Communication sophomore Caroline Fourmy earns extra cash performing as a “living statue.” Here’s what she had to say about her unusual hobby.
Play: What inspired you to start street performing?
Caroline Fourmy: I was inspired by my high school speech team coach. One year she had the idea to raise money for the speech club through performing as “living statues.” We would dress up in some sort of eye-catching costume and stand completely still on a box that said, “Living Statue! Put $1 in her hand, and she will come to life!” After doing a few festivals with the club (and averaging $50 per hour), I decided to perform on my own.
Play: What does your usual performance consist of?
CF: I wear different costumes — a fairy, an alien, a doll — usually something bright and easy to move in and stand on a wide stool next to an easel explaining what I’m doing. The reactions I get are almost worth more than the money. Some applaud the insanity and some are repulsed, but almost everyone is intrigued. Sometimes people don’t realize that you are actually real. You move and a wave of heads will do a double-take. Little kids are either terrified or delighted by the “living statue.” I do my best to seem as unintimidating as possible, but a girl standing completely still in a pink wig and striped fairy wings with her eyes focused intensely in one spot is not something you see every day. When I take breaks, adults often come up to compliment me and I get repeat customers quite a bit. I’ve even gotten a few party gigs out of it. But not all reactions are great. There are always the drunken rednecks who make snide comments like, “Wonder what she’ll do for a twenty, heh heh,” or the punk kids who yell at you for breathing or blinking. You grit your teeth, and stay focused.
Play: Will you continue to perform in public?
CF: Sure. It’s exhausting, but it’s exhilarating — and lucrative. After a while, you lose faith in the intelligence of man. But at the same time, you are sending art and a funky perspective on the possibilities of human creativity to lots of people on a very base level. Plus it’s always good to know that if all else fails, I have some creative and independent means of supporting myself.
