Every journey has a beginning, and mine as a Klown began on March 1, 2025, at the Kena Shrine Temple. I arrived early, ready to learn the ancient art of “putting on a face,” as a past sister in-law would call it.
The Baptism of Powder
The first thing I learned is that becoming a hobo clown is a wet and messy process. To get the setting powder to take hold, I had to endure a constant misting of water to my face. Between the powder and the mist, it felt like I barely had a chance to breathe!
The environment was pure chaos—the bathroom was packed with clowns all trying to paint at the same time. With no counter space and no mirror of my own, I had to learn the “clown shuffle” quickly. Eventually, I emerged with the face of “Leonardo,” complete with a whistle and a few silly buttons pinned to my jacket.
Choosing the Props
We spent some time talking about “bits” and props. I decided to keep it classic: a rubber chicken attached to an “invisible” dog leash. It had long balloons to hold it down, but since they were a bit aged, I had to swap them out for fresh ones—my first bit of “on-the-fly” equipment maintenance.
The Parade Route
Once we hit the street, the rubber chicken was a massive hit. As people pointed at it, I would exclaim, “Once it lays an egg, I’ll be rich!” – poking fun at the high price of eggs recently. Children kept trying to grab it, which became a great opportunity for interaction. I’d hand them a wooden nickel—a distraction and a “bribe” to let go of the chicken so I could keep moving!
I spent the parade acting out “happy to see you” routines with another clown, and sometimes we’d just step into the sidelines to watch the parade along with the crowd.
Dodging the Kena 500
The biggest challenge wasn’t the heat or the makeup—it was the Kena 500 race cars right behind us. They kept closing the gap between us and the hospital van in front. It turned the parade into a strategic game of “don’t get run over by a tiny car” while still keeping the kids entertained.
One Down, One To Go!
After hours of prep and standing around, the parade itself felt over in a flash. But as I headed back to learn how to take the face off, I realized I was hooked. I learned more in those few hours than I could have in a year of reading about it. Leonardo was officially on the scene, and I couldn’t wait for the next dress out to become an official clown.
