On a recent Dr. Visit reading one of the many magazines and boring out the long wait. I found an article about shocking childrens entertainers.

In it they said that about 75% of magicians smoke, 83% of clowns smoke while in costume, and many jugglers smoke and juggle at the same time.....ok now....Where the heck did they get that from?!

Just wondering what your thoughts are on this. If you can say you're guilty of doing this in front of people or not in front.

Justin
I have attended juggling conventions for over 20 years and no one would ever consider smoked outside of the gym at a juggling convention because of pier pressure. We have a saying in juggling "never give juggling, or jugglers a bad name". We don't smoke, drink in public, use bad language, we ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS look clean cut, and if anyone violates these firm set in stone rules they will be made an example of by everyone else. Any one who believes that non sense has never been to a juggling event, and they are talking out of their hat WE REPRESENT GOOD CLEAN FUN suitable for the whole family. I want everybody who is reading this post to know that all IJA members follow these rules explicititly and to the letter. The bottom line is any juggler that smokes in public in front of other jugglers gets gang tackled.
Now I'm hot
Al Angello

Well understood, I posted that question mainly because I don't see where the heck that magazine got that info from. I personally don't agree but it's something that stuck in the back of my head.

OK Justin
You can be a good magician, ventriloquist, clown, balloon twister and in bad physical shape, or do not take care of your health at all, but a juggler is an atlelete, very few of us are over weight, and lots of us are vegeterians. We hold our meetings in a gym, we encourage the whole family to partisipate and in general attendance to juggling meeting are free, we are so slippery clean it amazes me sometimes how much fun we have, so the bottom line is WE DON'T SMOKE TOBACCO EVER.
juggleral

Wow, I wish I was as pure as these jugglers but then, I am just a mere magician and ventriloquist, so I guess that's ok!

Just my 2p's worth.

Dave

Dave
At juggling conventions no one has a beer before midnight, we do caffiene.
Al

Note #3 from the Clowns of America website. Code of Ethics.

The Eight Clown Commandments

1. I will keep my acts, performance and behavior in good taste while I am in costume and makeup. I will remember at all times that I have been accepted as a member of the clown club only to provide others, principally children, with clean clown comedy entertainment. I will remember that a good clown entertains others by making fun of himself or herself and not at the expense or embarrassment of others.

2. I will learn to apply my makeup in a professional manner. I will provide my own costume. I will carry out my appearance and assignment for the entertainment of others and not for personal gain or personal publicity when performing for either the International club or alley events. I will always try to remain anonymous while in makeup and costume as a clown, though there may be circumstances when it is not reasonably possible to do so.

3. I will neither drink alcoholic beverages nor smoke while in makeup or clown costume. Also, I will not drink alcoholic beverages prior to any clown appearances. I will conduct myself as a gentleman/lady, never interfering with other acts, events, spectators, or individuals. I will not become involved in or tolerate sexual harassment or discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or any protected status.

4. I will remove my makeup and change into my street clothes as soon as possible following my appearance, so that I cannot be associated with any incident that may be detrimental to the good name of clowning. I will conduct myself as a gentleman/lady at all times.

5. While on appearance in makeup and costume, I will carry out the directives of the producer or his designated deputies. I will abide by all performance rules without complaint in public.

6. I will do my very best to maintain the best clown standards of makeup, costuming, properties, and comedy.

7. I will appear in as many clown shows as I possibly can.

8. I will be committed to providing an atmosphere free of discrimination and harassment for clowns of all ages to share ideas and learn about the art of clowning.

Rob
I always knew clowns had high standards, but you put it much better than I could.
Al

PS- One more firm rule of juggling is never publicly, or privately criticize another juggler.

Well it's obvious that we don't belive in doing what that article says we do. I wonder if they just pulled something to sound like they really know something.

Back when I was younger (between 9 and 13) I used to be into clowing I'm suprised I remembered that code of ethics after all this time.

I actually know a few clowns who smoke. But in these cases they are usually non-professionals. These are people who have seen a way of making "easy" money, learned a few balloon animals and some self working magic tricks and charge a pretty penny to go to a birthday party.

I know of a clown company that trains people to be clowns in a couple of hours. Their rates are cheap and they go through a lot of clowns. The people are initially attracted by the 10-20 bucks/hour fee thinking it pays more than regular work. After a few gigs they realize that you are only working maybe 10 hours a week if you are lucky. So they quit. These people I have found are often from low income families and are teenagers.

I am sure there are examples of the above in every city.

This could be source of the above magazine article's perception

It's been a few years (15? 20?)...I joined a clown group for a huge parade one year. These are the fellows with that little sword & arch on their furry little red hats. ANYWAY...before and after the parade, these guys would all gather behind their bus in various stages of costume dress, break out the flasks, cigars and cards and launch into a rowdy (defined as frequent cursing) game of poker or what-have-you. Considering the tremendous GOOD that these fellows do and I wasn't a member of their group, I said nothing...but I was a little put-out since they were still in public view. I have no idea whether this is still the norm (These guys DO know how to party!). Is it possible that groups like these are being targeted by this survey...possibly even making up the bulk of a slanted survey to get the numbers they wanted. Quite frankly...Of all the clowns, magicians and jugglers I know...fewer than four or five smoke...and never in character in public. Dang media!
:o) Skip

Skip
Do you mean those fellows who are doctors, lawyers, and stock brokers with tacky costumes, bad bad makeup, and magic skills that border on embarrasing?
Al

Juggleral - do you include deputy coroners in your list?
Just wonerin' !!!

Dave

Dave
I'm not sure if that joke is funny on both sides of the pond, I think it might be just an American thing, but to set the record streight. I love all deputy coroner ventriloqist, magicians from England.
Al

I'm totally clean cut and good with kids. I never juggle and curse at the same time, nor use bad behaviour.....

oh who am I kidding.

I'm great with kids!

I don't think smoking could at all help your performance and should be eliminated from the performance, if you don't smell good your crowd won't enjoy it, I know

Ok, well I tried firing off the picture. But editing it would make the sign too small to read.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v118/L......ooze.jpg

still the scary thing is I'm great with kids.

Facade
I have all the respect in the world for sword swallowers, and I'm not qualified to give you any quality of life advise except BE CAREFUL.
Al

PS- I really like your style YOU FUNNY. look me up at http://www.juggleral.com

In truth though, doing swordswallowing got me to quit smoking (the smoke closes your throat and makes it harder to swallow, but easier to throw up when trying)

As for the drinking part, well.... that picture of me with the sign worked wonders that night. But it was rather challenging to juggle knives after three guinesses on an empty stomach. (it at least worked better than the "Will Juggle for Porn" sign)

The sign concept came up as a joke when my friend was shooting backrounds for a zombie film nightclub scene. it worked in a couple of ways, because I was basicly busking infront of the nightclub, drawing a croud and getting them to go inside. (needed extras)

I guess that it could have many views. I mean consider SteveO from Jackass fame and now on WildBoys. He went to Ringling Brothers clown college, and well if you seen any of his post jackass videos. Lets just say scary on his intake.

Now I don't drink in front of kids, but I do tell kids the dangers of smoking (then put the cigarette out on my tongue)

it all depends on your performance style, and the group you are performing to.

Skip,
The people you are referring to Shriner's are one of the most dedicated people to a cause that I know. I joined the Shriner's several years ago and have attended some of their conventions. I am also a member of COAI and have attended their conventions as well as others.
True some don't have the greatest makeup due to the fact they don't go out and make money at shows. Some of their magic is alittle laughable at times. But, the ones that do take it alittle seriously has some of the best makeup and costumes I've seen. Their skit and entertaining skills are better than most 'paid' Clowns and the FREE time that they put in for theShriner's hospitals would put most 'Professional' Clowns to shame.
Most of them only do Clowning for parades 'to make money for the Shriner's' and to go to the Hospital to entertain the kids there that has some of the most horrific injuries and birth defects I've ever seen.
I don't think the kids there care if their makeup is not perfect or their tricks are not the best. But for some that is the only thing these kids had to smile about for weeks on end. I can honestly say that the group I'm with and any I've been around from other Cities stick to the code very well. Are there bad apples, sure. Just like there's bad apples with the 'paid' Clowns.
But with these Clowns they do it from the heart, the way it's meant to be done. Not to make one dime from it.