Instructors

In 1970, a children's theater troupe asked Don to play the role of a clown, and he fell in love with the art of clowning. By 1972, he had created his character, Homer, a happy tramp clown.

Quotes from Don Burda:

"The appeal of the clown is that he's in a little world of his own and everything happens to him. And they go on. No matter what happens to the clown, he always goes on."

"I realized what this clown character had done -- It had such an impact on people. I had to pursue it. I still did theater for a while, then switched to my own clowning business. I changed the whole direction of my career. It's still theater but it's a new character that I created."

Mike started his entertainment life street performing balloon busking in San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf and doing magic shows every week at Straw Hat Pizza as a 15 year old magician. After high school, he took his part time hobby and became Funnybone the clown.

His training in balloon animals came when Steve Dawson, owner of Magic Touch magic shop, suggested he should take a balloon animal class from Don Burda aka Homer the Clown. Mike was still only a teenager but learned everything Don had to teach about balloon animals.

Over the years Mike has created his own original balloon designs and has had his balloons featured in Robin William's movie "Patch Adams". In 2002, Mike won 1st place at Twist and Shout international balloon convention for his Mickey and Minnie in a car. CBS Evening Magazine did an 8 minute segment on Mike's amazing skills in balloon twisting and in 2005, Mike released his first DVD called "Funnybone's Advanced Balloon Techniques for Everyone".

His new balloon kit on basic balloon twisting is scheduled to be released in the winter of 2006 which is being produced by Jeff Hobson, Star magician of Las Vegas "V" show at the Aladdin. To find out more about Mike check out his website at:

The “Queen of Theme” hails from the windy city of Chicago, IL. Sue has presented over hundreds of classes across the country including Canada, Mexico and the U.K. with creative and imaginative presentations that will blow you away!

Over the past fifteen years she has won many awards in various clown competitions in addition to being presented the “Order of the Pie” and “Way to Glow” awards for her outstanding teaching abilities. Her enlightening presentations will spark smiles and enthusiasm that will allow you to open new doors of creativity with your entertainment and compassion for clowning.

She is a women who wears many hats on and off the entertainment field. Currently, she is working on several books that continue the commitment in many new directions of special areas of this creative art.

Jeanine was born and raised in Santa Clara County. She started twisting balloons in 1997 when she saw "Balloon Animals, 101," offered as a community class. She thought it sounded ridiculous, so she just had to take it. She soon found herself enrolled in "Advanced Balloon Animals," with a serious addiction to balloon art. In 1999, Jeanine started entertaining with balloons, and face painting, at parties, restaurants, and special events. She attended her first balloon convention in January of 2004, and by September 2004, found herself twisting balloons full time. In 2006, Jeanine made her debut as an instructor at Diamond Jam, an international balloon convention, where she packed the class to standing room only. She also taught at the 2006 Golden Gate Clown Happening. Jeanine has completed the first few volumes of her Balloon Instruction books, and has more in the planning stages. Jeanine specializes in small, detailed sculptures and will attempt to make just about any animal imaginable.