What's your favorite color?

Ubi made a number of balloon swords, reminding everyone who gets one that people who poke the clown with a sword find themselves deprived of a sword in short order!

Go forth, slay dragons, and be good to your mother!

next

What color should I make the stem?

Clydefest 2012, held annually in Bynum, NC, to honor the local sculptor Clyde Jones, dawned clear and sunny. It’s been a whole year since a tornado ripped through Sanford into Raleigh, but there were no worries on April 14, 2012! Barely a cloud in the sky.

Children and their parents wait for a balloon animal at Clydefest 2012

The gates opened at 11:00 and the children, trailing parents and friends, poured in. The Bynum baseball park quickly filled up with children playing games based on Clyde’s art–fishing for floating fish, throwing bean bags into brightly painted crown tires; painting their own penguins and fish.

Bouncing Bulldogs at Clydefest 2012

Several groups, bands, and entertainers performed under the big tent throughout the day. The Bouncing Bulldogs, from Durham, have won many national and international awards for their jump roping. At the end of their performance, they invited people from the audience to try double-dutch. Their coach says, “Jump rope 10 minutes a day, three times a week and you’ll be fit for life!”

John the Balloon Man making a balloon animal at Clydefest 2012

John’s balloon line quickly grew and he was busy till the event closed at 4:00, making dogs, cats, the occasional motorcycle, and all the other colorful balloon creatures and toys he knows how to make. He took a break to eat lunch and enjoy the hooping, but the pictures didn’t get uploaded.

JB the Country Clown & Fans at Clydefest

Goldsboro, North Carolina. I continue to entertain children of all ages, and am enjoying a resurgence of interest in clown/comedy entertainment. Birthday parties are being booked again. And if you are planning one and want to engage a clown (say, me), please book as early as possible. My calendar is filling fast! The recession is not over, by any means, but there are signs of life out there. Welcome signs. Welcome to Goldsboro signs. The Dept. of  Transportation finally is getting it right.

Of course, I am available to clown through out the planet, and have a considerable number of repeat annual engagements throughout Central and Eastern North Carolina… I happen to live in Goldsboro; have funny, will travel…

Keep yer smiles smilin’! I’ll see you around if you don’t turn square!

Visualize whirled peas!

Love to all, -Ubiquitous Clown, your local and not local Clown-about-Town in Goldsboro NC

I took advantage of those breaks to visit with vendors, some who I knew well from the community, others that I met that day; lending credence to my belief that there are no strangers, just friends I have not yet met. I clogged around a bit when Mr. Bluegrass himself was onstage kickin’ out some fine tunes. All the bands were quite good. Even while sitting and twisting, I often got happy, tapping feet and the urge to get up and dance, which I noticed many others doing over by the stage. Great tunes all day long!

My young friend whose folks have the little dress store was there; she always brings a smile. The Lions, Tigers and maybe some bears were there, as well as Chargers, Tarheels, Wolfpack and Blue Devils (at least the fans thereof). All were congenially getting along well along the length and breadth of the fine spectacle that is the Pittsboro Street Fair.

While not on break, I had opportunity to twist the balloon delight of choice (both color and shape) for many dozens of great children of all ages. I took time to twirl the giant hoop around some, again, to the delight of the crowd. I wrangled a stray toddler that was in peril of getting clobbered by hoopers, returning said tot to the embrace of his pater familia, who immediately let him run loose some more, go figger.

Sampled some of the fine roasted sausages, stayed hydrated and as out of the direct sun as I could, and overall had a very delightful time, my own self, which is not at all difficult when spending the day with the aforementioned partner and the great people in Pittsboro!

See you next year, Pittsboro! And keep your smiles smilin’!

Midday, September 25, 2011 A.D. found Karen and me entertaining the throngs (of children of all ages) attending the festive festivities just this side (easterly, that is) of Siler City, NC; in the round-a-bout driveway encircling the fine edifice of St. Julia Catholic Church.

The line for twisted balloons was never short; the activity over by the Hoola Hoops was ceaseless. There was an assortment of inflated jump around structures, and a fun looking mechanical bull ride. I had no opportunity to partake but am sure that those that did had a grand time doing so.

I replenished stocks of both Duke and Carolina blue twisty balloons, as well as red and not quite red (pimk, I thimk); and downed the requisite amount of chilled water to keep the Ice Water Fairy happy. She flutters by and admonishes me when I don’t show progress on emptying the bottle.

Many smiles were created by my efforts, I do believe, and many a chuckle, a guffaw or two and a higher than average amount of giggles were also heard from the assembled multitude. I had an opportunity to practice my limited knowledge of Spanish, and was delighted by the bi-lingual skills of so many youngsters.

After we ended the line and packed up the hoops, we were graciously treated to some very delicious food from El Salvador, compliments of the festival folks. We were tired, happy and grateful for the kindness and sustenance.

We look forward to continuing to be part of the excellent annual Saint Julia Fall Festival just this side of Siler City, and wish all we met “Hasta la vista!” until next year!

Thank you very much, muchas gracias.

He tried to help with the tug-o-war, but the Captain of the winning Pirate Float (from the parade earlier in the day) was on the other end of the rope.  Better luck next year!

John could win the hula hoop contest, but they made a rule that says you have to use the hoops provided by the people who run the Children’s Area.

My partner Karen Tiede participated in Maker Faire NC as a “Maker,” showing her hand knit rag rugs made from upcycled old clothes. I contacted Jon Danforth, the capable organizer, and let him know that I would love to attend, at no charge, with permission to have a tip jar. The Maker Faire NC team thought balloon art would be a fine addition to the mix.

The Maker Faire event planning team suggested walk around entertainment, but I replied that I might best be stationary. History has taught me that when I start twisting, a line forms instantly. More often than not, the line stays 20-minutes long for the duration of the event. The CHAOS fellow remarked that together, we were a “kid magnet.”

Once we finished setting up Rags to Richness, my partner’s booth, I took a minute to set up my area, and had time remaining to walk around the indoor arena. Maker Faire attracts marvels and wonderful things, systems, art and science. I purchased a necklace from the Scrap Exchange booth that commemorated my getting lost at the 1962 World’s Fair in Seattle, as a six-year-old (that is another story, best told some other time), which I gave to Karen.

The first few balloons were gifts to children of fellow makers and sponsors. Once the doors opened at 10:00, the flood gates opened and the serious twisting began. The children in line were of the age that is delighted by the whimsical items I create from a balloon.

Two breaks, spaced a couple of hours apart, dozens of children delighted, as many parents amused. A fine break area for Makers, provided by the organizers, kept me in fine fettle. The A/C struggled to keep up toward the end, but honestly, I did not notice it until two moms commented about how warm it was.

Happy children, happy parents, happy organizers and happy balloonist. Everyone was a winner at the Maker Faire NC! One of the event sponsors approached near the end and expressed her gratitude for the work I had done. (As a mother of once-small children, she had noticed how the younger children, and their parents, appreciated age-appropriate entertainment.) That, along with all the smiles I helped happen, really made my day.

Flier for the CCCC theater program's Holiday Play

Ubi the Clown was the opening act for the Central Carolina Community College Theater program’s December 2010 production of the show, Rough Night at the North Pole, at the new Chatham Community Library in Pittsboro, NC.

Ubi started at 7:00 and did clown magic, his tightrope walk, and several other skits as late-comers settled and the audience prepared for the main show.

Ubi with the cast of Rough Night after the show

Keep yer smiles smilin’!

Ubi, the Ubiquitous Clown