[Nettie Belle]

Does it irritate you guys as much as it irritates me ... how people think that being a clown is just putting on clown clothes and a red nose? I was talking to a friend of mine and she found out how much I charge per hour, and her response was ... "wow ... I should get a clown costume and start doing parties ... I could do that." I said, "well go ahead." But then when I told her all that is involved in clowning, she was surprised. She even admitted to me that she had no idea what all was involved. I told her that putting on a clown costume, a red nose and big shoes no more makes you a clown than putting on a nurse's uniform makes you a nurse.

There's also the pet peeve of people who want freebies and end up by saying that they will get the neighborhood Joe Shmoe to clown at their party for free.

Right now, I'm dealing with someone who is trying to get out of paying for 1-1/2 hours (x 2 clowns). She says their party was only 1-1/2 hours and they already paid for 1 hour (x 2 clowns). I returned her call and we are now in the middle of phone tag. I hope next year, she gets Joe Shmoe to do HER party for free.

Just me venting a little bit. Sorry.