2023-09-15 23:00:00
Regulars at the Saint-Tite Western Festival know Brinson James very well, this colorful character who entertains the crowd between rodeo disciplines, and who sometimes distracts the animals to help the cowboys get out of unfortunate positions.
4 or 5 years ago, Gabriel Plante saw him perform and had a revelation.
“I said to myself, ‘Crime, me too! I would like to do that,’” says the teenager, who went to see him following the rodeo.
From that moment, a certain magic happened. The youngster showed Brinson what he might do, and they slowly began doing two-man routines. Today, Gabriel Plante performs pirouettes with disconcerting ease, he dances, and can even do lasso tricks.
“I had that inside of me all the time. I liked making people laugh and dancing. I thought being a rodeo clown represented me well.”
This year, the teenager from Abitibi-Témiscamingue toured Quebec with WildTime Production as a clown. However, nothing compares to Saint-Tite, according to him.
“The atmosphere is just explosive here. It’s the best show.”
Gabriel Plante was a clown at the Saint-Tite Western Festival at the age of 15. (Amélie St-Yves)
Connect
Gabriel Plante’s goal is to connect with the public, to involve them in order to entertain them. And seeing the reaction to the James-Plante duo in Saint-Tite, the result is effective.
“It’s the adrenaline rush you get when you get in the ring. You’re just happy to be there and get people involved.”
Besides, that’s what works best according to him, inviting people to participate, like clapping your hands.
“My goal is really to enliven the world. If I succeed in making someone happy, making them have fun, my job is done.”
Inspired
The teenager doesn’t yet have the mission to distract the bulls, but it will come soon, he hopes. Again like Brinson, he would like to be in the barrel used during this discipline.
Gabriel Plante always finds great inspiration in watching Brinson James.
“I really find it connects with the world. He’s one of my favorite rodeo clowns. He’s athletic, he dances well, he moves. It’s really the most beautiful thing to see going, to my eye.”
Otherwise, the cowboy continues his barrel racing competitions in his age group at the same time. It was also thanks to horse riding that he discovered the world of rodeos and clowns at a young age. He cannot decide which of the two disciplines animates him the most.
“I’m doing both right now, and I wouldn’t be able to part with either one.”
If all goes well, the teenager should be back at the Saint-Tite Western Festival next year.
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