Have you ever been told you are entertaining or funny when you tell stories?
Do you crave being the center of attention?
Photo by Pascal Bernardon on UnsplashWhy not turn these interests into a career where the median salary is $62K/year?
How Do People See You?
People who could make great clowns are sometimes dismissed by the authority figures in their lives such as teachers, parents, or managers because of certain characteristics such as:
Comedic talent: Are you someone who enjoys telling jokes to others around you, spreading good cheer, and entertaining others even when it might be disruptive? Do you have a quick wit?
Disruptive rule breaker: Do you find rules stupid and reject them? Did you find yourself arguing with your instructors often while at school?
Subversive joker: Do you sometimes poke fun at someone else to make others laugh and to gain attention?Do you use humor to feel more accepted in society?
If some of these qualities apply to you, you might make a good clown!
How To Become A Clown
You could participate in clown school, where the goal is to develop the skills necessary to connect with an audience, evoke emotion (whether laughter or empathy), and create memorable performances.
Offline Schools & Courses
Online Schools & Courses
You could invest in schooling by earning a degree in theatre arts or visual and performing arts.
But formal schooling isn't required and you can attend workshops. You can become a professional clown if you're willing to:
Associate with a clown organization or obtain professional development
Develop a character persona through personality, motivation, goals, routines, and a backstory
Learn about creative costuming and wear colorful clothes
Study strategies for managing a crowd
Engage in cabaret entertainment
Spend money to invest in your clown character and accessories
Get a general business license or an inexpensive permit for tax purposes if you want to being as a street performer (you may legally need a permit from your local city hall).
Check out the Clowns to Hire Blog to find tips for this new career.
Quiz
What talents do clowns display in their career? Select all that apply:
Where to Find Employment as a Clown?
Clowns may find employment in various settings such as:
Circus: You can find work with the many resident and travelling circuses like the Big Apple Circus, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, or Cirque du Soleil.
Rodeos: You can keep crowds entertained by filling time between events with comedic sketches and routines.
Medical: You can visit patients and bring smiles to those who need it most.
Party: You can hone your craft for children or adult audiences and eventually build a routine for festivals or amusement parks.
Crisis: You can participate in Clowns Without Borders, a nonprofit organization that travels throughout the world to help with relief efforts in crisis zones.
Reasons To Be A Clown
You'll have flexibility with your schedule depending on your employer or if you choose to be self-employed.
You'll increase your dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphin levels by entertaining others and feel self-fulfillment in the process.
You get to choose which activities you want to add to your routine, such as:
Telling jokes
Performing magic tricks and juggling
Exaggerating movements
Making balloon objects
You have the opportunity to create your own costume and display your creativity.
You get paid for being silly, telling jokes, and enjoying life.
Take Action
Take these steps if you're still interested in a career as a clown:
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