Big Bushy Beards & Names

[Fiddlestix H. McWhiskers]

Hiya folks,

Being a new feller to the clowning communitiy, I have a few questions.

1) My father was a clown when I was a child and he called himself "Popcorn," One of my nicknames is "Bingo," and the liscence plate on my truck says "ITOOTED." The thing is, it seems that all of those names are being used by other clowns ("toot" being the last one). So my question is: Once someone choses a clown name anywhere in the world, is it proper to respect that and try to chose a different name, or is it commonly accepted that clowns may have the same names in different places?

2) I have a relatively big beard (between 3 and four inches long) and I am creating a hobo character. Any thoughts about very big real beards on hobo clowns? You can see it in my avitar picture (slighty shorter than it is now). I've looked around and haven't been able to find any examples of any clowns with big ol beards. Any opinions and/or input would be appreciated.

[tim]

Originally Posted by brianjstafford

Hiya folks,

Being a new feller to the clowning communitiy, I have a few questions.

1) My father was a clown when I was a child and he called himself "Popcorn," One of my nicknames is "Bingo," and the liscence plate on my truck says "ITOOTED." The thing is, it seems that all of those names are being used by other clowns ("toot" being the last one). So my question is: Once someone choses a clown name anywhere in the world, is it proper to respect that and try to chose a different name, or is it commonly accepted that clowns may have the same names in different places?

If a clown is notably famous then it wouldn't be appropriate to copy his name. But the average clown name is something which is typically repeated all over the place, though perhaps not as much in the same market. If another clown in your working area of reputation is called "Joey", for instance, then it would just be mad manners to use the same name. But the fact that 50 other clowns around the country use that, also, ought not necessarily prevent you from doing so, too, if it is what you like and it fits.

2) I have a relatively big beard (between 3 and four inches long) and I am creating a hobo character. Any thoughts about very big real beards on hobo clowns? You can see it in my avitar picture (slighty shorter than it is now). I've looked around and haven't been able to find any examples of any clowns with big ol beards. Any opinions and/or input would be appreciated.

I don't see any reason why your natural beard can't be worked into your character effectively.

[Lolly Plop]

I would be impossible to know what every clown's name in the world is to avoid duplication. I'd stay away from the famous clown names like Happy the clown or Krusty. How about Toot Ted. Can't be too many of them, if you want something unique. There probley is some kind a rule about beard length for Hobo's but as clowns I think it's a moral imperative to break rules. I love your beard.

[Fitzwilly]

1) The main thing to think about when you are choosing a name is that you are comfortable with it. After that you really don't want the same name as someone else in the area you plan on working. It could be awkard if you were a really good clown but the other "Humphrey T Beardsly" in your area turned out to be really bad. It would be nearly impossible to separate yourself. Now it there happens to be another "Humphrey T Beardsly" across the country it is unlikely that there would be a problem.

2) There are some clowns that sport natural beards but most are not lucky enought to have one as impressive as yours. I don't see any problem. You would design your makeup around the skin that is exposed. I would not even consider coloring the beard unless you wanted to try just for varieties sake. I'm trying to think of someone that uses a natural beard that you might talk to. Aw, Orkie, Earl Tempkin, past president of the World Clown Association. He is in Nettie's alley. I will see if I can either find his email or get him to join the Forum.

[SuitcaseSam]

Brian, I think it's GREAT! that you are choosing to become a Hobo character and look forward to seeing the results.

With the beard and all, the first thing that comes to mind for a name of your character is 'WHISKERS".

BTW, Is that you with the MySpace site for SmokeBox Instruments?
(How 'bout SmokeBox Stan? or simply Smoke Box and carry all your pocket tricks in an old wooden Cigar Box)

Just wanna make sure I know who I'm accepting on my firends list. If it is you, it'd be a pleasure to have you on my list.

~Sam

[Fiddlestix H. McWhiskers]

Originally Posted by SuitcaseSam

Is that you with the MySpace site for SmokeBox Instruments?

Just wanna make sure I know who I'm accepting on my firends list. If it is you, it'd be a pleasure to have you on my list.

~Sam

Yupperoonnee, that's me

Thanks for the kind words and the box ideas. I'm around cigar boxes so much, it didn't even cross my mind to incorporate them.

Originally Posted by Don Quixote

If a clown is notably famous then it wouldn't be appropriate to copy his name. But the average clown name is something which is typically repeated all over the place.

Cool, I kind of thought that might be the case, but I wanted to make sure just in case. That helps.

Thanks Lolly and Fitz for the beard compliments (Flattery will get you everywhere - tee hee). I just wonder what I might try with mu mouth... maybe trimming my moustache a little so you can see my upper lip more. I'm afraid with my mouth being so covered that people will not be able to pick up on my expressions as much. Especially since I plan to be silent like Gigot (Jackie Gleason's Character)

I'm gonna go out and pick up some of those clear sheets (I saw someone suggest in a post earlier) for laying over my picture and trying different faces on.

[Fiddlestix H. McWhiskers]

Ok, so how about "Fiddlestix H. McWhiskers?" The "H" standing for Harry... then I can say, "Hi, I'm Harry... but then again, aren't we all?" Or "H.W. Fiddlestix" or something along those lines.

[saphireSue]

Either sound cool, but you might want to consider that little ones may have trouble with long names, you might end up just getting called one, so which do you like best Harry or Fiddlestix. Just a thought I Kinda like the first one, but I like Harry too.

[Mr. Dazzle]

"Especially since I plan to be silent like Gigot (Jackie Gleason's Character)"


"Ok, so how about "Fiddlestix H. McWhiskers?" The "H" standing for Harry... then I can say, "Hi, I'm Harry... but then again, aren't we all?" Or "H.W. Fiddlestix" or something along those lines."





Hmmmmm.

Something is odd about these two statements.

[Sir Toony Van Dukes]

I know that there have been several responses to selecting names. I would say that it is OK to choose a clown name like "Popcorn" even if there are 100 other clowns named "Popcorn". But, it wouldn't be appropriate to name your clown, "Fiddlestix H. McWhiskers" if there was another clown by that name (famous or not). The more specific/unique the name, the more I would avoid using something similar.

As Saphire Sue said, it might be nice to be able to say, "Hi, I am Fiddlestix H. McWhiskers, but you can call me, 'Harry'."

Just a thought.