I remember something! That something said that clown clothes should be oversized. Two sizes to large, or somethingamajiggy.

Wow, I actually remembered it.

Now, when it comes to a hobo clown's clothes, is this 100% true?

I have a Jacket that I think I want to waste--ruin--err--burn, erm, use... and it's a bit too big, but it's not a tent. I'm a bit oversized myself, so anything bigger may be a tent.

I haven't committed on being a hobo either, so before I do anything I regret. Um, I don't know what I'm asking.

I should include photos.

Yes, photos would help.

While I think it helps to have something which is somewhat oversized, the extent to which that is the case depends upon each individual. If you recall seeing some of my costuming at the Fling, for instance, you'll recall that it is much closer to "normal" size. That's intentional. It is what suits me and my character. Supersized would not be natural to me as a clown. It's a look which is right for some in certain contexts, but isn't for everyone. I think the main thing is that your costuming represents your own unique character well and reflects this intelligently. It also helps if you look a little "off" of what might be perceived "normal." Eccentric, so to speak.

A hobo is going to wear what ever he can find, and then wear it till there's nothing left.
One of the main things to me with the oversize clothes is the fact I can put on enough layers for a winter parade to equal a snow suit. Post pics if you can.

Also, and I'm not knocking a bought costume. But a real tramp would find clothes that he could wear and repair them as nesscesary as best that he could with what ever he could find at the moment. It's almost like a snipers gilly suit. You often just have to make your own.

When it comes to Hobos, the good thing is thay you're not tied down to a certain style, anything goes. That could mean too big, oversized clothes or even too small.

If you recall, Chaplin's li'l Tramp character's outfit consisted of a mix-matched tight jacket, baggy pants and big shoes.

Here's a piece from Wikipedia.....

"I had no idea what makeup to put on. I did not like my get-up as the press reporter [in Making a Living]. However on the way to the wardrobe I thought I would dress in baggy pants, big shoes, a cane and a derby hat. I wanted everything to be a contradiction: the pants baggy, the coat tight, the hat small and the shoes large. I was undecided whether to look old or young, but remembering Sennett had expected me to be a much older man, I added a small moustache, which I reasoned, would add age without hiding my expression.
I had no idea of the character. But the moment I was dressed, the clothes and the makeup made me feel the person he was. I began to know him, and by the time I walked on stage he was fully born." (Chaplin, My Autobiography: 154).

I think best of all, wear whatever you are comfortable in. Clowning in an uncomfortable environment or attire does not make it fun and won't keep your interest for long.

Hope this helps,
~Sam 8-)

Okay, so with your comments I threw on some clothes and went to town. This isn't a 'costume', they're just clothes I actually happen to own.

Oh, and makeup. My first time ever, makeup. Not quite good, but it's a start.



http://blizzle.com/az/clown/100_7204%20%28Small%29.JPG (http://blizzle.com/az/clown/100_7204%20%28Small%29.JPG)


http://blizzle.com/az/clown/100_7207%20%28Small%29.JPG



http://blizzle.com/az/clown/100_7208%20%28Small%29.JPG

For a second I thought I was look at another one of Tim's incarnations. You are going places Azzy. Dressed like that I think it might be the dump, but hey you're a thramp (with a lisp no less.)

Since you are still in the deciding stage I am going to throw out a thought I have been wrestling with. To make it short and sweet - Marketability.
This is my personal observation and opinion, please don't take anything personal (that is a general disclaimer pertaining to any and all suspicious hobo type characters out there.)
It is harder to sell yourself, and thus harder to penetrate the birthday, restaurant, company event market as a tramp/hobo character than it is as a whiteface or auguste. It is a matter of perception. People planning a party want a somewhat sterotypical clown. Emmet Kelly did a fantastic job as a hobo as did Otto Griebling however, you won't find many 4 year olds excited to have a person dressed in rags over for their birthday party when the other 364 days of the year they are told to avoid just nasty looking people. I see two ways around this delimmea. The first is to develop your hobo for group events and parades and use another character for your commercial work. The second ties in nicely with the first. Keep your hobo character (or as much as is fitting) but change the clothes and makeup for your commercial work instead of developing an entire new character.

I've thought much about that - and I agree, but right now I don't care. I'm not looking to sell anything right now, I am looking to learn and have fun. Hobo is easy for me, because it's most fitting of my personality -- but I've been really interested in a more traditional look also, and nearly bought an oversized purple pair of woman's parachute pants. Wait, that was for my other hobby...

When I first thought this up, whiteface was the only thing that came to mind, but right now I'm playing. Just for fun.

Very good Deborah, oh wait, the woman's purple parachute pants threw me for a moment. Then fun you shall have, just watch out for the bananas on the sidewalks and the pies in the air.

Very good Deborah, oh wait, the woman's purple parachute pants threw me for a moment. Then fun you shall have, just watch out for the bananas on the sidewalks and the pies in the air.

I would NEVER wear women's parachute pants. They would clash horribly with my bra.

Why do people choose hobo? What is it about their personality which makes them want to go that direction? I''m not criticizing it (I like bums) but I just don't understand it at all.

For me, my baseline is slow and sleepy. I'm often unkempt anyway. And I really enjoy this;
the Laugh-Out-Loud Cats - a set on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/apelad/sets/72157600296941365/)

That's why I started playing with it. It requires no "special" costume to start. It's not much of a stretch. So for training it works.

On the other hand, there's a lot of things I'm already brainstorming that don't work (without modification) with a hobo character, so I could drop it sooner rather than later.

(p.s. I also want a bindle)

Why do people choose hobo? What is it about their personality which makes them want to go that direction? I''m not criticizing it (I like bums) but I just don't understand it at all.

Tim, that is a million and a half dollar question. For me, I started out as an Auguste in 1990 but swithed to Hobo/Tramp in 1992 after meeting Emmett Kelly Jr and seeing the way people took to his tramp chaacter. I was already a big fan of Red Skelton's Freddie the Freeloader character and I too wanted sum'pin more whimsical, down home~ish and the Hobo character seemed to fit right in along with my guitar playing (now the Ukulele). I use to say I wanted my audiences to leave my shows with the same "down home" feeling one has once they've seen the Country Bear Jamboree at Disney World.

I got just as many calls for birthday parties as a Hobo Clown but I will agree with ol' Fitz that most folks perception of a Clown is not that of a Hobo/Tramp. Either they picture Ronald McDonald types or the oversized outlandish look of an Auguste.
I did however have one parent tell me once they liked the Hobo look alot better because it didn't seem to scare the kids as much since it was more human like (for lack of better words - sorry, I just got done working 13hrs on nightshift - Yuk!). And yes, this parent had seen my Auguste Clown as well as many other local clowns. I'm not knocking any Clown category as I love them all, I'm simply stating what was said.

Azzy, you are off to a great start and I loved those cat cartoons. Thanks. I might only suggest you add a derby hat to complete the look (like the cat in the cartoon is wearing). That would be way COOL!

Ya'll have a Great Day!

~Sam 8-)

One little makeuping thing. I think that it would balance better if you had the same color outlines around the mouth and eyes. In this case, I'd go with black. I actually like the red you have outlining the eyes, but if you changed the mouth outline to red it might be too much red there.

I think you are doing a really good job of making the mouth work with your moustache. Having the actual lip red (rather than whited over) breaks things up, nicely, in your case.

Azzy, you're looking great!

Why do people choose hobo? I'll admit, I am from the camp that the clown chooses you. I know in my case, I tried both Auguste and Whiteface and didn't feel "right" until I tried the tramp. From the first time I tried the hobo I knew I was home. I had found the clown I would be for the rest of my life.
As far as booking parties, I haven't really had a problem with that. Mainly because I rarely book parties.....
I think people identify more with the hobo character because of the "human element" of the character.

I like the flower you added to your costume.

azzy,

Good start! Maybe a little to clean looking. Maybe sew on a few patches, find some fingerless gloves, and grab that blue knit scarf on the floor in the first picture and use it as a tie. But, what do I know, I haven't created a hobo character yet.

I think your face is great. Don't sell yourself short. You are doing a good job.
When I look at the first pic I do not see the eyebrows. In the closer ones I see thay are red. If you made them black that would be more contrast against you skin and they could be seen from a distance. I also happen to think red around the eyes is not very friendly.
I love the shape you your mouth and your eyes seem to be in just the right place also.

And as to the tramp or not to tramp question. I agree with fitz about the marketability of these charactors. I think it takes an enormous amount of talent and experiance to be a tramp/hobo. Maybe that is just because it is the hardest for me. I also believe those are two different things. A tramp is shabbier. The hobo has patches but they are cleaner and generly happier. I learned a lot about this subject from Homer of California while at clown camp. If you can find a video of him you will see a GREAT show, and a marketable one. He is a hobo.

i regards to tim,s reply about why being a hobo well i,ve always liked red skeltons "freddie the freeloader character plus the the slapstick comedy of lurarel and hardy with their derby hats.

For Hobo clothes, is there a point when you can have too much color? I've got green shirt and purple shirt with ties to mix/match/clash; I think I've found a great pair of slacks for him (could just use a strategic patch here and there.) Does there come a time in a Hobo outfit that too many bright colors take away from the affect?

I know nothing about Hobo's but I like how when you smile your whole face does and when you frown your whole face does. That's talent. Good make-up too!

My Hobo Joe character that I came up with I did so to use for the performance that the South Carolina clowns did at my church. I did the last skit that I call "give my heart to God" I walked in the front door and up to the alter, when I got to the collection plate I pulled my pokets out to show that I had no money to give so I then knew what I could give, My Heart(six inch red heart balloon) and lay in the plate, that lead into an alter call.

My costume was a pair of black pants (Ms Me made) with patches and then a pair of black and white shoes, fannel shirt Old CPO coat that had lot of paint on it, wore a mid-lenght straight wig and a Derby hat. And a skin tone nose. The character Looked the part and I had a lot of comments on it.

There aren't too many female clowns I know on this forum who I could connect to with my interest to be a hobo. I think it's an integral part of me from watching Freddy the Freeloader as a kid and learning about his kindness that strikes a chord with my personality.

I consider hobo clowns as a breed that is more poetic in humanity issues. The down-to-earth wholesomeness--not concerned with materialsm and the glitz and glamour of society and focused more on who he is as a person.

There's not much marketing for poetry books either, but no matter-- I feel that this expresses who I am as a performing artist too. We do it for the love of our art and not what income it produces, hence the reason why not too many hobos are in demand for birthday parties. But that's okay. I already have a birthday party image as Artsy. I don't need another birthday clown. But the hobo clown inside me is there more for the poetic art of humanity.

I'm very thankful for this thread, for you have all planted the seed of encouragement in me to develop my hobo persona. Hobos truly speak more about who I am. I feel more comfortable in rags than dressing up as an obvious girl clown in a frilly dress and bows. I'm unique, that's for sure... far from being a "manish woman", not even a tomboy, and not even close to the girlie habits of getting nails and hair done at the local salon. I'm just a down to earth female. And that makes me more of a hobo than anything else.

Thank you everyone on this thread for giving me the can of beans nudge to go for it!

Go for it Artsy, you can do anything you want. That why I brought out Hobo Joe. Something I wanted to do.

Artsy, I had always thought I would like to develop a hobo character. Two women from my graduating clown class were hobos, and they were among the best hobos I've ever met. Still, until Moose Camp, the thought of developing a hobo character was just that -- a thought.

One night at Moose Camp is a Hobo Stew night, where everybody dresses up as a tramp or hobo. So I finally had an opportunity to step into the shoes of a hobo for an evening. And I LOVED it. I felt very different from Pickles the Clown--it was very liberating. However, I'm not really sure what the next step is for this character, or what I'm going to do with him. You're right; he won't be a party clown. I'll leave that job to Pickles.

I will be watching with interest as you develop your inner hobo. Maybe we can share some ideas.





http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3110/3123189320_83c2e621c4_m.jpg

So I finally had an opportunity to step into the shoes of a hobo for an evening.



Speaking of shoes... What kind of shoes did you wear for the Hobo night?? Your yellow Pickles shoes?

I have a feeling my big yellow converse won't work...so I'm looking for options... thinking of scoping out a few ideas before breaking down and actually ordering scuffed up clown shoes

Wow Pickles--and I thought I was the only gal on the forum with a hobo identity crisis. I hope someday we can sit by the fire and share a can of beans to talk about the good ole days.

Artsy, you need to have a talk with Jinx. She is a great hobo clown. I'm not sure if she took first or second at the Midwest Roundup this year, not that it really matters she IS a hobo when in character.