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PRESS RELEASE

 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Clown Capers 
508 Otway Road
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 453-1330

 

 TO:  The Bowie-Blade News, Bowie, MD 20715

Clown Capers is a local company of magicians, clowns and balloon artists that entertain with comedy magic, face painting, clowning and balloons. Clown Capers has been performing in the Baltimore-Washington-Annapolis Metropolitan area since 1979, and provides a full line of services for a school program, party, banquet, picnic, bar mitzvah, or promotion. The company offerings include comedy magic shows, clown skits, balloon sculpturing, face painting, and walk-around clowning. 

The Clown Capers company had its roots formed in 1979 by Don Sminkey (a.k.a. Don the Clown.) Don had been an amateur magician for many years before trying his hand at clowning. He is a member of the Society of American Magicians, and the Clowns of America International Clown club. He has an extensive library on all magical and clowning subjects, and has published two of his own books—Handbook for the Magical Party Clown in 1983, and It's Not What You Do, But How You Do It in 1989.

Don the Clown has performed for the annual Bowiefest; at the Bowie Fine Arts Center; for American Legion, Moose and Elks Clubs in the area; at the Sheraton Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.; at many restaurants in the area; and at numerous banquets and fairs for scouting groups and clubs.

"But best of all I enjoy entertaining small groups of children at a home birthday party," said Don. "The children really warm up to a clown or comedy magician at close range, and that makes the occasion very rewarding for me also."

His daughters, Mary Jo and Eileen, also joined the act, and they soon became very skillful at with balloons and magic. They have since moved on to a full-time jobs and have retired from clowning.

Don's wife, Tamah, joined the team in 1981 and soon afterwards the Clown Capers Company was formally established. Clown Capers has done promotional work for the Laurel Center, Wheaton Plaza, Free State Mall, The US Air Arena, PEPCO, Safeway Stores and many other businesses in the Bowie, MD, area. Clowns have been provided for Hands Across America, the White House Easter Egg Roll, the International Special Arts Festival and other large functions. Services provided by Clown Capers include clowning and magic for parties, picnics, or other events; face-painters, and magicians; and special pre-school show performances.

Tamah is the owner and manager of Clown Capers, and in addition performs as Dingbat the Clown. She can often be found performing at schools, birthday parties, and child care centers. 

Tamah is a Certified Balloon Artist (CBA) with the Qualatex Balloon Network. This means she has studied and passed five written exams on various aspects of balloon work and has taken a hands-on test to prove that she is qualified to do professional work. She has also attended numerous conventions on balloon decorating and magic, and has taught classes in clowning and balloon skills.

Don is now semi-retired, but still performs as Dazzlin’ Don the Wacky Wizard, and occasionally as Don the Clown. He also does the bookkeeping and computer work for the company. New clowns hoping to work for the company often receive training and other help from Don who is always happy to share the knowledge he has gained from years of experience.

Daughter-in-law, Maureen Sminkey is also a CBA, and has worked for Clown Capers for many years. She performed as Freckles the Clown. Maureen is now working full-time in another profession.

In August of 2008, Don and Tamah moved to Wake Forest, North Carolina, and are hoping to resume their clowning/magic business in that location.