Name and costume questions

[tim]

Originally Posted by GumBall

The cost is $100.00 which includes: skirt, blouse(not shown - yellow peasant style with dotted ruffle trim), pantaloons, hat, removable ruffled collar, 2 different size bows.

That's a fantastic price. If you went to one of the professional costumers for the same thing, it would probably cost you at least $500. Heck, for that price *I* might like to order some clothes from this person!

[saphireSue]

every things sounds great Gumball and pleased to meet ya. I haven't tried this but I was told you could scotchguard your shoes to help keep them from getting stained. A lot of people mentioned they used and really like the converse shoes.

[Shoq T. Clown]

Better yet... go to WalMart... you can pick up a pair of high top canvas look a likes for $15... costume looks great... do you have any make-up designs drawn up? GumBall is a excilent name! If your just getting into clowning i recommend my Mentor's book... its called "So You Wanna Be A Clown". She has taught at Clown Camp Lacrosse, and has been a artist resident at several places over the years...

http://members.aol.com/LinnyandMo/beclown.html

I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO EVERYONE... NEW AND OLD! Its better than "Creative Clowning" (Bruce Fife), and "Strutters Complete Guide to Clown Make-Up" (Jim Roberts) combined.... it covers EVERYTHING!!! check out the link for more info!

[stitches]

Gumball, I LOVE the new colors - less is more! Going to just yellow and purple looks great! I can't wait to see the whole thing! Do you have a wig? If so, what color?

$100 is a steal! My friend, Smiles, and I sew our own costumes. Fabric alone can total $100!

[stitches]

Oh, and yes, black high tops are fine.

[ashes]

When people would tell me I had my shoes on the "wrong feet" I
would say, "They're the only feet I have."


I know whitefaced clowns usually have a prim-and-propper
and matching costume. Auguste usually have a mish-mash of
stripes and plaids, too big and too small. Not a rule set in stone,
of course, but that is common.

However, (and my wife is this way, as well as all the female clowns
I know) - female clowns usually prefer that things color coordinate
and match. I think it is in the female genetic make-up.

Don't take any of this wrong - they are just observations and not
suggestions.

From what I see, your costume looks really nice. I don't know what
color wig you have, but I would get one that compliments the costume
and brings out say, the Orange instead of the purple or green (since
there is already so much purple or green in the costume.)

I just don't like (personal taste) clowns where everything including
the wig is mostly one color.

And finally, I'm not one to talk, since I'm a drab-and-dreary tramp
clown. Yes, I wear a red union suit, but the rest of the garb is black
or blue - very toned down.

Ashes

[Gumball]

Again everyone, thanks for all of your great suggestions!
My costume should be done next week. When I receive it, I'll work on the accessories (wig color, socks etc).

I also have to work on my face. I would like to be an auguste type.
Is it ever OK to keep the make up minimal with out the flesh colored base all over the face?
I would do my mouth, eyes , cheeks and a round gumball shaped nose. (I think less make-up would be not as scary when entertaining younger children - or in a mixed crowd with younger children such as at family night in a restauant.) I want their experience with a clown to be all positive. Also I have very sensative skin which is prone to break outs or a rash if I use creams on my face - yes even at 46- if I could avoid putting make up all over my face....
I was never afraid of clowns, so I didn't think about the phobias before, although some of the scary clown masks in the market even make me cringe.

Do any of you frequently deal with people (especially children)
being afraid of them, or is this not a common problem?

[tim]

Originally Posted by GumBall

Is it ever OK to keep the make up minimal with out the flesh colored base all over the face?

Yes, absolutely! For one thing, "lite auguste" is "in"; it's the big trend these days. For another, while some do prefer a certain "finished" presentation of full cover, others find it to just be an unnecessary waste which looks unnatural. Not even all circus clowns use a full flesh base. And some that do use not greasepaint but grocery counter cosmetics to do the job.

Now, if you're doing "makeup competition" at one of the big conventions, they might have rules while say otherwise; but for everyday "in the trenches" clowning, it shouldn't be a particular problem.

[Scruffy]

Competition in a whole other ball game. I have heard "horror stories" about competition; people paying to have their faces professionally applied to make sure it's perfect, hours spent getting ready,, etc.
Please don't get me wrong- If you are a competition type person; Then great! Go for it. But, it's not my thing. I'd take a smile from a happy kid any day over having to completely cover the back of my neck in makeup......

[saphireSue]

As far as competition goes, I've heard some even use Sharpie markers to really make their black show up [ wonder how hard that is to remove ugh..] The lite is in. If you want to add a little color to make your white stand out more though, try some of the different blushes, these are powder. You know ever one has their own version of lite, one instructor showed no other flesh color, another instructor I had uses the ben Nye powders for the flesh color, {sallybangs does this] it is quick.