BIRTHDAY PARTIES

COSTUMES

·         Make sure the costume is recognizable or is branded. People will recognize you from your publicity or previous
functions. You might consider using your name within the costume in some way e.g. If your name is Buttons you can sew hundreds of buttons onto your jacket. I have been recognized from one end of the country to the other by keeping the same costume design. I also duplicate my costume to ensure I have clean costumes at all times. It is an extra expense but will pay off immensely in the long run.  

·    Keep the costume simple in design. Do not use a lot of patterns. The use of primary colors is your best. Study pictures of clowns on internet for input. Children are used to bright colours and so the more visual you are the better.    

·    Have your name on a badge which is pinned onto your costume. I had a badge on my jacket and my name printed on front of my hat. I did this as I was in so many photo shoots and it ensured that my name was visible to all even at a later stage when they had the prints developed.  

·    Keep your costume neat and clean. This applies to tramp clowns as well, you might be untidy but your costume must always be clean without food stains, sweat and if threadbare should be replaced promptly.    

·    As a magician you can design something simple or if you are a themed show you will obviously design the costume accordingly.  

·    You should look at your overall image, which encompasses your age and looks when designing your costume. I do not recommend buying clothes off the peg and using them as a costume because they look just that. I first started with bright outfits which I used as a children’s magician but as I have got older I have moved towards all black outfit with a bright waistcoat and hat.

·    The choice of hats and wearing a hat can greatly enhance your look and also give you more appeal as a character especially for those big outdoor fairs and shopping centers that are requiring large, visual characters.  The hat can be used in routines within the show.  

·    You should ensure ample pockets for your tricks and routines especially if you are being booked as a meet n greet character. As a clown I had pockets on each side of the leg and on the back of the pants leg as well. I obviously am more experienced now as a full time magician ,I have my pants professionally made for me with specific pockets in place for certain tricks For example a low back pocket just under jacket for the can in shoe production. I have found this makes the access for the can so much easier and if it is easier it will also look more natural and hence more magical.  

·    If you are a sleight of hand artist and use sleeving or toppits within your routines I would encourage you to apply this magic to your children’s shows. What I mean is to use these facilities to vanish an object instead of with a known prop for example a change bag. I used to make an egg vanish by throwing it up in the air with the same moves as the throw up dove vanish using the tails. The kids loved it!! Of course they would say it went up the sleeve but that’s great because you pull out a big bouquet of flowers or a comedy prop such as a toilet plunger from your sleeve to prove there is nothing there!  

·    I have managed to place a toppit within a tails jacket and have also used baggy sleeves and a tails pocket in my clown jackets very successfully. When you have the costume made make provision for your sleeves to be a bit longer and have the toppit put in place even if you have not mastered it. It wont cost as much to put these features in from the beginning.  

·     When designing your costume remember the brighter and more visual you are the better, as you will be able to obtain bookings for other functions besides children’s parties. These can range from store openings, shopping centers and outdoor functions such as fetes, picnics and agricultural shows. You will be competing with other attractions for attention. This especially applies if you are a walkabout performer. And it also is very applicable if you are booked as close up magician at such functions as close up magic can tend to be played small rather than large.

·    An extended top hat can enhance your height especially if you use it on stilts and an umbrella can also increase your visual appearance. I have used an umbrella extensively and still do as a comedy prop. In my clown performances it made a very bright backdrop for photographs when opened up. I also used to twirl the umbrella while walking which further enhanced the look. I once had to use the umbrella rather forcefully on a drunk trying to pull me off my stilts.

·    I designed my stilt pants the same as my normal clown image or magic character so that it was the same image but I had just grown some!!

·    Remember that stripes and careful use of colours can enhance or restrict certain features. Vertical stripes will make you look longer and will be very affective on stilts and mad hatter type hats. Solid dark colors will make you look thinner. Colour co ordination should be used in your costumes. Study colour charts in basic art books on colour to understand this subject more.

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