In the clown community, a “First of May” is a new clown. The term comes from the time when a circus would leave winter quarters and begin the season with a opening show on the first of May. Any new clown with the circus would be called a “First of May”. Today, not all clowns perform with a circus, and not all circus groups start their season on May 1st, but the name remains. It is often used to refer to a new clown.

I went through some old photos to find various pictures of Sir Toony Van Dukes during his first year as a clown. His journey started when he attended Mooseburger Clown Arts Camp in July 2008.

Sir Toony’s first public event at Mooseburger Clown Arts Camp in 2008

Sir Toony at a JCA Meeting in the Fall of 2008

Sir Toony November 2008

Sir Toony at a Christmas event in December 2008

Sir Toony at the Circus Magic Clown Convention in 2009

Sir Toony April 2009

Sir Toony getting ready for the Memorial Day Parade in 2009

Sir Toony at JCA’s Photo Night in 2009

Sir Toony getting ready for a parade on the 4th of July 2009

Sir Toony at the end of his first year as a clown, back at Moose Camp 2009