Dumb question.

[Shadpoke]

When does one know when is professional? I read somewhere a clown made a comment that they were professional and that they had this award and that award and has done that or this. So when do you know when you are professional. I only clown part time but my heart is into it. I love to make people laugh. I feel it is the best medicine for a healthy life. I know thismay be an off the wall question but I woulld like to know when I can call my self professional. I think being me is what sells me. Or is it something more?

Sorry for asking but I would like to hear from you guys and gals.

Thank you.

Shadpoke

[Chance Marmalade]

Great question Shadpoke and I am interested in hearing what the other clowns have to say on the subject. In my opinion you are a professional when you are earning money from your art. Of course not earning money doesn't mean you are unprofessional either.

Here is what Dictionary.com has to say about it:

1.following an occupation as a means of livelihood or for gain: a professional builder.

2.of, pertaining to, or connected with a profession: professional studies.

3.appropriate to a profession: professional objectivity.

4.engaged in one of the learned professions: A lawyer is a professional person.

5.following as a business an occupation ordinarily engaged in as a pastime: a professional golfer.

6.making a business or constant practice of something not properly to be regarded as a business: “A salesman,” he said, “is a professional optimist.”

7.undertaken or engaged in as a means of livelihood or for gain: professional baseball.

8.of or for a professional person or his or her place of business or work: a professional apartment; professional equipment.

9.done by a professional; expert: professional car repairs. –noun

10.a person who belongs to one of the professions, esp. one of the learned professions.

11.a person who earns a living in a sport or other occupation frequently engaged in by amateurs: a golf professional.

12.an expert player, as of golf or tennis, serving as a teacher, consultant, performer, or contestant; pro.

13.a person who is expert at his or her work: You can tell by her comments that this editor is a real professional.

[Snugglesnort]

Then you can also go with the classic definition.

Pro- = put forth
fess = speak
-ion = something
-al = result of something

In which case if you talk about clowning all the time while clown and other wise then you profess clowning and therefore a professional clown.

[tim]

Being a professional practitioner is a matter of how one presents himself in a certain manner. It is learned through experience and something one must constantly struggle to grow with.

[dixonhudson1]

Professional in my mind is how you conduct yourself when you are delaing with those who wish to hire you.

Keeping yourself updated with the developmental process of clowning. Not necessarily for the money but for the desire of clowning.

Te me that is being professional.

Just continue to grow shadpoke and you will always be a professional

[Duckie]

I think qualifying yourself as professional should mean that you have had some formal training and that you conduct yourself in an appropriate manor and strive to not do anything that would be un-becoming of an entertainer in your particular field.

Just to always do your best, have fun and always leave them laughing and wanting you to come back!!!! I also think it is very important to never stop aquiring more information and skills!!!!

Best of luck and never stop asking questions. After all that is how we learn!!!!

[Miss Petunia]

In my opinion, being a "professional" clown is similar to anything else that is "professional". I am a dental hygienist by trade, and consider myself a professional, meaning I conduct myself in a "professional" manner. I have met people working in the dental field that I wouldn't consider "professional" because of their lack of knowledge in dealing with people and a lack of ability to conduct themselves in a business-like and appropriate manner.

A professional clown also needs to be able to conduct themselves appropriately, in many and different situations. they also need to be knowledgable about their art.

Professionalism is about conduct!

I hope I wasn't rambling too much!
Carrie

[Shadpoke]

Thank you all for your kind responses. I have the clowns creed on my desk and I attempt to fulfill it whenever I am in costume or not.

Again Thank you.


Shadpoke

[Sir Toony Van Dukes]

I would think that someone is a professional clown when they make more money being a clown than they spend being a clown. Right now, I am just getting started and haven't made any money.

My other hobby is being an actor. I have made a few hundred dollars working as an extra on movies and tv shows. In my mind, I don't do it enough to say that I am a professional actor.

Some day, I may be able to support myself as a professional entertainer who is a clown some days and an actor others. Until then, I need to go to work and earn a real paycheck.

[Rainbow D. Clown]

Just joining the forum and feel compelled to jump in. What is a professional? What a wonderful question! Let me reply with a few questions? What is a professional to you? How do you consider someone else to be a professional? What makes you declare another as a professional? What convinces you that someone is a professional? As you can see, I feel the answer is the the eye of the beholder. Any one can call themselves a professional, just as anyone can call themselves a clown. Anyone can get dressed up and charge for a few inflated swords or hearts and happy faces on the cheek. But what makes them a professional? The fact that they are dressed the part and charged the part? Is it because they went thru a "school" or class session with a certificate of completion? My view is, you are a professional when you know in your heart that you are doing everything you can to learn your skills, and then taking every opportunity to put them to use and apply them for your purpose. My purpose is to bring joy to others and myself thru humor, interaction, artistic creations, silly conversations, and uplifting emotions. I get paid to do this at times, and at times I gladly volunteer, but my mission is carried out, and I know I carried it out well because I put my heart and soul into carrying it out well. I've never attended a professional education session. I read the books that the others who did wrote. Then I learned my audience and defined my purpose. I changed a lot along the way in the name of filling my purpose. But I was a professional from day one. It's internal. If you want to be a professional, it will consume your thinking. Paycheck or no paycheck, the whole journey is in a profession, so to take that journey is to be professional. If you can look back at what you do, and imagine someone else doing it, would you say they are a professional? If not, what would that person need to do to be professional? Then take your own advice and work with it. You never stop learning in any profession. It's a constant quest. Hope that's not too deep, but then again.....think about it.