[Snugglesnort]

<<I have decided to make the characters not really 'evil' but pretty much badass tough people with a crazy (in a good way) sense of humour.>>

This is workable. Though I have to agree with others that is is more carnie than clown... circus clowns are tough but it would be difficult to put them in a situation where they would be gangsterish even in a noble way. What you might could do if you really wanted to have fun is have a couple of wronged mobsters hiding out with the circus as clowns. Make it sort of like Sister Act but with clowns instead of nuns. Do it right and you could have all sorts of interesting fun with out sacrificing (like everyone else) the virutes of the art of clowning, and still have your darker twist with it through the mobsters who have learned a few things from their new clown friends. I can just picture a couple of mobster hit men trying to find their inner clown character, without giving themselves away to those who are looking for them with the help of some vetran circus clowns. It makes me smile...

Either way Grandpa Weatherbie is right... write... wright!