How to Be Circus Performance Artist/Clown - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Nov 23, 2021 / 5 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

Professional Organizations

FAQ

Links

The circus has been an integral part of the entertainment industry for centuries and clowns are one of its most beloved icons. A clown's primary responsibility is to make people laugh, but they also play an important role in creating an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation. This is accomplished by their unique and often unpredictable behavior, as well as their colorful costumes and props.

As a result of this, circus performance artists/clowns are able to attract and engage audiences of all ages. In addition, they provide an important service to the circus by helping to keep it a fun and safe environment. The laughter and joy that clowns bring to the circus is essential for creating a positive atmosphere where people feel comfortable and connected.

Steps How to Become

Take classes in acting, mime, clowning, and physical theatre. These classes will give you the basic skills needed to be a successful circus performer, including improvisation and audience interaction.
Learn how to juggle and other circus skills. Contact local circus schools, community centres, and other organizations that offer classes in juggling and other circus skills.
Practice your skills regularly to ensure that you are constantly improving and staying on top of your game.
Create a portfolio of your performances and skills that you can use when seeking out opportunities for performing.
Look for opportunities to perform in circuses, festivals, and other events that feature circus performers.
Build relationships with other performers, directors, and producers in the industry.
Network with agents and casting directors to increase your visibility and help you land gigs.
Have a professional headshot taken and create a website or social media page to promote yourself as a performer.
Stay up to date with the latest trends in circus performance and stay active in the industry by attending conferences and workshops.

Becoming an ideal and competent circus performance artist/clown takes dedication and hard work. First, it is important to have a good understanding of the fundamentals of circus performance and clowning, such as juggling, acrobatics, and general clowning techniques. Next, one must be willing to practice regularly to hone their skills, as well as stay up-to-date on the latest clowning trends and styles.

it is important to have a creative and innovative outlook when it comes to performing, as well as being able to think on your feet when performing in front of an audience. Lastly, connecting with the audience and having an outgoing and entertaining personality are key components to becoming an ideal and competent circus performance artist/clown. All of these elements combined can help an aspiring artist/clown reach their goals and ultimately become an ideal and competent circus performer/clown.

You may want to check Comedy Clown, Health Care Clown, and Childrens Party Clown for alternative.

Job Description

Circus Ringmaster
Stilt Walker
Fire Breather
Acrobat
Juggler
Unicyclist
Trapeze Artist
Aerial Silk Performer
Contortionist
Clown

Skills and Competencies to Have

Physical Strength and Stamina
Dexterity and Coordination
Creativity
Fearlessness
Good Communication Skills
Ability to Work with Animals
Ability to Work with Children
Ability to Take Direction
Ability to Follow Safety Protocols
Good Memory
Flexibility
Musical Ability
Acrobatic Ability
Juggling Ability

Being a successful circus performance artist or clown requires a variety of skills. Most importantly, they must be able to capture and engage their audience. This means they must be able to act, speak, and move in a way that is both entertaining and captivating.

They must be able to create and perform unique acts that are both technically difficult and visually pleasing. they must be able to think on their feet and come up with creative solutions when faced with unexpected situations. Lastly, they must have an understanding of comedic timing, as well as the ability to work with other circus performers.

With these skills, a circus performance artist or clown can truly shine, providing an unforgettable experience for their audience.

Summer Camp Clown, Parade Clown, and Street Theatre Clown are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

What inspired you to become a circus performance artist/clown?
What kind of skills or talents do you possess that make you an ideal candidate for this job?
What do you consider to be your strongest abilities as a circus performance artist/clown?
Have you ever faced any difficult challenges as a circus performance artist/clown and how did you handle them?
How would you create an engaging performance for a variety of audiences?
How do you stay up to date on the latest trends in circus performance art/clowning?
What do you think are the most important characteristics of a successful circus performer?
Do you have any experience working with children as a circus performance artist/clown?
What kind of safety protocols do you follow to ensure the safety of yourself and your audience?
How do you manage to keep your performances fresh and exciting?

Common Tools in Industry

Makeup Kit. A kit of makeup products and tools such as foundation, eye shadow, blush, and mascara that can be used to create a variety of clown looks. (eg: foundation, blush and eyeshadow in bright colors to create an exaggerated clown face)
Props. Props such as juggling pins, balls, and hula hoops, used to perform tricks and put on a show. (eg: juggling pins to perform a juggling routine)
Costume. A costume, often a bright and colorful one-piece outfit, is needed for a successful clown performance. (eg: a colorful jumpsuit and floppy hat)
Character Development. Character development is essential for any clown performance. Clowns create unique characters and act out skits and routines that bring the character to life. (eg: a silly character and skit about a lost balloon)
Improvisation. Improvisation is key in a clown performance - clowns must be able to think on their feet and come up with new material on the spot. (eg: coming up with an impromptu joke or routine when something goes wrong)

Professional Organizations to Know

World Clown Association
American Circus Educators Association
Circus Arts Conference
International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo
Unicycle Convention
Clowns of America International
International Jugglers Association
Association of Circus Proprietors of America
International Brotherhood of Magicians
National Traditional Circus Alliance

We also have Theater Clown, Social Circus Artist/Clown, and Visual Arts Clown jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

Acrobat. An artist who performs daring and acrobatic feats of physical strength, balance, and agility.
Contortionist. An artist who can bend and twist their body into seemingly impossible positions.
Juggler. An artist who can keep multiple objects in the air at the same time with their hands.
clown. A performer who wears bright, elaborate costumes and makeup and entertains with physical comedy and jokes.
Stiltwalker. An artist who has long poles attached to their legs to enable them to perform at heights above the crowd.
Fire Performance Artist. An artist who manipulates fire props such as torches, poi, and staffs for entertainment purposes.
Aerialist. An artist who performs feats of strength and dexterity high above the ground on fabrics, ropes, and other apparatuses.
Plate Spinner. An artist who can spin plates on sticks with precise control and skill.
Tightrope Walker. An artist who can walk across a thin cable or rope suspended high above the ground.
Unicyclist. An artist who can ride a one-wheeled bicycle with great skill and precision.