Bagley, Ia - Toby Klauenberg takes his clowning seriously.
For most, clowning isn't a job. It's fun. And Klauenberg - or Toby Kid, as he is known professionally - has heard all the snide remarks about his chosen profession, beginning with his first announcement nearly 25 years ago that he wanted a career in clowning.
"I've always, always wanted to be a clown," he said, spreading his hands wide in a burst of energy. "Ever since I was 6 years old. Of course, as I got older, it got a reaction. When I was 16 or 17, my family asked me what I wanted to be and I said, 'A clown.' And they laughed and said, 'No, really, what?'"
But Klauenburg's clowning ambitions have paid off. Since he was 17, he has attended fairs and parties as his alter ego, Toby Kid, making balloon animals and stumping children and adults with his card tricks. Now his diligence has earned him one of the best -- and most difficult -- gigs in clowning.
This weekend, Toby Kid emceed the induction of five new clowns -- including the first female inductee -- at the Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center in Delavan, Wis. Past inductees include Red Skelton and Bob Keeshan of "Captain Kangaroo" fame.
His job: to make the world's best clown laugh. It's a daunting task, but Kathryn O'Dell, executive director of the hall of fame, said Klauenberg was up to it.
"He's a good clown with a good voice, and he's going to keep it moving, "she said, a few days before the performance. "He's very funny."
Klauenberg, 31, and an Iowa native, lives in Bagley with his wife, Jennifer, and their children, Toby Jo, 2, and Byron, 6 months. They also have two bulldogs, Quasimodo and Left ("Right" was given away as a puppy), who look ferocious but aren't.
"They look scary, but they're not dangerous," Klauenberg said, "But they're a great deterrent when we take them in the car with us."
The same could be said of Klauenberg himself. A large man with hair spiked on top, buzzed on the sides, and tapering into a ponytail in the back, Klauenberg looks too tough to be a clown. But he smiles broadly and moves his hands back and forth with an enthusiasm born of adrenaline and caffeine.
Klauenberg grew up in Baxton, then a town of 500. He said he started into clowning in high school, when he placed in a competition in "mime and speech." After he graduated and enrolled in Iowa State University, he started his first steady clown gig at a county fair. He's been hooked ever since.
"A Lot More Money"
"What I do now is the same," he said, "It's basically the same concept, but I get a lot more money."
Unlike most clowns, Klauenberg did not attend a clown school before starting a professional career. He started off watching other clowns and learning from experience.
"I learned a lot from the School of Hard Knocks," he said. "I just picked it up."
He began doing gigs at places further and further away from Ames. Finally, he decided to see whether the traveling life of a professional clown was for him. So he began to travel with a country band.
Dodging Criticism
"It was terrible," Klauenberg said. "I dressed up as this big chicken and walked out before they played. That's how they could tell how bad the audience's aim was if they threw things at me."
But Klauenberg honed his talents. He appeared on The Floppy Show and gradually became known through out the state. These days, clowning supports his family. His services constantly in demand, he drives to several states and often is asked back to the same gig year after year. Jennifer Klauenberg, a former clown who Klauenberg calls the brains of the operation, takes care of the finances.
Identifies with Audience
For those who say Klauenberg's job is easy, take heed. He said he is under constant pressure to write material. He watches tricks of the trade in clowning magazines. And he watched children's shows every Saturday morning so he can identify with the kids.
"If you don't know the four colors of the Power Rangers, you won't hold water," he said. "They just won't like you."
He said the work pays off by creating good rapport with children. The small ones love him. The older teenagers say he's "hip." And the junior high-age students? "I don't think they like anything." He said.
Although it's Klauenberg's first induction ceremony this weekend, it won't be the first time he has performed at the Clown Hall of Fame. He performed there three years ago for almost 300 senior citizens and received a rare standing ovation. He also performed there for the benefit of Russian dignitaries. One, who had been a Soviet cosmonaut, gave him a pion from his uniform.
"A Great Honor"
"It was a great honor to be asked," he said, "Wow. And to pull it off."
Klauenberg said the Russians enjoyed his performance probably because his clowning has a European streak. Among clowns, different styles of clowning abound. Klauenberg said his style is a mix of the august clown -- the typical American half-pained buffoon clown -- and the European clown style he picked up during a visit.
In Europe, clowning is considered an art form instead of a diversion, amusement for adults as well as children. Clowns figure prominently in art and literature. William Shakespeare used clowns as pivotal characters in his plays, especially "King Lear."
For Adults Too
"So why shouldn't clowns be for adults too?" Klauenberg said.
Klauenberg said he has incorporated that style into his clowning. The typical Toby Kid performance features antics for the children and wry commentary for the adults. This ability, Klauenberg said, is what keeps parents and office workers calling him year after year.
And Klauenberg said he has no regrets. He's dabbled lately in acting, stand-up comedy and studio voice-overs, but he always returns to clowning.
"I hope I die when I'm clowning," he said, "I just hope there are no kids around when it happens."
