What now?

[Penny_Lane]

What should I tell my dad in order to convince him that clowning is a good choice for a career?
I told him that therapeutic clowning was what i was thinking about... While being a Child Life Assistant or Preschool Teacher and he pretty much said.. "You will never make enough money to make it on your own..."
I really dont care all that much about money. I can survive on little, sure money is great to have, but it is not essential.
What can I tell him that might make him look at clowning in a different light, as in a job that would be a "good" job for his 22 year old, only daughter to have?
....
Any suggestions?

[Nettie Belle]

There are so many things ... let's see ... first of all, you make $85 - $150 (or more) per hour (and stay fully clothed) ... Dad will love that. You make people smile and turn your part of the world into a happier place. It's a very WHOLESOME job. We won't tell him that most of your money will go back into your clown business, at least for the first few years. It'll be our secret.

[Fitzwilly]

You could meet him somewhere in the middle for now. Meaning that you will get a job on one of your fields of study and clown on the side. That way you can support yourself enough that he won't panic. Also, it may take a few months to a few years to really make enough to survive on just clown money. So you in effect are reassuring your Dad while building a cushion of cash for when you make the leap into full time. You can use the extra cash for extra costumes, props, a website, advertising, balloons, face painting supplies, puppets, magic... You might need two or three jobs to satisfy your clowning habit.

[Giggles the Clown]

Thank you NettieBelle and Fitzwilly for offering up such excellent advice. I could not have said it better. In my youth, I heard a saying, "swing wide and enjoy gravity.'" I've always thought that meant to be really focused on enjoying your life. At the same time, be sure to focus also on those tools that enable you to "swing wide." Best of luck to this wonderful young clown!

[Scruffy]

There is no good reason not to have a second career choice. I wish I has taken my parents advice in that regard. I am a Musician and a Luthier (Builder and repair technician specialzing in stringed instruments.) by trade. And, I did well for nine years, I bought a house, and things we're going pretty weel. Until the owners of the business where I worked decided that it was time to retire and sell the business. The plan was that when the time came, I would buy the business. However, I was not able to. The end of the story is I now work in a nursing home in the Kitchen. I do still repair instruments. But NOTHING like I did when I was at the store everyday. I had a good clientel built up and after nearly three years, things are starting to pick back up again.

I say all of that to say this. If you want to be a clown: then plan your work and work your plan. Be willing to sacrifice everything in order to make it happen. Make all of your life choices based on what you want to do. Work tirelessly to make it happen. Be the best in your area and keep improving,BUT HAVE A BACK UP PLAN!!
I wish that I had some other training to fall back on. I am now forty (close enough anyway) I have a family, a mortgage, and children. For me going back to school is a complicated thing. To be a road musician means being away from my family and making very little to start out with. If I were single, it would be different but I do not want to be separated from my family for weeks at a time.
Work on a viable career first, clown every chance that you can. Get every drop of training you can get and practice liek there is no tomorrow to improve. but please. Find a career that you can make a living at. It will be easier to concentrate on flying above the crowds when you know you have a good saftey net under you to help keeping you from breaking your neck if you fall.

[tim]

Originally Posted by Penny_Lane

What can I tell him that might make him look at clowning in a different light, as in a job that would be a "good" job for his 22 year old, only daughter to have?
....
Any suggestions?

I met a nice, handsome, rich man who wants to marry me!

[Penny_Lane]

Originally Posted by Scruffy

[left]There is no good reason not to have a second career choice....
Work on a viable career first, clown every chance that you can. Get every drop of training you can get and practice like there is no tomorrow to improve. but please. Find a career that you can make a living at. It will be easier to concentrate on flying above the crowds when you know you have a good saftey net under you to help keeping you from breaking your neck if you fall.

^---^---^---^---^---^---^---^---^---^---^

My dad really liked your response...
And I did too actually.
Thank you for such wise words!!

I DO indeed plan on doing other things... Not sure what yet.. I wish I COULD do everything..

...Oh.. and KoOKoOKachOo... I DO indeed hope that I DO Marry a Nice Man... He doesnt even have to be RicH.. or Handsome.. Just Funny and SiLly And is willing to take over theWorld with meeee and make others smile while doing so!!! ^_^

[Nettie Belle]

You know, Penny Lane ... there is no ugly rich man.

[Jamz]

As someone who clowns full time I can tell you it isnt for everyone
There is a lot to consider like what kind of hr you can devote tto learning and what hrs can you work
also what are your money needs and dont forget buying supplies for your clowning
Also it doesnt happen overnight it will take time
So like the rest of the group I would recommend you start out slow and do it part time and see where it goes
I t does help to have something to fall back on because like other forms of work nothing is defininte
Also I work harder at being a clown than any job but the rewards are so much better besides the money part
So take it slow and enjoy the ride its FUN

[Nettie Belle]

What is it like to clown full time? Do you get tired of it? I've wondered if it gets to be a drag like any other job, if you do it full time ...

And ... where do you clown full time??