Clowning is a centuries-old art form that can be performed in front of a wide range of audiences in a variety of settings. The audience demographic and the venue, as well as whether the clown is self-employed or employed a circus, theater troupe, or other organization, all influence what a clown does as part of his or her show. Clowns who work for themselves usually perform on a freelance basis for special events such as school assemblies and birthday parties, as well as at senior homes and hospitals on a regular basis. The clown will usually incorporate conversational into his or her routine for these types of audiences, making jokes and engaging the audience as he or she performs. Juggling, riding a unicycle, making balloon animals, miming, and magic tricks are usually included in the show.
A clown who works for a company like a circus or an entertainment troupe usually performs in front of a larger audience and can use more props than a self-employed clown. Clowns may perform alongside, and on occasion fill in for, contortionists, acrobats, trapeze artists, and jugglers in a circus. Elephants, horses, lions, and tigers are among the animals that circus clowns may perform with. The majority of circuses require a clown to serve as the show’s host and guide the audience through the various acts. While the stage is being prepared for the next act, the ringmaster will occasionally parody the previous act in between performances.
Rodeo clowns are clowns who perform at bull riding events. Rodeo clowns distract the bull when the rider is thrown or dismounts, allowing the rider to safely exit the ring. In order to protect the rider if the rider becomes entangled in the bull’s horns, the rodeo clown will place himself between the bull’s horns and the rider.
The circus performing arts, including clowning, are taught in a variety of schools, workshops, and camps. Makeup application, physical comedy, facial expressions, vocals, juggling, balloon artistry, and other topics are covered in these classes. Many professional clowns are self-taught or come from families who have traditionally worked in the circus and passed down performance skills, so a formal education in clowning is not always required to work in the field.