Extreme Family Together
By Deborah Golumbek
(L to R) Stephanie, Stacey, Matthew, Marlyn & Steve Gambrill
Steve and Marlyn Gambrill built a family of clowns and are teaching others to entertain too. Steve started a children's entertainment business 10 years ago. While teaching a clown ministry class at his church, he met a "bubbly" single mom, Maryln. And the family of clowns began. Steve and Maryln have been married just shy of 2 years and they've managed to blend more than just their families.
Both used to be single parents, Steve, Dad to Steven Jr., Stephanie and Stacey; and Maryln, Mom to Jull and Matthew. They both were holding down full time jobs, Steve as a machinist at what used to be Martin Marietta in Middle River, and Maryln owned a cleaning business. Now, they own and operate Extreme Family Entertainment together out of their Abingdon home. The business specializes in clowns, balloon decorations and children's entertainment and the whole family is in on the act.
Daughter Stephanie, 20, is a part-time employee and as Maryln says, "is just finding her personality as a clown." Stacey, 15, and Matthew, 16, dress up in character costumes and have been known to do a magic trick or two and twisst balloons. Steven Jr., 23, helps mainly with balloon decorations and the behind the scenes work.
The business started small with Steve doing birthday parties for friends who had seen him performing at his church. After awhile, Steve decided that he could actually make a living being a clown, teaching others to entertain kids and serving as an agency of sorts for children's entertainers.
As the business grew Maryln and then the children became involved; they both say that the time the family spends together is the biggest perk to a family business. They work at fairs, parades and festivals and the whole family participates. Steve says, "Our family enjoys meeting people and building relationships and this allows us to do that. The kids see it as a fun job. They get to make some money and it's certainly not drudgery."
Entertaining children seems to be a rewarding profession; Steve, Maryln and their family have gone on missions with their church, Calvary Worship Center, to Haiti and the Dominican Republic where they both relate stories of Steve walking down the streets twisting balloons and Maryln dressed as M & M the Clown blowing bubbles. Children flock to them and this gives them the opportunity to share their faith. "Steve", Maryln says "has a unique tool - a gift from God - that allows him to share the gospel in a very special way that delights children and people of all ages."
The fact that they entertain at nursing homes, adult day-cares, homeless shelters and walking down the streets in less advantaged neighborhoods right here in Harford County is humbling to them. They consider it "good for the spirit" to share their talents.
Steve and Maryln seem perfect for each other. He jokes that he "married a clown, literally;" and Maryln claims that she married a "ballonatic and he's full of hot air." This is a fun house to live in; who else can claim they are adding on a new room so Dad has more space to blow up balloons?