Greetings and Salutations! Thanks for stopping by and checking out my profile.
Being new to Hong Kong, this website has been such a resource for me to meet local talent as well as some of the coolest people this side of the ocean.
The little blurb in "The Spotlight" pretty much summed up what I do and who I am. Yup, I'm a Circus Clown. Yup, I went to a Clown College where I majored in Pie Throwing and Minored in Water Spitting.
But this path I've taken has split into so many diverse ways that I'm having such a ball trying to keep up with all of them.
FROM THE BEGINNING:
Nope, never wanted to be a performer. Never wanted to be in the spotlight.
Born and raised in New York City until I got pulled out and thrown into the mess called Arlington, Texas.
I went from being in this cultural melting pot where I hung out with all kinds of people into the suburbs. ..
of Texas
Be aware that this was around my high school years and this was around the time that you're supposed to find some kind of identity for yourself. But unfortunately you can't find your identity when you're the new guy in a new school. I would go through the gauntlet of teen angst trying to fit in somehow.
Well, after 4-5 years I managed to find my crew.
And boy, oh boy, what a crew they were. Heck, I was even considered cool at the time Well, possibly....
This was the time that I stopped attending classes in school, smoked way too much, drank way too much and became the bane of my family's existence.
I developed a pretty bad habit of carrying weapons (knives and crowbars) around me to match up with my crew's firearms.
I also developed a taste for way too much psychedelic edibles.
I went from class president of my Catholic's elementary school to Juvenile Delinquent in Texas in a period of 4-5 years.
I was ecstatic at the time.
Until one night on one of my many binges, a group of so-called producers from the Insane Clown Posse (no relation) came to my friend's house (the hang out) They talked some shit, we talked some shit, next thing we know we were chasing them down the street of the neighborhood. They pulled a few rifles on us, we walked away.
We get back to our place and call them up ( a friend of ours met them in a bowling alley and had their number)
We talk more shit and tell them to come back. We hang up, call our buddies... next thing we know.... We had a small army in our house.
The Mexicans, the Asians, the Jocks, the cheerleaders, everyone and anyone that knew us came armed.
It was insane.
All I had was my crowbar.. and a body full of acid...
We see a car pull up, I run out first, realized know one is behind me, throw my crowbar at the car, turn around and bullets were zipping everywhere.
It seemed like forever but it probably took about 2 minutes to finish up.
I hear someone yell" Get the fuck out of my house" I grab anybody I can, jump into my Honda Civic Hatchback and weave through the neighborhood.
I had my friend Amy and Luke with me and our adrenaline was running way too high for comfort.
Then I saw them...
Those effin' producers that pulled the rifles on us. They were stopped in the middle of the road and one of them was outside the car holding his side. He looked wounded.
Rage embraced me. I wanted to kill this guy. I was speeding up ready to hit him when Amy screamed and told me to leave. Now.
And I did... best decision of my young life at the time...
I dropped them off.
Went home.. And thought.....What the hell am I doing?
My life was going nowhere, I was going nowhere. I see all my best friends going to jail, hooked on one thing or another, getting into brawls. I saw no future.
So I went back to school.
That week, I attended a drama class and I saw a flyer for Auditions for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College. My jaw dropped like a Tex Avery character. You know, the wolf with the eyes popping out and my tongue rolling down like a celebrity red carpet.
I grabbed the flyer and auditioned that weekend. I had no skills but I was raw talent. 3000 people apply every year, 30-35 gets accepted.
I got in that summer.
The circus gave me a life. It gave me a career. I will always be thankful for that.
THE LATER YEARS:
I toured with the circus for a few years. I've done work with some major North American shows either in their touring shows or promotional shows.
I've traveled throughout the world sharing my passion for the art.
When I finally moved back to NYC, I joined up with Bond Street Theatre (see previous blog entry) and traveled through a few post conflict areas teaching circus arts and developing conflict resolution workshops.
In the States, I've developed a reputation for being the high energy physical comedian guy. I began to start doing TV commercials and small film roles.
It was fun but I was never truly satisfied with the big or small screen. I love live entertainment. I adore the immediate feedback from a live audience when you do something extraordinary.
PRESENT:
Well, I came to Hong Kong a few weeks ago for a little vacation and see what fun little opportunities I can dip my fingers in. I'm having a ball!
The And crew has been so generous with their time and resources. A class act!
If this was a circus, they would be the High Wire Walkers. They deserve all the accolades!
I'm heading back to New York City for a few live shows then coming back to Hong Kong to shoot a feature film. Should be fun..
FINAL THOUGHTS:
I'm just a simple guy.
All I need is a song, a dance, and some seltzer down the pants
If you see me down the street and you think you know me, say hello.
If you got a cool trick, please oh please show me
I may be based in Hong Kong in the Fall and use this as my hub for my work.
International Purveyors of Comic Visual Action and Ocular Business www.roblokjane.com