Thought For The Week February 2, 2009

This is a term used almost exclusively in America because it is a rude expression in many other countries. Its definition depends upon the setting in which it is used.

Outside of the circus, Blow Off means the conclusion of a clown act. I have heard it used many times by people discussing clown skits. (The word skit is not used in a circus. The term used there is clown act.)

However, I seldom heard Blow Off used in connection with a clown cat conclusion on the circuses that I toured with. A more common term was the Finish. That term is used for the finale of all circus acts. In 1977, the Finish for the Scotty's Garden Act was a bucket chase. (Scotty threw a bucket of water on me. I grabbed another bucket and chased Scotty into the crowd. When I threw its contents, which were popcorn, Scotty ducked and the popcorn fell on the crowd. Then Scotty chased me out of the tent.) When I created my circus juggling act my Finish was holding a spinning plate on a mouth stick while juggling three clubs.

In a multiple ring circus, knowing the Finish trick of the center ring act is vital. When the center ring act starts their Finish trick the other acts also begin their Finish tricks. That means the Performance Director only has to cue the center ring act about changes in timing. If the next act is not ready the Performance Director may cue the center ring act to stretch to provide the necessary time. In an outdoor tented circus the show was sometimes shortened due to threatening weather conditions, and the Performance Director cued the center ring act to tighten up their act.

It is also good showmanship to have all the acts end in unison so they are ready to receive their final applause at the same time. Sometimes the acts all end together and then the center ring act has a solo encore. You can't always count on the center ring act being consistent in length. When I began my juggling act with the Carson & Barnes Circus in 1980, the center ring act was performed by an outstanding teenage juggler. The other jugglers knew that if there was a pretty young woman in the front row of the center ring his act would run longer because he would strut around in front of her. We were always prepared to stall before beginning our Final trick.

Now when I perform in a variety show, I always ask the act before me what they are using for their Finish. That helps me know when to begin my final mental preparations for my act and to do a last check to make sure my props are ready. For example, if I have to carry a vanishing cane on stage with me I don't want to vanish it prematurely by nervously fidgeting with it back stage. I normally have it setting safely aside until the previous act begins their Finish trick and than I pick it up.

Blow Off had a unique meaning with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Before the show switched to the interactive Three Ring Adventure, there would be a series of clown acts performed before the show. The last of these acts was the Blow Off. Performing just before the official start of the show was an important role because it helped focus the audience's attention and set the tone for what followed. It was an honor to be selected to perform the Blow Off. Kenny Ahern performed the Blow Off during his last two seasons with the RBB&B Circus.

In other American circuses the Blow Off is the period of time after the main performance when the audience is leaving. For example, Circus Kirk had a sideshow that performed before the main show in the Big Top and also during the Blow Off. Clowns may have a Blow Off duty. During my two years with Circus Kirk I worked in a photo studio posing for souvenir Polaroid photos with audience members during the Blow Off. In 1981, I sold the Carson & Barnes Circus Coloring Books during the performance. During the Blow Off, I stood in the menagerie autographing books and selling additional copies.