Tears Of A Clown

[-James-]

Is that ICP, 17th? I was speaking with someone the other day about the dark carnival, lol.

[wil]

Originally Posted by 17th Angel

That's a photo of you? lol... nice... I used to kinda HALF dress up like a clown years back... more like this though. http://www.pub.umich.edu/daily/1999/...photos/icp.gif Playing on the darker sides of a clown...

Yeah, that was about my forth incarnation as a clown...started out making just a mess of my face..not knowing what I was doing..graduated to a white face with red long underwear and shorts as a costume...then my mom made a jump suit and my sister gave me another wig...then when I went Auguste, Whacci was born...bald head...lots of black hair...the convention says rounded features...no points...my eyes and mouth both came to points..my nose was a witches nose which I put red on....

Adults thought I was hideous...kids loved me...never once did I have one cry or runaway in that outfit...they'd spot me and come runnin up for a hug... Whacci also did a couple of innaugural parades and a lot of other parades in DC...and a few stints on the White House Lawn for Easter egg rolls...Yeah, I performed for the Bush's and the Lawn's and the Tree's....

I developped a parade secret...they always want you to be at your station like two hours before the parade...and you wait, and you wait...so what I'd do is park at the end of the parade. And then I'd either Juggle or ride my unicycle backwards up the parade route.... thousands of people waiting for a parade with nothing to do... they were mine. When I got to the beginning I'd find my group...and then turn around and hit the empty street again...up the route and back down again....doing a different thing each time...so by the time I was officially in my spot with my group the entire parade route had seen me three times...and doing various things...so as we walked up again, all along the way we'd hear "Hey Whacci do this, or do that" And the other clowns or participants (sometimes I'd be hired by some company to 'liven' up their float or walk with them) would really think I was one well known clown!!

Of course one year I got to the end of a long parade (for the fourth time) and I was tired. I was riding a skate bike (12" wheel in the back, skateboard trucks in the front..12" wheel base) and pushing an unconnected wheel and handle bars out front. One trip I carried the wheel the whole way and played air guitar with it. One trip I popped wheelies the whole time. And one trip I wheeled it around back and front of me like I was loosing control... So it is Clinton's first Cherry Blossom Parade...I'm all the way at the end..in front of the Grand Stands and Bill and Hillary and someone yells "Hey Whacci pop a wheelie" So I do, I lift the wheel way up in the air and turn and smile all the while holding it up for a long way leaning back precariously to make sure it is real obvious it is disconnected. My skateboard truck hits a rock and it throws me over backwards as it shoots out in front of me. As I fall I toss the wheel and handlebars over my head behind me. I try to use my best marshall arts fall and have my upper arms hit simultaneously with my back and head...instead I timed it wrong (falling from an extra 5" high) and my elbows hit first, which sling shotted my head into the pavement...

I lay there...literally seeing stars wind knocked out of me... feeling like I wa about to be sick... the show must go on. I lifted one leg...they laughed...I dropped it. I lifted the opposite arm and dropped it...more laughs. I lifted both opposite legs and arms...they roared. I almost had my breath back, and could think straight...I lifted all my arms and legs held them for a second and let them fall...the crowd went nuts. I dizzily got up, and barely able to walk, I staggered around like a drunk sailor (no offence Q) picked up my toys...got on my bike and road away waving....I had to wave, the blood was rolling down my arm, and also under my skull cap and down my back. The crowd never knew how hurt I was...my clown buddies had no idea until we got to the end of the route two blocks later...

[cavalier]

Originally Posted by 17th Angel

That's a photo of you? lol... nice... I used to kinda HALF dress up like a clown years back... more like this though. http://www.pub.umich.edu/daily/1999/...photos/icp.gif Playing on the darker sides of a clown...

You see I like talking to you on here, but in real life I think you'd scare the **** out of me.

[cavalier]

Will, my hat goes off to you. Like most people I guess, I thought clowning was a pretty simple, easy thing. Reminds me of something Billy Connelly said about being a stand-up, that everyone thinks it's easy because they all be funny down the pub, but that being a stand-up comic was about being funny all the time, including when you're sick, feeling tired or sad. Or when you're a clown, even being funny with blood pouring down your back.

[InLove]

Hi All--

When I first read Ciel's post, I googled Palfi. I read that he had once been a rodeo clown. Now, I am not always happy about everything that happens at these events, but I find rodeo clowns fascinating. Where I live, the rodeo is a large part of the community's heritage, so I have had the opportunity to observe these folks in action up close. When I read cavalier's most recent post in response to wil's story, I couldn't help but think of the rodeo clowns and what they endure. And I couldn't help wondering what Palfi might have to say regarding his rodeo days, and how he might tell the story.

I love clowns, except for those ones like the one in Derry. I used to hang out with a guy whose dad was a professional clown, and it was fascinating to watch him get ready for a gig. He used to let us play with his makeup kit.

If anyone would like to read more about rodeo clowns, I found an interesting site while I was surfing around regarding Palfi. I hope nothing there is offensive to anyone--I never know these days. I haven't read through the whole site, btw, but just thought it was interesting as far as the subject of clowns goes. If I have committed any social transgressions by posting about rodeos, feel free to help me with my own reality check. This thread looks relatively peaceful, and I don't want to interrupt that!

David Copher:Artist & Rodeo Clown

I've also been wondering if there has ever been any female rodeo clowns. I didn't find any, but that would be interesting.

Anyway, like I said, I'll bet Palfi would have some thoughts on it all.

InPeace,
InLove

[InLove]

Too late to edit, but I'm not sure I posted the link I meant to post. That link looks like more of a retail site. So sorry--mods I understand if you need to remove the link. I do like the painting though--I thought there was more of them to view.

I know, I know--here I am apologizing again for something I'm not sure I did anyway. Oh well, most of the time I don't mind.

InPeace,
InLove

[wil]

Yes I googled Palfi too....

Looks like an interesting character, clowns often do hide behind their makeup and their antics...isn't uncommon. Their clown character is often opposite or very different than their out of clown character. Rodeo clowns are a breed unto themselves. Such extraordinary atheletes that they've now established a rodeo clown contest that is conducted for prize money. They are awarded points for staying between the horns, doing backflips on/over the bulls, enticing the bull to run straight at them and then leaping over as the bull tries to gore them...

Me....a mob of birthday kids was about my limit of danger. It was funny when making balloon animals I always refused to make swords, I'd make guns though...if you gave kids a room full of swords a fight ensued and it wasn't long before it became kill the clown. Now if you gave them balloon guns they hid behind couches and chairs and had a balloon shootout... Truth be told I avoided the violent thoughts all together, unless a parent insisted...and they often did...but after making the guns..and collecting my check...I'd leave all the kids with a sword as I walked out the door. Thought maybe that would change parent's minds about the whole thing...

Originally Posted by flowperson

Mea Culpa on my clown comment... wil, you're one in a million.

Had to look up the latin...no worries...tons of people have issues with clowns...

[InLove]

I remember when I first looked up what "mea culpa" meant. I was tickled when I found out that it was Latin for "my bad". LOL.

Yeah, I know what you mean about the rodeo clowns, wil--but I can't help romanticizing about the old days of that particular lifestyle. I think many of them sort of fell into (pun-hehe) out of necessity. Some of them actually were pretty good riders and stuff. There's an old country song about Bandy the Rodeo Clown. Can't remember it all at the moment, but it is rather touching.

Anyway, wil--you're a trip, you know it? Like I said, I love clowns, now that I don't have to see those disturbing ones on my ex-teen's T-shirts anymore (nods to Angel ).

InPeace,
InLove

[17th Angel]

Originally Posted by cavalier

You see I like talking to you on here, but in real life I think you'd scare the **** out of me.

That is one reason I have no friends... lol, I am used to that now... lol


Wil: There is a great sense of security and strength behind the paint isn't there?

[wil]

Originally Posted by 17th Angel

Wil: There is a great sense of security and strength behind the paint isn't there?

Reality for me is that all the trouble stuff I did, I did behind this face. When in clown I had respect for 'clown code'...so as not to disrupt the fantasy for some child. However it is a useful tool.. at stadiums I sat in front row aisle seats with the season ticket holder standing there with his handsful of beer, soda and hot dogs and me saying it is my seat and HIS family agreeing with me...then when he was about to blow...I'd just move to another empty seat... Works the same at parades...and if you wanta make an illegal uturn or cross 3 lanes at a redlight....as long as you do it with your head out the window waving a plunger...nobody minds... clown perks...

Originally Posted by InLove

Yeah, I know what you mean about the rodeo clowns, wil--but I can't help romanticizing about the old days of that particular lifestyle. I think many of them sort of fell into (pun-hehe) out of necessity. Some of them actually were pretty good riders and stuff.

Oh yes, most come from a rider background...only fairly recently have they come in from the clowning direction... Now when you talk reminiscing and rodeo....I really reminisce of the old cowboys...living in Nevada, driving the west, Montana, Utah, Idaho...you'd pick up cowboys hitch hiking...like migrant workers...goin from ranch to ranch for work. They'd hear through the grapevine who was getting a string of horses to break, or needed brandin or herdin help. They all dreamed of gettting the good job that they could stay at forever and all told stories of the best ranches and the worst. The oldest I picked up was in his 80's...headed to break another string... I really felt for him...this was in the 80's as well, he started doing it in his teens and it was all he knew...no family... He had time to get to the next place...we dawdled over lunch and then at the bar before I took him an hour beyond where I was goin...got to talk to him for hours...really wonderful memories he had...despite breaking most of his bones at one time or another...He actually looked forward to broken bones sometimes (some may have even been intentional) because while he had no insurance...it was part of the deal..and the house would put him up...and 'some pretty little thing' would take care of him...till he was well enough to finish his job or get back on the road...

[17th Angel]

Originally Posted by -James-

Is that ICP, 17th? I was speaking with someone the other day about the dark carnival, lol.

Why yes, yes it is.... Good for you

Originally Posted by wil

Reality for me is that all the trouble stuff I did, I did behind this face. When in clown I had respect for 'clown code'...so as not to disrupt the fantasy for some child. However it is a useful tool.. at stadiums I sat in front row aisle seats with the season ticket holder standing there with his handsful of beer, soda and hot dogs and me saying it is my seat and HIS family agreeing with me...then when he was about to blow...I'd just move to another empty seat... Works the same at parades...and if you wanta make an illegal uturn or cross 3 lanes at a redlight....as long as you do it with your head out the window waving a plunger...nobody minds... clown perks...

Yeah that is pretty much what I ment..