Today we’d like to introduce you to Micah Goldstein.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Micah. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was discovered by the number one children’s entertainer in New York City in 1989. I was working in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn as a clinical social worker, a profession I’ve maintained and still practice today. Our agency, one that worked with chronic multi problem families referred by the courts, had hired this amazing children’s performer and before his show I was on stage leading songs and warming up the clients and their kids at our annual Christmas party. After seeing his show I was intrigued and went back stage to speak with him. Being on stage was very natural for me and engaging children even more so. I had spent many summers as a camp counselor and song leader at our local day camp in Kansas City, my home town. After his show the performer complimented me on my warm up and my interaction with the kids and said he was looking for someone to work for him. Apparently his clients were the “rich and famous” of the New York City area and he was turning down a lot of business with a more middle class clientele due to his busy schedule. I agreed to meet. That meeting changed my life forever. We spent the next 3 months training. He taught me his show and brand of comedy magic for children’s parties and sent me out to work.
My first show was for a group of 6 year old girls at a McDonalds underneath a subway station in the south Bronx. And for the next 4 years I performed at children’s birthday parties in Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island, cutting my teeth on the streets of New York City. By 1994 I had had enough of living in NYC and moved to Miami Beach to live with my grandmother and take care of her for the last 2 years of her life. Having a Masters in Social Work I found a job at local hospital and then went about starting up the Ziggy the Clown business. Fortunately because I had been expertly trained by the best children’s entertainer in the world I knew how to offer an amazing children’s party show, unique, unlike anything else in the area. I placed an ad in the South Florida Parenting magazine and started doing free shows at Aventura mall and around town until my first bookings started coming in.
The first school to ever hire me was Temple Beth Moshe and after performing there during summer camp all the kids wanted me to perform at their birthday partys. And so it began. In fact this summer I performed at Beth Moshe for my 25th year! 25 years later and after more than 5000 shows I’m still going strong and blessed and grateful folks still want to have me perform. It truly is a blessing. In fact not a week goes by where I don’t run into a former child who had me at their party years ago and are now young adults. I’ve even created a Ziggy “Alumni page” on my web site. And of course I’ve maintained my Social Work practice and have worked throughout these last 25 years providing psychotherapy to those who need. Currently I’m facilitating psychotherapy groups in a drug rehab center.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
As a new performer working in New York City can be quite challenging at times. My earliest shows were in very bad neighborhoods with some very interesting people. I performed shows in burned out buildings and housing projects. I was threatened on more than one occasion and had to put up with some humiliating interactions including being stiffed for payment. It was tough work, taking the subways and the buses to shows far way in Queens somewhere or the South Bronx. It’s true what Sinatra says about New York City: if you can make it there you can make it anywhere.”
And of course starting brand new in Miami in 1994 was not so easy either. Ziggy the Clown did not exist and I had to make a name for myself. I worked free shows in the malls, traveled all over the counties passing out cards and performing for free and undercutting my competition’s rates by a lot. When I started my first price was $85! Not to mention the outright hostility shown by other performers who were threatened by anyone new coming into town. More than one entertainer told me I’d never make it and it’s too tough. One prominent magician upon meeting me for the first time quizzed me about my show and location and then abruptly walked away. But I was persistent and I knew I had not just a good show but something different compared to anyone in town. My NYC experiences served me well.
Please tell us about Ziggy The Clown.
I’m Ziggy the Clown. I’m a professional children’s entertainer specializing in comedy magic shows for kids ages 3-8 years old. My show is very engaging and very interactive. My typical birthday party show is 45 minutes to an hour long and includes silly songs and jokes, comedy magic, and balloons for all the kids. My camp /school show is 45 to 50 minutes long, and is more like a theatrical experience and can accommodate audiences up to 300 kids. As mentioned I’ve performed for more than 25 years, over 5000 shows.
One thing the makes me unique is that I’m a clown but I don’t wear make up. One reason is makeup is scary for kids. Another reason is that makeup creates a mask or a facade. When I’m performing I’m not pretending to be a character. I am Micah with funny clothes. I’m not pretending, I am myself, I’m authentic. Kids can see through any phony made up character. They relate to me as a human being and I to them. I may not be the most technically proficient magician. My emphasis is on the relationship I build with with the kids during the performance. You’ll notice my show does not have the biggest, most fancy set up with an amazing light show. Its a simple set with the tye dye tablecloth because I want the kids to be entertained by me, not some incredible backdrop.
It’s a funny silly show with no overt message or some inspirational meaning. Making kids laugh is hard enough. I’m proud of that. I’m know for that. I’m also known for my Fire book trick.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Well, the funny thing about that question is that I was discovered by someone, so it was fate, divine intervention. I really don’t know.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ziggytheclown.com
- Phone: 305-864-7738
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ziggytheclown_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ziggy-the-Clown-158020070884838/?ref=bookmarks
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ziggy-the-clown-miami-beach
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