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Clowning Around for Fun and Money

© Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt

You can become a clown -- and laugh all the way to the bank!

Actually, to become a successful clown you need only a strong desire to entertain. Sure, adding a mismatched outfit and a red rubber nose will give your character pizzazz. But without the proper internal motivation -- a love of people and a well developed sense of humor -- your act will fall flat.

Contrary to what you may have seen in horror movies, clowns do not go around killing, insulting, or robbing people of their money or dignity. Being a clown is about sharing a joke with -- not making a joke of -- everyone you meet.

My Favorite Clowns

My favorite clown is no longer with us. I'm referring to the legendary Red Skelton. Skelton had a very popular weekly television show. It premiered on NBC in 1951, and ran for the next 20 years! He showcased an amazing variety of characters, including "Freddie the Freeloader," "Willie Lump Lump," and "Cauliflower McPugg," among others. To see the faces of these characters, check out the official Red Skelton web site: http://www.redskelton.com.

Skelton's face was amazing in that he could pull it and stretch it so that his clown characters became so overly animated that you couldn't help but laugh -- even if he hadn't yet said a word! He also successfully used pratfalls in his routines. We winced -- but we also laughed -- as we reacted to him reacting to slamming his finger or stubbing his toe.

I was a wee tot when I caught Skelton's show, but I "got" that he wanted me to laugh until my sides ached. And I had the feeling he was performing just for me!

And yet, not all clowns are loud and boisterous. A mime, for instance, entertains via the "art of silence."

Marcel Marceau is considered the world's greatest mime. Even if you've not had the luck of seeing him perform, you've most likely seen an image of his signature character, "Bip," a white-faced clown dressed in a striped pullover.

A mime relies solely on his or her facial expressions and theatrical movements to communicate with his or her audience.

Marceau's success derives from his ability to imitate any emotion or activity that has captured his fancy. His pantomimes of "The Cage," "Walking Against the Wind," and "The Mask Maker," have mesmerized audiences around the globe. For a bio and photo of Marceau, click here: http://archive.salon.com/people/bc/1999/...

The copyright of the article Clowning Around for Fun and Money in Clowns is owned by Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt. Permission to republish Clowning Around for Fun and Money in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.