To clown or not to clown

I am booked for a facepainting gig for carnival and was later told that the whole thing had a clown theme and I therefore was expected to show up in clown costume! I told him that I didn't have any and was in no state of clowning (I didn't even find clowns funny/entertaining when I was a child). But that was no excuse to him so I ended up agreeing to find a costume. (found this http://www.online-fancy-dress.co.uk/store/adult-fancy-dress/comedy-and-clown/clown-lady-costume-size-large-/prod_2585.html, it is not very expensive, still cute and not a miniskirt).

So my question is now, how to behave. I can't clown (and the costumer know that), but are there some ways to be a little bit "silly" while facepainting, without people expect me make a big show?

Eek! That is such a tough situation.

If I were in the same spot I would wear a silly/pretty outfit, paint my face a little bit (not like a clown or even a red nose, but a pretty swirly eye design) and just try to act a little extra entertaining while I was painting.

I'm sorry your client wouldn't listen to you - that stinks!

Let us know how it goes

~Heff

I wouldn't go crazy buying an actual "clown" costume like that... for one, you don't like clowns and won't want to do it again and two, it's cheap and it looks cheap.

Make a trip to the second hand shop and find some really bright stuff that looks maybe a little eccentric. I'm sure you'll find something... add a silly hat or some of those brightly coloured hair thingys they have at the dollar store and paint your face brightly. I agree with avoiding the red nose if you can since you don't really want to clown, but if the person hiring you is going to be dumb that way, what can you do?.... just make it a small dot on the tip of your nose.

As for making things a little silly while face painting, there are a lot of ways to do it, but you have to find what is comfortable and natural for YOU. You can ask if the kid is married or graduating med school or something.... you can tell the little boy that he is the most beautiful butterfly, he's going to love it.... I've had vendors that were next to me all day ask if I use the same lines for every kid and sometimes, well, yes... the last one didn't hear me tell the others that "nobody EVER picks a pink and purple butterfly!"

good luck with it!!

I had a similar situation, but am completely not a clown type of personality. I'm much more of just a nice spirit than a funny one. So I made a name tag say Sweety they clown, put it on a Walmart clown suit and acted like myself.

I need two similar clown costumes, since my sister is going with me too. Think it will ad to the fun (I go into teenage mode with her, so guess that is good for this)

The red nose what the one thing he more or less insisted on. But there isn't such a great clown culture in Denmark (I have only had two kids asking for clown faces -other than the scary ones- and they wasn't from the country), so I hope I don't offend any one.

Great ideas for silly stuff. Thanks!

I hope you are getting paid well for this! The clowns I've worked with on jobs have just been very friendly with the kids, and maybe a little exaggerated but not over-the-top. You'll do great.

My pal is a clown...has been for many many years and it's a heck of a job! The guy asking hasn't got a hot clue. But I think everyone gave great advice. If it were me, I'd just dress as colorful as possible....goofy Salvation Army store shirt and/or tie and then just be me and do my job. If they wanted me to wear whatever, as long as it's decent, rated 'G' and not offensive - if they are paying good, I'll wear a monkey suit! I'm usually on 'hyperdrive'/high energy at all times when I'm engaged anyways! I'm often asked if I ever even slow down! So being me is just about over the top enough.

just don't buy one of the dumb foam noses... it'll look far better to paint a one inch diameter circle on the tip of your nose, outline it with black or white if you like to accentuate it... you can even glitter the red if you want to. ProKnowses are the best, but at $15 to $20 a piece depending on where you buy it from, it's hardly worth it for one or two events.

I really don't like it when people are dressed as clowns but aren't really clowns, I've made no secret of that opinion. But I understand not wanting to turn down a good paying job just because the person hiring you doesn't care. As a lonely representative of the clowning community, I appreciate that you TRIED to talk him out of it. It really is a lot harder and more work than it may seem. Be prepared that you will have nowhere to hide, you can't just "go on a break" ... you can't go to the bathroom without people staring at you, you will be "on" as long as you're wearing the costume.

I was thinking about say no, but agreed for three reasons:
1: he would just hire someone else, also only dressing up.
2: the entire event should be clown based, so think there will be a lot of no-clowns dressing up
3: I have tried it then, maybe I would benefit of having an excuse for clowning around. I am often told I am too serious.

The costumes came with foam noses, but I think I will paint a colourful - hopefully not frightening - face with a red nose.

Half the time I am in costume anyway, from everything from bellydancer and princess over witch and scarecrow to pirate and cowgirl. So that part of dressing in clown costume does not scare me =)

I use to clown but I did not do a "voice" or anything in particular - I was a face painting clown who sometimes did balloons. I did go to Mooseburger Camp (if I am going to do something I learn how to do it right!) I loathe squeaky voiced clowns that talk down to kids... so I didn't change my voice at all. Just acted a little "sillier" than normal - not much of a stretch really.

This was my make-up - my nose is just a circle of red glitter applied with eyelash glue.

No squeaky voices for me thanks. The few I have heard was very scary. Except for a friend of mine who used to be a character in Legoland, she could make a sweet voice =)

My favorite silly thing to do is to give a count down to the reveal. "Are you ready to see your face? Ok, one...two...three!" and then I hold the mirror up for them backwards.

I'm sure you'll do fine. I don't change mt voice really either... although I think I talk a little bit different... it's kind of subconscious.

Lonewolf, what did you decide to do?

Ahhh, that old "entertainer" vs. "artist" thing again. (No offense to either) I just did a party as a sub-contractor for an entertainer-type person. They charge $80 for face painting and balloon twisting. Their face painting is very simple so they can do all the kids quick and then fill up the time with twisting. Sigh.

He asked me to wear something colorful. I just wore a normal hot pink shirt, jeans and a neon hair piece that was pink and yellow. I don't have a problem interacting with kids but I'm not an outgoing type in general. I brought a menu board, but couldn't find enough really fast designs to fill the board so I ended up doing my normal stuff (maybe a bit less detail.) I actually went over the 1 hour (they agreed to 1 hour because it was "just" face painting and no twisting like with the person I was covering for). I told the mom not to worry about the extra time because it was more important to me that they all got painted but she paid me for it anyway. Every single adult there complimented me on my work and a few asked for my card. Of course, I gave them the name of the company/guy who sent me.

Anyway, I think the thing is that we are all in this business and understand the difference but most people who hire us do not. I think most people who hire a face painter for a kid's birthday party are expecting nothing more than simple cheek art.

I hope it goes well for you Lonewolf! I'm guessing they'll be extremely impressed with your work and as long as you are nice to the kids, it should be fine.

I have bought the costumes - yes they are not prof. quality, but I like that it look like a entire set and that me an my sister look the same. And then I plan on just trying to goof around a bit more than usual. Maybe try some of the things Perry suggested, if I can remember them in the moment *lol*

The guy who hired me is an entertainer himself - very much - so for him it is no problem "being on". I am not used to that, but think it will be fun =)

Well good luck. Maybe it will be fun.

The thing I notice most about clowns are the exaggerated or silly faces they make and the head tilt. If it was me I would just stop trying to filter those things as I tend to poke my tongue out when I concentrate.

I notice women make these same sort of faces at little babies.

Lone, you will be great! Your artistic ability and kind nature will do you a world of good as a temporary clown. I know lots and lots and lots of clowns and each one is a little different. Some are quiet and shy, some are over the top and loud. I agree about the nose. You may be better off with a small heart painted at the end of your nose instead of a full red one. I find simple makeup helps kids be not scared of you and also not expect you to be wild. Overdone clown makeup usually means crazy clown.

Just be comfortable and enjoy yourself. I don't use a silly voice, I just say ridiculous things that make kids correct me. When painting faces I'll paint a child as a dog then say, "Ok now Meow like a doggie." The child always corrects me. Before they see how I have painted them, I give them a worried look and say, "I thought you said you wanted to be a froggie! Not a doggie! Ooops!" They either giggle or grab for my mirror. When they see how they got just what they wanted, they always smile. I ask them if the festival is serving pickle ice cream or tomato jello. That always sparks some kind of silly interaction. Please let us all know how it goes.

Thanks for the great advise =)