Hobo clown questions...

[MilesMooch]

Hello fellow hobo clowns! I was wondering if you guys could give me some advice. The other day I was a clown (hobo) at my church's picnic, and I had a couple problems with my disguise.

My main problem was my wig which is a long one... it kind of covered my forehead and no one could see my extra thick eyebrows, and on top of that, it kept getting in my mouth... at the end of the day I could feel wig-hair in my throat and it gave me a stomach ache; so should I replace it with a shorter one, or not wear a wig at all? I kind of have short hair, and I wear a large-brimmed hat, so if I didn't use a wig no one would see any hair at all.

Another big problem was my makeup; I used Mehron water-activated (cake?) stuff, which took forever to apply. If any hobo clowns could give me some advice on what kind of makeup to use that would be great; should I get grease paint or cake paint or something, and what colors should I use, just black, white, and red?

If anyone can think of anymore hobo-type accessories, please share with me ^.^ which reminds me; I wanted to get some fingerless gloves, but I couldn't find and reasonable prices anywhere, so if anyone knows of a place where I can get some thin, cheap, fingerless gloves, that would help, unless I shouldn't, I'm still new to this so please critique me as you see fit ^.^

The only accessories type things I have right now, are a hat, squirt bow-tie, and my shoes (with squeakers in them).

Thanks in advance,
-Miles

[Bumbles]

Hi Miles,

I have a half bald wig, hobo style which works very well for me, you could try having your wig trimmed.

My make up is Ben Nye cream white, red grease pencil, black grease pencil, light aguaste and a gray grease paint with a stipple sponge for my beard. I have a natural beard and moustache and use the gray to darken it.

For the gloves, take a pair of white gloves, put them on and mark just past the finger kunckle. Take them off and cut them at the mark you made, turn them inside out fold the fabric back and stitch them all around. When you turn them right side out you will have fingerless gloves that hold up well not only when you wear them but also when you wash them.

I know that some of the other Hobo's can give you more ideas.

[Snugglesnort]

Leave the squirt bow tie at home. It makes no sense, with the rest of the costume, and it only serves to get people wet who probably don't want to be which is not all that funny.

For hobo costuming, thirft stores are your friend. Use your imagination. If you want some thing but don't have it, make it. Your sewing may be messy but so were hobos! Good luck!

[Jolly Well]

You'll want to go with grease rather than the water based stuff - sweat will have your face off in no time otherwise. I'd add an auguste tint to your face as well.

Like Snugglesnort said - the squirting bow-tie can get annoying; I'd recommend replacing it with something else. Maybe put together a spinning bow-tie if you like the look.

I don't use a wig at all. My hair goes from shaved to short, but a wig would get in my way as often as I use my hat for juggling, manipulation, etc. If your current wig is giving you issues, I'd replace it or alter it if you want to keep the hair. If not, losing it entirely is ok also.

You can get glove extenders, which function as fingerless gloves for $8.50 at Larocks (www.larocks.com), or find a pair of white nylon gloves and alter them yourself. If you're looking for something heavier, Walmart has heavy gloves that are fingerless in the winter time. They come with a fold over mitten flap to cover the fingers that can be removed easily. I'd go with the lighter fabric though, unless you're doing winter-time clowning.

Goodwill and Salvation Army Thrift Stores are great supply sources for your costume.

[Fitzwilly]

Mooch - do by any chance have some pictures you would be willing to share with us? It might help us offer more detailed suggestions. Also, I really recommend reading through the old posts her on the Forum, contacting Scruffy and Jamz directly as well as visiting Fishbucket's site the Wooden Nickel Depot. I don't have the actual address but it was posted recently in another thread.

[pixcoco]

Is the wig of a quality that can be cut? If it is a cheap halloween wig you need to just get a good one. Every wig should be cut to accomadate the wearer.

And as others have mentioned...grease paint!!!

Since you are just starting out I wonder why you choose a tramp or hobo style clown? A lot of people start out with this and get frustrated. I believe that is the HARDEST type of clown to portray sucsesfully. I like to see people learn all of the clown types but I think it would be easier to grow with you studies if you try one of the other styles first.

If you have a tremendous love for just this type of clown that is fine, just understand you are giving yourself a big challange. If it because you think it will be cheaper or easier to do then I think you are barking up the wrong tree. There are inexpensive options for costuming auguste and white face clowns also. And the clowns who can interact with kids and families as a tramp or hobo (two different things by the way) are indeed very talented people.

I'll climb down off my soap box now.

[Scruffy]

Makeup:
Stubble: Ben Nye Beard stipple and stipple sponge.
Flesh tone: Mehron warm natural tan
Sunburn: Ben Nye fire red
White: Mehron Clown white lite
Outline: Mehron jumbo pencil

Other stuff: Proknows no sweat, Ben Nye Neutra set powder, Ben Nye final seal.

Wig: my own hair.

Costume: pants, Size 66 mens navy blue dress slacks ( my own size being a 40-42), The Coat is Brown in a very fine plaid (it is not a full wool tweed. it would be too heavy.). It is a regular and I wear a short. So it is baggy, but no too big. I use a common pair of carpenters suspenders to fight gravity.
the shirt is very similar to an old dickies blue work shirt. the tie is from about the 80's. It is a very fine pattern. Somber, for lack of a better description.
I went to Joann fabrics and picked about six or more different pieces of fabric from the remnant bin. I used several different colors of thread and even used heavy cotton butchers twine to fix a couple of areas. My theory is that a hobo would find a "New" piece of clothing, and wear it continually, until he could find something nicer. If it tore, he would fix as many areas as possible with what ever piece of cloth he could find. If you look at my pictures the patches on the pants and coat are the same colors, as opposed to every patch being a different color.
From constant wear, the pants would be shiny on the knees and butt,the hems would be ragged,the left hip area on my pants is covered in pills from the old whisk broom that I carry in my pocket. the coat is covered in open cuts, and tears. Saftey pins holding things together, the lining is sticking out of places, one sleeve is sewn on with the butchers twine. All of the patches are un hemmed, after a couple of washings, they really started to come into their own. remember, the idea is to look neat and clean, even in a worn out patched up suit. I have never used oil stained clothes, or clothes with paint splotched on them. To me, this would look more "dirty" than worn out.
The shirt had had the collar cut off, and the sleeves tattered up . There is a big open patch one the back of the shirt that I can drop an Ice pack in.
My hat is an old derby that Is likely pushing a hundred years old. Except for the flower, I did nothing to it. It looked that bad when I bought it.

My shoes are just plain black flat toed clown shoes.

I hope this will give you some ideas to play off of.
Cheers,
Scruffy

P.S.
I almost forgot the gloves! I use the one size fits all black stretch gloves that you find at Wal Mart. I cut the fingers off just behind the second knuckle. Except for the index finger of the right hand. I cut that one completely off of the glove, it makes it easier to twist balloons. However, I am Left handed, I would cut it off of the left glove for you "Normal people". Use fray check to keep the gloves from unraveling. Also, as they wear, they develop little "pills" on them and really look like a bum's gloves.
Scruffy

[MilesMooch]

Thank you very much for all the replies, they helped me alot! I'll show you guys what I come up with in a little while.... still gotta fix a few things.

[Pickles]

Seasoned Hobos:

I am working on my hobo jacket for Moose Camp and I'm wondering if I should do something about my long jacket sleeves. It's a men's jacket, and even though it's the smallest size I could find, it's way too big for me. That's not really a problem, except for the sleeves. They are way too long. Should I just hack them with a pair of scissors, fold them up, or just deal with long sleeves?

[Fitzwilly]

You have three options listed and all three are good. Dealing with them would probably be the biggest hassel since they might get in your dinner so it you are not particular neither are we. Cut them off and use them for extra patches if you want.