PLATTSBURGH -- The magic is in the nose, says Laura Green, also known as Pipsqueak the Clown.
Green first put on the nose 20 years ago this year and has been "clowning around," ever since.
Pipsqueak arrived at the Press-Republican office in full clown fashion, ready with props and puns, including a miniature plush hotdog on the end of a leash.
"I brought my dog, 'Frank,' I can't leave him in the car in the summer or he'll turn into a 'hot dog.' I took him to a special dog race and told him to 'ketchup,' he 'mustard' heard me, because he won, they declared him the 'weiner,' we really 'relish' in that victory," Pipsqueak said.
Before Pipsqueak, Green was a teacher, one year teaching second grade, then kindergarten at a private school in Indiana before homeschooling four of her five children; she used puppets to make her lessons more memorable.
This is what she credits as the start of her clowning career, as at a puppet convention in Rochester, Green met a clown offering puppeteering lessons who inspired her to try it herself.
She bought makeup, a clown outfit and Pipsqueak was created.
"I did a party for a friend, and then some parents hired me for their kids' birthday, and at first I thought 'oh a paying gig,' it will pay for my magic habit," Green said. "When I put the nose on for the first time I never dreamed it would become what it is,"
With 20 years of putting on shows and telling jokes as Pipsqueak, there are simply too many stories for Green to share.
"My mind flooded with twenty years of special moments. But what I really love most is that I get to be part of other people's favorite childhood memories," she said.
Some memories she could recall ranged from a "back to 2nd-grade" themed birthday party for a college student and a private family event at a campsite near Raquette Lake, complete with a ferris wheel.
"I normally don't do adult parties, so I was initially hesitant because,'College students?' 'what are their real plans?' but it was so much fun, they were like little kids," she said.
"I did magic for them and they laughed themselves silly," she said.
She also recalled a recent experience at a children's party in Schuyler Falls, pulling into a driveway and through the open windows she heard children shouting "She's here, Pipsqueak is here" followed by squeals, whoops, claps and laughter.
"In that instant, I feel like a real-live cartoon character stepping off the screen and into their world. Seeing pure joy and wonder on sweet little faces when I walk into the room is something that never gets old," Green said.
Green's favorite part of becoming Pipsqueak is the "sparkles in kids eyes," at every event.
"After 20 years, I've seen lots of them," she said.
Green does not clown around when it comes to clowning.
Preparation for a show can take hours to get the script direction and the jokes right, props ready, and it takes her two hours to do her make up and don the Pipsqueak outfit.
"Some people think you can just put on a nose and go be silly. I script out everything, with notes about when to step, everything, planned and practiced for hours," Green said.
Over the years Green has trained with and attended workshops through the following programs:
- World Clown Association Conventions (NYC, Richmond VA, Los Angeles CA, Chicago IL)
All five of Green's children have followed in her, and Pipsqueak's comically larged footsteps, in becoming clowns.
Her eldest daughter, goes by "Lacey-Lou," and does face painting; her son, Tommy, known as "Stretch," walks on stilts; "Davey Ding Dong," twists balloons; Benjamin, known as "Scooter," and Mikey Mouse.
At one point, each helped her out with shows and events, now they are all "out of the nest," and making their own marks in the clown world.
Green said she is hardly recognized without the Pipsqueak makeup and outfit.
"It's fun, I am a little bit famous, but also completely anonymous," she said.
"I guard my secret identity carefully."
When she isn't wearing the red nose, or big shoes, Green likes to read and ski.
"I love nature and getting out in the Adirondacks, it's beautiful this time of year."
With more memories than she can count, Green expressed gratitude to the community for welcoming Pipsqueak and allowing her to create fun memories.
"I'm beyond grateful for the people who have hired me over 20 years and made this wonderful life possible," she said.
"I get to bring joyful moments to people of all ages and stations through the varied types of events I do."
Pipsqueak's Party Time Entertainment generally operates within a 3-hour radius of Plattsburgh and offers comedy magic and puppet shows and face painting for charity events, fairs and festivals, children's birthdays and school visits.
For more information about Pipsqueak's Party Time entertainment visit www.pipsqueakspartytime.com