"Give Me A Stage and I'll Perform"

When I was a kid, I couldn’t stay still for much longer than a minute. I didn’t go to the local Peshastin Library to check out a book, I went there solely to learn to juggle! The librarian (Paul Anderman) taught me to juggle when I was 10. Then when I was 12, the Icicle River Middle School purchased 20 unicycles for P.E. and recess. I was like any other kid who rides their bike everywhere around town and to the local store, but for me, I was riding my unicycle. I even rode it home from school. One day a man (Tim Endrizzi) stopped me and said, “Hey kid, you should join the circus.” I was like, “Ummm, OK,” but he was serious though and gave me a number to the director of the Wenatchee Youth Circus, I called him and the very next Saturday I went down to the circus lot. I was hooked. I spent six years with the circus doing juggling, unicycling, low wire, roman ladders, tumbling, trampoline, fire acts and high wire, in which I even had my little sister, Autumn, on my shoulders while riding my unicycle across the 30-foot high wire. When I was 18 or 19, the Leavenworth Chamber got my phone number and asked me if I would put together a 30-minute show for their Fasching Festival. That very first show, I had just a hat and a vest and did more of a vaudeville-style show, but I loved it so much I slapped some makeup on and called myself LBow the Clown from my initials — L.B. It’s been a “hobby” ever since!

Hardly ever! Unless they really know me, most people don’t believe it. However, when I’m getting out of my Big Red Jeep, it’s a dead giveaway, but even then I tell them I’m L-Bow’s brother.

From the time I start my makeup to the time I’m dressed, loaded and ready to roll out, it’s a full hour.

I get the hour it takes me to get my makeup ready to mentally prepare as well, but on the other hand, as soon as I hit play and the music starts, the rest of the world fades from view and is off my mind, and it’s all about performing my best for the audience.

Libraries and school assemblies are near the top of the list, but my favorite event to perform at is the local Grace City Church Hoedown (in October) and other church block parties, outreach programs or Bible camps where I get to perform my full Christian show with all-Christian music and a great overall message.

I’ve averaged about 100 shows a year the last 10 years, which is close to two a week!

I do my fire shows quite a bit still but the only reasons I can think of is that I don’t do my fire shows for free and this last year for the Wenatchee Wild season I only performed on the ice once as to four to five times over the past several seasons. This coming season though, I plan to be there more, providing ballooning and fire shows and we also could be providing face painting for every Wild home game!

My busiest two months are June and July. I once did 10 shows in four days for a library tour and 18 shows over the course of just 17 days! It’s a blast, but I have to take care of myself by eating right and staying fit. My most profitable months are September and October due to many area fairs (This year I’ll be at the Okanogan Country Fair) and festivals (Taste of Harvest Festival, Autumn Leaf, Oktoberfest, etc.).

I do my fire shows quite a bit still but the only reasons I can think of is that I don’t do my fire shows for free and this last year for the Wenatchee Wild season I only performed on the ice once as to four to five times over the past several seasons. This coming season though, I plan to be there more, providing ballooning and fire shows and we also could be providing face painting for every Wild home game!

No, I’m actually a pretty serious guy at home and at work, which is a reason why no one ever guesses I’m a clown.

It’s been about 18 years since my very first show and I think I have another 18 years in me, but my two daughters Mia (Hipster), age 9, and Lexi (Knee-Hi), age 5, may follow after my footsteps and I could pass the torch on to them. Also, back when I was 4 years old, I wanted to grow up to be Santa Claus. I’d say I’ll hang up L-Bow’s hat when I can grow a full white beard and a nice round belly.