Do you love to hear children laugh? Do you like to give away your smiles? Does your sense of humor sometimes bubble over so much,
it's hard to contain? Do you sometimes wish you could still "dress-up" like you did as a child? If you do, you might want to
consider becoming a clown? I mean a true, professional clown who has all the excuses she needs to "dress-up", act silly, and laugh
along with the children, sharing smiles with everyone she meets and leaving a bit of lingering joy behind to brighten up someone's
day.
How do I begin?
Check your personality. A clown has to be "on" at all times when in make-up. Can you maintain the spirit of enthusiasm and joy
after the show is over and you are tired and just want to get home and out of make-up? Do you sincerely want to alleviate some
of the sadness and pain the world doles out?
Whether one desires to enter the realm of clowning to minister to others or to perform for pay, one needs to be serious about this
endeavor and consider the time and money to be invested. Too many people think clowning is easy and simple; throw on some
Halloween make-up, go to a consignment shop and pick up some miss-matched clothing, tell a few jokes and you're all set. It's not
that simple.
You need to study clown history and learn how to apply make-up. You need to understand the three main types of clowns and how
different personalities fit into each type. You also need to know what kind of clown you want to be and what kind of clown
business you want to run. And finally, you need to decide where you want to do your clowning and what kind of entertainment
you want to present.
What makes a clown, a clown?
 A clown is a professional who loves
being around people. A clown is a professional who doesn't mind acting silly to make someone else feel better. A clown is a professional
who shows others how to find the humor in life.
To be a clown you need to understand a few important aspects of the clown's costume:
- Halloween make-up, at discount stores, is not professional clown make-up, no matter what the package says. Most clown make-up
manufacturers make beginner sets for new clowns to use until they decide what their character-type will be.
- Clown wigs are an important part of a clown's total look.
- Costumes are essential. While costumes can be made from second-hand items, second-hand items are more suitable for Bag
Lady or Hobo/Tramp characters. To understand what a professional clown's costume looks like, study professional and/or
award-winning clowns. You will automatically see the distinct difference in their appearance.
- Shoes are often regular shoes decorated in a clown fashion. But if you want to get really fancy, you can order specialty shoes.
Specialty shoes are made just for the character of the clown.
- Understand your character. While some professional clowns have more than one character, beginners need to concentrate on
developing only one character. Once beginners know who that character is, they can add more characters to their repertoire.
- Develop clowning skills. Some clowns are storytellers. Some clowns are face-painters. Some clowns are balloon artists. Some
clowns are magicians. Some clowns perform skits. Some clowns specialize in walk-around humor. And some clowns dabble in all
of these skills. You need to try each one of these forms to define your niche(s). Once you find the skills you feel good about,
practice, practice and practice some more.
How can I learn to be a clown?
The best way to learn how to become a clown is to go to a clown school. There are conferences and workshops all over the country.
There are also many books to help with skits, face painting, balloons, and the other skills.
Sometimes local clown clubs will have their own training classes. Local clown clubs can help you can get a good education at a
very reasonable price. You also have the added bonus of having seasoned clowns, at your side, to assist you as you continue to
develop your clown character(s).
After you receive your initial training, find a clown mentor: someone local who is willing to work with you until you master
your character. Character development and learning new skills never ends. In order to continue receiving new shows, you need to
add new skits, tricks, and routines to your shows. This will also help make sure your shows never become old, stale, or unmarketable.
What do I need for my clown business?
Depending on your clown business, you could find yourself planning birthday parties all the way down to cleaning up after the event.
Or you could be hired by party planners for one purpose: to be a clown.
Your area of specialty and how much you plan to invest in time, planning, props, and preparation will determine how successful your
business is and what kinds of materials you need to run your business. Do you need to invest in a curtain, magic box, sound system,
or even portable stage?
Some clowns can jump from an after-school birthday party at 3:30 to a library story-telling session at 5:00 to a corporate party at
7:30. If you decide to follow in the footsteps of these clowns, you will need to learn what will "play big" and pack small.
Some props store flat but expand to larger sizes. Some props are usable for more than one skit or portion of a show.
How do I run my business?
How you run your business will depend on your personality type and skills, but here are a few tips for helping you run a successful
clown business:
- Keep good records. Record keeping is an important part of your business. You need to maintain client lists: client name, contact information, date party
held, what you performed, and what you were paid. Listing what act you performed in your records is vital to the success of your
clown business because it makes sure that you do not perform the same routine for an old audience. Unless, you were requested to do
so by the person hiring you.
- Advertise. Advertising keeps your business alive. Place advertisements in local newspapers, magazines, and yellow pages. Hang posters up
in high traffic areas, such as malls and discount-store bulletin boards. Hand out brochures and business cards at local events.
- Handle cancellations properly. Always try to close a conversation with a client or potential client on a positive note. And
don't be afraid to ask the client to re-book the event for another day.
- Get a signed contract. A contract protects both you and your client and prevents misunderstandings. Your contract should
include the names and addresses of all parties involved, who is obligated to pay you and when you are to be paid (i.e. before or
after the event), any cancellation terms (i.e. when the contract can be cancelled without payment to you, what your cancellation fee
is, etc.), the date(s) of the event, what you are to perform, the time(s) you are to perform, the length of time you're expected
to remain at the event, and the amount you are to be paid.
Don't forget to include what you expect the client to do for you, such as provide a table and chairs, provide a place for you to
take a break, etc.
- Obtain liability insurance. Liability insurance is always a good investment. Clowns of America International can
suggest quality insurance for entertainers.
How will I know what to charge?
Check with other clowns in similar-sized towns or cities. A clown in New York City or Chicago will be able to command a heftier
fee than someone in Bolivar, Missouri or Rogers, Arkansas. You can also figure different pricing based on your area of
expertise.
A birthday party clown is in charge of the entire party: bringing games, treats, party souvenirs, setting up, and cleaning up.
Therefore, birthday party clowns will get more per hour than the clown whose only job is to arrive at a specified time to paint
faces.
Clowns who work fairs, carnivals, and restaurants usually work for tips only which means your hourly rate will depend on the
generosity of your clients.
Clowns who work for corporate clients are usually hired for a specific purpose and given a flat fee per show.
Will I ever stop learning?
You will never stop learning. Learning keeps your performances fresh and guarantees return clients. Therefore, you should
always be on the look out for new skits, illusions, balloon sculptures, jokes, and face painting designs.
And you should always make time to attend workshops and conventions, read books, network, and practice, practice, practice.
Becoming a clown is an investment in the lives of people. A clown's purpose is not just to earn a living from their craft. A
clown's purpose is to improve, if only for a little while, the world around him. Clowning is a fun business, but as a business,
it needs to be taken seriously. Run your business like a professional and you can't help but succeed.
And remember, if smiles, laughter and improving your world is your forte, then clowning, as a profession, may be for you.
Where can I learn more about starting a professional clown business?
You can attend a school for clowns, join professional organizations, read articles and books on the subject, or you could tag along with another
professional clown and learn by apprenticeship. And to help you get started, here is a list of websites for professional clowns:
About The Author:
Cynthia M. Pratt is a freelance writer, pastor's wife, Vacation Bible School Director, and the director of a clown ministry
troupe.
* This article is available for your publication, for a F-E-E.
This article may NOT be reprinted without monetary compensation and written permission from the author.
For reprint rights or comments/questions about this article, please contact the author.
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