The writer, in fact, seems to have something for the word "creepy." "Creepy clown." "Creepy magician." Perhaps he should consult a Thesaurus once in a while.
Creepy Magicians
The writer describes "creepy" magicians. "...men with feral, glittery eyes and slicked hair like used-car salesmen, drunk with power, pulling paper flowers from a child's ear," says the article. "Magicians are like their cousins [creepy clowns], necromancers and politicians, each determined to trick the unsuspecting."
Creepy Clowns and Evil Ponies
As for "creepy" clowns. "It's not the makeup that frightens children, but the personality underneath the makeup, which usually masks a deranged, maladjusted adult," says the article. "...the creepy clown was a middle-age guy filling up balloons and twisting them into shapes....the girls got creatures that resembled bloodthirsty insects...The clown had a mustache that was painted over with red, evoking a pre-Columbian death mask. The kids will have nightmares for years to come."
Even the balloon sculptures resembled "bloodthirsty insects?" And the clown with a "pre-Columbian death mask and painted-over mustache"? Well...okay, I admit that I have seen a clown this bad.
Even beloved ponies are made to sound creepy. "Hello, big-headed pony. Evil pony," says the article. "The children stare as it snorts on your lawn, stumpy-legged, a malevolent chess piece with big yellow teeth and horseflies on its behind."
Evil ponies? Has the writer gone too far?
Comments
Sounds like the writer of this article must’ve seen my act!
*wink*
Playing Devil’s Advocate for a moment perhaps the writer has seen some very bad children’s birthday parties in his time. It isn’t hard to imagine a bad magician (or clown) coming off as “creepy.” The magician described, with his slicked-back hair and feral gleam, seems like a caricature — Snively Whiplash from the old Dudley Do-right segments on “The Rockey and Bullwinkle Show.”
You once had a piece here concerning the misuse of costumes in magic. It sounds like the magician described in the piece is wearing a psychological costume (i.e. has created a persona) that is unnatural, stereotypical, and completely out of place. Maybe a lesson can be learned from this “creepy” author’s “creepy” article in regards to persona and what is and isn’t appropriate for various age groups?
Vick, are you being serious reading that deep into an article obviously written tongue in cheek?
My main concern with an article like that where the writer is certainly enjoying himself too much is this…
There are certainly people out there that will find the humour in this but there will also be a minority of people that will read this before they’ve ever hired and clown, magician or evil face eating ponies that leave evil little poop’s in ones yard…
Some of these more in-experienced young parents, quick to wacth for anything resembling a child-abuser or molestor may make silly judgments on real pro’s in their area.
This article could actually hurt pro entertainers…even the supposed evil and detestable bouncy-bounce guy’s.
C’mon…surley you can see the bigger more paranoid nature of things right Vick?
Johnny,
I do not think that I’m reading too much into the article. It’s not an attack on magicians per se; it’s a polemic on the routine of parenthood as it is imposed on childhood creating a sort of vicious cycle. The same tired, cliche “precious moments” are recreated and, to begin with, they never were precious at all.
The article isn’t an attack on magicians or clowns. It’s an attack on parents who, not really knowing their kids, go through the motions. Parents allow their kids to be raised by TV and video games and so many really don’t know their children well enough to personalize a party to their child’s interests — so they trot out the clowns, the magicians, and normally on the cheap and the result CAN be traumatic.
Quite simply I don’t do magic for children because I don’t want to be a mercenary and ruin some child’s conception of magic. It’s not my forte so I don’t do it. It takes a special approach to do kids magic and to do it well. I’ve been offered good money to children’s shows but I always turn it down because I simply do not have the ability to approach children with my magic. It’s something I recognize in myself, have no desire to correct, and so I don’t do it. I seem to be a cult of one when it comes to this kind of magical introspection.
A friend of mine does children’s parties and he does them quite well. He makes good money doing these events because he makes each show special, personal, and custom tailored to the child. Before he goes to a party he talks extensively with the parents (some of whom resent his methods but he’s dedicated to his art) and learns as much as he can about the child in question, the child’s friendships, etc. He uses this information and has brought mentalism to kid’s shows with a flair that’s simply out-of-this-world. It works well and parents are floored by his act because he’s able to tell them a lot about their own children.
It’s not about molesters or anything of the sort. It’s about knowing your child and breaking with the tired, old stereotypes. If you’re producing the foam bunnies from the same battered hat every weekend but for different crowds then you’re doing something wrong and you’re doing a disservice to the art of magic.
My wife and I do numerous children’s activities – balloons, magic and birthdays. We are always on the lookout for those we call “lipstick” clowns who do not attend educational classes in makeup or costuming, conventions and traning seminars – not evey clown alley meetings.
We know these people give the pro clowns and magicians a bad rap, but we hope our professionalism helps deflect some of the bad!
There is nothing, more hideous than a “clown” made up in lipstick crap. And doing “magic” as another Ronnie MacDonald! Gadzooks, the local “magi” or the kid that just got a new magic set..made up that will scare the kids out of their bunks at night, or afternoon naps. Nothing does it better than a clean cut performer dressed as if he is going to Sunday morning church..not the T-shirt,and baseball cap,and torn jeans…but presenting his show as if he was at the White House in DC. !!!!