Student entertains as clown
By: Jeff Starck
Issue date: 10/24/02 Section: Culture
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That's because she is one.
Rodgers performs professionally as "Molly the clown" and loves every minute of it.
"Seeing a little kid's eyes light up when you give him a balloon animal, or having an elderly person tell you that they appreciate you just taking a little time to listen and pay attention to them is one of the greatest things you could ever experience," Rodgers said. "It makes both their day and yours. That's what keeps you going after you've been working eight hours and your fingers are busted and bruised from making over 500 balloons."
And that was the case on Oct. 18, as Molly made about that many balloon animals at Relleke Farms in Granite City, Ill., while shivering in the chilly and windy fall weather for four hours.
Bedecked in a straw hat, overalls, a checkered bandana, red and white striped tights, baby doll black sandals and six freckles on each cheek, Molly pleased the continuous crowd of children with balloon puppies, bunny bracelets and ladybugs, among others. With a squirt of air from her portable box compressor and then a flurry of twists and squeaks, she turned new balloons into inflatable art in about 25 seconds.
Brandon Ebersohl, 13, of Granite City, opted for the sword and belt. Kirsten Mordis, 2, of Caseyville, Ill. giggled with delight when Molly made her a ladybug. Rodgers knows how to make around 100 balloon animals, with pregnant animals the most difficult to make.
But it wasn't always that easy. Rodgers' clowning career began more than 11 years ago on April 17, 1991. Rodgers became interested in clowning when her fourth grade teacher made balloons in class.
She took a few "experience" classes at the Granite City branch of what is now Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) where she was introduced to the world of clowning. The teacher of such classes as "Clowning 101," "Ballooning" and "Magic," Julie Wier, noticed Rodgers' desire and asked her to join the Rainbow Clown Troupe, a traveling children's clown group. Rodgers brother Kenny, then 3 1/2 years old, joined the troupe as well, as "Pocketchange" to Rodgers' "Big Bucks."
"She works hard at it," Wier said. "I know that sounds like an oxymoron, a hard-working clown. But she's wanted to be a clown forever. When she came to the class, I knew she was a keeper. She knew before taking the classes that she was a clown. She had it in her heart."
As part of the troupe, she put in hundreds of hours performing at nursing homes, store openings, battered women shelters and other events. The troupe even performed for victims of the Flood of '93 and with Susan and Cookie Monster of Sesame Street, one of the highlights of Rodgers' life.
"Not many people can say they got to hang out with Cookie Monster for a whole day," she said.
Clowning has provided more than those opportunities for Rodgers. Before she started clowning, she said, she was shy and quiet in public and at school.
"When I became a clown, the face make-up and the outfit gave me a chance to disguise myself and be who I really wanted to be," Rodgers said.
Rodgers has had the support of her family throughout her endeavors. But not everyone has taken her choice as positively.
"I dated a guy once who tried to get me to stop being a clown because he was embarrassed by my occupation ... he didn't stick around very long," Rodgers said. "Being a clown definitely does not help me with the boys though. There have been quite a few guys who have run in the opposite direction when they found out what 'that mysterious job I have on the weekends' was."
But Rodgers has had to deal with other stereotypes. While she proudly proclaims the fact that she was the first real "class clown" to graduate Granite City High School, she said she gets told to "stop clowning around" every day.
"Everybody loves a clown, but when you tell somebody that that's what you do, they often say 'Really?,'" Rodgers said. "They don't know what would possess someone to want to be a clown. I just tell them that I like the big shoes and the small cars. Lots of people don't believe that you can make a living doing this. It's a job just like any other. You just get to wear bigger shoes. The hardest part is making your hobby your job. I don't like having to pay bills with something that I consider a hobby ... it takes the fun out of it sometimes."
For an occasion like Relleke's she earns about $100-$150, all of it in tips. For parties, she charges $50 an hour.
Rodgers will graduate from Webster in December with a bachelor's degree in media communications. She's currently interning and working for Emmis Communications at such radio stations as KSHE-FM 95 and KPNT-FM 105.7 The Point while teaching the same clown experience class she once took at SWIC. She also is a free-lance reporter/photographer for the Suburban Journals of Illinois. Whatever direction her life takes, she can't see herself ever not being a clown.
"Clowning will always be a part of me," Rodgers said. "It's who I am. It has shaped me as a person. You wouldn't have been able to pay me to give a speech in front of people before I became a clown. Now I'll do it with clown make-up on or not. I can't imagine where I would be if I hadn't become a clown."
