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Red Shadow Inner circle 1788 Posts |
Hi Guys,
I've been reading some old threads about clown vs. Magicians. The eventual outcome was that clowns are in far more demand than magicians and can get more work and money. I know from personal experience that when I looked more like a magician, I only did about 2 shows a week. Now that I look more like a clown (no makeup), I'm doing 7 shows a week. My fees have gone up and I am not cheap, especially when compared to the other entertainers in my area. So maybe the clown costume is the key selling point to clients? I do know that they often request it. Maybe its because of the picture on my website - in which case, maybe I can wear a suit for actual gigs, but as long as the picture on the website looks like a clown, I'm still going to get the gig? But there's no getting around the basic problem; you look like an Idiot wearing it. People laugh at you and won't take you seriously. For children, this might be fine, but we are grown adults, who want to make a good impression on the other adults. I have a colourful suit I would much rather wear, it would turn me back into a magician but still the obvious 'entertainer'. The problems I would face would be over-heating: the clown costume is light and so I can jump around without sweating. But the suit involves a jacket and is a lot hotter to wear, especially during the dancing game portion of the show. It would mean it needs washing more often and the colours would fade quicker. Wear and Tear - suits are not cheap and are more prone to catching on edges and door handles. My clown costume is heavy duty and designed to be almost indestructible, I would be worried about danging the suit. The clown costume is also cheap and so I can afford several back-ups to wear for when another is in the wash. I know when I watched Bill Abbotts DVD, I was shocked to see him wearing a business suit. I hated it as it did not show any appeal to the children in his audience. Children like colours. When I watched Andy Clockwise's DVD, I liked the parts of his costume, but not the polo shirt. Other entertainers I have had mixed feelings about. The question: What do you wear? a) A business suit (grey or black) b) A colourful suit (red or yellow) e.g. Zoot c) A full clown costume (with wig and make-up) d) Children's Entertainer Colours (colourful shirt and baggy pants, maybe a hat) e) Street clothes (jeans and t-shirt or jacket) f) Themed Costume (Pirate, Noddy, Doctor Who style etc.) g) Other (please describe in post) I am interested in finding out which style of clothing is most popular amongst entertainers and if any particular style can bring in the work more than others. Steve |
ColinDymond Special user Gloucestershire, England 675 Posts |
I am now heading towards corporate colours but still almost normal. I have a pair of dress trousers and I have changed (ok my girlfriend did it) the black stripe down the side to a purple one, I have a bright purple shirt and a black waistcoat that has purple stars on it. (also made by my girlfreind).
I think it works for my character, looks show biz enough but I can still pop to the supermarket between shows. When you say you get more show when the bookers see the clown costume, has anything else changed? New website or other publicity. I was booked the other day as I looked less creepy than all the other kids entertainers! I think you should look like you made an effort. I was told that the way to dress as a magician is that you should be smarter than anyone else there.
Colin Dymond
www.aceofdiamonds.co.uk |
Dennis Michael Inner circle Southern, NJ 5821 Posts |
A clown friend took her "clown make-up off" dressed in a silly looking costume, does a few magic tricks and charges more than she did as a clown.
Another clown friend works a restaurant on Sundays, and works a full 5-6 clown shows a weekend in full clown costume, and charges Half of what I charge as a magician. People are willing to pay less for an entertainer. I've noticed, if you dress silly, you can get away with more silly "clowning stuff". Colorful outfits without being a clown seem to go over well. (A colorful shirt and vest with a colored pants. Casual but different dress works well, Blue jacket and pants with black shirt. Red jacket works well. I book myself as a classical magician with a tux and "give the appearance" of a "magician" which has worked well for me. I also dress in a vested outfit with a red vest and yellow shirt. Themed costume and show also do well, however, themes can disappear. "Who has heard of Masters of the Universe?". I was just asked last week during my Vanishing Banana/Bandana routine what a "cassette tape" was! Now I guess I need to put a chip in my iPhone to hear the instructions because CDs are becoming extinct. (Everything is downloaded.) One needs to consider the changing times in developing character and routines.
Dennis Michael
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magicgeorge Inner circle Belfast 4299 Posts |
Here's a good old topic on it:
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......forum=17 In it I say I would never wear a colourful costume or a silly hat which was a joke as at the time my avatar was of me in a colourful costume and silly hat. In fact I wore this: Nowadays I still have those pics on my website but wear a pink waistcoat, black shirt, yellow or orange tie and comfy black or navy trousers. I sometimes wear a matching pink jacket too. I like it it's bright and different but not too crazy or clowny. I didn't notice much of a difference when I changed regarding the reaction to my show except I didn't get called a clown as much. Noone has ever mentioned that I don't wear the same suit I do on the site. |
DrGoodkin New user 99 Posts |
I wear my black tuxedo, with a regular shirt, a colorful tie and a matching colored bowler hat (I have bowlers in 5 colors). That seems to be enough for me.
Everyone recognizes me there as the entertainment. Occassionally, someone will say "Are you the clown?" and I'll respond, "Do you see a red nose?...am I wearing size 47 shoes ?" It gets a chuckle every time.
- Sincerely,
Dr Goodkin |
TonyB2009 Inner circle 5006 Posts |
I compromised. Some kids are afraid of a full clown - and anyway I do not have the mime skills and other circus skills to a high enough level to dare call myself a clown. It's an art, not a costume.
So what I went for was a suit but I got it made for me out of very colourful material. My first suit was orange with cats playing fiddles on it. I also got a suit made out of pale blue material with fishes, octopusses and a whole underwater world. My current suit looks like a lurid sixties floral curtain. For adults I generally wear a white tux, but I have been known to pair the suit jacket with a black trousers, and that looks well for adults - colourful but not too juvenile. Even adults respond positively to a colourful suit - look at Chubby Brown. My suit allows me to act the light-hearted magician or the madcap clown, depending on what I feel is appropriate for the audience. Its a compromise, but its a compromise that's more than the sum of its parts.
Check out Tony's new thriller Dead or Alive http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alive-Varrick-Bo......n+carson
http://www.PartyMagic.ie |
Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
This comes back to the age-old argument of object vs. performance: Will a bigger, brighter, flashier prop make you a better performer or increase your bookings?
It isn't how you dress that sells your act, but the character you present in your show. I dress in wingtip shoes, black slacks, braces, white cotton shirt, black double-breast vest with watch chain and a black bowler. Not clownish in the least, but I do stand out as a character of interest. I have no problem at all popping into the grocer or drug store on the way home. Yet, parents and children have no difficulty at all associating this character as someone unique, interesting and connected to fun, laughter and magic. It's my character that sells my show; not the costuming. My character has the compassion and patience of Mister Rogers, the fall-guy likability of Captain Kangaroo and a touch of Pew Wee Herman's playfulness. My wardrobe enhances this character image. Your wardrobe shouldn't be viewed as a billboard that screams "Hey! Silly Children's Performer Here! Look at Me!" unless that's the character you're trying to portray. If you're embarrassed to be seen in a given outfit, then that outfit does not compliment your character. Design your wardrobe as an enhancement of your performance character. Tweak it until you're comfortable in it and can focus on more important things.
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
andrew martin Veteran user 394 Posts |
I wear no shirt and chains around my neck and say I can walk on water.
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TommyJ Inner circle Foxboro, MA 1750 Posts |
A couple of years ago I came across some sequin vests. I now have many different styles. The look isn't for everyone but I've pasted the link below to where you can purchase these. They are extremely well made. They are made in Indonesia but they are sold here in the US. I get SO many compliments on these everywhere I perform and they wreak professionalism and you WILL stand out as an entertainer.
PLEASE NOTE!!!!! If you DO purchase some vests from this web site KEEP IN MIND they are made in Indonesia and Indonesian people are small . . . so their LARGE is like a small here in the US. I usually wear a large in shirts etc and I had to buy a XXL in the vests to fit properly. Check out the web site they have many different styles and the vests (waist coats) are only $28.50 each!!! A STEAL!!!! I own like . . 10 of them lol. My avatar shows me with a black sequin vest with silver sequin stars . . I LOVE THESE VESTS!!!! http://bixonsequin.weebly.com/sequin-vest-assorted.html http://bixonsequin.weebly.com/sequin-vest-solid-colors.html http://bixonsequin.weebly.com/sequin-vest-patriotic.html
"Keep the Kids Laughing!"
https://www.tommyjamesmagic.com/store |
TommyJ Inner circle Foxboro, MA 1750 Posts |
One thing about the vests, they do not come with any pockets inside so you have to have pockets added to them, but for the original price of the vest, it is still a steal.
"Keep the Kids Laughing!"
https://www.tommyjamesmagic.com/store |
Red Shadow Inner circle 1788 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-05-12 07:44, Skip Way wrote: Flashy and big will always appeal, especially for children. But the problem is the client only knows this from AFTER they have booked you. In order to make that initial client make their first booking with you, does the clown or clownish costume appeal more than just a guy in a suit? Because ultimately all the client knows about you is that your a children's entertainer and what your picture on the flyer looks like. If your pictured wearing a clown costume it says your fun, colourful and engaging with children. However if your wearing a suit it says your conservative, formal and possibly boring. Not the right message to send to someone wanting to book a children's entertainer. I know this isn't the case, Kimmo for example is one the world's best and funniest kids entertainers, and he wears a suit. But the clients don't know how good he is until they have booked him and seen him work. Does wearing a suit in all your publicity material mean you get less calls than other entertainers? And then, lets say you wear a clown suit on your flyer, and arrive at the gig wearing a suit... how much of a disappointment are you to the client before you have even started the show? I'll point out again that I have several suits just sat in my wardrobe, bought for this very problem, and still I'm wearing my clownish costume in fear that I'll be letting down the clients and children if I don't wear it. But I so desperately want to wear a suit for my show as it is less embarrassing. But will it affect my bottom line? |
Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
Clowning in the United States is very competitive, there is a plethera of free clowns that do it because they love children. Most clowns that I know charge about 1/2 as much as I do. When you dress like a clown you need extra time to get dress, and extra time to change after your show. There are many children who are afraid of clowns.
The clown that Dennis mentioned is a friend of mine also, and she is an excellent performer with, or with out makeup. I wear baggy dress pants, bright colored shirt, with a matching tie and suspenders, and I finish off my look with a top hat.
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
I wear black pants, a white tux shirt with sleeves rolled up, a vest and bowtie and a bowler hat. I use the hat in my act for one trick (sometimes more) and for hat juggling at the start of my show.
For my corporate or adult act I wear a bespoke suit.
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
Since 90% of my business is procured through word-of-mouth referrals, I'm not overly concerned with the first impressions of my scant marketing materials. From that perspective, then, it's really the adults that you have to reach. They're the ones who do the booking and pay the bills. So big and flashy carry less weight. Parents generally demand reliability, value and quality over flash.
Quote:
Because ultimately all the client knows about you is that your a children's entertainer and what your picture on the flyer looks like. If your pictured wearing a clown costume it says your fun, colourful and engaging with children. However if your wearing a suit it says your conservative, formal and possibly boring. I don't necessarily agree with that. I believe the energy implied by a photo is far more important than wardrobe. I would be more hesitant to hire or refer someone with a promo photo in a loud costume and a so-so pose than I would someone in a 3-piece business suit in a fun action pose. Again, your character has to shine through. Take the photos below. Joe Lefler's outfit is colorful and his pose suggests fun and laughter. David Hall's outfit is pretty basic, but his pose screams fun and presents a lot of showman potential. Joe Sullivan is an excellent clown and his costume is large and colorful - but this pose (Sorry, Joe) is very plain and basic. Would the wardrobes alone in any of these photos convince you to hire one of these star performers? Kimmo's character shines through in his headshots. It isn't the wardrobe that sells or dooms his act. As one of our less-than-illustrious politicians stated awhile back - You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig. Focus on bringing out the character and, over time, the wardrobe will conform to that inner image. Quote:
And then, lets say you wear a clown suit on your flyer, and arrive at the gig wearing a suit... how much of a disappointment are you to the client before you have even started the show? Quite a bit, I would suspect. Wouldn't you be annoyed if you bought a bag of crisps and found dehydrated fruit inside? Your promotional materials should represent the character you're promising. This is why performers should have separate materials and websites for their party persona, their school and library persona, their daycare persona, etc. Hope you don't mind my pontificating, Stephen. Click here to view attached image.
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
Mr. Pitts Inner circle David Pitts 1058 Posts |
Stephen, this is a question I have thought about a lot lately. I have come to the conclusion that if I call myself a clown, I need some of the trappings the public associates with clowns. Clowning is a part of my background and training, I did it for about 35 years, but the truth is that the public sees the clown not as what they do but as how they look. So, I no longer use the word 'clown' in my marketing. Also, because of this public perception, clowns aren't always seen as skilled performers but more as decoration, at least on this side of the pond. There are many great looking but not very funny or skilled clowns in this country and that have made this public perception even more entrenched. There are great clowns of course, but the public is really fixated on the costume and make-up and aren't generally (there ARE exceptional clowns who get good money) willing to pay as much as they would for a 'skilled performer'. More pertinent to your question though, don't disappoint your clients if you can avoid it. I have been thinking a lot about the importance of clarity in marketing, labels that fit, and making sure the client has a good idea of what to expect and then meeting and exceeding that expectation. If you only show them the clowny colorful picture and then show up dressed way more muted, there will be an initial disappointment and feeling that they are somehow being cheated. Then you have to work even harder to overcome that. Let them know up front that you offer a couple of different looks and have that discussion with them about what they'd prefer. I love my vaudeville look, but sometimes they want my pool party Hawaian shirt look, and I offer a tailcoat magician and a cowboy look also. But the customer knows what to expect when I get off the phone with her and then I deliver that. You just don't want to set up a situation where you know at the outset that you will not be delivering what they expect in terms of your costume. It is important to moms because they are as interested in what the other moms think of their party as they are in what the kids think. So, yeah, the colorful costume may get the call, but I'm not sure I'd use it in my marketing if you don't actually want to wear it. If you really think it's important in getting more business, then be willing to wear it.
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JC Johns Regular user Annapolis, MD, USA 133 Posts |
In the winter I wear a colorful jacket/pants and in the summer I wear colorful short sleaved shirt/linens.
While there is certainly a market for clowns, there is also a markert for non-clowns. During one of my first shows, my wife was in the audience and overheard some parents saying, "Is that the kids magician, he is not weird looking." That helped me decide that I wanted to stand out a little bit via my outfit, but not be over the top (or maybe my wife decided that). Works for me, however I know the crazy outfits works for others as well. |
jmdibrita New user 96 Posts |
I wear a red dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, grey dress pants, black vest and a white tie with playing cards, I also wear red converse type sneakers.
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LMLipman Elite user Falls Church, Va. 443 Posts |
I don't think clowns in the US make as much as magicians (generally, there are always exceptions). Besides, if you're not wearing the full make-up are you really a clown?
I don't wear a suit, but I do wear a bright red shirt, black pants and a distinctive black tie with three large yellow smiley faces on it. The tie has become my trademark. I find the smiley faces connect with the kids, and parents, and says: he's a bit silly. But the fact that I'm wearing a dress shirt (even if it is red) and dress pants and black shoes says to the adults that I'm also different from a clown. But the bottom line is you have to dress like who you are: I'm an adult who doesn't take myself too seriously. |
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