DeWayne Reynolds gets to clown around for a living. Literally.
Reynolds is a clown, magician, storyteller and balloon artist, among other trades.
Reynolds said people's reactions are the most rewarding part of his job.
"What I do is not make balloons so much as create memories," Reynolds said. "I talk to people."
He also enjoys having children run up to him, cheer for him and hug him.
"I probably bring in a little more joy into the world, and for that I'm lucky," Reynolds said. "I do a job where I get praised for doing my job."
Reynolds got his start 12 years ago after dropping out of graduate school several times.
He joked with his friends that if he dropped out again, he would become a clown.
However, Reynolds promises himself he will return to school.
While working at Books-A-Million, Reynolds bought a book on balloon animals as a joke.
"I thought, 'I'm going to teach myself balloon animals,' got a book on balloon animals and taught myself how to do it."
Reynolds said it was difficult at first.
"You start messing with balloons, they pop," Reynolds said. "I just kept practicing. There's no secret to it--it's just that I worked really hard and practiced really hard and got to do it."
Reynolds said the biggest misconception is that his job is easy and that he is just a clown. Clowns and balloon artists are not synonymous, he said.
"The implication is what I'm doing is not worthwhile, that I'm wasting my life," Reynolds said.
Reynolds spends most of his spare time sorting through balloons and restocking his bag for events.
Balloons come in bags of 100, but he sorts them into easily manageable bundles.
Reynolds said organization is crucial in his line of work.
This time of year, Reynolds said Aubie is the most popular balloon animal he makes.
Reynolds has even made people corsages for prom night.
"Rarely do I have to come up with something that someone didn't come up with already," Reynolds said. "The most common request people ask when they are trying to stump me is a duck-billed platypus.
"I get the bills paid, and I can look at myself in the mirror. I'm not ashamed of what I do, and I brighten people's day."
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
