How to Be Clown Performer - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Clowns have been entertaining audiences and bringing joy to people of all ages for centuries. Being a clown performer requires a variety of skills and abilities, such as physical agility, improvisation, comedic timing, and the ability to read a crowd. clowns must possess a unique combination of creativity and charisma.

These qualities are essential for a successful clown performer, as they help create an environment in which the audience can laugh, enjoy themselves, and most importantly, feel connected. The positive effects of clown performance can be seen in the joy it brings to the audience, the sense of connection it creates between the audience and the performer, and the lasting impression that clowns leave on their audiences.

Steps How to Become

1. Obtain formal training. Take classes in clowning and physical comedy. Look for classes at your local theater, community center, or through online learning websites.
2. Learn the basics of clowning. Develop your clown persona, practice juggling, balloon twisting, magic tricks, and other clowning activities.
3. Practice your skills. Spend time perfecting your routines and creating engaging stories.
4. Develop your costume. Design a unique costume that helps you stand out and showcases your clown persona.
5. Find performance opportunities. Look for gigs at local events, parties, and festivals.
6. Promote yourself. Create a website or social media accounts to advertise your services.
7. Network with other clowns. Join a clown association and attend conventions to get tips and advice from more experienced clowns.
8. Get liability insurance. Protect yourself and your clients with liability insurance in case an accident occurs during a performance.

In order for a clown performer to stay updated and competent, they must be proactive and continually strive for improvement. This means researching new material, taking classes, attending workshops and conferences, and networking with fellow clowns. they must stay abreast of current trends in clowning, such as popular props, makeup, and costumes.

Lastly, they must keep their skills sharp by practicing regularly and challenging themselves to create new routines. By investing time and energy into honing their craft, they can ensure they are up to date with the latest clowning techniques and remain competitive in the industry.

You may want to check Physical Comedy Performer, Fire Performer, and Singing Performer for alternative.

Job Description

1. Develop and create comedic routines
2. Interact with audiences and create a fun atmosphere
3. Engage in physical comedy and clowning
4. Perform stunts and tricks
5. Apply makeup to create a clown persona
6. Participate in promotional activities
7. Maintain clowning props and equipment
8. Plan performances in advance
9. Rehearse performances on a regular basis
10. Travel to events and venues to perform

Skills and Competencies to Have

1. Acting skills
2. Physical comedy
3. Juggling
4. Balance and coordination
5. Improvisation
6. Slapstick comedy
7. Mime
8. Magic tricks
9. Clown makeup application
10. Creative costume design
11. Ventriloquism
12. Unicycle riding
13. Clowning techniques
14. Balloon art
15. Audience interaction
16. Puppetry
17. Comedy writing
18. Musical performance

Clown performers need to possess a wide range of skills to be successful. Creativity and improvisation are key elements of clowning, as clowns must be able to think on their feet and come up with new material quickly. Clowns must have excellent physical comedy skills, such as acrobatics, juggling, and pratfalls.

They must also have strong acting skills, so they can react to situations naturally and entertain the audience. clowns need to be able to make their own props and costumes, as well as be able to draw and paint. Lastly, clowns need to be able to perform well under pressure and keep the audience engaged.

All of these skills combined help clowns perform their best and make for a memorable show.

Circus Performer, Street Performer, and Roving Performer are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

• What experience do you have performing as a clown?
• How do you engage with children when performing as a clown?
• What props do you use in your clown performances?
• How do you customize your clown performances to suit the age of your audience?
• How do you keep your clown performances fresh and exciting?
• How do you handle difficult audience members or situations?
• Describe a time when you had to think on your feet to keep a clown performance running smoothly.
• How do you use humor in your clown performances?
• What safety measures do you take when performing as a clown?
• Tell us about a challenging situation you faced while performing as a clown and how you overcame it.

Common Tools in Industry

1. Face Paint . Used to paint and design on the face to create various faces and expressions (eg: a rainbow with a glittery heart).
2. Juggling Balls . Used to perform juggling tricks with balls, rings, and other objects (eg: juggling three balls in the air).
3. Magic Tricks . Used to perform magic tricks and illusions (eg: making a rabbit appear out of a hat).
4. Ventriloquism . Used to manipulate a puppet or dummy, and imitate its voice (eg: talking with a puppet and making it seem like the puppet is speaking).
5. Stilts . Used to perform stunts while standing on stilts (eg: walking on stilts while balancing a large ball).
6. Unicycling . Used to ride and perform tricks on a unicycle (eg: riding a unicycle while juggling three balls).
7. Balloons . Used to make balloon animals, sculptures, and decorations (eg: twisting balloons into the shape of a flower).
8. Costume Design . Used to create unique costumes for clown performances (eg: designing a clown costume with bright colors and patterns).

Professional Organizations to Know

1. World Clown Association
2. International Jugglers’ Association
3. International Brotherhood of Magicians
4. The Puppeteers of America
5. Society of American Magicians
6. American Association of Ventriloquists
7. American Circus Educators Association
8. The Magic Circle
9. International Institute of Clowns
10. Clowns of America International

We also have Music Performer, Stilt Walker Performer, and Ventriloquist Performer jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

1. Jugglers. Performers who use props such as balls, clubs, rings, and other objects to create a physical performance of balance and skill.
2. Acrobats. Performers who perform tricks such as flips, spins, and contortions in a show.
3. Magicians. Performers who use illusions and tricks to entertain an audience.
4. Mimes. Performers who use facial expressions, hand gestures and body language to create a visual performance without words or sound.
5. Clowns. Performers who use physical comedy, pranks, and jokes to entertain an audience.
6. Ventriloquists. Performers who use their voice to imitate a puppet or other character in order to create a comedic performance.
7. Fire-eaters. Performers who eat, blow, or juggle fire in a show.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many years of experience does a clown performer typically have?

Clown performers typically have between 5-10 years of experience.

What type of skills are important for clown performers?

Clown performers need to have strong physical and comedic skills, as well as improvisation and audience interaction skills.

What is the average salary of a clown performer?

The average salary of a clown performer is $35,000-$50,000 per year, depending on experience and location.

What type of events do clown performers typically work?

Clown performers typically work at birthday parties, corporate events, or other special occasions.

What type of organizations might employ clown performers?

Organizations such as event production companies, amusement parks, or entertainment agencies may employ clown performers.

What are jobs related with Clown Performer?

• Storytelling Performer
• Acrobatic Performer
• Variety Performer
• Stage Performer
• Comedic Performer
• Magician Performer
• Juggling Performer
• Aerial Performer
• Voice Performer

Web Resources

• Clown and Performer – The American Vaudeville Archive — … vaudeville.library.arizona.edu
• Class clown | The University of Chicago Magazine mag.uchicago.edu
• International Clown Hall of Fame member to perform April 15 www.fredonia.edu