Being a Rodeo Clown is No Joke!

When you serve in the role of public address announcer, you do more than just say whose playing. You are the information center, the defacto cheerleader, the concierge controller for first time visitors (who else tells them where to buy a snack and where to find the restroom?), the greeter and “good byer”…many good things wrapped up in one. However, on occasion, we must be the “Rodeo Clown”, and that is no joke.

Before moving forward, what exactly is a “rodeo clown?”, Well, if you’ve ever watched a rodeo, whenever something goes amiss for the cowboy riding the bull, roping the steer, or breaking in a bucking bronco, the rodeo clown enters the ring. While they look and dress comical, their job is to distract the angry animal and help the cowboy reach safety, sometimes with assistance, sometimes on his own, while also keeping the crowd focused on themselves (the clown) so as not to cause any panic or distress in the stands. Now, how does this apply to P A Announcers?

Unfortunately, recent years have shown  us that  P A  Announcers  must be on their toes and ready to assume that mantle. The news each fall is peppered with stories of gun-shot incidents outside high school football games. To a lesser danger, but still fraught with some, fist fights break out often in the stands of rival basketball teams. Baseball, too, has not been immune to incidents, nor have other sports. In 2021, there was a shooting outside Nationals Ballpark in Washington, DC. P A   Announcer Jerome Hruska was widely praised for his calm, reassuring announcements for people to stay IN THE STADIUM, which was the safest place to be. His voice was strong yet calm, never excited, reassuring, and comforting, as he repeated the message as often as necessary. No one in the stadium got hurt, in large part due to his demeanor. Thus, he served the same purpose as is often performed by a rodeo clown.

Jerome Hruska set a great template, but he has not been alone in performing these duties. So, as we are all under way with our fall seasons, and will soon prepare for our indoor seasons, how can we prepare for a job that might be needed, but which we hope to do rarely, if at all? We can do the following: (1) confer now with your athletic director, S.I.D., event manager, etc., to see what the protocols are for you in an emergency situation. (2) Have the following available for event day, at a minimum: pen, paper, the event manager’s cell phone number, knowledge of your locale’s exits, and a safe spot for yourself (3) Before making any announcement if a situation strikes, always try to contact your event manager. If you see they are in the middle of trying to break up a melee, decide quickly if the best course is staying quiet or making some sort of announcement. If it is the latter, make sure it does not inflame the situation. For example – you might say “Ladies and gentlemen, we ask they everyone PLEASE remain in their seats as the situation is sorted out, please remain in your seats”, as opposed to “SIT DOWN! WE NEED EVERYONE

TO SIT DOWN NOW!” The second can be seen as a challenge by “bad actors”, and thus things could escalate. (4) If an incident occurs, pay attention. You may be debriefed afterwards, but by paying attention you will be better prepared if there is a next time.

I would suggest, too, making a set of “red papers” for each venue, covering how to address as many situations as you can think of, so you have templates ready should one occur. This, of course, goes back to meeting with your event or site manager, athletic director, etc. While these incidents are not the norm, they occur often enough that some forethought and preparation is warranted.

A P A Announcer wears many hats, and once in a great while, the chapeau of a “rodeo clown” is one of them. Do BOTH professions proud, by being prepared you will exude the calmness and professionalism that make both the P A Announcer and the “Rodeo Clown” among the most trusted figures in arena performance today.