Page 24 - WCA-2024-02

To Eat

Not to Eat
Robin Bryan - Past President

A lot of people have opinions on whether it's OK to eat so I cannot (well I don't anyway). Can a child drink
as a clown. My first mentor, Jack "Freckles" Anderson alcohol? No, so therefore I cannot as a clown. We are
was a super old-school Whiteface. He is the only clown offered to embibe often . Everyone has a family story
to have the honor of being past president of ALL of of an uncle, how “so” and “so” got drunk and acted
the major clown organizations including SECA, WCA, like the other word for a donkey. We don’t, as clowns,
COAI and the Shriners. He was also a police officer want to ever be that memory.
and in his heyday could be
seen zipping to clown gigs in I tend to not eat at the
his squad car. I am sure this majority of our events, mostly
is not allowed anymore. He because I'm picky. Our deal
is the first professional who is, if I get a tip I can go out
advised me that I should afterwards. I have had both
not “eat” in clown, it ruins good and bad experiences.
the illusion. I’ve been told I recently called out to the
it's unprofessional to ask people behind the counter
for food at events. I've had of a restaurant because they
contracts for posh events were trash talking clowns.
where it states that I cannot
eat any of the clients’ food. “Hey, we are human, I am
I've had events where I'm sitting here and I can hear
never offered food and you! Can you be mean about
events where clients strongly us not within earshot?” I’ve
INSIST I take food. So what had every employee want to
do I do? take photos with me. If I am
not totally exhausted… I have
I am often getting ready at even twisted balloons for the
noon and driving 90 minutes staff. If I go out in clown, I
to be an hour early for set up especially over-tip and show
and to then work a 4 hour patience for waiting.
party. This means I would
have eaten something before To sum up all of this, I
11a.m. and then have no opportunity to eat again late believe you should do what
that evening. After a year of turning down food and makes you happy and comfortable as long as you
not daring to eat, I changed my philosophy about this. stay in character. When this is published, I will take
a survey in the members forum to ask your opinion.
CAN A CHILD DO IT???? Until then, remember my clown mantra:

If a child can, then so can I. Can a child eat? Yes, Some people swim in a teaspoon of water and
think they are wet, I prefer to dive deeply and live
so therefore, I can, as everything alive must eat intensely.

and drink. Am I alive? Yes. Can a child smoke? NO,

24 MAGAZINE