Clowning around: 2011 Character Clown Corps pics

The official 2011 Portland Rose Festival Character Clown Corps season of clowning around has come to an end. Toot Caboose, in his third year as a member of the Clown Corps, and his clown pals had a great time participating in National Train Day, the Fred Meyer Junior Rose Parade, the Spirit Mountain Casino Grand Floral Parade and other activities. Many of their antics are documented in this Flickr gallery of clowning images.

If you have any desire to be a member of the 2012 Portland Rose Festival Character Clown Corps be watching for application and audition information early next year on the organization's web page.

© 2011 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Clowning around: Toots Caboose and pals do love a parade; two within one week is fan-frickin'-tastic!

Toots Caboose, the alter ego of designer and author Jeff Fisher - the Engineer of Creative Identity for the Portland-based firm Jeff Fisher LogoMotives is clowning around for his third season as a member of the Amtrak Cascades Character Clown Corps for the Portland Rose Festival. The annual activities got off to an early start in May, with National Train Day at Union Station.

Toots on a Union Pacific caboose, next to SP 4449 - “World's Most Famous Steam Locomotive” - at Portland's Union Station during National Train Day. [Photo by clown pal Jumbo/Brian Ross].

A railroad engineer clown is always a big hit at National Train Day. Over five hours of clowning - and literally having hundreds of photos taken with children and train afficianados - is a bit exhausting, but it's an incredibly gratifying and enjoyable event.

This week, with the Portland Rose Festival in full swing, it's time for two historic parades and some serious fun:

Toots and the caboose of UP 956, Union Pacific's famous miniature train, at the 2010 Portland Rose Festival Junior Parade.

• Fred Meyer Junior Rose Parade: The oldest and largest children's parade in the United States will be held on Wednesday, June 8th.

Pippa and Toots Caboose in the 2009 Portland Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade [Photo by Ross William Hamilton/The Oregonian].

• Spirit Mountain Casino Grand Floral Parade: The Grand Floral Parade is Saturday, June 11th. In 2010, in addition to being seen by a national television audience, nearly 500,000 people lined the streets of downtown Portland to view the event. Toots is looking forward to seeing the Union Pacific Miniature Train in the 2011 parade.

For more photos of the 2010 Amtrak Cascades Character Clown Corp activities, check out this gallery of images

© 2011 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Clowning Around: Toots Caboose & pals prepare for 2011 Portland Rose Festival Character Clown Corps

Toots Caboose, the alter ego of designer and author Jeff Fisher - the Engineer of Creative Identity for the Portland-based firm Jeff Fisher LogoMotives is dusting off his red nose for a third season as a member of the Amtrak Cascades Character Clown Corps for the Portland Rose Festival. In 2009 Toots emerged from clown school and made quite an impression at official Rose Festival events.

Toots Caboose in front of SP 4449 - “World's Most Famous Steam Locomotive” - at Portland's Union Station during National Train Day.

Once again, Toots Caboose and members of the Character Clown Corps will liven things up during National Train Day festivities at Portland's historic Union Station on Saturday, May 7th. In 2010, at the request of Amtrak Cascades officials, Toots was an official tour guide on their custom-built Talgo train.

Al Baker, of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, with Toots at Portland's National Train Day event.

Led by Boss Clown Angel Ocasio, there be be sightings of Toots Caboose and the Character Clown Corp troupe at these, and other, upcoming official Portland Rose Festival events:

• National Train Day: Meet strolling and performing clowns at Union Station on Saturday, May 7th.

Toots Caboose playing engineer with the Union Pacific Miniature Train during the 2010 Fred Meyer Junior Rose Parade

• Fred Meyer Junior Rose Parade: The oldest and largest children's parade in the United States will be held on Wednesday, June 8th.

Toots Caboose, Auguste and Trip strike a pose prior the 2010 Portland Rose Parade [Photo by clown pal Pippa/Debra Samuel].

• Spirit Mountain Casino Grand Floral Parade: The Grand Floral Parade is Saturday, June 11th. In 2010, in addition to being seen by a national television audience, nearly 500,000 people lined the streets of downtown Portland to view the event.

For more photos of the 2010 Amtrak Cascades Character Clown Corp activities, check out this gallery of images

© 2011 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Clowning Around: Toots Caboose begins second year with Amtrak Cascades Character Clown Corps

Toots Caboose, the alter ego of designer and author Jeff Fisher - the Engineer of Creative Identity for the Portland-based firm Jeff Fisher LogoMotives has started his second season as a member of the Amtrak Cascades Character Clown Corps for the Portland Rose Festival. Last year Toots emerged from clown school and made quite an impression at official Rose Festival events.

Toots Caboose in front of SP 4449 - “World's Most Famous Steam Locomotive.”

In some 2010 pre-festival duties Toots assisted in recruiting new members of the Clown Corps with appearances on KGW Newschannel 8 at Sunrise with Drewbo (KGW reporter Drew Carney) and a gaggle of Clown Corps pals; and KATU's AM Northwest program with Bango (KATU reporter Janice Bangs), Dolly, and Angel.

Al Baker, of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, with Toots and Portland's National Train Day event.

Once again, Toots Caboose and members of the Character Clown Corps livened things up at the recent National Train Day festivities at Portland's historic Union Station. At the request of Amtrak Cascades officials, Toots was an official tour guide on their custom-built Talgo train.

Toots, with with Judy Hall of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, hard at work giving Talgo train tours.

There are sure to be upcoming sightings of Toots Caboose and the Character Clown Corp troupe at the upcoming events:

• Fred Meyer Junior Rose Parade: The oldest and largest children's parade in the United States will be held on Wednesday, June 9th.

• Key Bank Grand Floral Parade: The Grand Floral Parade is Saturday, June 12th. In 2009, nearly 500,000 people lined the streets of downtown Portland to view the event.

For more photos of the 2010 Amtrak Cascades Character Clown Corp activities, check out this gallery of images

© 2010 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Toots Caboose and Rose Festival Character Clown Corps pals clown around on KATU's AM Northwest

Last spring I had the pleasure of being accepted to Clown School for the Portland Rose Festival Amtrak Cascades Character Clown Corps. In the intense three-day workshop I created the identity of my clown alter-ego Toots Caboose, designed signature make-up, coordinated a train engineer costume, created a physical persona for the character and learned how to play well with other clowns.

My participation in the 2009 Character Clown Corps was an incredible experience, with public appearances at National Train Day at historic Union Station, the Fred Meyer Junior Rose Parade and the KeyBank Grand Floral Parade as major highlights. Walking the Grand Floral Parade route, with an estimated 500,000 viewers lining the downtown Portland streets, was a bit overwhelming.

Earlier this week, I got an email from Boss Clown Angel Ocasio asking that Toots Caboose participate in a Character Clown Corps effort to recruit members of the clown class of 2010 with an appearance on KATU's AM Northwest show. At the Portland Rose Festival office, Angel, clown pal Dolly and I were met by AM Northwest producer/reporter Janice Bangs - and "Cameraman Bob."

Cameraman Bob, Dolly, Toots Caboose, Bango and Boss Clown Angel after taping the Portland Rose Festival Amtrak Cascades Character Clown Corps recruiting segment for AM Northwest

Out of costume, Dolly (Michele) and I joined Angel in judging the possible new recruit's clown school audition (video above - top). After Bangs nailed her try-out, Angel coordinated the makeup and costume that transformed the reporter into Bango - while clowns Dolly and Toots Caboose evolved in the background. Our AM Northwest segment taping came to an end with Angel, Dolly and Toots Caboose assisting Bango with her first clown trick. It was a fun afternoon of clowning around.

The Portland Rose Festival Character Clown Corps is currently seeking applicants, age 14 years and older, for its 2010 clown workshop class. If interested, applications must be received by Monday, March 1, 2010. Additional information, and a downloadable application form, are available on the Character Clown Corps website.

© 2010 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Portland Rose Festival searches for members of its 2010 Amtrak Cascades Character Clown Corps class

Last spring the Jeff Fisher LogoMotives train got a little off track and I became Toots Caboose, a member of the Portland Rose Festival Amtrak Cascades Character Clown Corps. I'd never had a burning desire to be a clown - but took on applying for the three-day clown school workshop, taught by professional clown Angel Ocasio, as a major challenge to step outside of my own personal comfort zone and be a part of a historic Portland tradition.

Class of 2009 Portland Rose Festival Amtrak Cascades Character Clown Corps - Before (Photo by Brian Ross)

As I nervously met my classmates in clowning the first evening (above), I had no idea of what to expect from the clown workshop. By the end of the third day we'd established clown personas for ourselves, designed make-up, created costumes and had some fairly intense clown training (below). In just a few days, we were transformed from individuals from all walks of life to a troupe of clowns having shared an incredible life experience.

Class of 2009 Portland Rose Festival Amtrak Cascades Character Clown Corps - After (Photo by Brian Ross)

Our clown characters continued to evolve throughout 2009 with public appearances at National Train Day at Union Station, the Fred Meyer Junior Rose Parade, the Key Bank Grand Floral Parade, and more. Toots Caboose was even tracked to situations not directly related to the Rose Festival. It was an amazing summer of activities.

Now, the search is on for the 2010 Character Clown Corps class. Applications for auditions are due on March 1, 2010. All information, and a downloadable application, may be found on the Portland Rose Festival Amtrak Cascades Character Clown Corps web page.

Tenure as a member of the Character Clown Corps doesn't end with the calendar year of one's schooling. Clown workshop graduates are Portland Rose Festival ambassadors for life. In fact, members of the first two classes just made an appearance this past week, with Drewbo (Drew Carney) on the KGW Newschannel 8 at Sunrise, to promote the search for the 2010 clown class (below).

Check out a video clip of the KGW appearance, see some additional photos of the early morning event and get the perspective of Public Relations Manager Rich Jarvis on the Portland Rose Festival blog.

If you have an interest in some serious clowning around - and a whole lot of fun - you should consider submitting an application to become a member of the Portland Rose Festival Amtrak Cascades Character Clown Corps.

© 2010 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Clowning Around: Toots in Grand Floral Parade

Pippa and Toots Caboose by Ross William Hamilton/The Oregonian

I think I need to check myself into some kind of recovery program following my experiences as Toots Caboose, a member of the Amtrak Cascades Character Clown Corps for the annual Portland Rose Festival. It's been one of the best experiences of my life. However, I'm a bit melancholy today - perhaps it's clown withdrawal.

Yesterday the Character Clown Corps participated in the Key Bank Grand Floral Parade. It was incredible being a part of the major parade for the 102-year-old Portland tradition.

Dolly, Auguste, Toots Caboose and Donnie with two future clowns in the VIP Area at Memorial Coliseum. Photo from gallery at KGW.com

Toots and some of his clown pals began the day, early in the morning, entertaining individuals in the VIP area just outside the Memorial Coliseum. After having a photo taken with the just crown Rose Festival Queen Rachel Seeman, and cheering on the thousands of walkers in the Regence Grand Floral Walk, it was time get into position for the 4.5 mile parade. It was exhilarating to be introduced to cheering crowd as we walked through the Coliseum and out onto NE Broadway.

The parade took us south on Martin Luther King Blvd, across the Burnside Bridge and on a winding route through the streets of downtown Portland. The slight drizzle certainly didn't dampen the spirits of the huge crowd lining the streets - estimated by some to be as high as 500,000 people. It was great see so many friends, both adults and kids, cheering us on. Many people were yelling "Toots!" I assume some were familiar with my clown persona due to the recent Just Out article about my clowning experience. I didn't see the "We Love Toots!" sign, but I sure heard about it from my clown friends.

During one pause in the movement of the parade a woman in the audience got my attention. She said, "I want to thank you and all the clowns; you've done a wonderful job."

After completing our parade entertaining, it was great to sit on the curb near Lincoln High School and get to watch part of the beautiful parade. A bit later my partner Ed picked me up and, after I told him I was incredibly hungry, he took me to the Arbor Lodge New Seasons to get a sandwich from the deli. I loved the fact that so many people acted as if it was perfectly normal to see a clown in a grocery store. One woman walked past me, came back and grabbed my arm, and said. "I just walked past a clown. I'm also a clown and it makes me so happy to see you here."

A tired and hungry Toots Caboose waiting for his sandwich at the Arbor Lodge News Seasons Market

The Grand Floral Parade was televised locally by KGW Newschannel 8 and a video clip of the Amtrak Cascades Character Clown Corp is on the station website (right after the commercial). Additional photos are available on my Flickr page.

© 2009 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives