Kamloops' Uncle Chris the Clown has modified his routine during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK / Uncle Chris the Clown
March 25, 2020 - 6:30 AM
As life continues to take on an unnatural feel, one Kamloops clown is hoping to bring some fun and magic to those trapped inside of their homes due to COVID-19.
Chris Wlodarczyk, better known as Uncle Chris the Clown, has come up with an idea to keep his business going and keep kids and Kamloopsians smiling. He’s offering a pay-what-you-can service for his magic and comedy show on a front lawn or through FaceTime.
“When I’m Uncle Chris the Clown, everybody loves me. When I’m just Chris Wlodarczyk, I’m just another guy, so I've missed it,” Wlodarczyk says. “I’ve done this for 21 years because I love it. Now I get to meet the kids online or from a safe distance and I get to make them laugh.”
Wlodarczyk got the idea last week when he was asked to do a private and socially-distanced show by a Kamloops mother.
“She has three seniors in her home... She has kids and husbands who are all self quarantined because of that, and she wanted to help her local community and she chose me to do this,” Wlodarczyk says.
Credit: FACEBOOK / Uncle Chris the Clown
Wlodarczyk says the show is similar to his past ones, but he can’t hand out things like balloon animals, stuffed animals or colouring books. Despite that, he says this is bring a sense of normalcy to himself and to the people he is set to perform for all through the week.
“Quite a few of them, they were supposed to have birthday parties and now they can't. If they're young, they don't understand and they ask, ‘Mommy, why can’t I have a birthday party?’ so at least they can have me come out and make this as special as possible.”
Wlodarczyk is doing the lawn shows at a pay-what-you can rate. He’s also offering a $25 FaceTime option for those who might not have an ideal lawn for him to perform on, and says he is working on a clown stage for his living room to enhance the experience.
“I did it also to help myself out, because every party and every event I had has been cancelled. We’re all having a tough time and I don't want to gouge people, that’s why I’m doing ‘pay what you can.’”
Wlodarczyk says he has wanted to start a Youtube channel and create an online option for kids to watch his performances, and says even after the social-isolation period is over, he will continue with this project.
“I want the virus to stop, but I want this to be a service I continue providing. A lot of people, they can’t afford to have me at a birthday party so I can do a virtual one and it‘s a lot cheaper, and I’ll have my little clown area I’m setting up,” Wlodarczyk says. “I’ll be doing this as long as people want me to do it.”
To contact a reporter for this story, email Jenna Wheeler or call (250) 819-6089 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2020