Sunday, February 28, 1999
Boss Clown gets to have last laugh
Columbus native thrives with circus
BY CRESTA WILLIAMS
The Cincinnati Enquirer
David Solove loves his job. And why shouldn't he? He gets to play. He meets new people every day. He travels coast to coast doing his favorite thing — entertaining.
Mr. Solove, 30, of Columbus, is a circus clown with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. In fact, he's the leader, the big cheese, also known as Boss Clown.
IF YOU GO
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• What: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, The Greatest Show on Earth.
• When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 11:30 a.m., 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 1 and 5 p.m. next Sunday.
• Where: Firstar Center (formerly the Crown).
• Tickets: $12.50, $14.50 and $18.50; $5 discount on tickets Wednesday only; $2.50 discount for kids under 12 Thursday only at Firstar Center; charge by phone, 562-4949.
• There's more: The animal walk (from the train to the tents) takes place Wednesday. You can watch at Sawyer Point. The train should pull in about 10:30 a.m.
• Information: 421-4111; group discounts, 421-1111, Ext. 162.
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He, along with 15 other clowns, baby Asian elephants, high-wire acts, sideshow spectacles and more will be in Cincinnati Wednesday through next Sunday for eight performances of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, the Greatest Show on Earth.
Mr. Solove has been with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey since 1992. He never saw a circus while growing up, nor did he think about clowning. But he always performed, produced puppet shows and participated in children's theater.
He graduated with a bachelor of fine arts degree in acting from Syracuse University. Wanting to enhance his career in children's theater, Mr. Solove decided to go to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College. He had no idea he would love it.
QUESTION: What is your favorite part of the job?
ANSWER: Getting to perform every day is a real treat. Being in front of an audience of 10,000 is great. I love that I get to travel. Being in a different city keeps everything fresh.
Q: How long have you been Boss Clown?
A: I've been Boss Clown for two months. I have more responsibility now. I'm responsible for everything in Clown Alley. You could call me quality control. I'm also liaison between management and the clowns.
Q: What is Clown Alley?
A: It's the the clown's curtained-off dressing area. But it's also what the clowns as a group are referred to.
Q: P.T. Barnum once called clowns the “pegs on which the circus is hung.” Is that true?
A: Very true. The clown is sort of the audience's representative. We are the facet of the show that can cross over. We have specific acts in the show, we assist in other acts, help with the baby elephants. We also do hospital visits and TV interviews.
Q: What would you consider your role as a clown to be?
A: Clowns perform a big chunk in the Three Ring Adventure one hour before the show. People can literally sit on the edge of the ring and see us up close. We interact with the audience. That's my favorite part — the personal attention.
I want to create a special memory for the audience. After they meet me and go back to their seats, I'm not just a generic clown, I'm their clown.
Q: Clowns consider their performing characters to be an extension of their own personalities. What is your character?
A: I play very cute. People used to come up and say “oh, he's so cute.” Now I tell the audience how cute I am.
There's a misconception that a clown's makeup is a mask. But it's really the opposite. Our makeup enhances and magnifies us. The hair, the costumes are all part of our personality.
Q: How do you come up with ideas for and prepare your skits?
A: The show itself is the same for two years, so there's not much change. We rehearse one month before a new show.
We still think up new ideas and try to incorporate them in when we can. The beauty is that we do 450 shows a year, and if something doesn't work out the first time, we can try it again.
Q: How do you know that what you've come up with is funny?
A: If it makes us laugh, it's good. Because, really, you're writing for yourself. We talk and bounce new ideas off each other all the time.
Q: Does it ever get monotonous?
A: I wouldn't say monotonous. Some days I'm not feeling well or I'm just having a bad day. I mean, it's still a job. But it's a great job!
I'm trained. My reflexes are still there. So, no matter how I'm feeling, I can do it. Once I get in front of the crowd, I'm ok. Sometimes being a clown is the best therapy.
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