Practical Advice In Character Development

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#1. Find three good props that are not only funny, but also that you may use as discussion starters. For example: You may use the standard Bee Collection. Tell your audience that you’ve been a beekeeper for years. You may share your experiences with various bees and what their names and hobbies were. You may try to convince your observers to purchase the bee collection from you. You are trying to sell them for a specific reason. What would that humorous reason be for your character?#2. Practice your make-up, and not only when you are scurrying to get ready for a performance. Remember, you only have that one chance to make a first impression on those you are ministering to. Don’t be afraid to modify your current face. Find what works best.

#3. Don’t expect your family to laugh. They know you too well. They continually hear your style of humor so they are a bit anesthetized to it. You may have a very funny idea: Your family is probably not the place to try it out and evaluate whether or not it’s a workable idea for a normal audience. Your family is not a normal audience.

#4. Find a skit that fits your character and perform it over and over and over again. (Not for the same audience though….duh.) As you become comfortable with the mechanics of the skit, your own character will begin to react in different ways. You’ll find funny lines that fit and your emotional response as the clown will become more intense. You’ll start to see various options in response, and you’ll find what works best for you. As you polish the skit, the skit will help you to learn and polish your character.

#5. Observe other performers whenever and wherever you can. Watch for how they handle their audience, use music, make transitions between program segments, etc.

#6. Intentionally schedule times to force yourself to clown. Don’t just read about it and talk about it. Do it! Nothing replaces experience in the development process.

#7. Pray.