clown phobia/ really ticks me off!

[StarPixy]

Have any of you clowns out there had to deal with people who are "afraid" of clowns? I can't stand that!Everyone I know says that clowns are "scary"!I was going to perform for a fourth of July picnic last year as a flute player, and my cotsume was desined to have a deck of cards quality; you know, with hearts and diamonds. I was going to have a white face with pink cheeks and red lips, kind of like a doll.But the people in charge of the picnic said white-face was too scary, and most people would be frightened or turned off from it because it looked to much like a clown's face.Is that dumb or what?

[Prof Willie B]

Fear of clowns (esp. white-face) is well described in many psych texts. Formally known as "coulrophobia" it is a genuine disorder. Time mag did a feature on phobias about 8 weeks ago and coulrophobia was mentioned.
Personally, I have a problem with escapologists. There isn't a name for it so I've coined the word "suertephobia".

[GianDeau]

It doesn't suprise me that a lot of kids are afraid of clowns. I mean, imagine this huge creature walking up to you uninvited, towering over you, it's face starkly (if that's a word) pale, with eyes, nose and mouth that are unnaturally shaped and colored, bright clothes, huge feet, it's WAY too friendly, demands your complete attention and is a total stranger. The whole thing is a bit overwhelming.

I remember going to Ringling Bros. as a little kid and the only thing I was interested in seeing was the clowns; I had a couple clown pictures in my room, I was a big fan of Bozo, and I couldn't thing of anything better than seeing a real clown. When we got to the circus, there were hundreds of people, lots of noise, and then out of nowhere this giant with a freaky face comes over and wants to touch me (he wanted to shake my hand--stranger danger!). It scared the shit out of me.

I got over it, but some people don't (my wife still hates clowns). Why do you think Stephen King made an evil clown (redundant to some) the villian of "It"?

I think some people are just more comfortable with the idea of clowns at a distance.

~Stephon

[jester]

When performing as "Dracula" on stilts I look like a clown or a vampire depending on which way you look at it.

It is important to stay away from children who look scared, not to maintain eye contact with them as that only frightens them further.

I have found that by simply walking away from a concerned child and not looking at them they get a lot more comfortable with my being around and after a few minutes will sometimes actually approach me out of curiosity.

When my daughter is 8 I want to persuade Martin Ewan to entertain at her birthday party.

[Stretch]

As a nine foot tall clown, of all guises,
see http://Stiltwalker.com/
, I have found that body language is 90 plus percent of communicating with small children. If you can communicate with dogs, you can communicate with kids . . . usually. Turn sideways, move slow, talk low, ignore the kid, shake the parents hand first, be gentle, etc. As toothy the illuminated space alien, I scare a LOT more adults than 4 year olds. Check out the photo page: the little girl in the wagon is surprised, not scared!

However when the brainless parent scoops up their 2 year old and runs TOWARD YOU while screaming about the nice clown, there is NOTHING you can do to avert a screaming kid except run like hell while pointing and exclaiming " that kid is scary".

If the kid is helpless, they are apt to be afraid. Clutched in their parents arms they are helpless except for the use of their lungs. Empower the kid and you'll usually get along fine.

For teens and "adults" who are scared of clowns, just ignore them. They will either come around or not. In some cases, the "I'm scared of clowns" routine is just a ruse to gain attention. I just let them be. I don't need to scare anyone to have a good time.

Walking tall,

Bill 'Stretch' Coleman

http://Stiltwalker.com/

[worldwidese]

Jester's reply is right on target. But there are a number of movies with scary clowns doing horrible things. enough to scare adults, let alone kids. I think basically, kids are used to humans acting "normal" and a clown by behaviour and dress, is definitely strange. Sometimes it's the crazy hair, funny voice, and rather aggressive manner. But take heart, gentle maid, we have 3ft tall Marionette puppets and some of the smaller kids are scared of THEM! Also some dumb adults who saw too many PuppetMaster movies. On the other hand, your particular costume doesn't sound scary at all, so go ahead. Kelly.

[This message has been edited by worldwidese (edited 05-21-2001).]

[martin ewen]

As a fellow performer who sees no pleasure in the discomfort of others.
If it does look like a child is on the brink of hysteria, go for the kill, why prolong the suffering.

[StarPixy]

I know how scary clowns are to kids. But my friends are like, 18 to 20 year olds, who watch movie like Haunted and Village of the Damned.Why should a 6'1", 18 year old guy be scared of a little 5'1" flute player girl like me?I know a 30 year old woman with two kids and a husband whose father used to be a Santero (You know, like chicken heads and such), and ever since she saw It, she's scared of anything that even remotely resembles anything with a whitish face.Talk about an exteremist!

[StarPixy]

(P.S., Great pics, Stretch! I love your website!)

[Stretch]

"Why should a 6'1", 18 year old guy
be scared of a little 5'1" flute player girl like me?"

Because they want to be? Because they haven't decieded to grow up yet?

I'm not sure why, but then, I'm just a clown!

Stretch

ps, glad you enjoyed the web site.




------------------
Walking tall and stretching imaginations!
Bill 'Stretch' Coleman

[Rich Potter]

As an ex-RBBB clown, I can proudly say I've scared literally thousands of kids over the years.

We are big, grotesque, smelly creatures who talk funny, look funny and strangle kids (just the ugly ones, though).

The movies did not create a fear of clowns; they are inspired by such.

When kids with a fear of clowns grow up, they often become adults with a fear clowns. (Our most powerful fears are programmed into us before we reach the age of 3 or 4)

One technique I use when encountering such people -- kids & adults alike -- is to drop the character 100% and relate to them as a regular person with makeup on -- lower my volume, speak softer; move slower, drop my shoulders (I'm 6'2"), and avoid direct eye contact.

More often, I steer clear of these people, but I have reached a few over the years and brought them around. The key is to not judge; just accept that they are afraid. You probably have some hang-up that is equally ridiculous to them.

Personally, I freak out at the sight of Ronald McDonald.

--Rich
(My own grandmother has always hated clowns. But then, she hates overuse of Saran Wrap, too.)

P.S. Augustes rock! Whitefaces suck rhino-butt!

[StarPixy]

I'm not a clown, though. I was a flute player, and I'm not judging anyone. I was merely whitefaced because I was supposed to be kinda like the queen of hearts or something.

[StarPixy]

Anyways, it's no big deal. It was last year, and besides, those guys where just flirting. (lol)But for real, though, I know these guys, and they're NOT REALLY scared, they're just trying to bug me.I guess that's what really annoys me!Oh well.(P.S., They think aguste clowns are scary, too. )