Amongst the bright lights illuminating from the Prince Albert Exhibition lights, is a brightly-dressed, colourful clown who seemingly camouflages into the environment—Joey Maddison, also known as his jester alter ego “Joey the Clown” or “Mr. Clown”, seeks to brighten up the days of fairgoers.
“This is my third or fourth year. I call myself a joy facilitator for the event. I try to make everything more fun,” explained Maddison. “I wear very limited makeup, but my colorful costumes are very, very loud, bright, cheerful.”
From head to toe, he’s a fun jumble of patterns, colours, and textures: a plaid button-up shirt, bright orang e patch pants, fishnet gloves, and a giant polka dotted bow to match his polka dotted tie.
Oftentimes, the weather can be a challenge for the performer.
“Like today I’m going to be really getting cold, you know, even though I’m wearing, like, short sleeves for the event. But it’s something you just kind of make the best of it. And for me, I’m very passionate about what I do,” he said.
Children and even seniors all greet him with a smile, often gaining hugs from toddlers and a solid fist bump from older adults.
“I love to see people smile and love to have them get engaged and also like to be an ambassador for the event,” he said. “I’m friends with a lot of different people in different facilities. Like, I can say, ‘Oh, you’re looking for a vendor?’ And I can tell them where to go. And then there’s also other things that are going on with the shows where, like, people have questions. I like to be able to answer those for sure,” he said.
Despite his friendly demeanor, kids sometimes hesitate to say hello.
“Well, children being scared does happen, and it is just kind of easing them into it. The first few times I go around, I start with just gradual waves. I don’t try to interact with the kids,” explained Maddison. “From a distance, I wave. If they wave back, great. If not, then that’s okay. It’s their choice. But the ones that wave, the next time I go by, I come in closer and I come in for a high five or whatever. Just kind of want to make sure they’re comfortable with my presence being around.”
With hundreds of people attending the exhibition, he finds reflection and thinking of his late mother help combat feelings of nervousness.
“I still get butterflies before these events. My mom passed away 15 years ago. I miss her every day and she was the biggest supporter of this. I was taking a knee before an event to do a little prayer and I said, ‘Mom, you’re gonna love the show.’ So when I see the kids and the people laughing and smiling and having a good time, I know she’s close.”
Maddison described himself as “personable” and someone who can adapt to other people’s energy.
“When I see these kids running and coming to me, hugs and whatever, they’re high-fiving me as if I just saw them last week. That’s what warms my heart,” They’re asking me to go on a ride with them because their parents are too nervous and they’ll grab my little hands around my pinky. I’m going on this ride, which I’m personally terrified of myself, but they pick me. And off we go. And it’s just moments like that, there’s so much out there that’s so much to celebrate about.”
Joey the Clown will be on the Prince Albert Exhibition grounds until Aug. 9.
