Who Is Peter Pan?

Right. This is Randy Constan. He’s a fifty something year old musician and Peter Pan fanatic from Florida. I first discovered him about five years ago when a link to his site arrived in my inbox. Since then I have checked his site regularly and shown a lot of other people.

He’s this guy who dresses as Peter Pan and goes to renaissance fayre’s and the like. And he has made the most insane website all about himself and what he does. He writes music about magic and being a kid. And he gives a lot of money to childrens charities. According to his website he will never grow old. We dropped him a line.

Greetings Mr. Constan, is it okay if we ask you a few questions?

Sure.

Have you always been childlike? Or was ‘never growing old’ something you decided upon in your early adult life?

I always was childlike, but it took many phases of emotional growth and time before I understood that it was part of who I was and not something to fear or hide from.

You have such a wide array of clothes. Do you make all of them?

I make a lot of them, or just as often modify things I buy. Its something you have to learn to do, simply because as a guy, I don’t have anywhere near the choices available to girls, and also because they don’t usually make the really cute children’s outfits in adult sizes.

Is there a special shop to buy items like the ones you wear?

Thrift stores are a great place to get things to modify or re-size. At least if the end result doesn’t work out, you haven’t lost much. Renaissance Fairs and things of that nature often have some great outfits too, but of course they are often costly. Another argument for investing in a sewing machine, and learning to use it.

What outfit is your favourite?

I don’t know anymore! Peter Pan will always be a central fantasy character for me to, but I’m also very partial to the Fauntleroy outfits, variations on Purple Pixie and Blue boy, and sometimes it’s really fun to be a little girl ballerina fairy. I guess the favorite changes with the day now.

Also, about your wardrobe. If you ever had to go to court for some reason or other, what would you wear? A suit and tie, or something a bit more fun?

Well I’ve been known to sneak a green blazer in to a court trial, but then again it wasn’t ME who was on trial Seriously though, of course I have the sense to not wear something silly and festive to a funeral. And I generally “tone down” quite a bit for day-to-day wear as well. I remember a few occasions where I’d do the suit and tie thing to get a job, and once in the company prove myself sufficiently invaluable that I could once again take liberties with my appearance.

When did you start composing music?

Since I started playing the guitar as a teen. In fact, if I had the time to develop every tune I have on a scrap of paper or tape recording (remember tapes?), I likely could fill another 10 CDs at least. Ah but that magic element… time! I have to work on getting more of that!

Do you play all the instruments?

No. I play guitar and bass occasionally, and use the computer to compose all the other parts, often one note at a time. It’s tedious… I can easily spend all day on a drum solo! But it is fun and rewarding!

You mention ‘The Castle’ a lot on your website and in your music. Can you tell us what it’s like there? The sort of crowd, music etc?

Well imagine a Goth/industrial crowd that has a much more divers age range, and people that don’t take themselves quite as seriously as some do. And over time, it’s become a place where all kinds of people come with all kinds fantasies and lifestyles, and for the most part everyone is very welcoming and friendly. The building itself has the perfect atmosphere, and will remind you of “tales from the crypt”, or an ancient tomb of some sort. But the lighting and sound systems are totally up to date and very effective. I’ve a number of friends from Los Angeles, California, a much bigger and much more diverse city than Tampa, Florida, who have repeatedly told me there are no clubs like the Castle. It is, like all clubs, changing all the time, and the downturn in the economy is having its affect. So my song, “The Castle”, hopefully captures the best of what I found there. Your mileage may vary.

You are obviously quite a celebrity over in the states, what with your music, charity fundraising and eccentric wardrobe.

Not true. I’m no celebrity at all. I am well known in a lot of circles, and famous only because a power much greater than I has continuously pushed me into the spotlight, to speak and be an example of the message I’ve been given to share (while spreading joy and having fun, of course!) That message, quite simply, is that despite all the lies religion has taught us, each of us has been created to be unique, and our creator loves us just as we are. Our role as humans, indeed our test that will determine our survival, is not whether we succeed at making everyone be just like us while excluding all who don’t fit our ideology. Rather, our test is to learn to accept each other and stop judging people for their differences. Heaven and hell, mostly of our own making, is manifested daily by the choices we make.

Is there anything you’d like to say to people in the UK who may not have heard of you?

I would ask them to give a listen to the music samples on my CD, available at http://mymusic.pixyland.org, and especially to listen to the last tune, “Who Is Peter pan”, which I’ve offered there for free. (And then, of course… (Shameless plug)… buy the album!

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