Joined in 2023 
82 
63 About this deal
A few years ago I became a permanent plain-clothes clown. I was just learning clowning and did mostly balloons with some magic. I found that once I started doing balloons no one cared about the magic (I must need some work there) or what I was wearing. So now… No more extra time applying and removing make up. It is easier to leave a gig without being noticed (just remove fancy vest, tie and hat and I look almost normal). More comfy during gig. I now sell myself as an entertainer using Balloon Artistry. It has actually opened up some venues that wouldn’t have been in the market for a clown. It’s easier to sell my skills for a variety of corporate functions and adult (older, not naughty) gatherings now. I have a casual outfit and an almost formal outfit so I can switch depending on the job. I have nothing against clowns and actually still study clowning to sharpen my entertainment skills. I just see the two as quite separate talents that a lot of folks choose to do at the same time. I prefer to concentrate on the balloons to minimize my overhead. I point out lazy or dirty employees to restaurant management. I do not do this to belittle them; I want high class people who want to eat in a high class place and give me big tips. (Sometimes I’ll make friends with the employee and try to explain it to them, a lot of teens just don’t know). You don’t have to be rich and educated to be clean, hard working and polite. I cringe when I see a shabby twister and skill level has nothing to do with it. Normal, comfortable clothes I like the bright clown makeup and clown costume the best myself and the kids like it. A clown is easy to spot the length of a football field away, since you are the only thing in yellow pants on a green field at a company picnic. Lay the other regular piece face up on the bottom and sew along the * * * *s to the third piece. Then sew each of the two ‘regular”‘ pieces into the side seam of your pants. The main point of a costume, uniform, or whatever, is to make the performer distinctive. Whether a clown suit or a Tux, the outfit points one out as different, and different in a way that takes time and care, and distinguishes one from the customers/audience/bums-on-the-street/etc., etc..
I am certain that for some people and in some markets, there is no point or need to costume or appear in character. I get BORED if I’m not in character and performing while ballooning. I like the interaction my characters have with the audience. Clients see a value in the character and costume. Be comfortable. You don’t need to be in costume to draw attention. The balloons will draw attention for you. I wear a hat and attach lots of balloons to it. A hat made entirely out of balloons is a bad idea. It will begin to feel really awful against your skin in hot weather if you’re out for a few hours. Hopefully, the costume foreshadows or suggests in some obvious way the nature of the performer. There are few things more incongruous than a clown in costume and whiteface lighting up a cigarette, slamming a beer, and bitching about life… Conversely, the twister’s shirt with the balloons airbrushed on would, I imagine, do this suggesting admirably, non-verbally, and unambiguously.Good advice from T. Myers: I don’t bother with a clown costume. Clean and comfortable helps when you are putting in long hours and the balloons will start and keep the line going. It is important to be clean and friendly. I want to look like a (slightly dressed up but comfortable) dad wearing a silly balloon hat. As a dad-looking-person I still have a position of authority, even in a silly hat. As long as you look just a little better than most of the fathers out there in the crowd, the balloons will sell themselves. And let me add one piece of advice for people in this costume that was handed to me by the Amazing Jody Baran: shine your shoes! People unconsciously take away performance points if your shoes are scuffed. My tips go down when I wear REALLY nice shirts… they also go down when I accidentally leave my hat or vest at home. I have a variety of brightly colored shirts and I either wear bright pants or a loose fitting miniskirt, depending on the weather and my expected audience.
Working in costume increases your tips, as well as helping you to identify yourself as a performer and not a balloon machine. If you are entertaining and another balloon artist is there, people will come to you because there is laughter and smiles being given as well as balloons. I have discovered that people are VERY disappointed when I vary parts of my costume that have become permanent parts. Tip-wise (and this is by no means my major income source), I do better when in full costume (more later) than when I dress up brightly and colourfully… but in obviously normal clothes. I have 4 clown costumes for my main character, a Klondike, Western, Medieval and other theme costumes. I make up simply (or some of my characters have make up). There was about a 50% increase in tips when I started doing balloon busking in costume and character two years ago. And I get my picture in the paper more often. I quit putting Magician under my name on nametags because too many people would “skim” it, reading just the “MA….” and assume that since I was dressed well, wore a tie and had the nametag, that I was the MAnager. I’ve traded services several times with local air-brush shops. I entertain outside their mall store in exchange for a custom airbrushed balloon-animal shirt. When I wear them on a gig, they are always very popular. The most effective use is just wearing them. People are curious and the subject of balloon twisting comes up in the conversation. As we talk, I’m able to educate them about how twisting would be good for their next birthday party or business (i.e. crowds and happy customers). I’ve worn out several “dress” shirts and sweat shirts and continue to have a good working relationship with local air-brush artists. Good for them — Good for me.I’ve had shirts with lots of pictures and shirts with only a few large animals. I like the few large pictures best. They seem less busy and generate the same amount of curiosity and conversation. Just a top hat and tail coat, no makeup talking, this is one of the outfits I wear when strolling and doing balloons at company picnics outside. Talking or not talking made no difference since most were freebies for the folks at company paid events and they never had any money in their hands. In regards to what to wear, no matter what you wear, above all you’ve got to look and be professional. If you look like a street bum the parents will not want you near their kids let alone giving them stuff. If entertainment is your goal, a solid character and costume is essential. Your clients and audience will see and appreciate the care and attention… Otherwise, you had best be the most superlative twister and friendliest most personable human (unless you do it for nothing).
Great Deal 
New Comment