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Follow those giant footprints to Florida Clown Day

By RITA FARLOW, Times Staff Writer
Published January 24, 2008

More than 150 clowns will fan out in Largo Central Park Saturday, performing magic tricks, painting faces and making balloon animals.

Held in conjunction with one of the city's most popular family events - Touch-a-Truck - Florida Clown Day is sponsored by Uptown Clowns of Largo, Alley 301, a chapter of Clowns of America International.

The group performs at city-sponsored venues throughout the year, said Connie Yarbrough, one of the founders.

There are nearly 30 Uptown Clowns, who range in age from 10 to 80, Yarbrough said.

New members must complete a training class to learn the basics of clowning. A new training class for prospective clowns starts in February. Over eight Saturday mornings, recruits will learn how to paint faces, make balloon animals and project their voices during skits.

They'll shape their new identities, complete with new names, costumes and makeup specific to their clown characters.

One cardinal rule? Don't steal another clown's costume or makeup, Connie Yarbrough said.

Connie's alter ego, Topsy, is a whiteface clown, a style known for its elegant makeup. Whiteface clowns often play the straight men in skits, she said.

Her husband, Jerry Yarbrough, a.k.a. Yo Yo, is an august clown, a zany, jolly clown who often ends up as the butt of jokes.

New members get schooled in the rules of the Uptown Clowns, including not removing any part of their costume in public.

"It ruins the illusion. That's a scary thing for a child, to see someone take their hair off," Connie Yarbrough said.

Clowns are also not allowed to pick up children or approach them too quickly. Some kids, and even some adults, are scared of clowns, Connie Yarbrough said.

"We hope that they will find that clowns aren't as scary as they see on TV. People will find out they're kind, they're fun and they're giving," Connie Yarbrough said.

In addition to the clowns, there will be an array of vehicles for kids to explore, said Charla Lucas, special events coordinator for the city of Largo.

More than 10,000 people showed up for last year's Touch-a-Truck event, where kids get to climb into bucket trucks, buses and fire engines, honk the horns and run the sirens.

Rita Farlow can be reached at farlow@sptimes.com or 727 445-4162.

Fast facts

Touch a truck, but don't goose a clown

The city of Largo will host its 13th annual Touch-a-Truck and Florida Clown Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Largo Central Park, 101 Central Park Drive. Kids can climb into dump trucks, fire trucks, motorcycles, buses, power trucks, military vehicles and a helicopter. Admission is free; wristbands for inflatable and rock climbing activities are $3 each. Limited parking available on-site; shuttles will run from Largo High School, 410 Missouri Avenue, and the Pinellas County School Board parking lot, 301 Fourth St. SW. Coolers, pets and alcohol prohibited. For information, call 587-6740, ext. 5014.

Learn to be a clown

The Uptown Clowns are getting ready to launch a new eight-week training class in February. Cost is $90. Call Jerry or Connie Yarbrough at 517-4244.

Here are some tips:

Do

- Look and dress the part of a clown at all times.

- Wear proper makeup, correctly applied.

- Keep costume neat and clean.

- Stay in character at all times while in costume.

- Prepare fully before each performance.

- Always face the audience, unless the skit requires you to do otherwise.

Don't

- Never smoke or drink alcohol in front of people.

- Avoid profanity and vulgarity at all times.

- Never pick up children or babies unless the parent asks you to hold them while pictures are being taken.

- Never copy another clown's costume or makeup.

- Respect our profession and conduct yourself as a professional.

- Never remove any part of your costume in public.

Excerpted from "The ABCs of Clowning," Uptown Clowns, Alley 301 manual

[Last modified January 23, 2008, 23:18:42]