Toby KID Klauenberg is flat-out funny.

And he has been doing just that for more than four decades.

Since his first appearance in a Cub Scout skit, Toby has made a career out of finding the funny in life's adventures—and the funny answers to life's questions. What began as a childhood love of laughter has grown into an extraordinary career as a Master Clown, educator, author, writer, producer, and professional entertainer who has performed more than 20,000 shows across the United States, Canada, Europe, and around the world.

Toby's philosophy is simple: laughter creates memories. "It's more than creating laughs," says KID. "When we're laughing, we're tapping a peak emotion. These are the emotions that build the strongest memories." His programs have entertained and educated everyone from toddlers to seniors, tackling subjects ranging from literacy and character development to science, leadership, problem-solving, magic, fire safety, juggling, and active lifestyles.

A Clown at Heart

The dream of becoming a clown has always been in Toby. Even his name seems destined for professional weirdo—Toby is said to have roots meaning the clown who worked the road to the circus, while his German surname, Klauenberg, has connections to the King's Jester.

As the youngest in his family and surrounded by numerous cousins, Toby quickly discovered that a well-timed joke was an excellent way to get noticed. He wasn't the class clown, however. Toby loved school and excelled at Baxter Community School, earning the rank of Eagle Scout, serving two years as Student Body President, earning athletic and band letters, being named to Who's Who Among American High School Students, and achieving a #1 All-State Speech ranking with his mime presentation of an abused circus gorilla.

He was accepted into Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College but was persuaded to attend college because of his high SAT score. Naturally, the aspiring clown chose Elementary Education as his major.

And naturally, he spent his summers performing.

His first amusement-park job was supposed to be as a clown. The park didn't need another clown, so they hired him as a costumed character instead. That unexpected opportunity became a valuable education in entertainment. The following season, they hired him to clown.

In 1985, while taking a year away from college, Toby toured with a country family band as its opening act—and performed as a giant dancing bird during May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose. That same year he landed his first strolling entertainment appearance at the Iowa State Fair, beginning a relationship with fair and festival entertainment that would continue for decades.

From Classroom to the Road

After earning his degree from Iowa State University, Toby taught at Beatrix Potter Primary School in London, England. Returning to the United States, he began working as a substitute teacher while building his clown business.

It didn't take long for the clowning to win.

The demand for Toby's unique brand of comedy and interactive entertainment eventually overtook his teaching schedule. More performances meant more travel, more audiences, and an ever-expanding collection of programs.

Today, clowning at fairs and festivals remains an important part of Toby's performing life. He brings the spontaneous, unpredictable fun of strolling entertainment directly into the crowd, creating the kind of memorable encounters that simply can't happen from a stage.

A Career Built on Creativity

One of Toby's defining qualities is his continual creativity.

He doesn't simply dust off the same program year after year. Toby writes and creates a brand-new library show every year. New characters. New stories. New props. New puzzles. New comedy. New ways for children and families to become part of the adventure.

His library programs have explored dinosaurs, outer space, STEAM, pirates, wizards, reading, character, imagination, and countless other subjects—all wrapped in Toby's trademark combination of education, physical comedy, audience participation, and outright silliness.

For Toby, creating a new show isn't just a business strategy. It's part of who he is. After thousands of performances, he still wants to know: "What can I create that audiences haven't seen before?"

A Remarkably Diverse Career

Toby's career has taken him far beyond libraries and schools. He has written and produced routines for WGN's Bozo Show and Televisa's Cepillín. He served as editor of one of the largest online newsletters for children's performers, with more than 20,000 subscribers.

Michael Josephson and CHARACTER COUNTS! turned to Toby to produce their first educational program. McDonald's engaged him as co-author of The Complete Field Guide for Ronald McDonald and hired him to write and produce multiple shows for the national Ronald McDonald program.

Toby has participated in literacy tours with First Lady Barbara Bush and later with First Lady Laura Bush. The International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center has called upon Toby for performances and has asked him to host and emcee an unprecedented six induction ceremonies.

His stage partners have included more than fifteen chart-topping recording artists, including Garth Brooks, Mark Chesnutt, Michael Martin Murphey, and B.B. King.

He has performed in 49 states and 27 countries, entertaining audiences ranging from families and schoolchildren to corporate groups, celebrities, dignitaries, and fellow professional entertainers.

Santa Has a Three-Month Gig

For the past six seasons, Toby has also traded his clown nose for a white beard, serving as the lead Santa Claus at The Storybook Experience in New York.

It's not a quick holiday appearance. Toby spends nearly three months in the role, bringing Santa to life for thousands of children and families through an immersive holiday experience.

It is another example of Toby's ability to create a character, connect with an audience, and make every encounter feel personal and memorable.

And Then There's Grandpa

For all the miles traveled, shows performed, characters created, and audiences entertained, Toby considers one role especially important: Grandpa.

Toby has four grown children and loves nothing more than spending time with his grandchildren. After a lifetime of entertaining other people's children, he gets to enjoy one of life's greatest privileges—being the funny guy in the family who doesn't have to worry about getting them back on the bus.

Toby has been married to Jennifer since 1989. Together they live on a small acreage in Iowa affectionately known as the FUNNY FARM presents.

After more than forty years, thousands of performances, millions of miles, and countless laughs, Toby KID is still doing what he loves.

Creating laughter. Creating memories. And, every year, creating something new.