CLOWNING101

Thechaptersbelowsequentiallycoverstherequiredskillsforprofessionallevelclowninginorderof
importance,fromfundamentalstograduation.Thebookbeginswithanintroductiontothetopicof
clowningthenproceedsthroughtheprerequisiteskills:ACTING(includingimprovisationandmovement),
MAKEUP(includingcharacterdesign),COSTUME,SKITS(includingwalkaround,gags,andacts)
culminatinginSHOW(andrehearsal).ThefinalchaptersHISTORYandRESOURCESarefor
reference.HISTORYlistsgreatclownsandcomicsbyera,mostlyfromfilmandtelevision,andalso
featuresadefinitivereferencetocircusandclownrelatedmovies.RESOURCEScontainsthe
glossary,aswellaslinkstositesforvendorsandorganizations.
Ineachchapteranditssubsections,pleasereadthearticleatthetopofeachsubjectfirst,thenproceed
throughsupportingcontentandlinks.

INTRODUCTION
Fundamentallytheclown'sfunctionistomakepeoplesmileorlaugh.Clownskillsoverlapwith
acting,comedy,vaudeville,magic,juggling,psychologyandmore.Mostgenerallyclowningisan
areaoftheatre.Therearesubtledifferences,butclownislargelysynonymouswithjesterandcomic
andfool.Clownsoftenrepresentnoncomformityincarnate,andsometimesmischief,butmayalsobe
simplyparodybyexageration.Theroleofclownisprobablynearlyasoldascultureitself.

INTRODUCTION/WHATISACLOWN?
Wikipediadescribesclownsincomparablywell:
"Clownsarecomicperformers,stereotypicallycharacterizedbytheircoloredwigs,stylisticmakeup,
outlandishcostumes,andunusuallylargefootwear.Clowning,initsmostbasicform,canbedescribed
asoneformofdramawithoutafourthwall,howeverthereareothertypesofdramathatarelacking
theelementofafourthwallaswell.Inotherwords,aclownacknowledgeshisaudience.Theclown's
humortodayisoftenvisualandincludesmanyelementsofphysicalcomedyorslapstickhumor."
"Clownsspreadinculturesofanytimeandplace,becausetheymeetsomedeeplyrootedneedsin

humanity:violationoftaboos,themockeryofsacredandprofaneauthoritiesandsymbols,reversalof
languageandaction"..."Theperformanceissymbolicofliminalitybeingoutsidetherulesofregular
societytheclownisabletosubvertthenormalorder,andthisbasicpremiseiscontemporarilyusedby
manyactiviststopointoutsocialabsurdity."
"Apopularearlyformofclownwasthefool,arolethatcanbetracedbackasfarasancientEgyptand
appearsasthefirstcardinthetarotdeck.Mostfoolssufferedfromsomephysicalormental
deformity,andweregiventothelocallandlordasacharge,becausetheirfamilieswereunabletolook
afterthem...beingperceived'idiots'theywereoftentheonlypeopleincourtwhoenjoyedfree
speech,andduringthe16thcentury,especiallyinFrance,actorsbegantotrainasfoolsofteninorder
tohavetheabilitytomakesatiricalcomment.Thereisevidenceofthe'wisefool'similarinfunction
tothejesterinmanyothercultures."
"Clownsofthiseraanderasprevioustoitwerealsoassociatedwithjugglers,whowereseenas
pariahsofsocietyalongsideactors,prostitutesandlepers,andthus(atleastinEurope)worestripes,or
motleyclothassociatedwithmarginalisedpeoplesuchasthecondemned,withstrongassociations
withthedevil.Jugglersoftenusedclowningtechniques,andthelatercourtjestersoftendanced,
performedacrobaticsandjuggled."
"Duringthe16thcenturytheCommediadell'artealsobecameahugeinfluenceonperceptionsofthe
clowninEurope,andinfluencewhichpassedthroughpantomime,intovaudevilleandontothe
touringcircusesofthe19thand20thcenturies."
PleasegotoWikipediatoreadmuchmoreofthisexcellentarticle.

INTRODUCTION/WORKSHOP
Thefollowingthreebasicsofclowningwoorksheetswereexcerptedfrompagesincludedwithabasic
clownworkshophandoutpacketdistributedduringalate1990sseasonclassofGammaPhiCircus.

INTRODUCTION/WORKSHOP/CLOWN
REQUIREMENTS
1. Haveafocusedcharacter.Afocuscharacterhasthefollowingtraits:
a. adefinitepersonality
b. acostumethataccentuatesthispersonality
c. afunnytakethatsuitsyourpersonality
d. awalkthatstrengthenyourpersonality
2. Agoodcostumehighlightsyourfeatures,andyourpersonality.Rememberyourcostume
mustbe:
a. Clean(notscaryorvulgar)
b. Bright
c. Awigand/orhat.(orbaldcap)(norainbowcoloredwigs)
d. Shoeswithtraction
e. Makesureitiscomfortable
3. Beabletodevelopandputonaface.Youmustbeabletoputyourmakeuponinreasonable
amountoftime(1525min.).Yourfinalfacemustbecleanandbright.Itmustalsohighlight
yourpersonality.
a. Beabletodemonstrateonespecialtalent,(i.e.unicycles,juggling,ect.)
b. Beabletoforatleasttwoballoonanimals.

c. Beabletoperformapratfall.
d. Beabletoatleasttelltwocleanjokes.
e. EachclownwillhavetoperformONEwalkonskitfortryouts.
f. Mostofallhavefun,workhard,andshowuswhatyou'remadeof!!!

INTRODUCTION/WORKSHOP/CLOWN
SKILLS
Thefollowingbasicskillsareexpectedofaperformingclown.
1. Character
2. MakeUp
3. Costume
4. Bigmotion
5. Improvisation
6. SpecialTalents
7. Balloonanimals

INTRODUCTION/WORKSHOP/
CHARACTERPLANNING
Fillinthefollowingonbehalfofyourcharacter,notasyourself.
Name:
Age:
Birthplace:
Parent'sNames:
Sibling'sNames:
BasicPersonalityTraits:
Funnytakethatrepresentscharacter:
Beabletoshowandexplainyourwalk:
Pleasenote:Yourcharacteristhefoundationofyourwholeclownpersonality...Thisisnotto
betakenlightly!

INTRODUCTION/WORKSHOP/WALK
ONSKIT
Writeyourskitdownbelow,suitableforwalkaroundorquickgags:makesureyoudescribeprops,
actions,andhowlongtheskitwillrun.

INTRODUCTION/SLOGANS
Thefollowingarekeyclowningguidelines,simplifiedtoshortslogans,suitableforuseasmini
posters.

LESS"CUTE",MORE"FUNNY"
PIESDON'TFIXEVERYTHING
WHATWOULDMYCHARACTERDO?
SMILE!
BEBIG,REDICULOUSLYBIG
ACTING/INTRODUCTION
Basicactinghints:
Actionsmustbeappropriateforcharacter.
ActBIGandsloooooowwww.
Usegesture,bodylanguage,ASL.
Useoversizedpantomimeforeveryemotion.
Movementsandactionsneedreasonandpurpose.
Watchyourblocking:crowding,facing,spacing.
Playtotheaudience,nottoeachother.
Basicactingskills:
Goodvocalprojection
Clarityofspeech
Imitatingdialectsandaccents
Physicalexpressiveness
Emotionalexpressiveness
Singinganddancing
Improvisation
Mime
Stagecombat

ACTING/IMPROVISATION
IMPROVRULES:
Yesand:
Respondtopartnersimprovisationbyaddingonandbuildingwith"Yesand...",asopposedto
anyrepsonsethatmightdefuse,slow,orobstructthebuildingcontext.Forexample,ifa
personsays"Thealiensarecoming!"aresponselike"Yes,Icanheartheminmyfillings"is
FARbetterthan"you'recrazy".
Avoidaskingquestions:
Respondtopartnersimprovisationbysupportingandbuildingonthestory.Questionsslow
andcomplicateacontext,decreasecredibility,andoverlychallengeyourpartnerbyforcing
themtocomeupwithananswer.Forexample,ifapersonsays"Thealiensarecoming!"a
responselike"theyprobedmeonce"isFARbetterthan"whywouldyousaythat?"
Listen:
Closelisteningisrequiredforgoodimprov.Moresoeventhanwithregularconversation.By
listeningyoucanrespondappropriately,ratherthanwithdisassociation.
Don'tDeny:
Denialisascenekiller,byinstantlycrushingsuspendeddisbeliefe.Forexample,ifaperson
says"Thealiensarecoming!"aresponselike"Runaroundandpanic!"isFARbetterthan
"Notheyaren't".
Tellastory:
Dowhatyoucantoactuallybuildatale,ratherthanjustbackandforthbanter.Forexample,
ifapersonsays"Thealiensarecoming!"aresponselike"soonthey'llbedemandingequal
rights"isFARbetterthan"Iheartheybreathethroughtheirfeet".

ACTING/SPECIALSKILLS
Whatspecialskillsdoyouhave?
Considerskillsyoumightnotthinkotherpeoplecareabout,oronesyouyourselfmayhave
overlooked.
Examples:
Musicalinstruments:
String,brass,reed,guitar,keyboards,...
Rhythminstruments.
MusicalSaw.
Orothernoveltiessuchasaccordion,zither,bells,musicalchampagneglasses.
Greatflexibility.
Stilts.
Magic.
Trainedpets.
Freakarts:
Fire,swordswallowing,contactjuggling,...
Extremeheightorshortness.
...

ACTING/EXERCISES
Trytheseexcercisestoimproveyouracting:

Writeyour"characterbible".
Describeyourcharacter'sage,gender,history,parents,formativeevents,preferences,
hobbies,tendancies,prejudices,andexamplebehaviors.Beabletoanswerthequestion
"Whatwouldmycharacterdo?"foranysituation.
Practiceimprovwithapartner.
Usenoprompts,setatimelimit,anduseanaudience/peersuggestionforlocationand
situation.
Learnaclassicscene.
BeabletoperformaShakespeareansoliloquyforexample.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________

ACTING/EXPRESSIONS

MAKEUP/CLASSICCLOWNTYPES
PIERROT(WHITEFACE)
TheclassicPierrot,harlequinclownface.Allwhite,withfeatures(eyebrows,

nose,mouth)paintedoninblackandred.Otherdecorationin
variousothercolors.CalledNEATWhitefacewhenthe
featuresareordinarysizeGROTESQUEWhitefacewhen
theyareextralarge.

AUGUSTE
Themostcomicclownface.Basecolor,pinkorreddish
Insteadofwhite.Features,(redandblack)areenormous
size.Mouth,usuallythicklyoutlinedwithwhite,whichoftenIs
usedalsoaroundtheeyes.TheAugusteisthemostslapstick
ofallclowns,hisactionswilder,broaderthantheothertypes.
TheAugustegetsawaywithmoreandbiggerpranks.

CHARACTER
WhitefaceandAugustefacesaretrueclownmasks.The
Characterclownfaceisacomicslantonthestandardhuman
face.Characterclownfacesmakesportofmustaches,
beards,whiskers,freckles,warts,oddlookingorlargenoses
andears,baldheads,strangehaircutsandfacialfeaturesof
femininebeauty.ThemostwidespreadCharacterclownfaceis
tramporhobo.

COSTUME
Costumingdefinestheclown.

COSTUME/INTRODUCTION
PROFESSIONALCLOWNCOSTUMINGRULES:
Norainbowwigs.
Aprofessionalqualityembossed/engravednametagisrequired.

Aprofessionalqualitynoseisrecommended.
Finewhitedressglovesshouldbewornatalltimes,exceptwhereinterferswithskit.
Costumesmustbecomplete,fromhatdowntoshoesandaccessories.
Propsmustberediculouslybig.
Costumesshouldmatchcharacter,andbeappropriatetoskit.
Costumeshouldbebrightlycoloredwithextremecolorcontrasts.
Costumeshouldbeludicrous/farcical.
Qualitytrumpsprice.
Bigshoesdon'tsolveeverything.
Blackshouldbeusedonlyasaccentcolor.
Ifyourclownnamecanalsobeinterprettedasafashionfeature(suchasRufflesorDotor
GemorButtons)usethatfashionfeatureprominently.

COSTUME/SAMPLEIDENTITIES
ClassicIdentities:
Auguste
WhiteFace
Hobo/Tramp
Character:
Cop,fireman,general,paradeleader,maid,elderly,...
Science:
Astronaut:
Pureofheartandheroic.Spacesuitorjumpsuit.
Geek/Nerd:
Thickglasses,sliderule,pocketprotector,buckteeth,highpants,schoolprincipal.
NuttyProfessor/MadScientist:
Bumblingbutbooksmart.Labcoat.Crazyhair.ProfessorFrinkfromSimpsons.Integrate
balloontwistingandmagictricks.
Topical:
PopIcon:
Parody,crossdressingopportunity.
Soldier/Commando:
Easycostume,touchyrole.
Shakespearean:
Anymedievalcharacter,thinkRennFaire.
Sports:
Players,umpire,coach,reporter,superfan.

SKITS(ACTSORTRICKS)
Everythingrelatedtoskitsdesign,planning,andexecution.

SKITS/INTRODUCTION
Wikipediahasanincomparableintroductiontoskitdesign:
CLOWNINGFRAMEWORKS
Frameworksarethegeneraloutlineofanactthatclownsusetohelpthembuildoutanact.
Frameworkscanbeloose,includingonlyageneralbeginningandendingtotheact,leavingitupto
theclown'screativitytofillintherest,orattheotherextremeafullydevelopedscriptthatallowsvery
littleroomforcreativity.
SHOWS
Theoverallproductionthataclownisapartof,itmayormaynotincludeelementsotherthan
clowning,suchasinacircusshow.Inacircuscontext,clownshowsaretypicallymadeupofsome
combinationofEntres,Sidedishes,ClownStops,TrackGags,Gagsandbits.
BLOWOFF
TheBlowOffisthecomedicendingofashowsegment,bit,gag,stuntorroutine.Itistheskits
punchline.
GAGS,BITS,BUSINESS
"Business"istheindividualmotionstheclownuses,oftenusedtoexpresstheclown'scharacter.A
"gag"isaveryshortpieceofclowncomedywhichwhenrepeatedwithinabitorroutinemaybecome
a"runninggag".Gagsmaybelooselydefinedas"thejokesclownsplayoneachother".Bitsarethe
clown'ssketchesorroutinesmadeupofoneormoregagseitherworkedoutandtimedbeforegoing
onstageorimpromptubitscomposedoffamiliarimprovisationalmaterial.Agagmayhavea
beginning,amiddleandanendtothem,ortheymaynot.Gagscanalsorefertothepropstunts/tricks
orthestuntsthatclownsuse,suchasasquirtingflower.
MENU
Entresarefeatureclowningactslasting48minutes.Theyaretypicallymadeupofvariousgagsand
bits,andusuallyuseaclowningframework.Entresalmostalwaysendwithablowoff.
SIDEDISHES
Shorterfeatureacts.SidedishesareessentiallyshorterversionsoftheEntre,typicallylasting13
minutes.Sidedishesaretypicallymadeupofvariousgagsandbits,andusuallyuseaclowning
framework.Sidedishesalmostalwaysendwithablowoff.
INTERLUDES
ClownStopsorinterludesarethebriefappearanceofclownswhilethepropsandriggingarechanged.
Thesearetypicallymadeupofafewgagsorseveralbits.ClownStopsalmostalwaysendwitha
blowoff.Clownstopswillalwayshaveabeginning,amiddleandanendtothem.
PROPSTUNTS
Amongthemorewellknownclownstuntsare:squirtingflowerthe"toomanyclownscomingout
ofatinycar"stuntdoingjustaboutanythingwitharubberchicken,trippingoveronesownfeet(or
anairpocketorimaginaryblemishinthefloor),orridinganynumberofridiculousvehiclesor"clown
bikes".Individualpropstuntsaregenerallyconsideredtobeindividualbits.

SKITS/SKITIDEAS/BIGACTS
Balloononeupping
Actlengthcompetingballoontwistersskitperformedto"anythingyoucandoIcandobetter"
asperformedbyAndrewandSusan.
Skatebully
Quickinlineskatingskitperformedto"I'vegotabrandnewpairofrollerskates",features
bully,girlwithcrush,andadepantsing.AsperformedbyAndrewandSusan.
Hardwareband
Sawplayer,alongwithoilcandrums,pipesandmallets,etc.
PerformanceArt
FixedlocationabsurdistpieceLikeRedmoon.Actorengagesinsomeslowpointless
incomprehensibleactionrepeatedly.
Karaokeforthedeaf
Fakebutplausiblesignlanguageroutineaccompanyingawellknownsong,withasimple
chorusthataudiencestartstopickup.
ExplodingOven
Anyvariationofclassicrecipegonewrongskit,asdonebyThreeStoogesandBozo.

SKITS/SKITIDEAS/VARIOUS
Parodyofmajorcircusact
likeDimWits.Donewithbestintentions,clownsgraduallyrealizehowharditis.
HumanMarionette
Oneclownpretendstocontrolanothershorteroneusinginvisiblestrings.
MillionthCustomer
Customerforsomereasondoesn'twanttheattention.Maybewasrobbingstore,oris
otherwisecriminallywanted.
Laughinggas
Clownmovingaproptankof"laughinggas"(perhapsforaclowndentist)accidentallysprays
wholeaudience.
Plantdelivery
Recurringdeliverypersongag,whereplantisdramaticallymorewitheredeachtimethey
comeout.Startingwithflamboyantfloweredplant,endswithdeliveryofpotofdirtwith
wiltedsticks,maybedumpedonheadofrecipient.
OopsyDropsy
Tryingtoholdseveralthings,suchasjugglingclubs,accidentallydropsone.Picksup
droppedthingbutatsametimeaccidentallydropsanother,andsoforth.Eventuallynearly
getslastthingsbutdropsalltrying.Sometimes"accidentally"kicksawaythingonground
whilereachingforit.Canbeperformedwithkidwherekidinnocentlypicksupandhands
droppedthingbacktoclown,butclowndropsanotherwhiletakingit.
Humanpinata.
Fatclowneventuallyburstwithcandy.
Gorillacostumes
Gorillasvs.giantbananacostume.ReviewErnieKovaks.
WaterandConfetti.
Waterisbolder,butConfettiorglitteraremorevisible.
Seltzerbottle
Clown"accidentally"squirtsaudiencewhilechasingotherclown.SeeninRussianbitwhere
otherclownhadflaminghat.

SHOW
SHOW/RULES
Rulesforclownsrelatedtorehearsalsandshows.
Goodjokes.
Speakclearly.
Interactwithkids.
PrepareSkits.
Havefunnyclothing.
Exaggeratedanimation.

HISTORY
Listsofcommonlyrecognizedgreatclownscategorizedbyera.

HISTORY/EARLYFILMGREATS
HaroldLloyd
BusterKeaton
KeystoneKops
HarryLangdon
FattyArbuckle
RitzBrothers
StanLaurelandOliverHardy
CharleyBowers
ThreeStooges
HalRoach
MarxBrothers

HISTORY/MODERNCLOWNS
BillIrwin
RowanAtkinson(Mr.Bean)
BobcatGoldthwait
PaulRubens(PeeWeeHerman)
RobinWilliams
JimCarrey
AdamSandler
SteveMartin
CLOWNPRAYER
AsIstumblethroughthislife,

helpmetocreatemorelaughterthantears,
dispensemorecheerthangloom,
spreadmorecheerthandespair.
Neverletmebecomesoindifferent,
thatIwillfailtoseethewondersintheeyesofachild,
orthetwinkleintheeyesoftheaged.
Neverletmeforgetthatmytotaleffortistocheerpeople,
makethemhappy,andforgetmomentarily,
alltheunpleasantnessintheirlives.
Andinmyfinalmoment,
mayIhearYouwhisper:
WhenyoumadeMypeoplesmile,
youmadeMesmile.

CLOWNCODEOFETHICS/CLOWNCOMMANDMENTS
1. Iwillkeepmyacts,performanceandbehavioringoodtastewhileIamincostumeand
makeup.IwillrememberatalltimesthatIhavebeenacceptedasamemberoftheclownclub
onlytoprovideothers,principallychildren,withcleanclowncomedyentertainment.Iwill
rememberthatagoodclownentertainsothersbymakingfunofhimselforherselfandnotat
theexpenseorembarrassmentofothers.
2. Iwilllearntoapplymymakeupinaprofessionalmanner.Iwillprovidemyowncostume.I
willcarryoutmyappearanceandassignmentfortheentertainmentofothersandnotfor
personalgainorpersonalpublicitywhenperformingforeithertheInternationalcluboralley
events.Iwillalwaystrytoremainanonymouswhileinmakeupandcostumeasaclown,
thoughtheremaybecircumstanceswhenitisnotreasonablypossibletodoso.
3. Iwillneitherdrinkalcoholicbeveragesnorsmokewhileinmakeuporclowncostume.Also,
Iwillnotdrinkalcoholicbeveragespriortoanyclownappearances.Iwillconductmyselfas
agentleman/lady,neverinterferingwithotheracts,events,spectators,orindividuals.Iwill
notbecomeinvolvedinortoleratesexualharassmentordiscriminationonthebasisofrace,
color,religion,sex,nationalorigin,age,disabilityoranyprotectedstatus.
4. Iwillremovemymakeupandchangeintomystreetclothesassoonaspossiblefollowingmy
appearance,sothatIcannotbeassociatedwithanyincidentthatmaybedetrimentaltothe
goodnameofclowning.Iwillconductmyselfasagentleman/ladyatalltimes.
5. Whileonappearanceinmakeupandcostume,Iwillcarryoutthedirectivesoftheproducer
orhisdesignateddeputies.Iwillabidebyallperformanceruleswithoutcomplaintinpublic.
6. Iwilldomyverybesttomaintainthebestclownstandardsofmakeup,costuming,properties,
andcomedy.
7. IwillappearinasmanyclownshowsasIpossiblycan.
8. Iwillbecommittedtoprovidinganatmospherefreeofdiscriminationandharassmentfor
clownsofallagestoshareideasandlearnabouttheartofclowning.