Representing the clowns

It’s the last week of another long, grueling county fair, but it’s

Tadpole the Clown’s job to act like he just sprung out of bed.

Sporting shaggy red hair and multicolored suspenders and speaking

with a Southern drawl, he mingles with Orange County Fair visitors as

they enter the main gate.

“You need to get on the kids’ level,” said Tadpole, gesticulating

wildly while explaining his craft. “For each person, it’s a different

situation.”

Rick Fatland doesn’t offer the same shtick. He tends to stay away

from the front lines, choosing instead to blend into the crowd.

But he’s always watching.

As the owner of Viking Agency, a company that books and

coordinates roving talent for special events, it’s Fatland’s job to

oversee the clowns, mimes and musicians who entertain the audiences.

Each of the more than 30 roving performers at this year’s fair has

coordinated with Fatland, either for job interviews or for scheduling

meetings.

This is Fatland’s 16th year booking talent for the Orange County

Fair and his 28th owning his four-person company. After this week,

he’s off to Ventura for a 12-day county fair.

The Clovis, Calif., resident travels throughout the West Coast

during the year, matching entertainers with suitable events.

During the Orange County Fair he works closely with Joan Hamill,

the fair’s director of community relations. The two discuss hiring

decisions and the placement of talent around the fairgrounds.

“There are a lot of people lining up to perform,” Hamill said.

“You want to have the right personalities. They are the first person

a fairgoer sees, so they can set the mood for the day.”

Fatland has a crew of loyal performers, including a veteran

hypnotist, who travels with him to events. Some entertainers work

independently, while others come representing a particular company.

Ragoo the Clown, for instance, is part of a San Diego troupe.

Fatland said finding a roving performer for the fair is like

filling an opening for any other job. He looks for creative employees

who are personable and have job references.

Often the most versatile entertainers get the gig.

VeeKay the Clown has performed at 20 Orange County fairs,

partially because of his ability to communicate through sign

language. He’s fluent in English and Spanish as well and calls

himself trilingual. VeeKay also plays guitar and often performs with

musicians.

“The clown is the hardest act to book,” Fatland said. “It’s not an

easy job. I’ve had some who don’t like kids.”

Maintaining friendliness is a prerequisite for fair performers.

Fatland said there are other implicit rules: Don’t upstage a

performer on stage. Never take off your costume in public. Always

stay in character.

That’s not a problem for Maureen, the puppet inside the Walking

Puppet Theater.

“When I want to talk to Mary Lee [the person inside the theater

curtain], all messages go through the puppet first,” Fatland said.

The puppeteer is married to the man behind Ernie The Traveling

Game Show. They spend nights in a tent pitched outside the

fairgrounds and days entertaining inside.

“I’m amazed by the performers,” Hamill said.