Western Clown Costumes

[jenzoandlucytheclowns]

Jenzo And I Are Performing At A "old Fashion Days". It's Like A Carnival - In A Little Town. The Only Requirement Is That We Have To Dress Like Western Clowns. We Plan On Having Our Outfits Made For Us, But Does Anyone Have Any Suggestions Of Accessories (shoes??, We Were Thinkging Maybe A Bang Gun...and We Found Large Cowboy Hats On Clown Antics) Any Other Ideas?

[Sassafras]

You could try colorful bandanas. Tied around your neck and shoved into pockets, it'll give your characters some extra color.

What about a coil of rope hitched to your britches? Or a broom horse?

My mind is starting to go blank now.

[misspriss]

You can add fringe trims to cuffs, down the legs, around collars, etc. A simple vest is pretty easy to make, that's westerny. Use plaids, cow print and denims. The bandanas are a great addition. If you know any rope tricks, I'm sure they would appreciate that.

Yahoo! Whoopie! Tie your toes!

[Fitzwilly]

If Southwest Sam doesn't see this and post in a day or two email him for ideas. His Red Nose Ranch group has a number of good people that would probably have a great ideas. I would goto www.mooseburger.com and www.bettycash.com and look at their cowboy clown outfits for ideas. Also Peachy Keene, the foam prop man has some neat ideas on his site. Anybody know for sure if it is www.peachykeene.com?

P.S. The is a laso for begginers. The rope is stiffer than normal and there is a handle of sorts at the end of the rope that slides so that you don't have to keep twisting the rope in your hand. Make it much easier to twirl the rope and appear that you know what you are doing but it practically works itself.

[SouthwestSam]

WAHOOO!!!! Western Clowning,,,,one of my Favorite topics to discuss.

Thanks for the referral Fitzwilly.

Jenzo and Lucy. There are LOTS of things you can do in creating a Western Clown character. I perform my Wacky Wild West Show all from my little red covered wagon (picture attached). On the wagon I have attached a small lantern, a canteen, a roll of stickers to hand out and all my props are inside. Everything goes right back into the wagon as I perform that way when it comes time to leave, I am outta there. No sticking around afterwards to pack up.

FOAM. You can do ALOT with FOAM from your local craft stores. Make little (cutout) foam Horseshoes as giveaways with your name printed on them in paint marker. One Clown I know made spurs outta fun foam found at your local Walmart.

Bandannas. Bandannas. Bandannas. I took alot of my Magic tricks and threw out the silks and replaced them with bandannas. I use them with the square circle illusion as well as with a change bag. I even found cow printed bandannas at my local Hobby Lobby craft store.

Costuming. Well, you already said you were having your costumes made, but Mooseburger sells Clown Cowboy Cuffs to accent your look.
It's the 3rd one down on this page,,,,Item #5072
http://mooseburger.com/onlinestore/i...?code=3&cat=19

Peachey Keene does sell a foam Handgun as well as a foam Six Shooter but with todays times the way Society has come around, most school assembly's frown upon ANYTHING gun related.

All Cowboys love working with rope and Daytona Magic has a Linking Ropes routine listed on their website for $8
http://daytonamagic.net/customer/ind...ProductId=3768

There's also one called the SQUARE KNOT that would work well
http://daytonamagic.net/customer/ind...ProductId=3774

SHOES? If you don't want to invest in a pair of Clown Cowboy Boots, I would suggest that you simply wear a pair of oversized Converse tennis shoes. Afterall, you're a Clown right? You can tell 'em the shoes help you chase after the cattle when it's RoundUp time.

A Cactie. The Western band, Riders In The Sky now offers you the chance to purchase a Cac-Tie like Too Slim wears. It's a necktie in the shape of a cactus.
Go to,,,
http://www.echotunes.com/riders/
clcik on Riders Adult Wearables and scroll down. You'll see it. $15,,,,Too Funny.

I have more but don't wanna take up a day and a half on this post.

Feel Free to email me Anytime at the RED NOSE RANCH Bunkhouse
admin@rednoseranch.com
or at
wackywildwestshow@yahoo.com

Hope this helps.

KEEP A SHINE ON Y'ER SPURS!
~Southwest Sam
the WACKY WILD WEST SHOW
http://www.rednoseranch.com/WWWS

[Chance Marmalade]

Hopefully I'm not entirely off topic with this but I have been thinking about putting together a western style show myself. Not neccesarily a clown but a magic/gambler show for some of those cool old town events a lot of the mining towns have.

I found a deck of cards in Jacksonville Oregon that had bullit holes through them which gave me the idea to put on a western/gambler style themed magic show. Basically doing all sorts of 4 Ace tricks and anything that fits with the gambler theme. I would love any suggestions for tricks or gags that youse guys can offer. I suppose it kinda fits this thread right?

[SouthwestSam]

Jeremy.

Did ya get the PM's I been sendin' ya???

To create a Riverboat Gambler Magician look, you'd probably be better off going with some of the clothes made by Wahmaker. I have one of their vests from back in my historical reenacting days.

For that authentic old tyme look from the past, some of your best choices for clothing would be,,,,,

Wild West Mercantile (Here's a link to their vests)
http://www.wwmerc.com/cgi-bin/Catego...120&type=store

the Old Frontier Clothing Co.
http://www.oldfrontier.com/

and Tonto Rim Traders (Best Hats)
http://www.tontorim.com/

'Course, I've gotten some of my BEST bargains from Sheplers Western Wear. Google 'em.

KEEP A SHINE ON Y'ER SPURS!
~Southwest Sam
the WACKY WILD WEST SHOW
www.rednoseranch.com/WWWS

[SouthwestSam]

I FOUND IT Online.....

Jenzo & Lucy,

Here is the trick rope Lasso I use. It looks more like ROPE than other trick lasso's you find available. Held together by velcro, it makes rope twirling EZ. (I think Saphire Sue saw mine at KCD a few years ago).

I get mine from Stages West Western Wear in Pigeon Forge, TN
but I found it available online here,,,,
http://www.arrowgiftshop.com/TrickLassoRope.html

I get it a twirlin' then stick my foot into the loop and tell the kids I roped a calf (my leg) =O)

Keep A Shine On Y'er Spurs!
~Southwest Sam
the WACKY WILD WEST SHOW
www.rednoseranch.com/WWWS

[Chance Marmalade]

Thanks Southwest Sam! I'll check those links out now!

Yep I got the links, I haven't been any place that allows sound yet though I should have access to a normal non-library computer this weekend finally!

[Fitzwilly]

Originally Posted by Jeremy

I found a deck of cards in Jacksonville Oregon that had bullit holes through them which gave me the idea to put on a western/gambler style themed magic show. Basically doing all sorts of 4 Ace tricks and anything that fits with the gambler theme. I would love any suggestions for tricks or gags that youse guys can offer. I suppose it kinda fits this thread right?

Are you sure 4 aces is enough? Here are a couple of tricks that are readily available and not to difficult to learn.
The first is called "Color Monte" It is a three card monte style except you are telling a story about how you were taken. Runs about $6.
Another is Michael Skinner's Ultimate Three Card Monte. This is a very effect routine using what appear to be three regular red backed Bicycle cards. Runs about $12.
Hold It Buddy by Dan Harlan ($10) uses more simple handling techniques. Some fun ideas here. You start with three cards of one denomation, say the ace of hearts and one different card, say the joker. You again are telling the story of how you were taken. Now that I think of it, it is kind of like afour card monte.
These three tricks are very different in execution and yet when I simplify the description they all sound the same.
Different track here. Martin Nash is known as the charming cheat. He has a number of different videos out where his character is similar to what you are thinking about. Since they are being converted to DVDs the videos that were $30 are running $5 to $15. Check Ebay.
I would also recommend a few coin routines. Hampton Ridge DVDs run around $15, get yourself the "25 Coin Tricks" and "25 Tricks with Cards" These would give you a number of ideas. A Scotch and Soda set would be good for starters. Oh, this is important. When buying gimmicked coins buy Johnson and Johnson only. A number of companies offer cheap coins. You will save a couple of bucks at the beginning bu you will end up replacing them for one reason or another. Johnson coins are made very precisely and accurately. They are burr free, top qualitity and therefore they remain in good working order much longer than other brands.