The Clown Chronicles: August 2025
The Meeting was called to order at 6:36pm by President Cinde Sanders. We had 22 clowns in attendance. Guest Wanda Jennings joined us again. It is great to see her!
As usual we began with a stand and share moment from some members who want to share what they have accomplished this past month. Cinde and Dal shared stories from their trips to the World Championship of Magic in Italy and Magic Live in Las Vegas. Sterling shared highlights from Mooseburger Camp. Margaret shared that the dummy she purchased at the TCA auction last year is being remade as an elf for her Mrs. Claus character. Bonita told about her wonderful experience with juggling lessons from Julio and Kelli Ramazini. Willie is excited about his mission trip to Guatemala. Wee-bo showed some creative promotional pieces such as personalized coins made by Daniel Brookshire and 3D printed photos by Rita Rice.
Old Business
We approved the minutes from last month and the treasurers report. Cinde reminded everyone of the TCA Convention that will be held in Fort Worth Sept. 11-14th. Thank you to Susan and Ed for the program last month on walkarounds. And as usual a reminder to pay your dues if you have not yet. Sterling suggested a deeper dive into parade opportunities around town and 5 or 6 clowns said they would participate. Bernadette and Dal suggested we beef up our social media, make short videos and talk up the clown community.
New Business
We approved the artwork for the ad in the TCA program. Wee-bo told us about the River Legacy Fall Festival (formerly Dark in the Park) . It is October 11th from 10am-7pm. It is the only fundraiser for the alley, so participation is appreciated. We make money on the balloons that we give away to families. The paradeability opportunity at TCA is on Sept 12th at 6:30pm. We want to participate as an alley. We will go over skit ideas at the September 8th meeting. Officer elections will be coming up in November so start thinking which office you want to hold. Also, awards will be voted on in November. Gema asked that we bring back the calling Post. Cinde and William will work on that.
Meeting was adjourned at 7:16pm. We had a GLOW performance.
Willie “Deluxo” Tomas did a routine with a money gun and a Flea circus. The educational program was Dal Sanders who did a lecture on “A Different Approach to Magic”.
A Word from our Clown-in-Chief
When it comes to clowning, nothing showcases our art quite like a parade. It’s a rolling stage where laughter, color, and joy meet the public face-to-face. “Paradeability” is the magic word. It’s the ability to shine in motion, grab attention at a glance, and spread joy as you roll, walk, skip, or ride by.
What Is Paradeability?
Paradeability is how well your clown character and performance translates to a moving crowd. Unlike stage shows or birthday parties, you don’t have the luxury of time or a microphone. Your personality and visuals must speak instantly. A parade crowd sees you for only seconds, so your look, movement, and energy need to be clear, bold, and memorable.
Key Elements of Paradeability
Big Look, Big Energy - Bright costumes, oversized props, Big Expressions and gestures so even those at the back of the crowd can “read” your character.
Motion is Magic - Standing still is the enemy of paradeability. March, skip, juggle, blow bubbles, spin a hula hoop, hand out high fives, or dance to the band. Movement adds life and helps you connect with dozens of people as you go by.
Signature Props or Gags - The best parade clowns are remembered for one special bit. Develop something easy to repeat as you move along. A water-squirting flower, a pocket kazoo, a bubble blower, or a silly walk can all become your parade “calling card.” Simple is better: one gag done 100 times will have more impact than five you can’t repeat consistently.
Connection on the Fly - In parades, interaction is short and sweet. Make quick eye contact, wave with enthusiasm, and respond to shouts with playful gestures. A wink, a blown kiss, or a silly salute can leave a lasting impression in just a second.
Safety First - Remember, parades can be chaotic. Sometimes there are floats, vehicles, uneven streets, and excited kids. Practice your moves so you don’t trip, never dart in front of moving vehicles, and always keep props safe for kids to grab or touch.
Teamwork - Variety and Storytelling - If your clown alley is in a parade together, teamwork is the secret ingredient. Variety is great with one clown on a scooter, another juggling, one handing out balloons, and another playing kazoo. The mix keeps the audience’s eyes moving and adds lots of surprises. But teamwork can also shine when everyone works together to tell a story or perform the same gag in unison. A whole group of clowns marching like a silly band, chasing after a runaway balloon, or all pretending their shoelaces are stuck can be just as delightful. Whether you choose variety or unity, the key is planning ahead so your group looks coordinated, connected, and fun to watch.
Why Paradeability Matters
Parades are one of the most visible forms of clowning. Thousands of people may see you in a single event. For many children, that quick glimpse of a clown in a parade may be their very first exposure to live clowning. Make it count; be colorful, approachable, funny, and kind. Paradeability ensures your clown doesn’t just blend into the background but becomes a highlight of the day. Paradeability is about being BIG, BRIGHT, and BRIEF. Your clown should sparkle from head to toe, move with joy, and leave smiles trailing behind you like confetti.
— Cinde “Boopsie” Sanders
Thank you to Dal Sanders for his workshop on “A Different Approach to Magic”
At the August alley meeting, we were honored to host, Dal Sanders as he entertained and lectured and conducted a fun workshop on what he called “A Different Approach to Magic”. Along with sharing his talents and experiences, Dal provided us with a book of lecture notes, Magic Tricks to copy and perform, Various magic routines, Math Magic routines and ideas, Science magic routines and ideas, Impromptu magic routines and ideas and so much more. He gave us tips for performance, script writing, words of knowledge from years of experience and he shared stories. But most of all we had FUN!
River Legacy Fall Festival (formerly Dark in the Park)
Join DFW CLowns “R” Us on Saturday, October 11th, from 10AM-7PM for our only fundraiser of the year!
We will be twisting simple balloon animals for the kiddos (the more we twist, the more $$ we raise for alley education and expenses). If you are new to our alley or new to clowning, you are welcome to join us. If you don’t know how to twist balloons, that’s OK! We can teach you. We will have a simple list and help each other out. It is a great opportunity to hang out with a bunch of fun clowns and entertain a built-in audience. Want to stroll with magic, juggling, puppets, or clown bits? Bring it on!
If you can’t be there the whole time, please come for just an hour or two. Whatever time you can put in will be appreciated. The more balloons we make, the more money we make for DFW Clowns “R” Us.
RSVP to BeatyWilliam@ymail.com with your availability. We want to make sure all shifts are covered.
What to bring: water, a fan (if needed), and your balloon pump, if you have one. (Balloons provided, pumps to share.)
Parking is available at Lamar Baptist Church. The address is 1000 W. Lamar Blvd, Arlington, Texas 76012. A shuttle will be provided to our booth. For more info about the event, click here.
Invite your friends. Let’s all pitch in an hour or two and make this event a success. Come clown around with us. We will have laughs, balloons, and FUN all day long!
