for this professional mentoring is $100.

Registration
Only 15 registrants will be allowed. “First come, first served.” The cost of the workshop is $375 per person. To hold your position you may send a $75 deposit. The rest would be due upon arrival for the Next Step. Your position is not “saved” until the deposit is received. If you need to cancel your reservation, you will be refunded the entire amount up until one month prior to the start date. After that, only ½ of your registration will be refunded.

Please make your check payable to: Mission Hill Baptist Church. In the memo line list “training workshop.” Please mail to: Randy Christensen, 5265 Lawler Beach Road, Willmar, MN 56201

More Information Needed?

For program details contact Randy Christensen at 320.235.2019 or procomedy@earthlink.net
  
For housing and food information contact your local Missouri host (Michelle Waddell) at: michellewaddell@charter.net


Wednesday, April 02, 2014

 

Next Step Alumni Honored At World Clown Association Convention

Recently at the World Clown Association convention in Chicago I was together with eleven former Next Step participants. It was a great time.

First of all, former student, Desi Payne entered competitions and WON the the single skit competition with a routine she first worked on at the Next Step Workshop in November 2012 in the Minneapolis area. Thirty-eight skits were presented by clowns from almost a dozen countries and she came in first place. Desi ended up winning the title "All-Around Clown" for her success at the competitions. Congratulations Desi! She also led a clown worship service at the convention with over 80 attendees with former Next Step attendee, Angel Contreras, and many hearts and lives were touched by God that morning.  (See photo of Angel and Dezi) More info on her at www.timewithdizzy.com

Also, during the convention Garron and Keenan Chalmers (who attended our January 2013 workshop with their parents) were featured in this brief news report. To view it, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhVVAki_vG4

Classes were taught at the WCA Convention by Angel, Dezi, Ben Christensen, me, Bruce "Charlie" Johnson and Janet Tucker -- all folks previously involved in the Next Step Workshop.

I'm looking forward to the Next Step Workshop in September in northeast Missouri.  You will receive specific coaching to help you with your presentations too. See you there?

For more information, please email me at procomedy@earthlink.net and I will email you a packet of information.


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