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.
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
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.
