What can you say about a greasepaint-wearing DJ who bills himself as Ouchy the Clown? And why the Ouchy handle? Well, we found that Mr. Ouchy not only spins what he calls “challenging” loungecore music at parties and alternative lifestyle events like Nevada’s annual Burning Man bacchanalia, but he’s a “professional dominant” in the sex industry and, we kid you not, a certified professional meeting facilitator “specializing in conflict resolution.” Sounds like a DJ Times story to us. So we contacted the San Francisco-based Ouchy (no real names please) via his provocative and hysterical website (www.ouchytheclown.com) to ask him about his leanings, musical and otherwise.

DJ Times: Please briefly describe your range of professional endeavors.

Ouchy the Clown: My services fit three categories: 1) DJing. I have done DJ work in a clown suit for about a year now and it is quite a hit at parties. I usually either spin classic lounge tunes or dark ambient and difficult listening—my personal fave. My dark ambient is not darkwave, but more along the lines of old Jon Hassel or Eno and Tribes of Neurot or Bill Laswell. I also occasionally just mix it all up and do eclectic sets encompassing a very wide variety of music. I like that a lot, in fact. 2) Pro-Dom work, which stands for professional dominant, meaning that this clown will physically, verbally, and mentally dominate you. I have a clown cross—technically a Saint Andrews cross, shaped like an X, that is covered in merry polka dots—which I use to strap my victims, er...I mean clients to. Then I use electric shock, floggers, single tail whips, candles, paddles, spatulas, and any number of squeakers, noisemakers, and cream pies to inflict pain and suffering, mixed with laughter, of course, upon my willing client. 3) Corporate meeting facilitation. I am actually a trained and certified meeting facilitator with a great deal of experience leading meetings and brainstorming sessions. Performing this service as a clown allows me the latitude of the classic fool to the king. I can say things others are unwilling to say in a meeting, like, “That idea is stupid—shut up!”

DJ Times: Why the greasepaint?

Ouchy: I have always been sort of a clown anyway—silly and goofy—acting out for friends and strangers. I suppose the first time it occurred to me to actually make that next step was about two years ago. I wore a full– on clown suit and face paint to a large San Francisco party and it was such a hit, and I felt so liberated, I just stuck to it. And it has grown from there, so to speak.

DJ Times: What kind of reaction do you get when you DJ?

Ouchy: Generally, bemusement at first. After all, it is a little unusual to see a clown DJing. But people typically get into my expression of humor and darkness through my music.

DJ Times: Was there a DJ who made you want to get on the decks?

Ouchy: DJ Polywog, DJ Mermaid, Mark Farina and several of the Cloud Factory and Friends and Family DJs. As you can see, I am not your typical techno/house DJ. So I have gravitated more towards the DJs that spin eclectic and unusual/challenging music.

DJ Times: Who are some of your favorite producers or remixers?

Ouchy: I am a big fan of Kruder and Dorfmeister still. The K&D Sessions are usually sitting close to the CD player. I would say they are about my favorite at this very moment. I have also been listening to a buncha remixed lounge tunes on an album called Electro Lounge. I am especially fond of the Ripoff Artist’s remix of the Dean Martin and Julie London tune “Sway.” I also like the Wagon Christ remix of April Steven’s song “Do It Again.”

DJ Times: What gear do you use when you play out?

Ouchy: As an all-CD DJ, I use the Pioneer decks, Pioneer mixer. I generally use the JBL Eon 15 speakers for when I am mobile DJing. And I sure would not mind using the new Pioneer CMX-5000!

DJ Times: What was it like DJing in the Nevada desert at Burning Man? O

uchy: Pretty difficult in a dusty environment like that, but a blast nonetheless. In 1998, my friends and I set up the Spoogedust Ballroom. We installed a black-and-white, checkered dancefloor on the desert floor, then suspended a mirror ball and provided formal wear from the used bins for visitors. I then DJed ballroom dance music all night for our “playa prom” attendees. It was quite the smashing success. We chose to do this sort of installation as sort of a backlash against the overwhelming number of techno/raver DJs out there. We figured ballroom dance music was just about the opposite of raver music as one could get.

DJ Times: No “Sweet 16” parties, right?

Ouchy: Heh, Ouchy doesn’t do kids’ parties.

DJ Times: Why are clowns so intriguing?

Ouchy: They are unpredictable and one doesn’t really know who they are. If you saw me out of makeup, you would have no idea that I was Ouchy The Clown. That sort of anonymity allows the clown to embrace any number of unusual viewpoints and characterizations. Also, the clown is a classic character, dating all the way back to the 16th Century—funny, yet scary at the same time.

DJ Times: What is the role of a clown DJ?

Ouchy: To mix it up and make the crowd laugh while they dance, of course! To throw the musical curveball when you least expect it. Everybody loves a clown. You should, too. Now.

– Jim Tremayne