Book Reviews – Be A Clown! – The Complete Guide to Instant Clowning by Turk Pipkin, Walt Chrynwski, Chris Reed
(Editor’s note: this book should not be confused with the children’s book “Be A Clown” nor Mark Stolzenberg’s Be A Clown, and has no relation to Cole Porter’s classic song “Be A Clown”)
Paperback – 104 pages
A very nice book – light and lively, easily read, many photos, with a good insight into the mind & heart of a clown. This lively, humorous handbook covers all aspects of clownmanship, including makeup, funny faces, costume (including inexpensive clown-size shoes), and props (including a favorite Red Skelton routine, the Bouncing Hankie). Encourages the reader to create a clown persona with many photos and suggestions. Several getting-started routines are included. Develop your own oddball walk, swallow chair legs — you’ll always have a stunt up your sleeve. Written by the towering Turk Pipkin, a 6′ 7″ professional clown.
Includes plastic clown nose (OK for starting, but you’ll want to get a “real” nose). The more I read it, the more I like it.
Table of Contents for Be A Clown! The Complete Guide to Instant Clowning
Introduction: Step Right Up
A very good introduction to the book, and to clowning in general. Italicized entries are sidebars or pull-outs, discussing something of interest, typically a clown bit, skit, or piece of advice — in this instance, the classic balancing a (ping pong ball, feather, cup, etc.) on your clown nose.
- Who Am I?
- Balance a Ping Pong Ball on Your Nose
- The Heart of a Clown
- Five Great Clown Handshakes
Ring One: Get Ready
To Speak or Not To Speak
Will your clown speak, or be silent? Discussing the pros and cons of each, as well as non-verbal communication, which is vital for both styles of clowning. As an aside, I love the Flea Circus skit! You can see a version of that on film in Charlie Chaplin‘s Limelight.
- Talking Clowns
- Silent Clowns
- Trick or Treat
- A Flea Circus
Your Clown Costume
Central to your clown character, discussing your costume. He begins with hats, which many clowns use — but as he says in Suited to You, if it doesn’t fit your character, don’t use it! You can see the Spring-loaded Hat Trick to the right. He also discusses some inexpensive (and creative) ways to get some clown shoes that match your character.
- Start at the Top: Clown Hats
- Spring-loaded Hat Trick
- Suited to You
- If the Shoe Fits — Don’t Wear it!
The First Steps
Something overlooked by a lot of introductory clowning books is the walk, or posture, of a clown. Remember Groucho Marx? You should. Remember the distinctive walk of Carol Burnett‘s ‘Mrs. H-Whiggins’?
- Your Own Walk
- Famous Clown Walks
Make-Up: Creating a Unique Face
Using a minimalist, everyman style of make-up. If that works for you, wonderful! If not, feel free to consult a different book, such as Strutter’s Complete Guide to Clown Make-Up.
- What Will Your New Face Look Like?
- Make-Up Tips
Clown props
- Special Delivery
- The Bouncing Apple
- The Bouncing Hankie
- In a Classy Joint
Think Like a Clown
The essential part of clowning — how to think like a clown.
- Make ‘Em Laugh
- Running Gags
Ring Two: Get Set
Clown Skills
A very basic introduction to some of the better-known skills your clown might use, but covering the basics. And the classic Boxing Sketch does a good job of demonstrating how to do slapstick safely and properly.
- Balancing
- Juggling
- Slap, Slap, slapstick
- A Clown Class: The Boxing Sketch
- Anywhere
Satire and Parody
- The Clown Marksman
- The Clown Magician
- The Sword Swallower
Clowning With Kids
- Hey Kids! Shaking hands
- Balloon Animals
- Who’s There? (Following in your Footsteps)
- Afghan Bands: The Story of the Circus Belts
- A Stunt That Wows!
- At a Party
Audience Participation
I have to admit, I’m a big fan of audience participation sketches. And a much bigger fan of the Parade of Elephants after seeing it done live at Clown Camp 1998 by Brenda Ahern — it works, and it’s hilarious!
- The Parade of Elephants
- The World’s Strongest Clown
The Sideshow
- Around the Circus
- More Classic Clown Turns
- Circus Lingo
Ring Three: Go!
- Once a Clown
- Putting It All Together
- Kiss You! I Hardly Know You!
Appendix: Sweeping Up The Sawdust
Where To Now?
- Schools for Clowns
- Equipment and Information
Index
I rate it 4 clowns 
 on a 5-clown scale.