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

The influence of Circus Artists/Clowns in society is huge. Their presence has a positive effect on the viewers, by providing them with joy, laughter, and entertainment. This in turn helps to brighten the mood of people, and reduces stress.

By creating a safe and fun atmosphere, Circus Artists/Clowns can encourage social interaction, making it easier for people to come together and form connections. Furthermore, Circus Artists/Clowns can provide an educational benefit, by teaching children important skills such as problem-solving and teamwork. When children are exposed to Circus Arts/Clowns, they are more likely to develop a strong sense of self-confidence, as well as a better understanding of their own emotions.

Finally, Circus Artists/Clowns also have a significant impact on the economy; by providing employment opportunities for performers, as well as boosting tourism to their destination.

Steps How to Become

1. Develop your circus skills. You will need to master a wide variety of circus arts such as aerial silks, juggling, acrobatics, unicycle, hand-balancing, and clowning. You can take classes at a local circus school or watch YouTube tutorials to start building your skills.
2. Take a course in clowning or social circus. Social circus is a form of circus arts that uses play and performance to engage and empower people who are socially excluded. It is important to understand the theory and practice of social circus before you begin performing.
3. Get involved with a local circus troupe or community circus organization. This will give you the opportunity to meet other performers and to practice your skills in a professional setting.
4. Join a professional organization. Organizations such as the International Circus Association (ICA) or the European Federation of Professional Circus Schools (EFPCS) can provide you with resources, support, and networking opportunities as you begin your career as a social circus artist/clown.
5. Find gigs. Start looking for opportunities to perform your act in a variety of settings such as schools, festivals, and community events. You can also apply for grants from organizations such as the International Street Arts Network (ISAN) or the World Day of Social Circus (WDOSC).
6. Build a portfolio. Gather photos and videos of your performances and create a website or social media page to showcase your work. This will help you to promote yourself and attract more bookings.

Being a Circus Artist/Clown requires constant attention to detail and creativity in order to keep performances exciting and entertaining for audiences. To stay updated and efficient, it is important to stay informed about the latest circus trends, industry news, and evolving technology. it is important to stay physically active and maintain strong physical and mental health, as performing often requires a high level of physical strength and agility.

keeping a well-organized schedule, planning ahead, and staying organized can help Circus Artists/Clowns to stay efficient and effective. Finally, an essential part of being a Circus Artist/Clown is having a passion for performing and an appreciation for the audience, which will help keep performances fresh, vibrant, and energizing. By staying informed, physically active, organized, and passionate, Circus Artists/Clowns can ensure that they remain updated and efficient in their performances.

You may want to check Balloon Artist/Clown, Stilt Walker/Clown, and Environmental Education Clown for alternative.

Job Description

1. Circus Performer: Perform various acrobatic and clowning acts for audiences.
2. Circus Technician: Set up and maintain the equipment and rigging for circus performances.
3. Circus Producer: Coordinate and manage the various aspects of a circus production.
4. Circus Director: Direct the circus performers in their acts.
5. Circus Educator: Teach circus skills to children and adults.
6. Circus Historian: Research, document, and preserve the history of the circus arts.
7. Circus Manager: Oversee the day-to-day operations of a circus production.
8. Circus Costume Designer: Create costumes for performers to wear during their acts.
9. Circus Lighting Designer: Design lighting effects for a circus performance.
10. Circus Musician: Play live music during a circus performance.

Skills and Competencies to Have

1. Creativity and Imagination
2. Interpersonal Skills
3. Performance and Acting Ability
4. Physical Dexterity
5. Problem Solving
6. Musical Talent
7. Juggling Skills
8. Comedy Writing
9. Script Writing
10. Mime Skills
11. Costume Design and Creation
12. Facepainting
13. Animal Training (for use in performances)
14. Balloon Sculpting
15. Make-up Artistry
16. Ventriloquism
17. Ability to Work with Children
18. Multi-lingual (for international performances)

A successful Circus Artist/Clown must possess many different skills in order to be successful. Creativity, performance, physical agility, and the ability to work with a variety of people are all essential to success. Creativity is necessary for coming up with ideas for new routines and shows.

Performance skills are essential for executing the routines and engaging the audience. Physical agility is important for learning and executing physical stunts. the ability to work with a variety of people is essential for Circus Artists/Clowns because they must interact with the audience and other performers.

Without any of these skills, it is unlikely that a Circus Artist/Clown would be successful.

Circus Skills Workshop Facilitator/Clown, Clown Entertainer, and Emcee/Clown are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

• How did you become interested in Social Circus/Clowning?
• What do you think makes a successful Social Circus/Clowning performance?
• How do you interact with children, and how do you engage them in performances?
• What techniques do you use to control a crowd?
• How do you handle difficult situations when performing?
• What safety protocols do you follow when performing?
• What is your experience with physical comedy and improvisation?
• How do you handle failure and mistakes during performances?
• How do you stay motivated and inspired when performing?
• What makes a successful Social Circus/Clowning program and how do you contribute to it?

Common Tools in Industry

1. Mime. A form of physical theatre in which the artist communicates through gestures, facial expressions and body movements without using words. (eg: Marcel Marceau)
2. Juggling. The art of throwing and catching multiple objects simultaneously. (eg: The Flying Karamazov Brothers)
3. Comedy. Using witty humor to entertain an audience. (eg: John Cleese)
4. Magic. Using illusions and sleight of hand to amaze and entertain. (eg: David Copperfield)
5. Balloon Art. Creating sculptures and figures from balloons. (eg: Twistie the Clown)
6. Music. Playing instruments or singing to create a performance. (eg: The Jugglers)
7. Puppetry. Manipulating puppets in order to create a performance. (eg: The Muppets)
8. Ventriloquism. Speaking without moving lips, projecting a voice to appear as though it is coming from another person or creature. (eg: Jeff Dunham)

Professional Organizations to Know

1. World Clown Association
2. European Clown Association
3. Fédération Internationale des Clowns
4. International Brotherhood of Magicians
5. International Jugglers' Association
6. American Circus Educators
7. National Circus Project
8. International Circus School Network
9. American Youth Circus Organization
10. Circus Juventas

We also have Poet/Clown, Face Painter/Clown, and Unicycle Performer/Clown jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

1. Juggling. The art of keeping multiple objects in the air, often using balls, clubs, rings, or other props.
2. Mime. A type of performance art that involves the use of body movements and facial expressions to create an illusion of movement without the use of words.
3. Physical Comedy. A type of comedy that uses physicality and gesture to create humorous situations and scenarios.
4. Music. The use of sounds and rhythms to create an atmosphere or tell a story.
5. Improvisation. A type of performance art in which performers make up dialogue and scenes on the spot in response to audience suggestions or other cues.
6. Puppetry. A type of performance art that uses puppets to tell stories or entertain.
7. Storytelling. The use of language to tell stories, usually with a moral or lesson.
8. Acrobatics. The use of physical stunts and tumbling to create a show or performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Social Circus Artist/Clown?

A Social Circus Artist/Clown is a performing artist who uses clowning skills and circus techniques to engage with people in social settings and create positive change.

What types of activities do Social Circus Artists/Clowns do?

Social Circus Artists/Clowns use physical comedy, improvisation, and interactive theater to entertain, educate and empower people in settings like schools, hospitals, refugee camps and community centers.

What are the benefits of Social Circus?

Social Circus has been proven to improve communication, build self-confidence, promote social inclusion, and encourage creative expression. It can also help build trust, cooperation, and problem-solving skills.

How long has Social Circus been around?

Social Circus has been in existence since the early 1990s with some of the earliest projects taking place in Europe. It is now a growing field with programs in over 40 countries around the world.

How many people are involved in Social Circus?

There are currently estimated to be more than 5,000 Social Circus Artists/Clowns engaging with over 1 million people every year.

What are jobs related with Social Circus Artist/Clown?

• Theater Clown
• Clown-for-Hire
• Clown Educator
• Music Maker/Clown
• Comedy Juggler/Clown
• Health Care Clown
• Clown Mentor
• Visual Arts Clown
• Comedy Clown
• Physical Comedy Clown

Web Resources

• Circus Clown | Smithsonian American Art Museum americanart.si.edu
• Circus Arts - Stars of the Circus | Smithsonian Folklife Festival www.festival.si.edu
• Ringling Opens New Circus Clown Exhibit - FSU … cfa.fsu.edu