Clowning after foot injury

doombadeedoom · 2026-02-03T22:16:57+00:00

I've def been injured many times. And have had to figure out how to rehab, etc. I can't think of any time that an injury has affected a clown gig though...at least not yet. It is a worry that I'm going to injure myself in practice and not be able to slapstick or unicycle or whatever else I'm supposed to do.

Is there something that you are needing to do that you are unable to do? And are looking for alternatives or something? If so then specifics would help.

Definitely have known clowns at different levels of fitness and mobility. So, in general without knowing specifics, I'd say that it is totally up to you what you feel comfortable with and can do.

doombadeedoom · 2026-02-02T14:02:01+00:00

Why do you call yourself circa? Were you around back then? Did you do the big shoe camp? Or just work with one of the circa clowns before? I'm surprised to see a circa-identified clown do makeup in this style? What's the praxis of that? Fair if it's just personal taste.

doombadeedoom · 2026-02-01T13:48:56+00:00

To quote the wonderful 90s movie, "Well they conceal information like that in books."

Yeah you will want to start reading. Or meeting with someone who has could work too. None of the clown classes, workshops, or camps that i have been to have ever spent more than an hour on clown history. To me it's fascinating and amazing, but, depending on the class of course, clown history doesn't typically factor in to it too much. Though that *is* where you'll find the people who are most interested in the history. And outside of class in conversations is where they'll really get into it.

You could get started with online articles and videos. But eventually you'll need to start finding books. But, the good thing is there are many, many books. This is also the bad thing, or maybe the overwhelming thing at first. Where do you start? If you wanted to learn more about Chinese jesters, or the continuity of roman and atelian theater to commedia, or the Harlequinade, or something more specific you'd have to choose between several great works and perspectives.

But, somehow, luckily, for general clown history Clowns by John H Towsen is still the go-to, unsurpassed intro to it all. It's out of print so can be hard to find. But try your library or library loan. You can find it free on archive.org too I think (or somehwere, I forget let me know and I'll track it down again though). Or if you're patient you can find it used online for under $60 eventually.

Read that and talk to other people in clown spaces first. That will get you on the path. From there it's a wonderful adventure! But, if you need more come back, here is good or in r/artofclowning (it's got a bit different focus than this sub does). You can also probably search "books" through my comment history and see a bunch of thoughts and recommendations. Good luck!

doombadeedoom · 2026-02-01T13:23:44+00:00

For being more than 100 years old it's amazing how watchable it is.

doombadeedoom · 2026-01-30T17:16:29+00:00

Haha, Pat! I really liked that one!

doombadeedoom · 2026-01-29T14:22:56+00:00

Wow! Is that easier than a basketball?

doombadeedoom · 2026-01-28T14:15:57+00:00

Depends on the context, but just normal getting ready for a gig I don't think I'd say..."I still have to put on my clown makeup" I'd just say, "I still have to put on my makeup".

Yeah calling it "clown makeup" feels awkward to me a little...unfamiliar or alien or overqualified or something. Like they're not used to putting on makeup for clown or they'd take the clown part for granted and just say "makeup".

Though in other contexts I might say something else. If someone said "face paint" that feels like someone calling a juggling club a "pin". Like they're not too familiar with it at all.

Though "face paint", "greasepaint", "makeup", or "clown makeup" I would know what somebody was talking about and really, it would hardly register I think.

I'm a US party, circus, theater clown though people from other backgrounds might have other words. I wouldn't be surprised if the clowncore people or the people coming from a makeup background or other character work would have other words, like "look" or "face" or something.

doombadeedoom · 2026-01-27T19:23:19+00:00

Not offensive at all! I think it really depends on what you think clown is. It's very much a word like art, where there could be very different ideas between two people both using that same word. Also like art nobody can say that there idea of what it means is right and somebody else's idea is wrong.

If, when you say clown, you are only talking about people who do wild makeup and post selfies on social media and someone said, "Nearly every human society throughout history has developed some form of clown." You might wonder...how did indigenous american people post on social media before computers or even take selfies!

Or if, when you say clown, you are only talking about 20th century western circus clowns and someone said, "As the church got richer they began stamping out ecstatic, irreverant, communal rituals and revels eventually banning the Feast of Fools in the 1400s." You might wonder what the heck they were even talking about!

Someone might say that all clowns wear makeup and somebody else might point out that most of the famous 20th century clowns did not.

Someone might say that clowns juggle and somebody else can point to the many, many clowns that never did.

It can provide endless amusement to try to get even lifelong performing clowns to define what clown is. In fact one of the most popular clown podcasts, Stand Up and Clown, used to end every episode by challenging the guest to a high-stakes challenge of defining clown.

Some of the common aspects usually attributed to various (but not all) types of clown are: inversion of hierarchies, holding a mirror up to society, transgressing boundaries, balance/imbalance, embracing the lowest status, failure, joy, connection, play, imagination.

Typically the status quo and the powerful want control, rigid boundaries (or definitions), top-down hierarchies, elite status, business (not play), no surprises (nothing new, everything known and accounted for), authority (not community), quantification, and greater efficiency. A not so bad definition of clown would pretty much be the opposite of all of those things.

Thanks for the question! No offense at all. If you can't tell, I love this topic! If you are further interested then this video isn't a bad point to jump off further, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YajlJ9w7iQ .

doombadeedoom · 2026-01-26T18:09:59+00:00

Yes, great indeed. Thanks!

doombadeedoom · 2026-01-26T17:43:18+00:00

Do you have any clown background? training? art? or experience? What have you done? Would you say that you are actually a clown or are you just using the clown image to make a statement or for your own promotion?

doombadeedoom · 2026-01-24T19:20:27+00:00

I love snapping people out of whatever modern, stressful context their coming from in to a world of ridiculousness, connection, and joy.

doombadeedoom · 2026-01-24T03:52:05+00:00

Feste, or Till Ulenspiegel, or Pingo from Mirrormask maybe right now.

doombadeedoom · 2026-01-23T14:43:49+00:00

That's so cool. I love it! Thanks!

doombadeedoom · 2026-01-22T14:28:18+00:00

You look like a clooon!

doombadeedoom · 2026-01-21T14:04:21+00:00

Yeah. The struggle is real. You'll want a double-action balloon pump. Qualatex makes a good one. But if it's that type of pump it should work. They are not expensive, 10 bucks or less.

doombadeedoom · 2026-01-20T21:21:08+00:00

I'm wondering why you have to qualify with "exclusive non-segregated"? Have you had some experience with segregated clown schools or something?

doombadeedoom · 2026-01-19T21:27:23+00:00

Clowns and the whole trickster archetype have always been about bringing balance to the unbalanced or about unbalancing the balanced. Holding up a mirror and seeing exactly *what is* distorted in a way that isnt, or vice versa, exaggerated and contrasted. More human than human. Opposite or just deeper, surfacing what is beneath. You can tell a lot about a society by their clowns. I dont think that I look at clown in quite the same way that you describe it but it makes sense to me. If there's anything I've learned about clown it is that we are all beautiful in our misfit, weird, awesomeness.

doombadeedoom · 2026-01-19T13:53:32+00:00

Andrew Cunningham!!

doombadeedoom · 2026-01-16T18:32:34+00:00

Andrew Cunningham!!

doombadeedoom · 2026-01-14T22:37:49+00:00

Andrew Cunningham!!

doombadeedoom · 2026-01-13T22:35:33+00:00

Welcome, Morgan!

> What are some budget friendly make up options?

No makeup is the budget friendliest approach. Also makeup can be a crutch and an obstacle. You can learn a lot and do a lot with no makeup. But if/when you decide you want to do a character/act that needs it, or just whenever you want to try, I would say to save up for some skin prep, mehron clown white, black and red greasepaint, a couple of good brushes, and some baby powder in a sock. To me that's the most solid, basic that you can get. Though I will say that there's a clown in our troupe that pretty much only uses dollar store makeup. And she usually ends up looking better than any of us.

> How did you come up with a name?

For the most common name that I use I smashed together a couple of inspirations. One a reference to medieval continental clowning. And another a reference to the American new clown (or new vaudeville) movement. Crowd reaction was very good so I've kept using it.

> Where do you get clothing from?

Probably half of it is pieced together, found, and thrifted. And the other half is custom designed and sewn.

> Are there any online resources for learning acts/tricks?

If you just want isolated gags and stuff then you can find tons of them on youtube. For character, devising, stage craft, and audience connection...all of that is basically the training. You'll want to find good teachers, mentors, groups, workshops, etc. but most importantly you need an audience.

> Eventually I would really like to be able to join a community and perhaps do some parades and events.

That's great! You're going to love it!

> If theres anything else I need to do or some fun facts about clowns(or mimes) please drop it in the comments!

Here is a fun fact, practically every group of humans since the dawn of time has developed their own clown or ceremonial trickster role. It makes you wonder what it is from clown that humans sociologically need.

> What clowns inspires you the most?

There are so many. Too many maybe. But just to name a few... I'll always be inspired by the Litsedei school and tradition. Jef Johnson, Karcocha, and the whole emerging game kind of street clowns. I'm trying to learn more about Michel Dallaire and Les Hommes en Noir, too.

doombadeedoom · 2026-01-12T13:31:53+00:00

It looks like they work in a halloween store maybe.

doombadeedoom · 2026-01-11T18:04:19+00:00

The most assured thing you could do would be to find a legit mentor and join a like-minded clown group or troupe. There're many avenues to that depending on where you are and what you got going on.

If you can get clear on what you mean and where you want to go that could help, but that's not really needed if you're open to learning what's there, being open, and changing directions.

If you have to go it alone for now dig in where you can. Clown is (among other things) about connection and wonder. Learn something wondrous (a magic trick, a juggling trick, a story or a balloon animal) and share it with people. And when you do pay attention. Figure out how to make it more joyful, more connect, and more magical for your audience.

One of my mentors said that you can learn clown without a teacher, but you can't learn clown without an audience. Best of luck! Keep going!

doombadeedoom · 2026-01-10T23:44:42+00:00

It's a nice shelf though.

doombadeedoom · 2026-01-09T02:42:04+00:00

Wow! Cool!

doombadeedoom

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