The “Curse” of being a clown…
Been thinking….YEAH
I know, that’s a stretch for me, but did you ever feel a “curse” of being a
clown. If not , maybe you should. No, I’m not talking about a curse that an
evil witch doctor might place on you, nor am I talking about the dark side of
making people laugh. As a matter of
fact, while researching this topic on the internet, I saw a number of cases and
very dark story lines of that type of curse.
You know, the stereotyped tear faced Pierrot you might see a picture ,
or Smoky Robinsons’ song “ Tears of a clown”.
Some people have underlining issues going on in their lives that they
don’t allow the outside public to see, which later gets in the way of their
growth. I read in a blog that both Hollywood’s
greatest comic performers, Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, suffered from
bouts of Depression. Chaplin once said”
to truly laugh, you must be able to take your pain and play with it” That’s a whole other topic of
conversation. Maybe it’s more of a “Call
of Duty”. And No, it’s not another
version of that game on xbox.
The Call of duty
I’m talking about is the duty one should feel if you are a clown. When you’re in clown in public, you’re always
on. No matter if you see someone looking
at you or not, you’re “always on” when your in clown. Some people don’t get that concept. Not that you should be “on” 24/7 but
remember, if in public, you have a duty to be a clown.
COAI has the eight clown commandments. Remember they are
commandments and nor mere suggestions.
The
Eight Clown Commandments
1. I
will keep my acts, performance 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 the International club or alley 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 reasonably possible to do so.
3. I
will neither drink alcoholic beverages nor smoke while in makeup or clown
costume. Also, I will not drink alcoholic beverages 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, color,
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 myself 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 about the art of clowning
There is even
some school of thought that you should not eat while “ in clown”. I can see the arguments on both side of
this. Once you eat in public, like
normal, the mystical view of the clown character goes away to the ones that are
watching. On the other hand, if you hungry, its better to eat than see a clown
passed out on the sidewalk because of starvation. Personally when I’m offered to eat at a gig,
I decline and say all food taste funny
to me..BAHHH . I’m not here to argue
this being right or wrong, I’m just suggesting
to be aware of your surrounding when “in clown”.
Recently Shady
and I have expanded our LAUGH Clown Ministries into the Caring Clown venture at
a local Nursing home and Hospital.
We perform together all the time
and have had some training with “ No-Joe” Joey Thurmond with his Sunshine Foundation. I had clowned at the nursing home my dad was
at while in rehab after his stroke and also clowned at a few hospitals many
years ago. I had some experience in that
field. We thought we would “play it by
ear” once we got to the nursing home.
When we arrived, they placed all the residents in one area and we were “on”. Performing for the elderly is much different
than a congregation at a church. By the end, we had a good time and set up our
next time. I got an email from the
coordinator a few weeks later saying how everyone is still talking about us,
which was news to us because ¾ of them did not seem to respond to us being there. Ya just never know. A few weeks later we had a “walk thru
interview” at a local hospital. While waiting in the lobby for the coordinator
there, and a few teenage volunteers wanted to see us do an act. Of course we obliged, but later was told not to clown in front of the welcome
desk as many people come into the hospital to visit for other reasons than
joyful. So there is a time to clown and
time not to clown . By the way, we
passed our interview and are now set for monthly visits to different floors of
the hospital. We come in another way to enter the hospital now.
The word “no” doesn’t come out my mouth
enough. Lee Andrews, Lew-ee the clown, who was at MACA this year,
is a clown who also has the clown “curse”.
He, with out a doubt, is the hardest working clown I know. He travels the point A to point B all the
time and is hardly home. I think it’s
his inner drive , or duty, to be the best and that feeling in his belly to help
make people laugh or to help others learn from that skill.
Over the year’s
I’ve dealt with my different levels of Dyslexia. I can remember struggling through college
years, staying up very late to re read everything, and back them before the laptop,
I had what was known as type-writer. LOL
Any form of mistake or typo required a new sheet of paper. Although not official, I believe I passed
that trait onto my daughters. They would complain that they couldn’t do this
or that because of dyslexia and that they were cursed. I told them many times to look at it as a
blessing rather than a curse. The
dyslexia requires you to work that much harder than the other people in your
class.
Being a clown can
really be a “curse” and a “blessing” if you think about it, As a clown, you are asked to help make people
smile, even if they nor you are in a
smiling mood. When in clown, it’s your
duty to act like a clown which in effect, may bless someone that day. You just never know the effect you have on
someone while your in clown, by just giving a wink, or a quick smile to someone
near you. But please remember, that “on” button can be turned “off” while out
of clown. Being “on” all the time can be
scary and annoying . Just ask my wife.
Having a “Call of
Duty” also holds truth in my faith. In
Matthew 28;19 it states: 19 Therefore
go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very
end of the age.” This is known as
the “Great Commission”. It’s not known
as the “Great Suggestion”. As a
believer, you are to go and tell others what you know. Some may see this as a “curse”, since it’s
required of you, even when you don’t feel like it. I would suggest clowning is like this. We are required to go and teach what we know
and learn , so others may enjoy. When we
are in clown we are to act like a clown, and enjoy the ride because that’s what
is in you to do. Yes it might not be a
“curse” but is sure is an important “Call of Duty” so you can receive a
“blessing”.
Bump a nose,
Shobo
A Clown’s
Blessing
Author Unknown
May your noses be red and shiny,
And your smile always bright.
May your cheeks be nice and rosy,
Your eyes sparkle in the light.
May your shoes be always too big,
Your costume be perma-pressed,
Your heart overflow with laughter,
Every time your clown is dressed.
May face paint be at the ready,
And your balloons be “easy-blow”.
May children run to greet you,
Wherever you may go
