What is a Clown - History and Philosophy:
A Brief History of Clowning - the Clown Prayer - Clown Code of Ethics
What is a Clown?
So, you've got some wild looking clolthing, some makeup and flair for making others laugh. Now you're a clown, right? Wrong. It never ceases to amaze me how many "clowns" begin their existence without really understanding what or who they are attempting to be. My guess is that no one would take up other careers that way.
Clowning should be looked at like acting. The actor portrays the part or the character as though he/she were that character. Knowing how that character would act under any situation. Not only that but how the character dresses or, in the case of clowns, how their makeup should appear.
Historically there are three main kinds of clowns, although more recently clowns have developed variations.
White Face:
The make-up of the white face clown is typically simple to look at and will highlight the natural features of the face. The variations of a white face clown are endless and there are no specific guidelines other than the basic white base.
The white face clown is typically the straight clown in skits with a base of white grease paint. A straight clown will usually be the one acting very serious but who falls prey to the brunt of the punch line ("blow off") of the skit. The white faced clown's costume tends to be more formal than the auguste clown. Formal for a clown is different than for a regular person. This just means that the colors will tend to match and flow throughout the costume. The colors are less likely to be gaudy and mismatched as in the other clown types.
Auguste Clown:
The make-up of an auguste clown is usually bright and exaggerates the natural features in the face (e.g., a large nose, large outline of mouth, etc). Again there are millions of variations and each clown has their own special characteristics.
The auguste clown tends to be a silly clown in routines. Their make-up is a bright flesh-tone base. The silly clown will usually appear to not know what is going on in a skit but usually somehow escape the "blow off." The costume of the auguste clown tends to be large, gaudy, mismatched, and very bright. Primary colors are most popular with this clown type and the clothing is usually over-sized.
Character Clown:
The character clown is a character which is exaggerated into a clown. The most popular character clown is the Hobo or Tramp clown. The Hobo usually has tattered clothes and make-up which suggests a weeks worth of a beard, a red nose, and white around the eyes and mouth. This is the case as they are a model of the traditional hobo who would ride the railcars during the times of the steam engine. In doing so their faces would get covered in soot. The mouth and eyes would get wiped to see and/or eat, thus the white used in a traditional Hobo or Tramp clown.
Character clowns can be from almost any walk of life. Some of the other more popular ones are police officers, women, doctors, nurses or babies.
Clown Prayer:
Help me to create more laughter than tears, dispence more happiness than gloom, spread more cheer than despair.
Never let me grow so big that I will fail to see the wonder in the eyes of a child or the twinkle in the eyes of the aged.
Never let me forget that I am a CLOWN.... that my work is to cheer people up, make them happy, and make them laugh, make them forget momentarily all the unpleasant things in their lives,
Never let me jeopardize the integrity of clowndom by improper conduct. Help me to always make others proud of my actions as a clown.
Never let me aquire financial success to the point where I discontinue calling upon my Creator in the hour of plenty.
Clown Code of Ethics (the eight clown commandments):
1. I will keep my acts, performances and behavior in good taste while I am in costume and makeup.
I will remember at all times that I have been accepted as a member of the clown club only to provide others, principally children, with clean clown comedy entertainment. I will remember that a good clown entertains others by making fun of himself or herself and not at the expense or embarrassment of others.
2. I will learn to apply my makeup in a professional manner. I will provide my own costume. I will carry out my appearance and assignment for the entertainment of others and not for personal gain or personal publicity when performing for either alley or COAI events. I will always try to remain anonymous while in makeup and costume as a clown, though there may be circumstances when it is not reasonable to do so.
3. I will neither drink alcoholic beverages nor smoke while in makeup or clown costume. Also, I will not drink alcoholic bevereages prior to any clown appearances. I will conduct myself as a gentleman/lady, never interfering with other acts, events, spectators, or individuals. I will not become involved in or tolerate sexual harassment or discrimination on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or any protected status.
4. I will remove my makeup and change into my street clothes as soon as possible following my appearance, so that I cannot be associated with any incident that may be detrimental to the good name of clowning. I will conduct myselfd as a gentleman/lady at all times.
5. While on appearance in makeup and costume, I will carry out the directives of the producer or his designated deputies. I will abide by all performance rules without complaint in public.
6. I will do my very best to maintain the best clown standards of makeup, costuming, properties and comedy.
7. I will appear in as many clown shows as I possibly can.
8. I will be committed to providing an atmosphere free of discrimination and harassment for clowns of all ages to share ideas and learn the art of clowning.
