Would Carson & Barnes, the New Cole Bros. and other circus producers be more inclined to hire quality, professional clowns if we offered to sell tickets that allowed the kids to ride around the ring on our backs during come-in, intermission and blow-off?
Is that what it would take to make it worthwhile for them?
Otherwise 2009 is going to be yet another season of greasy jeri-curled mullets, lipstick smeared noses, costumes from TJ Maxx and, worst of all, whistles.
Boy do I hate the whistles.
Is that what it would take to make it worthwhile for them?
Otherwise 2009 is going to be yet another season of greasy jeri-curled mullets, lipstick smeared noses, costumes from TJ Maxx and, worst of all, whistles.
Boy do I hate the whistles.
AMEN!
ReplyDeleteI have any number of photos for any number of CLOWNS. I ask seriously, is there any kind of a clown directory that would have addresses (preferably,because most of them are prints) and/or emails ?
ReplyDeleteThanks for any help that's out there.
Paul G.
At least RRBB clowns are looking better.
ReplyDeleteplease no more whistles and ringmasters with eyepatches please
ReplyDeleteDamn, somebody is perpetually bitter. One wonders what causes such a high horse complex.
ReplyDeleteYou don't HAVE to hire a Ringling clown. There are plenty of talented professionals out there.
ReplyDeleteAll I ask is that producers stop hiring truck drivers to handle the comedy.
Bitter? Maybe it's the fact that I expect that the clowns will actually clown on the shows that I visit.
The general public isn't fooled either.
Johnny Pugh, for example, has seen audiences stay home in DROVES over the last 10-15 years as the quality of the show has dropped through the floor. Last year was the closest he's come to putting on a circus in YEARS!
All except for the clowning, of course.
I have the same feeling about clowns on mud show for year. I was so glad that LE barnes start with the old type of clown gags. When walt get sick we lost it. Me and dad try a number of time to get it back, we came so close. But the higher up would not do it.
ReplyDeleteFrom as early as I can remember I've been in love with the joy and sheer pleasure of laughter, hearing it - seeing it - and, whenever opportunity presented itself, sharing it. Laughter and crying, I believe, are two sides of the same coin. Both cleanse and heal the heart, but laughter hurts lots less.
ReplyDeleteWhen opportunity presented itself to express this joy and pleasure, I did so in the form of theatre and circus, among other endeavours.
In the circus, I wasn't the best or the worst, but I loved it. I learned and absorbed a lot. I grew in this profession to the extent I remained in the business.
Why I got out of the business is my affair. But, I never got that bug out of my blood. The love of clowning, performing still burns in my heart.
When you love your art, craft - whatever it may be, when your heart is in it, when you believe in it so deeply that it burns in you - it is sheer passion! If you think, live and breathe this passion, it is a form of love that you express through your art.
And when you see your art, your labor of love being poorly treated, you naturally take offence just as you might when a beloved friend or family member is abused.
It's not an overstatement.
Ask any artist who has pride in their art if this isn't so.
Don’t you bristle when you see someone asserting that they are something grand when you can clearly see that they don’t live up to what they fancy themselves to be?
Don’t you cringe at TV shows like America’s Got Talent when some acts sound just awful and are appropriately critiqued on their performance and they take a sour attitude as if the judges just don’t recognize their “greatness”? (There are some great performance to be seen, and then again, there are some EPA Impact Statement Required stinkers on there, too.)
Your average audience is not as dumb as some “artistes” and some producers might presume. Given the opportunity, more often than not, an audience can be discerning enough to sort out the trash.
(Of course, sometimes there’s just no accounting for taste.)
Now to a lower step on my soapbox -
I don’t pretend to speak for Pat on this discussion, but I think that the “anonymous” writer who said, “Damn, somebody is perpetually bitter. One wonders what causes such a high horse complex.” missed or misread him in this matter.” There is a lot more that goes on in all our lives than might occur to you, so read between the lines. Try to see a bigger picture. (That’s BEYOND the end of your nose.)
“Anonymous”, if this means nothing to you, then, perhaps you are clueless.
Now, I’ve never met Pat in person, but over time, I’ve observed that he has serious passion about his art, his craft, his profession. When he rankles at those who don’t put their heart in the art, I can’t fault him for it.
His love for his art is serious; I think the man could bleed ‘clown-white (don’t forget to powder).
Perhaps his thinking might be a little like mine, as I cannot stand the ‘efforts’ of HACKS who fancy themselves as artists.
I cannot abide the “Pshaw! Anyone could do that!” school of thought where it pertains to any art or profession.
Just because one thinks they’re talented in a given area does NOT mean that they ARE.
I would say, just be honest and find your TRUE talent and hone your art THERE.