Survey: do you think clowns are SCARY?

by Debbie Ridpath Ohi on November 13, 2008

So remember I said that I was going to be a Goldfish in the Santa Claus Parade? Well, yesterday the Santa Claus Parade people called yesterday and said that I’ve been reassigned to be a “Greeter Clown.”

I’m assuming this ISN’T one of the upside-down clowns, but one of the clowns who walk along the side of the road and say hello to the people along the sidelines. In either case, I’m pretty pleased.

Say, this probably means I get CLOWN MAKEUP put on me! And maybe CLOWN HAIR!

Which got me thinking about clowns. I’ve always found clowns to be sort of creepy, even before Stephen King’s IT. What about the rest of you?

Hopefully I won’t make any kids scream this Sunday.

Thanks so much for your comments on my Goodstuff post. I’ll do a follow-up soon.

{ 9 comments }

H November 13, 2008 at 11:19 am

Regular clowns are both creepy and scary. The Clowns who work in the theraputic clown program at Sick Kids hospital are cool.

Admiral Naismith November 13, 2008 at 11:25 am

Depends on the style of clown, and your attitude. Do you get to choose your own makeup, and maybe get away with something a little more elvish or faunlike than the typical scary clown, or will they insist on spackling your entire face with white greasepaint and an enormous painted mouth?

Santa has elves, right? Tell them the greeters should be ELVES!

Crystal Paul November 13, 2008 at 12:43 pm

Clowning in makeup? Cool! My late uncle used to clown with his chapter of the Lions Club (a US social & charitable group). They’d visit schools & nursing homes, & even marched in the Philadelphia Mummers Parade (http://mummers.com/release.asp) one New Year’s day.

Clowns never scared me as a kid, but they never particularly interested me either. I always considered them filler until it was time for the flying trapeze & the tightrope walkers.

Shane November 13, 2008 at 6:00 pm

Coulrophobia is quite common apparently. Clowns don’t bother me but I also don’t find them funny.

A recent episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures (a Doctor Who spinoff) was all about a scary clown who turned out to be an alien.

susanna November 13, 2008 at 6:49 pm

Not scary but generally very annoying.

John Chew November 14, 2008 at 6:17 pm

Clowns in general are okay, but the thought of you dressed up as a clown will haunt my nightmares for years to come.

Jeff November 14, 2008 at 7:07 pm

I fear it’s inevitable that you’ll scare one or two paradegoers, sorry to say. It’s just the nature of the clown racket. However, I do highly recommend you don’t do any Tim Curry style snarling and say things like, “want a balloon? they floooooat and soon, you’ll flooooooat toooooo!”

Bob Guest November 14, 2008 at 11:16 pm

I’ve always loved clowns. I got the DVD of “Killer Klowns From Outer Space” and laughed all the way through it.

Have fun at the parade!

Nora November 15, 2008 at 7:28 am

Strangely enough, I was never afraid of clowns as a kid but only realized how creepy they are as I grew older. But yes, I think they are scary.

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