Gags and Props
Clowns using props and gags is always a crowd pleaser. If I had a quarter for every time someone asked to squeak my nose or wanted to know if my flower squirts water.
Tips
- Always make sure your victims are having a good time and are OK with you messing with them. We are not out to make people unhappy.
- If possible make yourself the brunt of the joke or gag.
Snake in a Can is an oldie but a goodie. Be creative and disguise your can, and they won't see the gag coming. In my act I have an audience member help me do tricks with my pet skunk, their job is to feed him his treats. I have a 30 foot spring snake that is packed into a plastic can labeled animal chow. They cup their hands as I get ready to pour out some “animal chow” then out flies 30' of spring loaded madness.
Squirting Camera:
The Double Squirting camera is perfect of a walk around trick. You can either pose someone for a picture and squirt them or set the camera to squirt your victim as they take your picture. What fun!
Pet B:
I'd like to by a vowel Pet! The little foam letters sold for sight gags are great. You can buy brown E's, black I's or a free B. The letter b can also be your pet bee. I bought a large letter B and use it in my stage show for a quick filler bit.
My New Best Friend Lunch Box:
Another simple prop and a make at home kind is “your best friend.” Get a small mirror and a plastic lunch box, glue the mirror to the inside of the lunch box lid and you are ready to go. Walk up to a spectator and ask if they want to see your best friend; holding the lunch box in view. Now bring the lunch box to their eye level and open it, they see their reflection as you say; “You must be my new best friend!”
Plastic Bread:
Last but not least. I found a round, plastic loaf of bread that I knew had to have a gag somewhere. I tell a few bad jokes and do a silly routine, then I pause, pull out this loaf of bread and lean on it. The line of course is: “Don't stop me now folks, I'm on a roll!” A groaner indeed, but it works.
If
there is one event that still brings joy to folks young and old it’s a
parade. We have them for Memorial Day, 4th of July, Veterans Day and the
countless summer festivals, of course who can leave out the
Thanksgiving Day parades and the arrival of old St. Nick himself. What a
fun way to spend part of your day watching the marching bands, floats,
fire trucks and various groups like the local Scout troupes making their
way down the street. Perhaps you like the Shriners in their cool little
cars buzzing around in formation, or the local dance school putting on a
routine right there on Main Street. For many people it just wouldn’t be
a parade with out the clowns. Years ago the Circus would have a parade
down the main streets of town to advertise for the up coming shows. To
see the enormous Pachyderms marching single file pulling the cages of
wild animals was surely a treat. The clowns were always a hit many times
riding atop one of the trailers playing in the clown band. The
acrobats, jugglers and stilt walkers thrilled the crowd inviting
everyone to see “the Greatest Show on Earth!”
Not
everyone can afford a cool little clown car but they certainly are a
welcomed sight in a parade. The Clowns Around Redford, clown alley in
the Metro Detroit area, had been fortunate to have a few members with
various modes of clown transportation over the years. For a period of
time Soomi and Snudek would be seen driving their clown mobile with its
many accessories like a bubble machine and squirting windshield washers.
Speedy has a really cool Model A style car that is fun to see going
putt-putt-putt down the street or Apples the clown and his mini
locomotive which even has a passenger car. Of course you can always
decorate your own vehicle or even pull a trailer decorated like a parade
float, this is also great for clowns who may not be able to walk and
entire parade route. Just make sure that you are driving at safe speeds
and watch for all the folks around you.