Hey everyone, My name is Wes. I'm trying to start a clown business and I need some help on costumes. I've been to all the costume and shoe sites and I just want to start off with a nice costume. I'm trying to find a look for about 100 bucks. Any help?

Try shopping specialty stores, clothing businesses which cater to ethic markets, and second hand (even vintage) shops. Be creative. Look to mix and match with your clown eyes on.

I believe it was Sir Toony that go this first costume from the ebay store Tantepaulie. she appears to make nice costumes and the are very well priced you should be able to buy a costume from her for under 100.00 also on ebay pianobsharp has some great looks they also sell bibs. keep your eyes open and be sure to pay attention to the quality of the costume. some of the costumes on ebay are junk and they know it so always look to see if it was professionally made. hope this helps

if you or a friend know how to sew at all, making my own cost under a hundred.

Thanks for the advice!
Also, what about shoes? Again, I don't want to spend $350!
So what about Vinyl? Are they any good?

they are ok... they aren't the most comfortable though.

you can actually find some very colourful and attractive sneakers out there right now... converse and the like.... it won't give you super big feet, but it'll do for now.

I got a pair of Clownmart shoes from eBay...75.00 plus shipping. Very nicely made.

JiNgLeS

Stay away from vinyl!!!

Clown mart offers an affordable option for starters, but they aren't fitted.

My personal suggestion is to find colorful alternatives from regular styles shoes, perhaps intended for specialty purposes or unique markets, then work that into your clown character.

Hey everyone, My name is Wes. I'm trying to start a clown business and I need some help on costumes. I've been to all the costume and shoe sites and I just want to start off with a nice costume. I'm trying to find a look for about 100 bucks. Any help?


Hi, Wes, I got two costumes on Ebay for around $30 each, it think. They're the pro kind, really cute. Or you could make your own by using a jumpsuit and adding clown collars, sleeves and legs. There are instructions online. Good luck!:applause:

You might try inflatable clown shoes over your own, too! Just a thought.

Be creative.... You don't have to spend a fortune to be a well dressed clown. As Kelly said, I got part of my costume from eBay.

Check your local uniform supply store for hospital scrubs or chef outfits. Both can be a good base for a clown costume. Just add a little fabric or buttons/patches to give it your personal touch.

A lot of people seem to like Converse shoes. They have some colorful styles and last I checked, their website had a tool to custom design your own pair. You can also look for some size 15 shoes (larger than most people would wear) and add some colorful laces. I have a pair of colorful Adidas shoes I found on a clearance rack.

Check your local thrift stores. You can often find something that is a few decades out of style which can be used as a starting point for a costume, especially for a hobo.

Learn how to sew, and make your own costume.

Thank you everyone for you all's advice!
I was trying to find some clown mart shoes and I couldn't find them!
I saw them about two days ago and was thinking,"I wonder if these shoes are any good?" Well, a lot of people seem to like them! Hopefully they will put some more shoes on there!

Here you go...they take PayPal too...

ClownMart
Jardín de Guadalupe 101,
Fracc. Jardines de Aguascalientes
Aguascalientes, Ags 20270
Mexico
Tel. 011-52-4499-786545
memox@prodigy.net.mx
clownmart@gmail.com
clownmart@hotmail.com

I have their catalog on PDF and can send it to you if you want...send me a PM

TJ sent me the clownmart catalog...

JiNgLeS

thanks for the advice!
Also, what about shoes? Again, i don't want to spend $350!
So what about vinyl? Are they any good?
there is a store on ebay that sells great shoes out of mexico for just over 100....look for clownmart and ask the guy.. To send a catalog via the email....btw.. I am a newbie also and am still putting myself together...

You might try inflatable clown shoes over your own, too! Just a thought.
i wouldnt recommend using those.. they would not hold up well under most conditions. they are meant to be a costume prop for halloween or the like... i would recommend going with converse or other sneaker until you save up enough for a nice pair of spears or other high quality custom shoe. they are well worth the money. clown mart look decent too but like others have said they arent custom fitted. but stay away from any of the costume shoes (inflatable, blown plastic, vinyl) you really get what you pay for.. also i would shy away from a jumpsuit for a costume they are kinda stereotypical, and they make going to the bathroom incredibly hard :D :???::o:(

Why are shoes that aren't custom fitted and that have hollow toes not good?

Your feet may slide around a bit and you could get blisters!

I have a pair of skate shoes that are really comfy and I "accessorized" them with paint and beads and sequins and silly shoestrings and lace and......stuff. They aren't quite as busy as they sound but they aren't recognizable as "vans" anymore either. They are my size and my style and the kids think they're hilarious.

Men get off easier with clown outfits than women do (well, women who want to be fluffy!) think big pants, suspenders, a gawdy jacket and a tie...then smush around from there and find your style.

What does your clown do? What does he like? Where is he from? What's his favorite color? Does he like plaid?

I was thinking I could just carve some foam and stick that in the toe. I've been making puppets for 4 years.

Also, thanks for the advice everyone!

What kinds of puppets do you make? I love puppets. I have some, but I bought them second hand... I would love to know how to make some.

I make foam puppets and wooden Marionettes.

I was thinking I could just carve some foam and stick that in the toe. I've been making puppets for 4 years.

You could do this the vinyl ones come with foam already there.. but most of the costume shoes look very cheap and non professional.. some of the vinyl ones ive seen look less gaudy than others tho and they are probably going to be your best bet if you are unwilling do spend the money to even get clownmarts and dont want normal decorated shoes... but i still say go big or go home... and wear chucks til you can go big... :D

I'm getting the clownmarts in a about 2 months when I have the funds. I was talking about padding the Clownmarts, since they have a hollow toe. I will probaly splurge in about 6 or 7 months for some Spears or Clown-So-Port.

if you are going for the spears that soon i would go ahead and skip the clownmarts.. i have been wearing chucks for the past 8 years and am just now ordering my first pair of spears at the COAI convention here in a couple of weeks. of course my feet have done some growing since i started clowning too tahts a big reason why i waited so long lol

It probaly won't be that soon!
I wish it was, but I justchecked the funds, only have enough for the clownmart!

I will get the spears eventually!

i wouldnt recommend using those.. they would not hold up well under most conditions. they are meant to be a costume prop for halloween or the like... i would recommend going with converse or other sneaker until you save up enough for a nice pair of spears or other high quality custom shoe. they are well worth the money. clown mart look decent too but like others have said they arent custom fitted. but stay away from any of the costume shoes (inflatable, blown plastic, vinyl) you really get what you pay for.. also i would shy away from a jumpsuit for a costume they are kinda stereotypical, and they make going to the bathroom incredibly hard :D :???::o:(

Hadn't thought of that. Can't not go potty! LuLu :D(who has to go constantly) would really hate me if I got those for her! She's the one who usually thinks of the bathroom. I just saw them and thought since they're cheap....

:seltzer::pie:----> for me!

ya you usually get what you pay for tho.. its better to spend a little more and look professional.. they will only take a couple gigs to pay for themselves...

I just like the look of the clownmart's.

Clown-so-port are fabtastic. I am so pleased I found them on the interwebby thingy. There is absolutely nowhere in the UK to purchase good clown attire so although I can sew I aint no cobbler.

Tickles

HiYa Wes ,

I would suggest you try to get your clown face togather first, your makeup and your personality will dictate what your costume looks like. Your costume is a part of your Clown persona and should reflect and Screem WES!

For instance, People who have been to the KOSAIR Shriner Curcis and have met JaZpur know who he is even if they just see him from the back. They remember him partly because of his costumes which all look a bit alike. The signature costume piece is the Red spotted Bowler hat.

Play with your Costume and let it evolve into Wes !

I have several pairs of Clownmart shoes - in different colors- and really like the quality for the price. I have almost 400 hours working hours in my pink pair with hearts.
I wear a pair of water shoes (made for going in the water, not made out of water!)
in my shoes and these make them feel like a custom fit pair , and keep my feet from sliding around in the wide toe area of the shoes. In addition, they offer extra cushioning. This trick works also for oversized regular shoes. (My first shoes were a pair of size men's size 14 converse and I wear a woman's size 9.

I clown weekly at our children's hospital - usually 7- 8 hours at a time without sitting down. The water shoes really helps save my legs and back after walking on the hard hospital floors. In fact, yesterday, I was too lazy to switch my water shoes from another pair of clown shoes and did not wear them for my hospital visit. I am paying for it today with a sore back and feet! With summer coming, it is a good time to find water shoes.

Wes, I would love to see pics of some of your puppets and marionettes.

So Gumball, this is probably stupid question, but do you put your socks over the water shoes?

For anyone who has bought Clownmart shoes via ebay, how long does it usually take to receive them after you have paid? (Violet is impatiently tapping her feet...)
:)

So Gumball, this is probably stupid question, but do you put your socks over the water shoes?

For anyone who has bought Clownmart shoes via ebay, how long does it usually take to receive them after you have paid? (Violet is impatiently tapping her feet...)
:)

Guess you should have bought TAP shoes for her.

So Gumball, this is probably stupid question, but do you put your socks over the water shoes?

For anyone who has bought Clownmart shoes via eBay, how long does it usually take to receive them after you have paid? (Violet is impatiently tapping her feet...)
:)

Violet,
Great question!
I wear a pair of low cut pair of moisture wicking (athletic) socks, then clown socks, then the water shoes, then the clown shoes. The style of clown shoes I prefer from Clownmart are the high top converse style. I suppose the water shoes might show with the Mary Jane style shoes. I didn't have to worry about that.

My shoes took usually took about 4 weeks to receive.

I think that the pair inside a pair of the Clownmart shoes is a good idea. That gives you the best of both worlds as you get a shoe that fits your foot and a big clowny show for people to see.

I highly recommend ClownMart shoes. I have no problems with my feet sliding around inside them, as the key is to cinch the shoe tightly around your ankle. I don't doubt that a good pair of custom shoes would feel better, but at their prices, I could easily buy several pairs of ClownMart shoes. Will the ClownMart shoes hold up as well? That depends on each clown. But they are definitely heads above vinyl, at a very reasonable cost. I don't think anyone should be discouraged for only being able to afford ClownMarts.

In addition, Guillermo is excellent to work with, and can provide custom colors to match any outfit. While the catalog is a good place to start, keep in mind that he really has no limits as to what he can do.