When neighborhood
children spot Diana Whitlow's car coming down the street, they
make a mad dash to greet her. With her long, blonde, braided
hair, curled eyelashes, bright-yellow shirt and a floppy
multi-colored beret, Whitlow is the star of her cul-de-sac.
As the owner of the
Oviedo-based amusement business Clownin' Around, Whitlow is
living her childhood dream. Her desire to make other people
smile combined with her love for party planning made
professional clowning a natural choice. When Whitlow first
considered attending clown college 20 years ago, she explained,
it seemed so far out of reach to train with a company such as
Ringling Brothers.
Whitlow revisited
her original dream to become a professional clown after she left
her 18-year career in property management nearly two years ago.
With a 12-year-old son and a toddler in tow, a home-based
business seemed like the perfect opportunity to begin her
adventure.
Whitlow said her
only obstacle was finding a local clown school for training.
"Clowning is a
dying art," she said. "It's really sad."
After investigating
schools online, Whitlow met another local clown willing to teach
her privately.
With nine years of
experience, Ann Noble, also known as Mimi of ABC Clowns, took
Whitlow under her wing and helped her develop a clown character.
She also taught Whitlow the basics in costuming and performing
at children's birthday parties. Whitlow said she had to choose
her clown name carefully because it is considered inconsiderate
and confusing to take the same name as another local clown.
Friends encouraged her to choose 'Miss B. Haven,' because it
matched her playful personality.
When Whitlow
learned last spring about Clown Escapades, hosted by Toby the
Clown Foundation in Lake Placid, she jumped at the chance to
attend a four-day training session. The intensive program
organized by retired professional clown Keith Stokes, known as
Toby the Clown, gave her the opportunity to learn more makeup
and costuming techniques and to further develop her character.
Whitlow took individual classes in face painting, balloon
sculpturing, puppeteering, magic and storytelling.
Clown schools teach
the art of all different types of clowns from the more common
white-faced clown that dates back to Greek theater, to the
traditional hobo with the perpetual five-o'clock shadow that
originated in America. Whitlow chose to become one of the most
colorful, silly and child-friendly clowns known as the "light
auguste" clown, a clown of German origin. Whitlow said she chose
the light auguste clown because it looks the most natural, and
uses minimal makeup.
Scary movies often
feature white-faced clowns, she said, and her goal is to make
children happy; not scare them.
"I'm a big kid and
I have never had a problem of children being afraid of me,"
Whitlow said.
Some children have
a fear of all clowns, so she takes special care to ensure all
party guests are comfortable.
One mistake parents
can make, Whitlow said, is forcing a scared child to go to a
clown because that can make them even more fearful.
"You
have to let me come to them or let them come to me on their own
pace," Whitlow said. "I have a little horn and I start honking
it and take it to the child who might be afraid and let the
parent try it. I take my time and use certain techniques, and by
the time I am supposed to leave, they don't want me to leave."
Whitlow's Clownin'
Around parties held in the child's home include a comedy magic
show, face painting and interactive age-appropriate games. One
of the highlights, she said, is when she gathers the children
for a group photo.
"I
let the parents take some photos first and then I take out my
water camera - and of course I ask the parents first if it is OK
with them. It's so funny - I squirt them all and they scream
(with excitement)."
"Birthday parties
are my specialty and they are my favorite," Whitlow said. "You
get to know the children and spend more time with them. By the
time I leave, I know everyone's name."
While the birthday child is the star of the party, Whitlow tries
to include every child in her performance and promises the
children a little gift (sculpted balloons) from her big colorful
bag before she leaves.
"I am a kids'
entertainer - I had someone tell me at my last birthday party
that it had been the best birthday party they have ever been
to," Whitlow said. "And that's what you want every time."
Laura Reeves of Sanford was a bit nervous at first about hiring
a clown for her son's third birthday party because, she said,
you don't always know who is really behind the clown costume.
Reeves heard about
Clownin' Around from friends and decided to try it. She
described Whitlow as funny and cute with a bubbly personality.
"(Whitlow) is awesome, everything a clown should be. She just
radiates positive energy - that's what sets her apart," Reeves
said. "She loves children and the kids pick up on that. Both the
children and the adults had a great time."
"There are people
who just do balloons and some people do just clowning, like in
parades," Whitlow said, "and other people are just face painters
and not even a clown. I kind of do a little bit of everything."
As
Clownin' Around grows, Whitlow plans to offer pirate-themed
parties and tea parties.
Whitlow fondly
remembers the first party she worked as her toughest. While the
children were polite and responsive, the size of the crowd was a
bit overwhelming. The party was planned for up to 20 children
with the oldest child being nine years old. Much to her
surprise, there were about 50 children of all ages.
"I
did my little show and face-painted every child there. I was so
exhausted I thought I was going to fall over," she said,
laughing.
Whitlow is thrilled
she was able to create a new career that takes into account her
young children.
"I
work for myself and make my own hours," she said. "There isn't
any negativity in this at all."
Whitlow said she
likes clowns because they put a smile on your face and they
create positive energy.
"Everybody who knows me who found out I became a clown says, 'Oh
that's so you, - and now you get paid to do it.' I don't do it
for the money," she said. "I love to entertain and I love being
around kids - it just seemed natural. You can't put a price tag
on that."
