Greetings folks!

I've recently created a new clown character, Roosevelt. Tomorrow I am marching in the Portland Grand Floral Parade, the largest parade of the year in these parts. It's 4.2 miles long, through downtown Portland, Oregon, and its televised. It's a huge deal. I'm marching as part of the Rose Festival Clown Corps. I'm in need of some ideas for the parade. I've discovered that the good ol' standbys of passing out stickers don't work in a parade. I feel like I need a prop of some sort, but what? This character is somewhat a tribute to the classic comedians (Jackie Gleason, Laurel and Hardy, etc) but I can't think of any sort of prop that would fit this character. Also, I'm a bigger guy (around the middle) so I'm trying to keep my character simple as walking 4.2 miles in my Converse is going to be challenging enough! My other ideas are just to keep it prop free and perform little mini-skits. But when I look at all of my other clown friends carrying things, I feel left out! :cry: Any ideas?!

I've included a photo of my character in a file attachment. (Roosevelt is the clown on the right...white shirt, brown pants)

Cute character. Can you just play with the crowd funny hand shakes, or carry small stuff like a small flashlight and ask to shine their shoes, the small mirror say you want to see someone special- you know -the good old standbys; brown E's, gray hares, Black I's, etc. Not everyone needs to carry a prop. The way you interact with the crowd is so much more important.
Sara K.

I carried a springy frog and told everyone I was HOPPY to see them

http://www.clown-forum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2124&stc=1&d=1307770081

4.2 miles is a LOOONG parade! Make sure your shoes are comfortable.

It was a long parade! But, the energy of the crowd kept me going all the way to the end. It wasn't until I sat down that I realized how much my feet hurt! Converse are not meant for parades. :)

Congrats. Did you take a prop, any other small gags or just your smile? Glad it went well. Epson salts and hot water a parade clowns best friends.
Sara K.

I just saw on my friend Kaity's facebook page some pictures from the Portland Rose Parade. I'm pretty sure I saw you in the album! I'm jealous that you live close to her, we became pretty good friends at Moosecamp last summer! looks like it was a fun parade!

Thanks for the tips folks..good thread. I am doing my first parade of the season on June 25th, so the ideas are helpful to me too. Way to go.:applause: DD

Thats cute Idea with the frog, I had a pig and Chicken , who are springy like that, and those are my Spiral sliced ham and Spring chicken. The pig "oinks" when you shake him and the Chicken Clucks

I carried a springy frog and told everyone I was HOPPY to see them

http://www.clown-forum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2124&stc=1&d=1307770081

Love the pin about the skinny clown. Where did you find it? :applause:

Love the pin about the skinny clown. Where did you find it? :applause:

I got it from Bubba he has a clown site that sells just about anything clown

Bubbaclownsupplies