Full Transcript for Chase Culp / Clown

Ringling, you did smirkus, you went to runway brothers. And then so this is where I get a little jealous, because I believe you took off and you, you headed to Europe and did some stuff and you you traveled and you were hired to be a clown with some really amazing shows. Can you just give us that that overview? 00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:17.730 Yeah, so you know, I was with Ringling for two years, you know, it's solid work, you know, practically the whole time. And then I want to be a freelancer, I want to, you know, go where I can and do my thing. 00:07:12.209 --> 00:07:33.839 And life has bounced me around and managed, I've managed to perform in 11 different countries and in all kinds of venues, you know, under circus tents, arenas, theaters, beautiful theaters. I didn't deserve any of that. None of it really, but 00:07:34.319 --> 00:07:44.850 you're deserving. Let me just tell you, there's no separate self deprecating clowning. Here again, you're gonna have to lift yourself up, because that's what my job is to lift you up. So you help me with that. All right, 00:07:44.879 --> 00:07:46.379 I'll help you with the heavy lifting. 00:07:49.120 --> 00:08:01.180 Name some of the.. boy just throw out some of those names, what it shows you you did, because you have some prestige there. And then you also, you mentioned that you work for one of the not so prestigious shows. In Europe. 00:08:00.930 --> 00:08:42.419 Yes, I have some some wonderful, you know, things on my resume and then other things that I hide behind other things, but yeah, so you know, I've done tours with certain music and doing, you know, shows with symphony orchestras and beautiful theaters and arenas I've I toured with circus guests for Olympia, which is the original circus of the Gasser family dynasty, and I think is no longer around. But anyhow, I also was with Slava's snow sho, which I really don't know what I was doing there because I don t you know, don't speak Russia. But it was great. B 00:08:42.299 --> 00:08:56.220 But wait, so Slava's snow. So there's now has this this notion of it's traveling all over the all over the world pretty much. Please tell me a little bit about that experience. 00:08:56.429 --> 00:10:11.370 Well, I never thought I'd be talking about this stuff on on a podcast To be honest, but Well, yeah, so So Mr. Slava Polunin, one of the world's most renowned clowns from Russia. So I originally was familiar with Slava, his work on Alegria with the snow act. And of course, it was years after he had left and I saw the action was just, you know, truly awe inspiring. And I remember watching when I was younger, the Tony Awards, when they had been on Broadway and, and they were up for the Tony. I remember seeing Slava and I don't think that I even really seen anything from it, but I somehow knew of Slava snow show in the mystery behind it and and come, Fall of 2017. I went to Europe to do some workshops. And first I took a three three day workshop. with Mr. David Shiner

on my way to France to take a month long workshop series organised by Django Edwards, shout out to Django 00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:23.309 Django, I was also one of the, the clown hierarchy or seniors or elders and some wild, wonderful magic that he makes through clown. 00:10:20.789 --> 00:10:24.690 Yeah, so thank you Django for your influence here. 00:10:24.960 --> 00:11:29.669 One of the wildest humans there ever was, and hosted at Slavs house, which is known as the Moulin Jaune, the the yellow mill, and it's this magical, you know, land there where they have incredible insulation, it's, you know, it's hard to describe, but it's the most beautiful place I've ever been to, it's, it's so stimulating to the mind and the senses and was a great place to open my mind further to this craft that I had been, you know, delving into over the years and learning as much as I could from anybody that I could. And took this month long series in which Slava, you know, of course, hosted at his home and also would lecture at, and then from that, they invited me to visit the show. And, and then, subsequently went on two tours thus far with them. 00:11:30.149 --> 00:11:43.950 So now I'm going to do a little, little hook to the left to the right, or someone or just change it, change the direction and get into some of the, the underpinnings of your clown. 00:11:39.570 --> 00:11:57.299 Because there are some clowns whose work comes from their anks they're not fitting in their, their awkwardness in life. And there's a humor to when they look, you know, when they process that stuff, where does your clothing come from? 00:11:58.169 --> 00:12:48.299 I think that I think that perhaps part of it, part of it comes from that I don't think that it's apparent from my work at all, or from an audience perspective. But definitely, my life experience has definitely formed what I do on stage, being totally different than my surroundings, I think every aspect has really sort of made me made my character change over the years. And I find that a lot of my work isn't really from struggle or conflict, but it's, it's more sort of bringing the audience along on something that I'm doing, I find it but it's, it's less of a bumpy road than than many clowns. 00:12:49.109 --> 00:12:54.389 So do you would you consider yourself a storyteller in your clowning or, or something else? 00:12:55.259 --> 00:13:21.899 I think yes. But not such a not not on such a strict level. I think that, you know, the audience comes away with a certain perspective of what, you know what I did, and they, you know, maybe there's another element they take away but I don't have such a such a unique story that I tell but but I think I take them on a certain journey, whether they like it or not normally they do. And I hope that they do with your 00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:40.139 character with your who you are, what emotion comes from that Do you like when you perform? Is it do you go into this other state? Or are you in a rapture

is a joy? Is it? Is there panic, what is happening when you're in it when you're performing? 00:13:40.619 --> 00:14:09.509 I think when I think about it, it's a mix of all of it. You know, I both subscribe to the idea that your character is is the most basic you and it's just you stripped down but I also subscribe the idea that you're putting on a character so I have a bunch of inconsistency is in my philosophy and my perception of what happens. I yeah, I feel like I put something on but then I also feel like I take something off. 00:14:09.538 --> 00:14:52.048 I feel very myself on stage. And I'm one of those clowns I think that feels comfortable on stage despite being comfortable, uncomfortable the rest of the time. I am a very shy, introverted sort of omnivore but I am a very shy person. And people often are surprised of what I do for for a living when I have trouble doing public speaking or which is also because for me the voice is different than when I'm a silent character. I'm I feel much more free when I don't have to rely on my voice. 00:14:52.559 --> 00:14:57.690 So much is mostly for our work. Are all of your work silent. Do you ever have a voice in their in their cloud, 00:14:57.720 --> 00:15:14.940 right? Almost all of it is silent. You know, some, sometimes I've done things where I hosted shows and also did acts to music that were that were silent, but probably 98% of my work has been silent. And that's really where I feel most 00:15:14.969 --> 00:15:27.328 comfortable and do as the silent clown. Do you feel that you can speak clearly through your body, that your audience really understands what you're saying, in your physicality? 00:15:27.479 --> 00:16:45.839 Right, I think that, definitely, I think that they understand what I'm saying. And that's why I think one of the great gifts of being a silent performers that you can communicate for so many different cultures, and language barriers through these things, because everyone speaks body language, body language changes within cultures, and, and things but generally speaking, everyone has a very common understanding of it. And what I'm saying as a as a character, you know, it's not so complex, you know, people won't know what I had for breakfast, or I'm not going into a soliloquy, you know, that was written by, by Bill Shakespeare, I like to call but, but people people understand where I'm coming from. And I like when, when I do get frustrated, or when I, you know, when I achieve something, the audience rejoices in my, in my success, and thus, it's their success. It makes me feel good, real good. But also, I like that we're both on the same page, and that they've understood what my build up to that and then we have this wonderful celebration together. 00:16:41.339 --> 00:16:45.839 That says some magical moment. 00:16:46.798 --> 00:16:47.278 Wow. 00:16:47.759 --> 00:17:08.430 So if you're just joining me now, I am in conversation with Chase called clown. And that just chase called clown? Is there any other way you would describe yourself other than clown? Do you have other descriptors? Are you a carpenter or whatever? What is the thing that he or is it just takes called? clown 00:17:09.269 --> 00:18:02.970 generally just clown You know, sometimes I say, oh, physical comedian, or, you know vaudevillian, or whatever. But I think it all boils down to the same thing. I like the overreaching word of clown can mean so many things, I find a real strength in that. I really like that. But generally, I'm just a person who sometimes is honored enough to get to entertain the public. And, but I'm always a person. And I find that very interesting. Because sometimes I'll be introduced to a friend of a friend of a friend who wants to introduce me as a clown. And I just want to be introduced as a person and then later they might, you know, find out what I do. But I think that comes from being a shy person. 00:17:58.829 --> 00:18:04.259 It's not from being ashamed of what I do. Certainly not. 00:18:04.380 --> 00:18:45.839 It's, you know, you're not going out wearing your, your profession on your sleeve. I guess the same thing was they wouldn't run around going, Hey, this is my buddy chase called plumber, you know? Yeah. So I have a bunch of questions wrapped around this whole idea of the descriptor the what is Who are you? If you're not your profession? And and one of the other things I wonder about is, you mentioned you're being shy. What do you do when you're not performing? is are you? So some clowns are know that their process the next thing they're going to create? 00:18:42.779 --> 00:18:45.839 What is your Where's your go to? 00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:49.859 Where's your reset place? What is your, your meditative happy spot? 00:18:50.849 --> 00:19:46.170 You know, I think that I think oftentimes, it changes. I think that there's some things that I'm sort of rooted in. I really like to watch other clowns, I watch a lot of videos. YouTube is my best friend. I feel really connected when I watch other people. And I take little elements, you know, that I see I realized later that this the look that I did is very much like this person, or that person. And I don't mean to, you know, steal that look, but I love that I think that we're all really sort of an amalgamation of, of influences, as well as what we bring to it. And so I feel like, the more I see, the more I get inspired, even if it's subconscious, I really think that a lot of inspiration is just from the subconscious. 00:19:47.039 --> 00:20:16.019 So we are step we've, we're in a new normal, we're in a new space. Where do you see performance, your comp performance because everything's on hold right now as theaters figure out how to put audiences back in seats. theater is figuring out how to put people back on stage with casts and crews and all that, where do you see this evolution at whether you see it going there, or you want to work towards the evolution of performance in theatre and

how you play your craft? 00:20:16.740 --> 00:21:42.720 Right? I think that, you know, it's such an interesting time for for us in a such a unique craft already that's so old yet is constantly being you know, rethought. I think that online shows is a route that I think will be explored more and more. And it's something that I have gotten to explore. in this situation we're currently in. I think that, you know, whatever the circumstances will be tomorrow, or the next day, I think that no matter what we're gonna find what works best, or what we find interesting, or what works. You know, artistically business wise, I'm very hopeful for the future, because, you know, especially in, in the context of circus in particular, nothing has really stopped it yet. I mean, you know, mud and muck, and everything else under the sun, or under the clouds have managed to rain down. And, you know, just curious, from, from a fan perspective from a watcher of art, I'm very excited to see what comes with it, as well as a participant in the 00:21:43.650 --> 00:22:03.059 what would you tell yourself, your younger self, who was confused about what they could do in life, if you could just step back in a moment in time, to a younger you and give them encouragement or give them advice? Or with the knowledge that you have, in this moment going back? Then what would you say? 00:22:03.419 --> 00:22:38.368 I think I would probably say, you know, relax, you know, breathe, keep it simple. And, you know, I think that, I probably remind myself, I've always known this, but I would probably remind myself that it's an adventure. And then you're just lucky that you get to take part in it. And whatever comes your way, whatever you find, it's all gravy, you know, the, whatever you get to do in the future is a real blessing. 00:22:38.398 --> 00:22:44.878 And, you know, do what you can do a good job, which makes sure the shoes are tied next time. 00:22:47.069 --> 00:22:50.130 All right, jumping ahead to future self. 00:22:50.490 --> 00:23:08.910 You know, you so your future self has amnesia, and Miss missed a lot of this stuff. And you're going from what you have right now, is there anything you would say to your future self about getting there? Or is there anything you want to ask a future self about proceeding from here to there? 00:23:09.539 --> 00:23:48.900 I would probably ask myself, you know, how did it all turn out? How did you need the Bunyan surgery? But no, I think that I would probably I'd probably be curious to see if I how vigilant I was about, you know, trying things and exploring. writing new material and how, maybe how fearless I was, if I was more fearless than I have been in the past, you know, venturing out into new territory. You know, stuff like that. 00:23:50.250 --> 00:24:05.490 Do you have any stories, great stories of your travels? You've been to other cultures, you've been other countries you've dealt with other languages? Are there any? Do you have a story that one story that stands out more than another? 00:24:06.450 --> 00:24:42.000 I have somebody that comes to mind. Whenever I'm asked, you know, the Java story, I normally can't think of anything. You know, normally just all the memories flood my brain, but now that it's not so much, you know, different culture or something, but it is an interesting story that that's very dear to me. And it's very interesting, I think but when I was on Ringling Brothers, you know, as you well know, we live on the train, and in when I was on much bigger rooms than then than you did, and yes, I lived in 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:49.980 a room it was the roommates that that when I was on the train, were six foot by three foot and I'm six four, so that just do the math on that one. 00:24:50.220 --> 00:26:04.289 So we were living in luxury. Later on, and it was my second year on the show and the stock cars were elephants were transported on, we're parked right by the clown car, just on the next track. And I remember it was Sunday night. And I came home from, I think we probably had a dinner while everyone else that wasn't lazy was doing load out and getting paid a little bit more. And I realized that the stock part the stock cars had gotten loaded up, and that the elephants were now directly next to my house. And so I always had a real love for the elephants. And, uh, you know, just loved watching them. And, you know, I never had been involved with an animal circus before. And I didn't really know all that much about animals, but I fell in love with the elephants. And long story short, the, the elephant closest to my room was Mabel, the baby at the time. And she was nine at the time. And so I would, I went up to the, you know, to the window, and I put my hand up, and every time she'd walk past, she'd put her trunk there and sniff me. 00:26:04.650 --> 00:26:31.650 And then, you know, as I went to bed that night, I remember thinking, really just 10 or 12 feet away from me, there is an elephant. And that was one of the most magical I slept so well. I mean, to think that I slept next to a wonderful majestic animal that I got to see learn, you know, a few tricks, and I saw grow up, even if just for two of the years of her life was really magical. 00:26:31.769 --> 00:26:49.200 It does sound magical. And so that reminded me because you told me a story because I we've, you've shared with me your your love of elephants, and just how magical some of the moments have been including that one, which I hadn't heard before. You, you got to ride an elephant. 00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:50.130 Yes. 00:26:50.819 --> 00:26:55.829 Tell me about that. Because not everybody in the world gets to ride an elephant. What does that experience like riding an elephant? 00:26:56.190 --> 00:27:10.920 Right. So, you know, throughout the history of Ringling, you know, at certain points, clowns got to ride elephants a lot in the production in the manage the elephant act and it publicity. 00:27:07.019 -->

00:28:15.329 Well, when I was on the show, we never got to do that. And so the elephant crew, you know, I became friendly with them. And they knew that I loved the elephants a lot. And I used to help them with this and that mainly getting acrobats the heck out of the way when they would come But anyhow, but they they knew I had a great love of the elephants. And so as a gift to me, the week before I left the show, the head of elephants, let me ride one of the elephants in the in the tent and in the elephant compound tent. And not only that, he got to he let me ride Asan, who was one of Gunther Gable Williams original herd that came over from Germany in the late 60s and was still on the show was still in great health at 58. She didn't do much she just walked around and you know, hung out and got fed a lot. But I always loved watching her, she was one of my favorites. I really had a lot of favorites in such a small herd. 00:28:09.599 --> 00:28:38.970 But to get to ride an animal that is so large, was incredible. And, you know, she was real gentle. But she was so powerful. And you know, not only getting to ride an elephant, but I got to ride you know, the real quote unquote, way. You know, no harness, just ride on, on on her back and feet behind the ears. 00:28:34.769 --> 00:28:41.880 Yeah, she, you know, she threw me up the old way of the foot. 00:28:38.970 --> 00:28:45.359 Yeah. And I was pretty heavy back then I thought, wow, this, this old girl still real strong. 00:28:45.390 --> 00:28:45.750 You step 00:28:45.750 --> 00:28:50.609 on the foot, the knee and then the lift, which almost launches you 00:28:50.609 --> 00:29:02.099 completely over the elephant and you swing that leg around? I mean, I've never flown like that before. It was really incredible. And I was very grateful to that experience, for sure. 00:29:03.089 --> 00:29:06.089 And who was the trainer that put you on? Do you remember? 00:29:06.390 --> 00:29:17.880 Terry Frisco was the head of elephants and one of the other one of the other trainers sort of got him to say, okay, 00:29:18.029 --> 00:30:16.500 because one of the things that I mean, I throw that out there ask him who that was. Because a lot of times we'll hear about that story. And many times, the trainers or the handlers who don't aren't the star power behind things are really the ones who who make a lot of this stuff happen. A lot of that magic happen. And I just wanted to give that little shout out that you so you can give a shout out to to somebody who made one of your dreams come true. Yes. And which I think is also I think that's very important, because it and I'm going to do a shameless segue this way. Because you also do that with your work. You open up the mirth, the magic, this initiative. There's a little doorway to the impossible world of the clown for every audience that you encounter, or that encounters you. And you're a magician in one way, in that you transform, the normal, the mundane into that clown world. 00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:44.789 And you're an alchemist in that you take, and you shape and you shift through your skills into something that most people couldn't even imagine. One of the things one of your skills and I'm looking around on the floor in front of us is a pair of silver spoons and which I already gave him a really big razzing about the fact that he's got a pair of silver spoons, and all the things that that conjures up. What what I'm telling you about these silver spoons, please? 00:30:45.059 --> 00:31:04.740 Well, there's no symbolism involved in these silver spoons. But these are actually a newer pair that I've been fooling around with, I probably have 25 pairs of spoons. Not all of them silver, just want to throw that out there. They were not bought new. 00:31:01.829 --> 00:31:08.400 They were bought from a thrift store for about 50 cents each. 00:31:04.740 --> 00:31:16.859 But I love to go to thrift stores and find these different kinds of spoons. People think I'm a little bit strange when I start to play them in the middle of a thrift store. 00:31:17.609 --> 00:31:19.829 But you play the spoons, right? That's your thing. 00:31:19.890 --> 00:31:27.869 Right? That's one of my one of my main things. One of my main sticks at this time, one of my favorites I've ever done. 00:31:28.259 --> 00:31:30.119 And you can indulge us with 00:31:30.119 --> 00:31:31.140 a little little little school 00:31:32.160 --> 00:32:45.180 records, but we'll see. Yeah, I mean, I could give it a whirl. Anyhow, but it's it's one of my favorite pastimes. And it started you know, as a kid, I love The Three Stooges. And in one of their shorts, curly plays the spoons, probably a couple of them. But I just remembered in one in particular. And I loved curly, he was one of my favorite influences. Because he was he was a big guy, I was a big guy as a kid. So really connected with him there. I used to get haircuts like him, which really were not very flattering, but it was an homage to curly. And so I tried to learn how to play the spoons as a kid. And I didn't have the right form. And, you know, I was watching on a grainy VHS tape, I couldn't really see how it was. So I was turning the spoons, the concave weight to each other. I don't know if that's the right word. But it's the opposite, right? The curved parts against so. But much later, as a teenager, I started to play spoons, thanks to the help of YouTube a little bit. 00:32:40.859 --> 00:33:25.200 And so I use just play for fun to pocos and all kinds of music mainly, like, you know, European folk music. And, and then later I realized why I should make that into an act. And so that's sort of, that's the first one that led me down the path of you know, eccentric musical acts sort of a nod to the European you know, tradition of the musical clown, but also a nod to the you know, the vaudevillians with centric musical instruments and centric ways of, of, that's also word I would use to describe myself as an as

eccentric. I really connect to those wonderful traditions in the theater. 00:33:25.919 --> 00:33:47.159 And as a clown, so you mentioned your the musicality of the spoons. What skills do you bring skills to your comic? Or and I don't mean to mentalize if that the the clown character development is not a skill, but do you have like, are you a juggler or your Acrobat? What did you what do you what skills do you bring to your clown? 00:33:47.549 --> 00:33:57.059 Right So really, the the skills that I showcase are, you know, musical skills and a little bit of manipulation? 00:33:57.990 --> 00:34:21.150 juggling balanced type stuff in the last show is in before the shutdown Bernardo circus I was doing. I was doing chin balancing which is one of my other old loves as a kid. So you know, I did very just a short little routine with that, you know, I bounced a cane. And then I did a chair and then I did a big ladder. 00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:25.170 So by chin balancing you're balancing these things actually on your chin? 00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:56.409 Yes. Which is you know, I think one of the coolest one of the coolest acts there is but not really that many people do it and i i you know grew up watching John Weiss do it with gigantic wooden ladder and I love that I think it's a wonderful thing. And I also do like the cigar box slap stack like WC fields used to do. But I don't I don't I'm not Eric Bates. or anything like that. 00:34:52.780 --> 00:34:56.409 No, no. Kris Kremo for sure. 00:34:56.130 --> 00:34:59.730 Eric Bates is also a young performer is he before you or 00:34:59.150 --> 00:35:02.269 before me. 00:34:59.969 --> 00:35:03.929 fter you as a Smirko? 00:35:02.000 --> 00:35:08.750 Before you, okay? Also young performer traveling the world now doing multiple things. 00:35:04.789 --> 00:35:12.349 He's an acrobat and he also has a cigar box juggling that's absolutely out of this world. 00:35:12.409 --> 00:35:39.110 Outrageous really, but wonderful to watch. But I also do I play the spoons and I also play the tune cowbells, which is something I really enjoy doing the cowbells. Yes, they're handmade tune cowbells from Austria. And I love that because it's especially when I brought it to Switzerland. It's such a funny thing. I bring their own culture to them from America. 00:35:39.110 --> 00:35:45.980 But after I bought the cowbells from there anyway. But yeah, I also like the irony of 00:35:47.039 --> 00:35:51.300 now and I asked him now because we've talked about these things that you do you got the spoons? 00:35:51.570 --> 00:36:00.869 You're tuned cowbells, you got chin balancing? Is there any way that folks who are listening to this podcast can see some of these videos of you doing stuff? 00:35:58.559 --> 00:36:04.800 Or the shows that you have listed? Or do you have a YouTube channel? Is there any way to find your work? 00:36:04.829 --> 00:36:35.880 Yes, you can find me on YouTube. Chase Culp cu LP chase like the verb and a very strange name. I'm on Instagram, Chase underscore cope. And then I also have a Facebook page just for my work called chase cope clown, slash physical comedian, I think it's cool. But you can see sort of what I'm up to and where I'm what I'm going to be up to, and some videos and pictures of, of what I've been doing things like that. 00:36:37.079 --> 00:36:55.619 Fantastic. And chase as this has been great. I feel like I can go on and on and on. Because I mean, I can't believe he's under 30. Okay, just just to let you know, has had some amazing experiences. 00:36:50.969 --> 00:37:05.969 And I've been talking to chase for the last couple of days, as we sit around. And I just was like, I gotta I gotta interview this guy. And I'm really glad that I have and I wanted to sit down and I want to talk more. 00:37:06.179 --> 00:37:22.860 And we didn't even get I love to get into the whole metaphysics and all the deep thinking behind this stuff. But I just got into the details of where you're at and not the heady stuff. So I would love to have you back again and talk some more at some time. Is that something you'd be open to do? That would be one. 00:37:22.860 --> 00:37:29.789 Okay. Can you also give us a little bit more of the spoon stuff? Can you play us out? Wow. 00:37:30.119 --> 00:37:30.960 Everyone says 00:37:45.360 --> 00:37:48.809 thank you Chase Culp for that wonderful podcast. 00:37:48.809 --> 00:37:54.690 Thank you so much. I mean, I am I am over the moon. Yeah, thanks a lot. 00:37:54.869 --> 00:38:01.559 Thanks for having me. That was that was a lot less terrifying. Perhaps. 00:38:03.340 --> 00:38:56.019 Fantastic. So if you are a fan of this podcast or and you would like to support what we do. This is totally funded by yourself myself right here. Me, just me. So if you would like to support this podcast, you can check out our Patreon site, become a patron at Patreon, William Forchion. And you can also check out some of the other stuff I'm doing on YouTube, the dreamer station and share this podcast with as many people as possible. If you can, please leave a review on whatever podcast app you're using. That helps us to get more subscribers. Thank you so very much. And remember, go forward with passion and purpose. And always remember that You are enough. Thank you. This has been Billosophy and I am William Forchion. 00:39:04.059 --> 00:39:11.199 Thank you for listening to the Billosophy podcast. Keep checking in as we will be regularly releasing new episodes.