Downtown Clown

From the second California Clown pulls up in the coolest clown car in California you can expect the kids to be laughing their little heads off. They will be in hysterics with all the pratfalls, slapstick and tomfoolery. They will be in awe with the magic tricks. Completely thrilled and excited as they fly in the air on the magic carpet. It will be the best party they ever had in their life!

I studied theater at Studio Arena Theater School in NY. I have always loved performing. I started out doing singing telegrams and different types of short skits. I got out of the entertainment business for a short while and opened a huge candy store. Unfortunately it didn't make much of a profit. One day a lady came into my candy store and asked if I knew where she could hire a clown for her son's birthday party. I said, "Sorry I don't know anyone." She then asked if I could do the performance. She commented on how good I was with all the kids that came into the candy store. I thought about it for a minute, and said, "Sure why not. I put together a half way decent clown costume and performed at the party. I turned out to be a big hit. Then someone else called me to see if I could perform at their kids party. So I did. Before long I was making more money performing as a clown than I was making at the candy store. A year later I sold all the inventory at the candy store and moved to LA. I planned to perform as a clown for a couple years while I got back into acting. My clown performances kept improving and before long I was making a nice living as a professional clown. I landed some pretty big gigs. I did a special for the dating game with two other clowns. My first clown car was in a Dove soap commercial and I got a part in a pilot, "Chanel Surfing" Unfortunately it didn't get picked up. I also got hired sveral times by the TV shows Ally McBeal and Seventh Heaven. I did a commercial for Nissan America's Circus theme summer picnic. I then landed four on going gigs at four Denny's Restaurants. And while I was doing all this I was performing at hundreds of children's parties.
I changed my costumes and makeup over the years. As well as my clown name. I have finally settled on California Clown. I also have done a lot of charity work for children over the years. Kid's Smith Kid's, these are kids born HIV positive. The City Mission for homeless children on skid row in downtown LA. As well as several others.
It is very important that I stay in shape, weight lifting is very important. When your a professional clown you have to be able to take a hit. Physical comedy is a big part in being a professional clown. From time to time I take an unplanned stumble. Just last week twice I fell off the stool I was standing on while doing some fancy juggling. The kids laughed their heads off, so I went with it. I hit the ground pretty hard but I was fine. I never broke out of character. That is very important when your a professional clown. No matter what the situation always stay in character. I have been hit, smacked, kicked, punched, hit in the face by several flying objects. But I always work it into the routine. A professional clowns job is to make kids laugh. No matter what the situation you have to stay in character at all times.
The biggest problem I have had in the entertainment business is making the transition from print advertising to internet advertising. It was so easy when only once a year you had to set up your yellow page advertising. So now I'm trying other method's, such as Gig Salad.
Well as long as kids keeping laughing at my madcap antics I'll keep at it. I still get the occasional call from a movie producer or agent who would like me in their film or TV show. Recently I had a cameo in the movie Chef and had a part on the TV show Storage Wars. And of course I'm always doing lots and lots of kids parties. I also do a lot of parties for senior's living in assisted living homes.
Over the years a lot of people have asked me, "How much longer are you going to work as a clown." Every time I think my last year might be the next year. But I keep at it. I will say this for my chosen profession. There is no wrong in it. I make a living making kids laugh. There is no wrong in that. It is all good.
I have been making kids laugh for over twenty years and I am very good at it. I hope you have me for your child's party, company picnic, grand opening, senior living home, or a spot in your movie or TV show as well.

The clown car is part of the act. So it is important that California Clown has a place to park where the kids will see his arrival.

If your party is at a public park he will drive right up to your party. Some parks are ok with that and some make him move the car. But he will always try to drive right up to the event.

The magic carpet will need the help of four or five adults or a couple adults and a few teenagers. It can be used inside or outside. But outside is much much better. If inside a minimum of ten feet distance from floor to ceiling is required.

Not much space is required for the performance. Just enough that the kids can sit or stand to watch the show. There is a lot of interaction with the kids, so they should be sitting or standing fairly close to the performance.

For yard games such as sack races, tug o war, parachute, three legged race, relay races, etc. The more room the better. Parks and large yards are best.