Makeup vs. No Makeup (also facial hair)

[Gecko_D_Clown]

Hello again everyone,

I have a quick question concerning makeup or better -- no makeup.

I am really interested in developing a character that does not wear makup. Is this breaking a cardinal rule in clowning? I'm more interested in the frompy oversized clothes look though. A prime example of what I am thinking of would be Mr. Noodle on Seaseme Street, more specifically during "Elmo's World". Is this line of thinking well within the clowning by-lines?

Also, what about facial hair? I believe my wife (and children) would disown me if I shaved my go-tee. If I keep the go-tee would I necessarily need to restrict my clown character to an older age, or could one get away with playing a kid?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for everything.

God Bless,
Gecko D. Clown

[Jobee]

It's not breaking a cardinal rule, in fact it seems that clowning is heading towards that direction. You might just want to consider an auguste/flesh color like a foundation and that's it. I find that there is a spectrum of clowning where it's fading away from the gaudy grotestgue makeup to something more calming but yet says "Clown"

[saphireSue]

well the guys are the best to answer this, but as far as facial hair goes, there are many clowns that have full beards,

[Scruffy]

Mr. Noodle is a clown. There is NOTHING wrong with the no makeup look. It just isn't for me. That does not mean it will always be that way. :lol:

[ashes]

I don't have anything against facial hair - I don't have any and I almost don't have
any hair on the top of my head either....

I just think that it would be difficult to play a young or child character with
a goatee.

I know folks that comb makeup into their moustaches. They keep their moustache
clipped pretty short.

I also have a friend who does a hobo clown. His moustache blends in with the
makeup beard that he applies and it looks great.

Ashes

[Scruffy]

I have in the past wore a mustache and goatee. I shaved them off when I returned to clowning. I felt that the makeup looked better without the facial hair. I grew it to make me look older and to make my face thinner.
Now, I'm shaving it off to look younger :roll:

[babyannabelle_plumbuckle]

:roll: Depending on how long your go-tee is, you could maybe think of some creative things to do with it, and implement it as part of your look.
There are a number of washable, non-permanent hair dyes that you might experiment with even if you only want to do just the tips or edges like with something unusual .
There are many famous clowns, such as Red Skelton, who didn't always use makeup for his many, many charactors. I just watched a movie last night with Chris Farley. He was definately a clown and did alot of clumsy slap-stick stuff ( as does Jackie Chan) but didn't wear clown makeup. His actions and behavior said it all!
Annabelle Plumbuckle

[mr_buckaroo]

If you look close at my picture you will notice i have a gotee it took some time to find the right look to fit it in as i will not be loosing it anytime soon but it is possible to work around it.

[JellyBean in Japan]

Makeup doth not maketh thee clown. I most respectfully refer to only a few of the Greats: Buster Keaton; Charlie Chaplan; & Harpo Marx. Clowning comes from the heart. It's not what you do, but how you do it!

[OkiDoki]

I don't use make up and already clown for quiet a few years. I would say no don't bother about no make up. Here in Holland all the hospital clowns are no-make up clowns and are at the same time one of the most respected group of clowns.