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Clowning 101 (1)

Lesson 1

A. Name

Choosing your name is easy. The first thing to remember is that whatever you choose it will stay with you for a long time and it should be something you don’t mind being called. I started with Bobbo but I got a lot of different pronunciations so I changed it to “Bob-O” after about three months. Here are some of my friends names: Goober, Hairball, Rasinette, CoCo, Holiday, Sparkle, Jim bo, Jello, Willy Bill, Flower, Brighteyes, Zippy, Zippo remember don’t steal someone else’s name, make up your own. It can be any thing really. Think of your name with (the Clown) after it, say it over many times. How does it sound to you. You are the one it has to please as you will hear it the most. Next, either make or buy a name tag and ware it every time you go out. I made mine but a lot of my friends have bought one. But get one and wear it, as it will help to give you a personality. A lot of times I have heard a small voice calling Mr. Clown, Mr. Clown and when I turn around and the parent sees my name tag they often correct the child and say, his name is “Bob-O” and then the child starts calling me that. Your name should be easy for a child to say and remember.

B. Face

1. Type of Clown

Each clown type has its own personality traits. The Auguste face has one or two colors around the eyes and mouth and a skin tone everywhere else. Is loud, bumbling, out going, not to smart, knows it all and often the butt of all jokes. The Whiteface will have color around the mouth and eyes, but not as much as the Auguste, and all the rest will be white skin color. He will pull jokes on the Auguste, is more cunning, in charge and often the MC. The tramp face looks like a HoBo and is more caring for others, more giving to others, more willing to share and able to show love easier. The Character face is that of whoever they are and will take on the personality of who they are copying.

2. Character

Your face should match your character and personality. So look at what you think your face should be because all these things work together. I know it is a lot to think about but remember nothing is written in stone so all can be changed in the swipe of a make-up brush. They say that a child will develop 80 % of it’s behavior patterns in the first four years. Then take the rest of it’s life growing into it’s character. So why would a clown be any different. The more you clown the faster your character will develop. At least the first 80 % that is. Then it will take time and lots of mistakes to grow. Only you can grow your character. The dictionary says character is a distinguishing feature or attribute, moral strength, integrity, reputation or a person portrayed .So it comes down to who you are, so just be your self. After ten years of clowning I see less difference between Bob and Bob-O then there used to be. I don’t know if that’s good or bad but it’s so.

C. Costume

1. Style

a. comfort

The style of your costume should fit like your street clothes or as comfortable. The more comfortable you are in costume the easier you will perform. My first costume was a one piece with the top the same color and pattern as an old lady would wear, and the bottom was a very heavy material and very loud (Stars). It was very hot to wear and I would come home very tired. At the first convention I saw lots of costumes and their colors and could see my outfit was all wrong. So I went to an older clown and asked if he would help me make a pattern. Then I went and bought material and had my wife sow up the new outfit . So much lighter and easier to wear and it lifted my spirit and I became a new clown. That’s when my clowning started to be more fun. People started to say wow! I like your outfit or get-up. That all encouraged me and so I started looking for more material for a second outfit. I like wearing a different outfit each time I clown. It is like wearing street clothes you need to change them often. I have eight outfits and I have given three away already to new clowns. I have also gathered enough material to make about three more whole outfits. I’m always looking for new colors and patterns that would make a nice outfit, so when I see one I buy enough to make a outfit or shirt. I also have a lab coat decorated to do hospital calls ( more about it later).

b. comfort

If you are comfortable with your colors and style you will perform better and have more fun. Just knowing that other people like your choices builds your self esteem. In clowning your self esteem is important as you are trying to be something funny to others. Your outfit should bring a smile or laugh. That’s why we clown. Right!

2. Buy

There are things that you should buy and things that you can make. Socks are one of those things unless you are good at knitting. Shoes are another. You could make your own wig, I tried that once. You can buy your whole outfit if you have about $500.00 to start with.

3. Make your own

This is the cheapest way to go. I can buy the makings of an outfit for about 50 to 60 bucks. Then either my wife or mom have made most of my outfits. I have found a woman who sews and charges about 10 bucks an hour. She sews shirts that need a special stitch that they can‘t do. Bright colors and patterns are used the most with about 3 or 4 colors in most of them. In all my outfits I have two colors and one trim color. I try to make my trim color the same as my wig and shoes. I line all my outfit pants. I started wearing bibs about four years ago and they are a lot more comfortable. I also dropped the tie and collar and went to a turtle neck shirt. Start looking at what other clowns look like and see the pattern of their colors and their face. This is not to copy theirs but to get ideas for yours. A friend of mine sews all (his) own outfits and makes most of his own props. There is a way to get an outfit, it only takes a will to do it.

…….Bob-O