These days I sometimes go to the local library, accompanied by my laptop and a few random chocolate fixes, to be able to fully concentrate on writing, without any distractions. That’s one of the main purposes of libraries, I believe. Boring environment leads to focus.
So why do I see, when I look out of the window, just when I am completely settled and ready to rumble creatively: a clown? And not just any old clown. No, it’s a thoughtfully dressed up like a clown, tall tramp with long grey hair.
This intriguing appearance has completely ruined my focus, so I might as well concentrate on his persona. And doing so isn’t the least bit difficult or unimaginative either.
Why on earth is this particular homeless human dressed up like a clown? Obviously because he chose to do so. But could it be considered a wise choice? Are there any benefits? Does it give him an advantage over other beggars? Let’s look at the possible motives, purposes and reasons concerning the choice of being a dressed-up-like-clown beggar from a handful of different angles:
From a marketing perspective looking like a clown is, well, something different. And different gets you noticed. Any attention, both positive and negative, will usually increase the number of customers. Never mind the fact that the ‘customers’ of this ‘company’ are passers-by that give this man some of their change. However, this strategy only works when the negative attention doesn’t outdo the positive attention. I wonder whether such could be the case here. Furthermore, he might be harder to approach because of his make up. He sure does look a lot less approachable to me than his ‘competitors’. This could lead to less instead of more coin money for mister tramp the clown.
Considering his clown image form a law and order perspective I’d say the more visible you are as a beggar, the more easily overactive policemen are able to spot you. In the city I live in begging still is (or is again) illegal, so getting spotted by the law enforcement isn’t a good thing. On the other hand: street artists are, opposite to pure beggars, usually left alone by the police. Street artists don’t just beg for money; they perform tricks and acts to earn it. Could being dressed up like a clown, even though refraining from delivering any clown specific performance, be enough to pass for a street artist?
From a humanitarian point of view one could say a clown beggar looks even more sad than a normal beggar. People might pity him, because he’s not only homeless, but also ugly and pathetic. This pity might earn him a few extra coins. However, a lot of people are actually scared of clowns. These potential money givers might decide to cross the street instead of walking towards mister clown, to stay true to their inner frights.
To sum up all three perspectives: I really don’t know why he’d want to look like a clown. Looking like a clown could just as easily work to his advantage as it could work against him. It might not even matter whether he actually makes more money looking like this: it might just be something he enjoys to do or feels comfortable at. It does make him less recognizable to people he might know from before he became homeless… So many possible reasons. Such an intriguing thing to ponder about.
I had long closed my laptop down and had been strolling the magazine stands of the library for at least an hour now, still thinking over the clown situation. Then suddenly, next to the door, right inside the building, talking to the concierge, stood the clown. Was I seeing correctly? Was the clown crying? Was I finally, after years and years of being haunted by that evergreen song that stays in your head for beyond eternity, actually going to see the real “tears of a clown”?
My answer came a second later: no. The true reason for the clown’s face wetness was meteorological. It was raining outside. Rain drops were dribbling over his face, and so was a bit of his make up. Together with the concierge he was looking at satellite pictures on the internet to see when the rain will stop. During rain there’s no way this clown can have a go at begging. Not with so much make up. Not considering the fact the library building doesn’t have anything like a lean-to to stand under for shelter. The satellite images speak for themselves: it’s going to rain all day long.
From a practical point of view: dressing up like a clown to beg on the streets of a rainy city is quite unwise.
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How peculiar … I’ve always found clowns to be very unsettling anyway (dont get me started on `It’) and am afraid that if had expected London-Lass to get close enough to give him some spare change he’d have another thing coming. You do get the odd homeless person in London wear the occasional weird thing or two (tinsel moustache, sombrero, chef trousers) but I’d always assumed that these items they’d found (bin? skip?) or been given .. or (gulp) pinched. But a whole costume? With makeup? I keep on trying to imagine a homeless clown asking for change in say, somewhere, like Leicester Square and can only see him being beaten to a pulp for being a bit odd by the lagered-up lads leaving the nearby pubs/clubs or being arrested quicker than you can shout `Pierrot’ as his attention-grabbing costume made his begging even more obvious to the police.
Left by London-Lass on Thursday, October 25th, 2007