A graduate of the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Clown College, as well as the Dell ‘Arte School of Mime and Comedy, and a veteran of the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, Bonzo Crunch, aka Rik Gern, has been entertaining audiences since 1978. His comic juggling and magic show is presented in a warm and gregarious manner that puts his audience at ease and 
makes strangers feel like friends.

Rik spent two years as a clown in the Ringling Brothers’ Circus and another two as their “Goodwill Ambassador” where he performed for schools, public libraries, community centers, and day care centers across the country.  He was involved with their “Reading With Ringling” literacy program for another decade until the circus closed down. He has also been performing and teaching at Austin's "Fantastic Magic Camp", as well as performing at libraries, day care centers and birthday parties in Austin and Central Texas for over two decades, and was voted “Favorite Kids’ Entertainer” by the readers of Austin Family Magazine three times, most recently in 2020.

Due to the coronavirus, Bonzo Crunch’s show has been modified to exclude onstage audience participation, and he has been using his time constructively to add new magic tricks  and trick roping with lasso (where space and environment permit) to his show. 

In addition to his popular comedy music/magic/juggling show, Bonzo Crunch emphasizes not only the importance of reading, but also the value of the library as a community resource and the special role of the librarian as a liaison between the community and the wonderful world of books. 

As a former teacher’s aid Rik Gern, aka Bonzo Crunch, is sensitive to the needs of the young ones as well as their caregivers, so he begins his performance on the mellow side with a gentle musical introduction. As all the children are brought into the fold, Bonzo Crunch escalates the comedy and allows them to laugh off excess energy before bringing his show to a calm conclusion, leaving parents, teachers, and staff with a group of happy, well-behaved children.

Besides offering a half-hour comic variety show, Bonzo Crunch offers a reading program, a fitness program, or an introduction into the Physics of the Circus. Workshops are also available. 

If you are looking for an entertainer who will leave your audience smiling, and who will do business with you in a professional and courteous manner, contact Bonzo Crunch!

bonzocrunch@sbcglobal.net
(512) 912-0067 (talk and voice mail, no text)
(737) 239-2201 (talk and text, no voice mail)