Meet Cino

 

Clown Cino

Meet my friend Cino. He is a lovely man who has taught me a lot in the few months I have known him. He has reminded me why I love to clown. He calls it contact clowning, and I love that term. I usually say caring clown or some moniker like that, but contact clowning is certainly appropriate. It is what we do, and it is exactly what it sounds like. You make "contact" with another human being dressed in some silly attire and share a moment in time. Typically, both people come out feeling better. It is that simple, but so powerful! 

I met Cino on my Georgia/Armenia clown trip in April of 2025. Right away I could tell he was a kind and loving soul. He had never clowned before this trip, and he would learn a lot in 2 weeks... as would I. I remember being that newbie clown and not knowing what to do or how to approach someone. He was timid at first, as is natural, but gradually opened up and became more comfortable. By the end of the trip I knew he would be a special clown, and he certainly is! He went back to his home in The Netherlands and expanded on his clowning. He took a clown training course to learn more. He has expanded that knowledge into his own form of contact clowning. You can check out his website to learn more about what he is currently doing with his contact clowning. It is inspirational to say the least! 

                                                      Clown Cino

Chip, Cino and Daniel in Georgia

We met outside of our hotel in Georgia. He introduced himself as Wilbert. He had not yet had a clown name. He was roommates with Daniel. Daniel is from Germany, and like Wilbert was a newbie clown. They seemed to be a good fit for each other. They both blossomed on this trip, and they both taught me things along the way. Things I am forever grateful for. Even as a seasoned clown, I tend to forget important aspects of what we do or why. Cino and Daniel, both showed me how to slow down sometimes. Take in a moment and enjoy it for what it is. Be gentle and kind in your approach to someone you meet and allow the moment to evolve into whatever it will be. They taught me, probably unbeknownst to them, that is OK to be unsure of something but still move forward. It is OK to not really know what you are doing but do it anyway. These are important aspects of learning to be a clown AND life in general in my opinion. Thank You Cino and Daniel! 

In his own words, Cino says it well here...

"Clowning has brought out a side of me that I didn't know yet. Attention over haste. Connection over control. Playfulness as a way of looking at things. The art of sitting in discomfort and not losing myself."

Cino on his first clown excursion in a hospital in Georgia (The Country)

Like every clown, newbie or not, he strolled through the corridors of a hospital looking for a place to play. He found a place indeed and he played well. I love his costume here. Bright, colorful and welcoming. It reminds me of my first costume and how I have evolved over the past 28 years. He has already evolved some over the last year and I am quite certain he will continue to do so. He is a natural clown and so good at it already. 

Daniel, Pluk, and Cino having a funny moment with Pluk delivering coffee 

Halfway through our trip, someone asked Wilbert what his clown name was. He didn't have one yet. I don't remember who, but someone said, "your name should be Cino, because you love to drink cappuccino all through the day.". The name stuck and I think it is befitting of him. Just like Chip feels natural to me. I hope we get to travel together again in the future. We can be labeled as Chip and Cino. Cino and Chip. Or Chip y Cino. What do you think?

Cino contact clowning at a local center for people with disabilities

Notice how his costume has already evolved in just one year. He is still colorful, playful, and fun. He is really getting into his groove I believe. One thing is for sure, the people in his hometown are lucky to have him there. 

Cino started clowning late in life. That should just be a reminder to us all that it is never too late to follow a passion or a dream! I don't know exactly what took him so long to discover this great talent of his, but in the end it doesn't matter. What matters is he is doing it now! I applaud him and I am in awe. I hope I have the courage to find and follow a passion or dream later in life. He has a few quotes from his website that I just love. The one below explains a little more about what I am trying to convey here.

“I wanted to do something good for people who are less fortunate, but I didn't know what. Until I unexpectedly started contact clowning. At that moment, everything fell into place."

Look at that smile! And Cino with his sweet expression in return to encourage connection. He is a master.

"I enjoy going to places where a small moment of attention, wonder, or a smile is welcome!"

This quote is truly powerful. I find it educational as well, as it teaches me that a small moment of attention is all some people want or even need to help them through whatever it is they are going through. And what a great moment of attention and wonder that photo is! Plus, the smile on the young person's face is priceless! 

Tough guys, eh? Not in the least. :0)

I encourage you all to check out Cino's website and read through it. You just might learn something about yourself, and it doesn't even have to relate to clowning exactly. My favorite quote on his site is below, and this is what I will leave you with. 

“Walk cheerfully into the world. With a red nose, an open heart, and a healthy dose of playfulness. Sometimes with humor, sometimes with silence, but always with genuine attention. For it is precisely in connection that the magic happens!”

  Now Go Out and Hug a Contact Clown Today!!!