Beneath the clown makeup
January 2nd, 2009 by admin
A team of two clowns has been criss-crossing the state juggling, balancing plates and generating interest in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which begins shows next week in Tampa, Tallahassee and Miami.
In early December, the clowns put on shows for children at six elementary schools in the Tallahassee area. A couple weeks later, the clowns visited schools in Lee County, where according to the Cape Coral Daily Breeze, “The two read Dr. Seuss’ ‘If I Ran the Circus,’ put on a circus performance in the cafeteria and handed out discounted tickets and clown noses to 500 students.” The appearances are a nice photo opportunity for local newspapers and, of course, the resulting articles mention that tickets are “on sale now” for upcoming performances.
In Polk County, the circus promised that children aged 10-and-under who check out five or more books at a county library will receive a free pass to a circus show (their parents will have to purchase a full-price ticket). And this month, blood donors at any Florida’s Blood Center location in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties will receive a voucher for one free ticket to the Orlando Ringling show.
It’s a shrewd marketing campaign, but it’s difficult not to be cynical about Ringling’s interest in promoting literacy or blood donation. After all, this is the company that touts its dedication to the “conservation” of the Asian elephant, and then stuffs the endangered animals into train cars for grueling trips across America.
Unfortunately, 2009 will not be the year when Ringling retires its elephants, tigers and other animal acts, so ARFF will be outside circus performances across Florida this month, armed with the facts and eager to educate the public about the dirty secrets behind the big top. Will you join us? Visit ARFF’s events calendar for details.