I've tried a search on this but the topic is a bit broad to find what I am looking for.

I have discovered that there's yet another clown inside me begging to come out. Thanks to a green punk-style wig I received, I have a head-start on him...pun only slightly intended. Now I'm trying to come up with the rest of his look. The way I see him, he's an Auguste. I even have an idea how I want his costume to look. My concern is that, from what I've read, Augustes are generally supposed to have loud, mismatched outfits and I'm not sure his costume would follow that. I see his starter outfit as being simply a Lime green bib overalls and a purple shirt, lime green shoes, and green and purple socks. I may splatter some purple paint on the overalls. Basically just green and purple. Not exactly "mis-matched." Would this outfit be better suited for a Whiteface than an Auguste or do ya think I can get away with it? ( I almost said "Do ya think I can pull it off, but thought i'd spare you the mental image.:) )

The "rules" for clown types are really just guidelines. If you find something that works for the clown you have in mind, go for it. If the hardnosed by the book clowns don't like it, that is their problem.

it depends on if you are going to be in a competition. if you are they from what i hear would "mark you off" for that but i as an august dont have a mis matched outfit. my outfit is very coordinated and bright colored but not tacky. i like your idea and it would be a very great look especially for outdoor events. where you can play games with kids and not get overheated in your hobo suit.

I still do not understand these continual desires to rigidly conform to certain clowning standards that bear no true relevance to the art of clowning. Children are not sitting around waitting to judge the clown on the size of his shoes, the colour of his makeup, the cut of his jacket. They don't know the differance between your hobos, whitefaced harlequins and augustes. Not only do they not know, they don't care. They will judge the clown, as does everyone else outside North America, on his ability to make them laugh. Nothing else is of any importance at all.

Could you not just try to think about things like, what would look funny? What would the kids like to see? What would compliment the kind of performance I am planning to do? What will be practicle? But above all, by a long way is, what will be funny?

If people can not do this, I don't think they should even be contemplating being a clown.

I still do not understand these continual desires to rigidly conform to certain clowning standards that bear no true relevance to the art of clowning. Children are not sitting around waitting to judge the clown on the size of his shoes, the colour of his makeup, the cut of his jacket. They don't know the differance between your hobos, harlequins and augusts. Not only do they not know, they don't care. They will judge the clown, as do es everyone else outside North Americaon, his ability to make them laugh. Nothing else is of any importance at all.

Could you not just try to think about things like, what would look funny? What would the kids like to see? What would compliment the kind of performance I am planning to do? What will be practicle? But above all, by a long way is, what will be funny?

If people can not do this, I don't think they should even be contemplating being a clown.

Well said, Barry. Since I'm still new at this, I do want to be somewhat respectable by other Clowns, but I can see that my main focus should be on the people I am Clowning for. I'm just trying to get a feel for where the boundaries lay. I guess, as in all groups, there are those for whom the boundaries count, and there are those for whom the boundaries are meant to be crossed. It is up to each of us to decide which fits ouselves.

hmmm... There are two types of people in this world...one type thinks that there are two types of people, and another that doesn't.

All that being said, has anyone tried DYEING their clothes? Lime-green bib overalls are in short supply so I'm probably going to have to purchase a set of white painters overalls and dye them myself. Anybody try this before and have some do's and don'ts for me? :)

I do all my performances totally butt naked, not even a red nose! Occaissionaly, I may choose to wear a blindfold. Do you think this may be why people often shriek when I am around? Would it help if I became an Auguste? I would like to become a whitefaced hobo but I don't want to shave. What shall I do?

I still do not understand these continual desires to rigidly conform to certain clowning standards that bear no true relevance to the art of clowning. Children are not sitting around waitting to judge the clown on the size of his shoes, the colour of his makeup, the cut of his jacket. They don't know the differance between your hobos, harlequins and augusts. Not only do they not know, they don't care. They will judge the clown, as do es everyone else outside North Americaon, his ability to make them laugh. Nothing else is of any importance at all.

Could you not just try to think about things like, what would look funny? What would the kids like to see? What would compliment the kind of performance I am planning to do? What will be practicle? But above all, by a long way is, what will be funny?

If people can not do this, I don't think they should even be contemplating being a clown.

This is exactly how I feel. I've been clowning for about 20 years in various mismatched "Party City" costumes, yes party city but they are recognized as clown outfits. I finally had a custom suit made this past year, but I don't wear it every time I clown, I like that my clown has different outfits to wear. I didn't realize that there were rules for how to dress as a clown or how to do your make-up. I'm a dirty neck clown and proud of it, my face is never painted the same twice either. Mix it, match it, try it out, do the watchers like it, give you complements, point and laugh then you are doing something right. I say go for it. 8-)

dye tip #1 - don't use RIT dyes, they really fade fast.

Sorry Dusty I just re-read my post and it seems a little bit harsher than I meant it to sound. It express's a frustration I have with the very idea of clown rules and regulations. I actually do not know the differance between Augustes, hobos, tramps, whitefaces etc. I will not appreciate some clown, thinking they are being helpfull, posting up their defenitions of these various catagories either. I do not know for the simple reason, I have no wish to know and have made know effort to find out.

I just don't get it. I really do not get it. There are such a lot of earnest disscussions about clown types as if it is something of importance. How often do you all get involved in these costume competitions? What has a costume competition got to do with the art of clowning? I look at all the pictures in the albums and see the same kind of conformity running through all the costumes. What is it about the rule that says you have to wear gloves, do you all respect? Do children say "That clown has no gloves get me a better one who knows how to dress properly"? Are gloves funny?

Sorry, I am still rantting a bit.

Since you mentioned white painters bibs Dusty, here is a shot of mine. I like them being white and bouncing colour off them with all my assessories. I did once think about dyeing them but white works with so many differant combinations it would end up limiting their versatility.

http://www.clown-forum.com/members/barry-daft-mr-b-daft--albums-some-pictures-picture1251-a.jpg

This is a very timely thread.

As a newbie myself( having not been out yet in paint) I am
trying to figure out what I want my look to be.

I am going with Hobo, albeit, with a green nose rather than red
because it works with my "color" scheme :)

I know there are "rules", so I am trying to conform to the "rules"
without being a conformist.

The one thing I am having the most problem with, is my tendency to meld clown "styles".

My Hobo is true to form, but my patches and tie are more colorful
than what I have seen.

It is bordering on a Hobo\Whiteface.

I just received the latest issue of Caliopy and the article on the Mexican clowns with their style of makeup is incredible.

Would it be wrong :) to try and incorporate some of that style into a hobo face?

Hi Barry B. daft

i love your jacket in that pic. It would compliment Tickles very much.

Rant on...say what you believe in.

Tickles

I think I just made a mental connection about clown types... all the "rules" I have seen included how they interact with another. Therefore, the rules are more meant for the formal troupes that acted on stage, much like in the Renaissance period. Since most of us perform by ourselves or in small groups, and for much less formal occasions, the "rules" fade into the background. While people way back when may have been much more picky about clowns and clown types, today's society at large hasn't a clue that such types exist and that there are "supposed to be" differences. If a "clown" is funny and looks like a clown, he/she is a "Clown", otherwise he or she is just a person dressed wierd. :) I may be slow on the uptake sometimes, but I get there eventually! :)

I think to sum up Barry and my philosophy on clown looks. Unless you want to enter the character in organized competitions for awards and such, Do what feels right and gets you where the clown in you needs to go, have fun and entertain your fans.

Most regular people don't know anything about clowns or the difference between the whiteface and auguste clowns. They just know if they think someone looks like a clown. Most people wouldn't realize that the whiteface clown was supposed to put the pie in the augustes face and not the other way around. As long as you look presentable, you shouldn't have any problems. Some clown alleys go by the books, but I think that most would accept a good looking clown/cosutme/makeup combination even if it didn't fit the standards.

None of that answers the question, what is it about a rule that says you must wear gloves, do you respect?

Yeh, the glove thing has got me. Will I have to wear gloves if I go to Moose camp? How do you twist and face paint in gloves? I may need to practice. Never worn gloves..well other than in winter as regular me...wel I'm not too regular..eh ehm I mean normal...Oh shut up Tickles..Yeh explain the gloves please?

Is your whole post, Knic-Knac, a jokey parody of Simon the Brats?


No not in the least.

I have difficulty at times conveying in an articulate manner
my thoughts in prose :)

What I was trying to say is this,

I know there are rules, be they , hard and fast, set in stone , or simply guidelines to aid in our journey in clowndom.

Being new to this, I want to seek out the help and advice of those who have been doing this a long time.

Even though clowning is about being somewhat outlandish
in our appearence and demeanor, there is still a reverence that needs to be adhered to about the craft.

I was simply saying, is it acceptable to blur the lines of clown types, rather than staying strictly with in the line of convention.

Me personally, I take being a clown extremely seriously and I want to do what is proper. However my comment about conforming for conformities sake was perhaps misconstrued.

I suppose what I meant was, do what is right and proper, because it is right and proper, not just because some said to do it.

None of that answers the question, what is it about a rule that says you must wear gloves, do you respect?

Section IV, Part A, paragraph 2, line 4 clearly states,

"Any performer wishing to identify him or herself to the world as a clown must have cloth covering over their hands that prevents the world from knowing that the color of their hands does not match the color of their nose."

I honeslty don't know how you missed that one. Yes, clowns must wear gloves. The last clown who thought he would just paint his hands instead of wearing gloves had his clown card permanently labled as NOT A CLOWN.

The rules somewhere state that a whiteface clown should not have any flesh colored skin showing. Therefore, they should have makeup on their face and neck, wear long sleeves and gloves, and wear pants or socks that cover their legs. But, once you decide that you are clowning in the real world, and not in a competition, you may take off your gloves.

Clowns must absolutely wear gloves at every instant - but ESPECIALLY when they sleep. At this most important time, said gloves should be filled with petroleum jelly in order to soften the hands.

Damnit! I forgot to bring my gloves to the Spring Fling. Now my mattress is going to get all messy with this stuff on the sheets.

I hope they don't charge me extra for that.

None of that answers the question, what is it about a rule that says you must wear gloves, do you respect?

None of that answers the question, what is it about a rule that says you must wear gloves, do you respect?


As for my part, I figure who ever made the rules made them for a reason. I may not be privy to to the reason, but that doesn't make it any less legitimate in my book, so I respect the rule until/unless I am given a reason not to. If my office says I MUST wear a tie, then I either wear a tie or suffer the consequences. I see the clown rules in similar nature, but a bit more relaxed since, as a clown, I'm "self-employed" (although I don't pay me enough.) If a clown doesn't HAVE to wear oversized shoes, not sure why they would HAVE to wear gloves either, especially the Auguste since their make-up is more flesh-toned anyhow. As always, Barry, thanks for keeping me thinking!

Er, uh, ...um... er, I don't know, could you repeat the inane question?

I get what you are asking, Barry. Allow me to share an experience I had a long time ago that helped me decide to make my own rule about wearing gloves. it is my rule, not some rule from any organization or club or by-laws or anything like that. Here is what happened: I was providing entertainment of a clownish nature, doing clown magic, telling stories, interacting with all the birthday party attendees when I asked the assembled multitude. "Who wants balloons?". The hue and cry went up and it was certain in my mind that to a child, they each and every one were highly desirous of a colourful latex creation. I asked them to please be seated and be patient, that each one would receive a balloon in due time, as I worked off my gloves that I had been wearing during my magic and juggling routine. As I slipped off the first glove, a small, wee, darling, doe-eyed tow-headed little girl that appeared to be no more than three and a half years old looked up at me very dejectedly with her lower lip protruding and a look of great sadness in her eyes as she watched me remove my gloves and said in a solemn voice, "Oh. I thought you were a REAL clown, but those are just gloves." I was crushed to think that I had ruined her experience of clown. I now wear gloves with the fingers cut half off, and sewn so as not to unravel. I have never had another child be disappointed. The gloves help keep the balloon residue of my hand, and the bare fingertips allow me to grip the balloon.

In my humble opinion, rules make themselves for each individual. And everyone is free to follow whichever set they find established by anyone or any group that already has a set of rules. I agree with the advice to do what feels good to you and what is successful with the audience. I also accept that some people are interested in competing to win prizes and the accolades of their peers. I believe that the final arbiter of my success as a clown is my audience. And if that little girl, who is old enough to be a mother herself now ever sees me again, my hope is that she might now believe that I am a REAL clown. I failed her then, and would embrace the opportunity to clear up that bit of misunderstanding that occurred lo, those many years ago….:???:

To answer your question directly, I respect no rule that tells me I must wear or do anything to be a clown. I prefer suggestions...

Ubi, I wonder if it she would have had the same response had you not "changed" the costume by removing the cloves. I think the act of the removal was what caught her eye...maybe if you weren't wearing gloves to begin with, she wouldn't have thought twice. It would seem to me that what we decide to wear should work for what ever it is we decide to do while wearing it; overt changes like the removal of gloves pops the bubble of fantasy same as if a clown were to remove his makeup or wig while in a show. So seems to me the real rule should be similar to: "If wearing gloves, keep them on while performing to any particular audience. If you remove them between performances, the audience is less likely to notice the change."

All that being said, has anyone tried DYEING their clothes? Lime-green bib overalls are in short supply so I'm probably going to have to purchase a set of white painters overalls and dye them myself. Anybody try this before and have some do's and don'ts for me? :)


One bit of advice--don't wash your newly dyed item with other clothing for at least the first few washings. You might not want all your clothing to turn lime green. Also, you probably don't have to wash them every time you wear them; it tends to fade items faster.

Also, I have had better success using way more dye (as in 2-3 times as much) as the dye package calls for. Good luck with dyeing, and have fun with the new character!

It is lovely to read the accounts of other clowns as they share little moments of their performing experience's. It is exactly why I enjoy participation on this forum. Thank you Ubi.

But as much as I enjoyed reading that post Ubi, it has not answered my question at all. In fact it didn't even attempt to answer my question. Not yours Ubi, nor any of the other clowns previous posts on this thread. Not only do they not answer my single, one, question, they have opened up further questions!

I now know enough about the history of clowning to understand why certain asspects of clowning have coalesed into conventions. I also understand why these conventions have them selves been codified into rules. Also I am perfectly capable of understanding the concepts of an individual and their right to a personal free will. I also understand why, with that free will, comes an onus on the idividual to consider for themselves, the conventions of our society and how they choose to live by (and hopefully) within them.

But "clowning" is a free spirited movement, the main thrust of which, is to give laughter, fun, amussement and joviality. It is not within the true spirit of clowning to follow conventions. If you tell a joke repeatedly it very quickly becomes the very opposite of its main reason for existance. These rules and conventions about how a clown should be, look and behave, are also crushing the natural, spontaneous, clown out of existance.

My question is again. Why do you choose to respect these laws, rules and conventions? I now have a further questions. Why would you want to tell children anything other than a clown is a very funny person? That poor girls pleasure and laughter had been compromised, not by ther removal of a pair of gloves but rather by than lies she had been pre-conditioned with. Also, why would you want to be party to that?

So, if I got this right, Barry... your qualm with the rule is that it can serve to perpetuate misconceptions that Clowns are something other than people doing entertaining things while wearing outrageous outfits. Interesting point. A book I read recently told of a clown minister who gets into clown while on stage, and has patter to go with it. She says it helps de-mystify the idea of a clown and helps people with overcome clown fears. So, with that in mind, why shouldn't the little girl know that a Clown isn't a different creature altogether but a person, and something she can aspire to be someday? "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet" so is a clown any less entertaining for being human after all?

Were it not for a chance comment by a co-worker of mine back in October 2008, I NEVER would have thought of becoming a clown...It never crossed my mind that I could BE one, even tho I love to tell jokes, entertain, and make people laugh. I have to wonder if the childhood misconceptions of who/what clowns actually ARE contributes to the fact that there aren't more of us out there anymore.

Once again, you've given me something more to ponder. Thanks, Barry!

And yes, I'm well aware that this post didn't answer your question either. lol

I don't think any of us are following the rules...

We all know what Martians are, little green men. If I wanted to go to a party as a Martian, I would need to be a little green man. As far as I know, there is not a convention for Martians, costume and makeup competion for Martians, or a society of professional Martians. Just a stereotype of what people think of when they hear Martian.

You can say the same for pirates: wooden leg, bandana and an eye patch. Oh Witches: black pointed hat, green skin, and a mole.

When I started clowning, my stereotype of a clown was a whiteface clown with a colorful wig and a red nose. I designed my clown and clown costume based upon my stereotype vision of what a clown is. I had some guidance and suggestions from others as to what ideas have been successful in the past and some general "rules" to follow, but in the end, I went with what I felt worked for me.

I would think that if someone hired me to be a clown and I showed up at little Billy's Birthday party with a yellow face, green nose and blue lips, they would slam the door in my face. I would look nothing like they expected when they hired me to be their clown.

Now, I could most likely take the same makeup and costume and go into the City and perform on a street corner or other event and if my performance was fun have people accept me as a clown.

In another thread, I asked do you clowns ever consider clowning without makeup? Of those who bothered to answer, the answer was, with certain caveats, no. I expect if I were to ask that same question on this thread, substituting the word costume for the word makeup, I would get a very similar responce. The motivation for me asking that question, is exactly the same one that compels me to write here.

I can accept your point, Sir Toony, that when you are booked as a clown there are certain and resonable expectations, that you should appear in a recognisable clown costume. Something that is peculiar and eccentric, something that has a visual mark of destinction and catches the eye and imagination of your audience. I personally love dressing up. I really and trully enjoy looking a little bit odd and eccentric and confounding the expectations. I like the way it sets me apart and allows my audience to accept the Barry Daft logic that I perpetrate. Without this, my work would be much harder, even in certain situations, impossible. But surley clowning has to be about much much more than the costume and garb.

If we insist on rigid and codified conventions of style, we are cutting our selves off from the very essance of what clowning should really be about. I feel really sorry for the little girl in Ubi's post. Her experience of a clown was ruined by concepts and codes that have very little to do with clowning and more to do with how organised clowns wish to project themselves as a profesional body.

Despite your protestation, Sir Toony, that you do not think any of us are following rules, I think you are wrong. You personaly may not be, I think you probably have much more about you and fully understand very well what works for you and your audience. But that does not disguise the fact that many clowns here, are all asking very similar questions and expressing the exact same concerns about there attempts to conform to one or another of certain defined clown styles. They are seeing and mistaking addearance to some code or style as a mark of proffesionalism.

I just do not and can not see this trend, as being healthy for the art of clowning.

I clown out of costume daily. To me clowning isn't about clothes or make-up, it's about your personality and how you present your humor. However, my clients expect a costume and make-up so I do this....I gotta eat right?

Barry,

I have heard some clowns lament the way clown costume and makeup competitions go... Some have said they have seen judges check the back of a whiteface clown's neck under the wig to see if it is white. Like a child is going to lift the wig and compain that the clown's neck is white.

The competitions favor those with a lot of time, money, and sewing abilities. These do not always equate with the best clown.

I was talking with one experienced clown and he said that he has been in a room with dozen of other clowns. When children come into the room, they seem to flock to one or two of the clowns. They are often not going to the best dressed clowns, but the ones who are best with the kids. This is something you can't get in a costume contest. I guess if you take the saying, you can't judge a book by its cover and translate it into, you can't judge a clown by his/her makeup and costume.

At Circus Magic, instead of the ususal clown makeup/costume contest, they had the American Clown Idol competition. I understand they have done this at a few other conventions in the past year. There were only five of us in the competition this time and each clown had a few minutes to perform on stage. The audience was the judge and they selected the clown they liked best. I think this comes closer to the goal of being a good clown (costume, makeup, character, and performance)

I saw this on another forum (clownsrus : ClownsR'Us - Clowning at it's best! (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/clownsrus)) posted by Brian Weckerly (a fantastic clown with Disney-MGM Studios, RBBB, and a dozen other great entertainment employers), and I thought it was a fitting addition to this discussion:

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On another list, someone said a new clown was going through clown training of some sort and was told

>she wears this make up, she has to have this personality, and wear these kinds of clothes only, and can't do this

>or that becuase that is not what an white face would do, or a tramp would do.

The topic came up because a newspaper article discussed some new forms of clowning that bucked against tradition or "colored outside the lines" with appearance and characterizations.

I started clowning with a local clown group, and I will always be appreciative of the opportunities I got. However, a lot of folks are stuck on certain "nit-picky" rules from competition at the conventions, and they insist that they be followed in the "real world."

Once, when in line for a parade and in full makeup and costume, I had one clown tell me that I COULDN'T wear a certain shade of base (light auguste) with my tramp character. I liked that shade because it warmed up the look. I realy wanted to say, "it's weird that I CAN'T, because I AM!!!" I do agree with some guidelines like a whiteface covering bare arms, etc., to complete the look, but most guidelines are just that - guidelines, and not commandments.

In the end, I think the phrasing should be "you probably SHOULDN'T" or "you may want to reconsider this because" rather than "CAN'T." "CAN'T" really blocks off a potentially creative new world.

I'm not competing, so those "rules" really don't apply. As long as it looks good and professional (this can be subjective), then I'm cool with it.

Any thoughts?

"Lil' B"
Brian Weckerly

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And so far, this post have generated over a dozen replies in just one night! This sure is a volatile topic! :o Check out the Yahoo group to read the whole discussion.

Now that we seem to have a fairly broad consensus of opinion that is in aggreament that being funny is far more important than following some ridiculous rules that mean little outside a clown convention, and does nothing to enhance a childs pleasure, can we take a second look at Dusty's original post and come up with some ideas to help him?

I've tried a search on this but the topic is a bit broad to find what I am looking for.

I have discovered that there's yet another clown inside me begging to come out. Thanks to a green punk-style wig I received, I have a head-start on him...pun only slightly intended. Now I'm trying to come up with the rest of his look. The way I see him, he's an Auguste. I even have an idea how I want his costume to look. My concern is that, from what I've read, Augustes are generally supposed to have loud, mismatched outfits and I'm not sure his costume would follow that. I see his starter outfit as being simply a Lime green bib overalls and a purple shirt, lime green shoes, and green and purple socks. I may splatter some purple paint on the overalls. Basically just green and purple. Not exactly "mis-matched." Would this outfit be better suited for a Whiteface than an Auguste or do ya think I can get away with it? ( I almost said "Do ya think I can pull it off, but thought i'd spare you the mental image.:) )

I think as long as your outfit is visually pleasing, most people won't be too concerned about what style of makeup you wear. What about picking another accent color to go with the purple and lime green? Just adding a little bit can really give the outfit more interest.

I think as long as your outfit is visually pleasing, most people won't be too concerned about what style of makeup you wear. What about picking another accent color to go with the purple and lime green? Just adding a little bit can really give the outfit more interest.

I've been considering it. If I were to get a third color, I'd probably go with orange. I've also figured out that purple and lime green clothing is rather hard to come by, especially in men's clothes. Apparently there's not a large market in it. Bold striped shirts of any color suitable for clowns and mimes are also very hard to find, presumably for the same reason. I may just wind up tie-dying a long-sleeved tee-shirt and bucket hat myself...cheaper, and I believe the colors/shades I want are available in tie-dyes, as opposed to just regular clothing dyes. We shall see. :)

I think that we ought to start thinking outside the box, more generally, when it comes to character development. Who cares if someone's makeup is seen as whiteface, auguste, hobo, character, or whatever? In fact, to some extent, perhaps we should throw these confinements, themselves, to the side somewhat and just follow our own instincts as to what a character can look like. Must it follow the traditional presentations of circus clowning? Why? Can't the representations of clown in a society change and develop? My answer, then, is to follow your instincts and feel free to find your own innovative, attractive look in presentation, without worrying about what box it best fits into. We must understand and appreciate the history and development of such things. But, then, once clowns become mere representations of the status quo, rather than standing out somehow, are we even clowns anymore?

HMMM.... if it doesn't fit in the box, make my own box for it, eh? :)

"I've also figured out that purple and lime green clothing is rather hard to come by, especially in men's clothes."

Tell me about it, I've been looking for a pair of lime green pants/sweats to dress up as Krusty the Clown for years. I have the purple shirt, but the pants are eluding me. All I can find are dark green. I guess I'll have to have these hand made too.

Try stores (actual retail shops or online) which cater to Latino?hispanic, African American, or Swing/Lindyhop/Rockabilly communities. Look for Zoot suits, too. Also vintage shops. Spiegel used to make custom pants in colorful oddities.

We are still getting a bit ahead of our selves here. Before we even consider what the costume should look like, we should be asking how is it going to be used? I have no idea about what kind of stuff you do, Dusty. If I am planning on doing magic I will often want to wear a jacket. If I am story telling, a jacket isnt nessessary. If I am on the rickshaw or unicycle I want to be in short trousers etc. It all matters and I think quite hard about this asspect, what I want from this particular costume, before I even start to think about what it is going to look like.

I would like to know more about you own costume making capabilities too. Are you handy with a needle and thread or do you know a good seamstress? Its limiting if you dont but the possibilities are endless if you do. From my own experience, with no formal trainning, just certain amount of intuition and an idea about what I want to look like, its not too hard. Its just down to patience and how much time your prepared to invest.

Go and have a look round a few decent habadashery and clothes makeing stores. Not only will you see lots of lovely bright colours, you will also see lots of nice textures and finnishes. I can spend ages in these places browsing and choosing the right materials. There is so much in them to think about, such as patches, bells, feathers, lace, tassles, zips, pipeing, braid, buckles, sequins, rhinestones, buttons, etc. Once you start looking at this stuff, ideas pop into your head about how you can use them. Also thrift and charity stores are good. Not just for the cheap clothes but also with a mind to utilising the fabric these clothes made from.

Green and purple go very well together. I like orange as being a complimentary colour for the main green purple theme. Pink is also a very good colour to use with purple. I hate the idea of using paint splatters to add colour though. I can only think using that if I was making a artist clown charachter.

I am bewildered as to why any clown would wear anything other than what they are drawn to as a clown. I see my costume as a mere visual tool to who my clown is, used to attract people, this is as short lived as in the courting of a relationship as who we are always has to come out and really what we look like is insignificant. I can clown in my everyday clothes and regularly do in my role as a teacher. I can win over most little ones and many big ones by being my charming Tickly self.

In saying all of that I love my costumes. I often can't help myself in the fabric store. All the lovely bright fabrics shout on me...Oh Tickles...Oh Tickles you would look so cute in this and before I know it I am at the sewing machine full of excitement.

I just don't see the need to be regulated. I thought being a clown removed me from the grown up world of needless rules and politics. Please don't take my comments offensively if you are more serious in your approach to clowning but for me it's all about laughs and smiles.

Although, I do agree to some extent that how and where you plan to wear the costume is important, I was thinking that I wear the same basic street clothes no matter what I am doing. Other than wearing a jacket when it is cold, a raincoat when it is wet, and shorts when it is warm, I don't do anything special. I go hiking in the same clothes I wear when I am shopping at the mall. I walk my dog in the same clothes I wear when I go to a theme park.

Now, I was a little lost the other weekend when I was supposed to march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade. It was cold and rained a bit. Although, I can wear sweats under my clown pants and an extra shirt, I don't have anything for cold, rainy weather.

I probably do need to work on a hot, summer day, and ready to clown outside for an extended period of time costume.

I love my costumes. I am a complete bimbo when it comes to dressing up.

Once again, thanks for all the wonderful insight. You all have given me much to ponder. I hvae currently decided to put the new clown on hold until I can figure out what I'm doing with my current clown... gotta walk before I can run. I may work on a couple different looks for Dusty, tho. His current look (in my avatar) may be good for some things, but for outdoor walkarounds in the heat of summer, I fear it may be a bit much. So, I may go with some regular blue overalls and possibly keep the shirt, but put on an elbow patch or two on it. Somehow, I have completely forgotten the idea of "KISS: Keep it simple, Smart@$$!" So time to go back to the basics. I'm also REALLY going to try to make it to my alley's "clown school" coming up in a few months, so I'm keeping most purchases to a minumum. I appreciate all the help from folks here and promise not to forget any of you once I become rich and famous! :) (Listen for the phrase "all the little people" in my award acceptance speeches...that'll be YOU guys! lol

Look on ebay for gOLF pants. There are purPLE and green pants right now in a diamond pattern that might work..

Lets hear a big "YEE HAAA!" for golfers. Some of their clothes rock. The sport looks already vaguely ridiculous and even the fans look peculiar. After you have checked out the golfing stores, check out the sports cylist lycra for weird fitting and garish colours.

Golf Pants....That's what I was looking for without realizing it! Didn't find the green/purple ones mentioned, but several others there were quite garish and therefor appealing! While the few there that might fit are a bit outside my meager budget, at least NOW I know what to lookfor when the time comes! :) Thanks!!!!

Hey dusty, another thing you might do is when you vist a yardage shop.. Ask the owner if they sew.. Or know anyone that uses the store buying material that might be a seamstress....you might be able to get exactly what youre looking for for your budget...

By the way.. I like your current look/clown... 8-)

By the way.. I like your current look/clown... 8-)

Thanks! Actually, Dusty tells me that HE really wants golf pants.. the ones I bought and fixed up for him are okay but not 100% the look he was wanting.

Lets hear a big "YEE HAAA!" for golfers. Some of their clothes rock. The sport looks already vaguely ridiculous and even the fans look peculiar. After you have checked out the golfing stores, check out the sports cylist lycra for weird fitting and garish colours.

What's the difference between golfers and clowns? Apparently, the makeup. :)

Barry. I really want that jacket. It's soooo Artsy!

I probably do need to work on a hot, summer day, and ready to clown outside for an extended period of time costume.

I was thinking about those upcoming oppresively hot summer days too and have decided that the only costume worth wearing on those days is to freeze myself inside a giant popsicle mold. That way, I will be a really cool clown all day long. :applause:

On the topic of those "rules" spoken of earlier... I don't respect any of them that I've heard.... I don't know most of them. I look like an august I guess... do I act like an august, I have no idea. I've only recently started wearing some purple spandex fingerless gloves because I'm going to be getting a tattoo on the inside of my arm (with my medical alert info) and needed a way to hide it while I'm clowning, so that'll work.

As for mismatched clothes... my costume is wonderfully coordinated and I like it that way :D It's all pink and purple and it's perfect that way :D

What's the difference between golfers and clowns? Apparently, the makeup. :)
Yeah, golfers wear too much make-up. I agree.

Yeah, golfers wear too much make-up. I agree.

Especially the male ones.

The Headlines read "John Daly's Horrible Golf Pants Visible From Orbit."

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_golf_experts__4/ept_sports_golf_experts-86320160-1241011829.jpg?ym1peLBDDydAMbcs

Where does he find those WONDERFUL Pants?!? lol

I think that they look an awful lot like my clown pants!

You can find those pants and many more at many golf site stores on the internet, and also under golf pants on ebay...

No respectable clown would wear something that tacky....

No respectable clown would wear something that tacky....
I'm not so sure about that.

I still do not understand these continual desires to rigidly conform to certain clowning standards that bear no true relevance to the art of clowning. Children are not sitting around waitting to judge the clown on the size of his shoes, the colour of his makeup, the cut of his jacket. They don't know the differance between your hobos, whitefaced harlequins and augustes. Not only do they not know, they don't care. They will judge the clown, as does everyone else outside North America, on his ability to make them laugh. Nothing else is of any importance at all.

Could you not just try to think about things like, what would look funny? What would the kids like to see? What would compliment the kind of performance I am planning to do? What will be practicle? But above all, by a long way is, what will be funny?

If people can not do this, I don't think they should even be contemplating being a clown.



Exactly! I was looking for a costume but had to settle for a purchased one because I couldn't find any clothes that looked funny enough! You guys know any good tailors in Mercer County, Pa? Preferably the kind who wouldn't mind a littlle clowning around with the design?

No respectable clown would wear something that tacky....
Respectable Clown? Have we met? I don't know anybody by that name? is he/she a newbie? Maybe I can change Respectable's way of thinking if I can talk to him/her. I like tacky clothes. The tackier the better! Respectable doesn't know what he/she's missing out on!:D

It took me some time, but at least I got it all summed up.

Clown - A funny/entertaining person WITH make-up wearing a character outfit.

Character - A funny/entertaining person WITHOUT make-up wearing a character outfit.

Funny person - A funny/entertaining person WITHOUT make-up not wearing a character outfit.

Lots of people call me a "funny person."

Lots of people call me a "funny person."

what does everyone else call you?

I can't repeat it on the forum.

"I've also figured out that purple and lime green clothing is rather hard to come by, especially in men's clothes."

Tell me about it, I've been looking for a pair of lime green pants/sweats to dress up as Krusty the Clown for years. I have the purple shirt, but the pants are eluding me. All I can find are dark green. I guess I'll have to have these hand made too.

Try Dickies work pants! they also have great colors of coveralls! i just bought a pair of royal blue trousers for 20 bucks at a army surplus store that also sells scrubs. HEY! scrubs are another great option and they are cooler in the hot weather!

hope this helps!