Large Range of Clown Anecdotes

Over the past few days I have posted five of the 50 anecdotal sections from Angels can Fly here on this blog. Over the past six months I have invited clowns from all walks of life to submit anecdotes for the book, and I have received a wide range of submissions. Please enjoy this selection, I hope they wet your appetite for more when the book is published in May.

Remember you can get a free ebook copy of Angels can Fly simply by putting you email address in the box on this page. And find information on training in clown on the Playspace page, and information on my other books on the home page of this site at www.alanclay.com


Kirk Marsh - Realization of my Clowning

So I get a job at a Las Vegas casino as a juggler/stiltwalker to do a pre-show for a floor show. At this point I could juggle, but couldn't do anything fancy while down the strip the best juggler in the world is performing. For the first month of my contract I got no response at all. Nothing. A slight applause now and then, but nothing more.

Then I was lucky enough to start working with Jason McPherson, a truly inspirational man. He took one look at me and said, "Well, you are a clown, right?" "Well, yes..." "Then why aren't you clowning?"

The next set I went out and started clowning with my juggling and it was one of the best times of my life. I went on to perform another 200 shows at that casino and enjoyed most every set as I grew and grew more and more into my clowning. It was a life changing event to have someone encourage me to clown.

Jason McPherson also me this wonderful quote one time when I was saying I was afraid of how much it hurt to try something new onstage. He said, "Kirk, I bet the first plane the Wright Brothers made hurt too, but they made another one and kept on trying." Best wishes to all of you with your clowning. Kirk Marsh



Kirk Marsh CV

Kirk Marsh has been described as Stan Laurel, Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, and Dick Van Dyke rolled into one. Infuse that with vaudeville’s rich traditions of magic, juggling, eccentric dance and audience participation and you have a one-man comedy variety show that will leave you in stitches. Part klutz, part consummate entertainer, Kirk’s acts have delighted and amazed audiences around the world, from Las Vegas casinos to some of the world’s largest cruise ships.

Specializing in parody, Kirk’s magic act and interpretive dance parodies were said to “steal the critic sessions” at Motionfest 2004. His performances generally portray a man at odds with his props and life in general. Kirk has trained at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s Clown College and Motionfest as well as spending some time working out with the NY Goofs. His work has taken him across the United States and on several journeys overseas.

kirkmarsh@yahoo.com