Bonzo Crunch: Fool at Large
Bonzo Crunch poses in front of his backdrops
Bonzo Crunch provides a musical moment at his "Get Big Ideas: Read A Book" library program
Bonzo Crunch spins pizzas at Austin's Symphony Square
Overview
Bonzo Crunch is a former Ringling Brothers Circus clown now residing in Austin, TX. Services provided include clowning, juggling, magic, rope spinning, roving entertainment, music (ukulele and harmonica) and more. Appropriate venues include school shows, library programs, pre-school and day care, after care, summer camps, corporate events, birthday parties, family reunions and picnics, as well as all sorts of private functions. Recently voted "favorite kids entertainer" by the readers of Austin Family Magazine, Bonzo Crunch has been a favorite entertainer in Central Texas for over a decade.
Reviews
51 reviews
Ruiz
September 12, 20265/5 stars! Bonzo Crunch
Bonzo Crunch was an absolute hit for my granddaughter’s 6th birthday party! He kept all the kids completely entertained, laughing, and engaged from start to finish. He has incredible energy and truly knows how to connect with the kids. We couldn't have asked for a better entertainer—highly recommended!
Hired as: Children’s Party Magician, Clown
Vinitha S.
June 23, 2026The Highlight of Our Party! Hilarious, Magical, and Engaging
We hired Bonzo Crunch for my kid's birthday party, and it was a massive hit! From the moment he walked into our home, he was completely in character and kept everyone—kids and adults—thoroughly entertained. He was genuinely funny and kept the whole room laughing. A huge highlight was that he had the birthday girl act as his special assistant, which made her feel so incredibly special! My child also absolutely loved the surprise birthday card he sent by mail before the event—such a thoughtful touch.
We’ve already shared his contact info with other parents who are looking forward to booking him for their own future events. Highly recommend!
Hired as: Children’s Party Magician, Clown
Kanti
December 18, 2024Great Event
Kids loved BONZO Crunch performance . I would highly recommend him .
Hired as: Children’s Party Magician, Clown
Loren M.
September 29, 2024Loved by ALL the kiddos!
Bonzo Crunch was amazing! He stayed in character throughout the entire visit and was fantastic with the kiddos. We’ll definitely be reaching out again next year for our Fall Fundraiser.
Thank you, Bonzo Crunch!
Hired as: Children’s Party Magician, Clown
Booking information
Price range: Contact for pricing
Languages: English
Gig length: 30 - 600 minutes
Insurance: $3,000,000 - Performers of the U.S.
About
Bonzo Crunch: Fool at Large, also known as Rik Gern, has been performing as a clown since 1978. Inspired by the classic slapstick comedians of the ‘20’s and ‘30’s, Rik began his training at the Dell ‘Arte School of Mime and Comedy, and later graduated from the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Clown College.
As Bonzo Crunch, Rik has performed from the streets of Sydney, Australia, to cities all across the United States and Canada; in venues ranging from A Taste of Chicago to the Texas Governor’s mansion. Rik has performed on his own, and as a clown in the Ringling Brothers circus, and later as their advance clown, or “Goodwill Ambassador”.
His performances are family friendly and suitable for all ages. He offers a comic juggling and magic show suitable for anything from assembly programs and banquets to picnics and birthday parties, as well as roving entertainment, meet and greet, lasso, ukulele, balloon sculpture, face painting and more.
Performances range from 30 minutes to an hour or longer, and can accommodate a stage setting as well as more informal "roving" situations. In addition to a vaudeville style comic juggling and magic show, educational programs such as a reading show, a fitness program and/or workshops are available.
Having performed in venues ranging from the intimacy of hospital visits, senior centers and birthday parties in the living room to large venues such as basketball games and circus arenas, and everything in between, including school assemblies and pep rallies, Bonzo Crunch is comfortable with large crowds as well as small groups. His makeup was designed to be expressive from a distance, but non-threatening in a close-up context. He possesses patience and gentleness that make him suitable for young children, as well as a level of skill and wit that make him appropriate for older children and adults.
Rik currently lives in Austin, TX where he has been voted “Favorite Kid’s Entertainer 2012” by the readers of Austin Family magazine. Rik/Bonzo continues an active schedule of clowning, and uses his spare time to improve his craft.
Services offered
Past booked events
October 2026
04
Sunday
Children’s Birthday Party
10:30am - 11:00am
•
Austin, TX
September 2026
19
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
7:00pm - 7:45pm
•
Austin, TX
July 2026
25
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
6:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Leander, TX
June 2026
20
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
6:00pm - 6:30pm
•
Leander, TX
May 2026
23
Saturday
Festival
11:30am - 12:15pm
•
Austin, TX
April 2026
30
Thursday
Birthday Party
7:00pm - 7:15pm
•
Austin, TX
04
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
2:00pm - 3:00pm
•
Manor, TX
January 2026
07
Wednesday
Children’s Birthday Party
6:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Leander, TX
August 2025
14
Thursday
Children’s Birthday Party
6:30pm - 7:30pm
•
Leander, TX
08
Friday
Corporate Event
6:00pm - 6:30pm
•
Austin, TX
May 2025
17
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
10:30am - 11:15am
•
Georgetown, TX
08
Thursday
Corporate Event
9:30am - 11:00am
•
San Antonio, TX
April 2025
19
Saturday
Birthday Party
6:00pm - 6:30pm
•
Austin, TX
March 2025
15
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
6:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Leander, TX
February 2025
22
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
2:30pm - 3:15pm
•
Wimberley, TX
08
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
2:00pm - 3:00pm
•
Austin, TX
January 2025
18
Saturday
Birthday Party
8:00pm - 9:00pm
•
San Antonio, TX
December 2024
15
Sunday
Children’s Birthday Party
12:00pm - 12:45pm
•
Leander, TX
September 2024
24
Tuesday
Fundraiser
10:30am - 11:15am
•
Austin, TX
August 2024
24
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
5:30pm - 6:15pm
•
Spicewood, TX
17
Saturday
House Party
4:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Cedar Park, TX
09
Friday
Corporate Event
10:00am - 11:00am
•
Austin, TX
July 2024
14
Sunday
Children’s Birthday Party
7:00pm - 7:30pm
•
Leander, TX
June 2024
27
Thursday
School Assembly
11:00am - 2:00pm
•
Spicewood, TX
May 2024
09
Thursday
Corporate Event
9:30am - 11:00am
•
San Antonio, TX
April 2024
14
Sunday
Children’s Birthday Party
11:00am - 11:45am
•
Round Rock, TX
February 2024
10
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
2:30pm - 3:30pm
•
Austin, TX
03
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
4:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Copperas Cove, TX
January 2024
06
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
3:30pm - 4:30pm
•
San Antonio, TX
December 2023
07
Thursday
Christmas Party
9:30am - 10:30am
•
San Antonio, TX
November 2023
03
Friday
School Assembly
3:00pm - 3:15pm
•
Bandera, TX
August 2023
27
Sunday
Children’s Birthday Party
6:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Leander, TX
July 2023
13
Thursday
School Assembly
10:00am - 10:30am
•
Moulton, TX
08
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
6:30pm - 7:30pm
•
Buda, TX
June 2023
23
Friday
Camp Event
12:00pm - 1:00pm
•
Leander, TX
02
Friday
Festival
4:30pm - 6:00pm
•
Helotes, TX
May 2023
13
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
11:30am - 12:30pm
•
Austin, TX
11
Thursday
Corporate Event
9:30am - 11:00am
•
San Antonio, TX
06
Saturday
Birthday Party
7:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Georgetown, TX
April 2023
29
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
4:30pm - 5:00pm
•
Pflugerville, TX
March 2023
25
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
3:00pm - 3:30pm
•
Seguin, TX
03
Friday
Children’s Birthday Party
6:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Austin, TX
February 2023
10
Friday
Birthday Party
6:00pm - 6:30pm
•
New Braunfels, TX
04
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
3:00pm - 3:30pm
•
Georgetown, TX
December 2022
03
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
3:30pm - 4:15pm
•
Austin, TX
October 2022
14
Friday
Fundraiser
8:00pm - 8:30pm
•
Adkins, TX
08
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
1:00pm - 2:30pm
•
Austin, TX
01
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
6:00pm - 6:45pm
•
San Antonio, TX
August 2022
20
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
4:00pm - 5:30pm
•
Temple, TX
July 2022
12
Tuesday
Campus Event
3:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Austin, TX
June 2022
26
Sunday
Children’s Birthday Party
12:00pm - 12:30pm
•
Spicewood, TX
25
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
2:00pm - 2:30pm
•
New Braunfels, TX
May 2022
07
Saturday
Personal Occasion
1:30pm - 2:15pm
•
Cedar Park, TX
April 2022
10
Sunday
Children’s Birthday Party
2:00pm - 3:00pm
•
Austin, TX
09
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
4:30pm - 5:00pm
•
Pflugerville, TX
March 2022
12
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
11:00am - 12:00pm
•
Austin, TX
05
Saturday
Bachelor Party
8:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Wimberley, TX
February 2022
12
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
2:00pm - 2:45pm
•
McQueeney, TX
January 2022
08
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
2:00pm - 2:30pm
•
Round Rock, TX
December 2021
04
Saturday
Birthday Party
2:30pm - 3:15pm
•
Austin, TX
September 2021
25
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
2:00pm - 3:00pm
•
San Antonio, TX
11
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
4:30pm - 5:30pm
•
Pflugerville, TX
August 2021
07
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
3:30pm - 4:15pm
•
Kyle, TX
June 2021
05
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
12:00pm - 1:00pm
•
Cedar Park, TX
03
Thursday
Personal Occasion
11:00am - 12:00pm
•
Sealy, TX
May 2021
15
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
6:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Killeen, TX
April 2021
08
Thursday
Children’s Birthday Party
2:00pm - 3:00pm
•
Copperas Cove, TX
March 2021
04
Thursday
Birthday Party
6:00pm - 6:15pm
•
Buda, TX
February 2021
13
Saturday
Festival
9:30am - 10:30am
•
Pflugerville, TX
January 2021
16
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
3:00pm - 3:30pm
•
Round Rock, TX
November 2020
24
Tuesday
Birthday Party
6:30pm - 6:45pm
•
Fredericksburg, TX
October 2020
24
Saturday
Camp Event
12:30pm - 1:15pm
•
Canyon Lake, TX
10
Saturday
Camp Event
12:30pm - 1:15pm
•
Canyon Lake, TX
September 2020
26
Saturday
Teen Birthday Party
6:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Killeen, TX
17
Thursday
Birthday Party
1:00pm - 1:30pm
•
Point Comfort, TX
05
Saturday
Teen Birthday Party
3:30pm - 4:00pm
•
Georgetown, TX
June 2020
05
Friday
Camp Event
10:00am - 11:00am
•
Austin, TX
May 2020
17
Sunday
Children's Birthday Party
2:00pm - 2:15pm
•
Austin, TX
April 2020
04
Saturday
Children's Birthday Party
6:00pm - 6:15pm
•
Round Rock, TX
February 2020
16
Sunday
Children's Birthday Party
1:00pm - 1:30pm
•
Austin, TX
06
Thursday
Nonprofit Event
6:30pm - 7:00pm
•
Austin, TX
November 2019
17
Sunday
Children's Birthday Party
4:00pm - 4:45pm
•
Austin, TX
August 2019
17
Saturday
Children's Birthday Party
8:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Austin, TX
17
Saturday
Children's Birthday Party
2:30pm - 3:30pm
•
Leander, TX
May 2019
26
Sunday
Children's Birthday Party
2:00pm - 2:30pm
•
Austin, TX
18
Saturday
Children's Birthday Party
3:00pm - 3:30pm
•
Magnolia, TX
April 2019
27
Saturday
Children's Birthday Party
12:00pm - 1:30pm
•
Leander, TX
26
Friday
Nonprofit Event
3:30pm - 5:00pm
•
San Antonio, TX
07
Sunday
Fundraiser
1:00pm - 3:00pm
•
San Antonio, TX
February 2019
23
Saturday
Children's Birthday Party
4:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Clifton, TX
09
Saturday
School Assembly
5:00pm - 6:00pm
•
San Antonio, TX
02
Saturday
Children's Birthday Party
12:30pm - 1:15pm
•
Round Rock, TX
December 2018
09
Sunday
Children's Birthday Party
1:00pm - 1:30pm
•
Cedar Park, TX
October 2018
13
Saturday
Children's Birthday Party
2:30pm - 5:30pm
•
Salado, TX
August 2018
04
Saturday
Children's Birthday Party
3:30pm - 4:30pm
•
Kyle, TX
June 2018
02
Saturday
Children's Birthday Party
12:00pm - 12:30pm
•
Austin, TX
January 2018
14
Sunday
Children's Birthday Party
3:00pm - 4:00pm
•
Pflugerville, TX
December 2017
02
Saturday
Holiday Party (Christmas)
2:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Austin, TX
June 2017
27
Tuesday
Corporate Event
5:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Pflugerville, TX
October 2016
04
Tuesday
Festival
5:00pm - 6:30pm
•
Temple, TX
September 2016
25
Sunday
Birthday (Child)
1:00pm - 1:30pm
•
Austin, TX
10
Saturday
Birthday (Child)
5:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Austin, TX
July 2016
16
Saturday
Birthday (Child)
8:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Austin, TX
June 2016
27
Monday
Fundraiser
6:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Austin, TX
May 2016
21
Saturday
Birthday (Child)
1:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Austin, TX
19
Thursday
Birthday (Child)
2:00pm - 3:30pm
•
Temple, TX
14
Saturday
Birthday (Child)
2:00pm - 4:00pm
•
Copperas Cove, TX
April 2016
30
Saturday
Birthday (Child)
2:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Cedar Park, TX
March 2016
27
Sunday
Birthday (Child)
6:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Austin, TX
January 2016
24
Sunday
Birthday (Child)
4:30pm - 8:00pm
•
Round Rock, TX
November 2015
07
Saturday
Birthday (Child)
3:00pm - 4:30pm
•
Austin, TX
August 2015
20
Thursday
School Assembly
10:00am - 10:45am
•
Georgetown, TX
May 2015
10
Sunday
Birthday (Child)
4:00pm - 8:30pm
•
Round Rock, TX
Setup requirements
Mostly self contained, but may need small table and chair for reading program or face painting.