Jennifer Pritchett
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 18/98) - Meagan Allison takes every opportunity to make people laugh.

The Grade 6 student spends her free time working as a clown for just about anybody who's looking for some comic entertainment.

"I like making kids smile," she said.

Even at 11 years old, Allison already has years of experience working as a clown. She started working as a clown in Ontario when she was three years old.

"A lady at my church wanted to start a clown group to go to the old peoples' homes," she said.

So, when she moved to Yellowknife three years ago, she started her own clown business.

"I came up here and I missed my clowning, so I decided to start something myself," she said.

And, she still uses some of the ideas she got in Ontario.

"I get some ideas from the clown group in Ontario, friends, books and my dad," she said.

Allison enjoys making peoples' birthdays special.

"Having a clown specifically come in for their birthday is a pretty big deal," she said.

And the kids love it.

"They give lots of hugs... and they treat me like they've known me for years," she said.

While she is occupied mostly by clowning at birthday parties, she also does private parties and other community events.

"For the city picnic, I handed out business cards for free just for the publicity," she said.

And the high energy job is a great experience for Allison.

"I'm usually pretty shy but, as a clown, I try to goof around and be loud," she said. "Business as a clown has made me more outgoing, so I'm not as shy."

And the extra spending money comes in handy, too.

"It's good to have my own money, so that I can buy my own stuff," she said.

"I've often thought of doing this as an adult. I'm not sure how it would happen, but I'd like to continue doing it -- doing the birthday parties."