Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2001 09:42:21 -0400 (EDT)
From: Larry Moss <moss@balloonhq.com>
To: Balloon Twister List <balloon@balloonhq.com>
Subject: Re: balloon bouquet commercial

On Fri, 20 Apr 2001, Lisa WIlliams wrote:

> Best thing about it is I don't have to pay for the air time. Worst thing is 
> I've never been on TV and I'm looking for any pointers and advice.

For me the worst part of being in front of a camera is that the camera
doesn't give any feedback like an audience member would.  There's no facial
expression.  But other than that, just treat it like a person.  As a
performer you already know how to work a crowd so you should be fine.

There are a couple of big differences between performing live in front of
people and on TV.  (These are the things that hit me most, but I'm sure
other people have other things that they're concerned about.)  You're now
going to be reduced to just a few inches tall in someone's living room.
That means that what seems like a huge gesture up close may not even be
noticed.  As a clown, you have to make huge gestures all the time.  But now
make sure that whatever stuff you do is big enough to be seen at the tiny
scale.  At the same time, make sure that it isn't so big that your hands
reach beyond the frame that the camera is shooting.  If there's a close-up
on your face, moving your hands wont' do anything other than maybe look
silly to the viewer that can't tell what's going on.  The director should
actually be able to tell you what to do as far as that goes if you don't
have a monitor to watch.

The other thing that you need to be prepared for, because if you're in clown
you won't be able to change at the last minute, is to wear clothes that
won't obscure anything in your hands.  If you're holding balloons, which
are bright and colorful, you want the balloons to be seen and not a really
loud and obnoxious vest that just looks cool in person.  It's real easy for
balloons to get lost in busy patterns.

But really, if you're used to performing in crowds (obviously you are as a
clown) you should have nothing to worry about in front of a camera.  And
this is coming from someone that for many years had a completely irrational
fear of cameras.

Larry Moss
BalloonHQ.com