STEVE COPELAND

Copeland has a smile for every working hour

 

Photo by LINDA SALSBERRY
SAME FACE, SAME SMILE
Steve Copeland is spending time with family in Walterboro and recuperating from the nine-month-move-every-day Kelly Miller Circus tour. Since early childhood, he has wanted to be a clown and now he falling (carefully, yet with a comic element) into his tenth year of listing "clown" as his occupation on his tax return. "I'm surprised I haven't been audited," he said.
from: colletontoday.com
By LINDA SALSBERRY
December 30, 2011
Steve Copeland, now 28, had a mid-life crisis at 24, only because, he explained, "I'd already accomplished my lifelong dream."
He had been a clown with the blue unit of Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus for five years, something he knew he wanted to do since he was 4. As a senior at Colleton Preparatory Academy, after years of performing at churches, parties and the Rice Festival, he sent a promo package to Ringling and "got hired right away."
He spent five years riding the rails and seeing America, especially its major cities.
As a clown, one of 16 with the unit, he hosted "The Today Show" on April 1, performed at the White House, and had his photograph taken with celebrities, including James Gandolfini (Tony on "The Sopranos"). Copeland said he taught "Dancing With the Stars" host Tom Bergeron how to juggle and traded make-up tips with Peter Criss of KISS.
"I did a lot of cool stuff," he said, while performing before millions of people.
He left the big corporation circus in 2007 and the following summer was working as a clown at Myrtle Beach. He called a fellow clown from Ringling, Ryan Combs. "We meshed very well," Copeland said, each with a "very Three Stooges inspired" style and they formed a professional partnership, Steve & Ryan.
read more at:
http://colletontoday.com/news/copeland-has-a-smile-for-every-working-hour/article_caee538a-3334-11e1-b287-0019bb2963f4.html?mode=story