About Jusby the Clown

Jusby the Clown is a clown, comedy consultant, and full-service party concierge for children’s birthday parties, adult events, singing telegrams, brick readings, and laughter-based workshops across Portland, OR and the I-5 corridor from Seattle to Eugene.

Short Bio

Justin B. Wright studied dance, multimedia, and the shamanic origins of clowning at The Evergreen State College. In 1996, during “Circus Olympus,” he realized he had already been a clown his whole life. After joining the Red Nose Brigade in 2004, he developed his clown character “Jusby” and began performing consistently at schools, parties, parades, and community events.

He graduated from Enterprise for Equity’s Small Business Training Program in 2008 and from the Simple Fool’s Silly School of Top Secret Esoteric Clowning in 2009. At the 2009 Northwest Festival of Clowns, Jusby earned Bronze, Silver, and People’s Choice Awards.

What Jusby Offers

Today, Jusby weaves together clowning, storytelling, and participatory ritual in a mix of:

• Children’s birthday parties and family celebrations
• Adult parties and 18+ events (by express consent)
• Singing telegrams and Laugh-o-grams
• Pie-in-the-face deliveries and pie-centered events
• Laughter Yoga sessions and wellness breaks
• Brick Readings using LEGO as an oracle for stories and reflection
• Spiritual and ceremonial services as an ordained minister
• Internships, clown camps, and mentorship for emerging performers

Whether the setting is a living room, office, school, festival, or stage, the through-line is the same: safe, unique, and affordable encounters with the “cosmic giggle.”

The Many Faces of Jusby

Over the years, Justin has developed a small ensemble of personas, each suited to different audiences and events:

• Jusby the Clown – award-winning core character; pies, props, and improv.
• Baby Duckling – tender, playful inner-child energy in overalls and soft colors.
• Tex Message – wry communicator; part cowboy, part office liaison.
• Barnabas – ceremonial, surreal, sometimes spooky, rooted in myth and ritual.
• Captain Wright Aweigh – nautical wayfinder; responsible for safety and direction.
• Salty Dalang – storyteller and puppeteer drawing from Indonesian and wayang traditions.
• The Driver – backstage logistics and transitions, moving people and stories along.
• Chef Jusby – kitchen chaos, food puns, and the eternal question: “Who gets the pie?”
• Yabbit Howe – trickster-detective who asks odd questions and notices everything.

These characters can appear solo or in combination, with costumes and props tailored to the tone of your event.

Approach & Philosophy

Justin approaches clowning as a practice of consent, compassion, and curiosity. He works to create spaces where people can safely experience laughter, surprise, and emotional release without being pushed past their limits.

He has passed a Washington State background check and is comfortable working with children, elders, neurodivergent audiences, and mixed-age groups. He uses gentle hands, an inside voice, and walking feet.

Jusby’s Promise

• To enhance your healthy laughter with his time, talent, and energy.
• To provide a safe and nurturing experience for young and old.
• To invite you into a direct experience of the “cosmic giggle.”
• To celebrate the circle of life and the rhythms of nature in age-appropriate ways.

Recognition & Press

• Bronze, Silver, and People’s Choice Awards – Northwest Festival of Clowns (2009)
• Profiled in multiple online features by writer Steve Eggleston, including the character “Jefferson Spee” inspired by Justin’s story.
• Referenced by author Monica (“Clown Girl”) Drake and other Pacific Northwest artists and writers.

Service Area & Availability

Jusby is based in the Portland, OR area and travels along the I-5 corridor from Seattle to Eugene, with additional travel by arrangement.

Events can run from quick drop-ins and singing telegrams to full-length shows, workshops, and day-long festivals.