Dreams take strange twist for Suparno
Dreams take strange twist for Suparno
JAKARTA (JP): When Suparno Saputro graduated from a management school he never thought he would end up being the chief clown in a small-scale entertainment business.
Suparno started his life in the capital city in 1987, when he arrived from his hometown of Sragen, Central Java. For a start, he helped his brother sell dolls in the fish market in Ancol, North Jakarta, while going to a senior high school.
It was at Ancol that he discovered his talents as an entrepreneur and an entertainer.
His work as a clown continued after he graduated from senior high school. His ability to interact with and please small children meant he had an income he hoped would help make his dreams of becoming an office worker, and some day a manager, come true.
Suparno then registered as a student of the Academy of Company Management in Central Jakarta. He continued to work and as a clown on the weekends and in his spare time.
He graduated from the academy with high hopes that he could put away his funny clothes and grease paint.
"I wanted to be an office staff member," he said.
"I applied for jobs with the city administration, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Trade, Garuda Indonesia, Astra and other places, but never received any replies," he complained with a wry smile.
While waiting for answers to his job applications, he kept accepting orders to be a clown at farewell parties, birthday celebrations and other social gatherings.
The more he dedicated his time to entertainment, the more he benefited from the experience both financially and socially.
"Anyway, I had no other way to make money," he said.
Initially, he also had to sell shoes and clothes to friends and other businesses in order to make ends meet. "This helped me build business relations and set out a firm foundation for my entertainment activities."
In the beginning, Suparno earned Rp 75,000 (US$34) per show, now he can charge between Rp 150,000 and Rp 1,000,000, depending on the entertainment package and the number of clowns required.
The entertainment packages he offers include puppet shows, acrobatic performances and magic shows.
Suparno himself made a point to learn magic tricks from friends. "A handkerchief becomes a bird, the color of the water in a glass changes, or paper turns into money. Children loves these tricks as much as they enjoy the animal costumes I wear," he said.
Suparno is not only a favorite among the children, he is also popular among parents, especially the mothers.
"Most children listen more to a clown than to their parents," Suparno told The Jakarta Post. For this reason, many parents have turned to him as a consultant, he added.
The 38-year old Suparno realizes that as a clown he can make a great contribution to the psychological development of the children he comes into contact with.
He said the knowledge of child psychology is crucial in working with children and helping them overcome shyness, feelings of inferiority and aggressiveness.
"I got the knowledge from books on children and teenagers, as well as a one-semester course in psychology, and this helps me a lot," he said.
Presently Suparno has five permanent assistants and a large number of temporary ones who are ready to accompany him to parties wearing any of his 20 animal costumes, such as those of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and other Disneyland figures. He also has a Santa Clause costume for seasonal parties.
After setting aside Rp 10,000 to Rp 20,000 per order for each of his assistants, Suparno brings home an average of Rp 700,000 ($315) per month.
In this way the clown business has enabled him to buy a house in Cileduk, South Jakarta, a car, and to send his three children to school.
For his business he rents a modest house in Palmerah, Central Jakarta. All of the signs he posts on trees, or puts up at the roadside, to advertise his "Clown and Magician" list that address.
Although he has done well, as a manager who provides employment for others, he worries.
"The business is uncertain, we depend completely on orders," he said. "On a bad day, there might not be even one order."
Only June, July and December are excellent months for the clown business. June and July are always full of orders due to the ending of the school year and the ensuing farewell parties. And December has the Christmas and New Year's holidays.
Having to face 100 groups with up to 50 clowns each now, Suparno is finding business in Jakarta getting tougher.
"The business is more competitive now because a number of groups are owned by rich people. This means fewer orders for me," he complained.
The other groups, especially those owned by the people with a lot of ready cash, provide masks and other equipment, besides sending clowns and magicians to entertain the children, he said.
Yet, he stays in the business and dreams of expanding. His work as a clown/entertainer and the long wait for a job in an office have altered his view of what a career in management could mean.
"I no longer have the ambition I had some years ago. What I want now is to run a company and provide more job opportunities for fellow clowns," he said.
"My obsession with office work died after trying in vain for such a job for 12 years since graduating from the management academy," he said.