# Clown/Comedian Career **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 17, 2020, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clown-comedian-career/849661 "2020-03-17T16:59:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MrTomato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@MrTomato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrTomato)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clown-comedian-career/849661/1 "2020-03-17T16:59:19Z")
Hi,I’m new to this and I was wondering if you could explain me this career. I have seen a lot of videos of clowns and comedians and I love entertainment. Firstly,I have a few questions: 1)Do you have to act as someone who was hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital? 2)How much money do you earn? 3)If someone had mental issues in this field that means he is not suited for this job? ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clown-comedian-career/849661/2 "2020-03-17T17:17:13Z")
I would tend to think thatif one is supposed to act as someone who was hospitalized in a lunatic asylum, having actual mental issues ought to establish one as especially qualified. ---
**Author:** ![MrTomato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@MrTomato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrTomato)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clown-comedian-career/849661/3 "2020-03-17T19:03:16Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > I would tend to think thatif one is supposed to act as someone who was hospitalized in a lunatic asylum, having actual mental issues ought to establish one as especially qualified. What about the salary? Is it minimum or medium per year? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clown-comedian-career/849661/4 "2020-03-17T19:09:57Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > I would tend to think thatif one is supposed to act as someone who was hospitalized in a lunatic asylum, having actual mental issues ought to establish one as especially qualified. See: Maria Bamford. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clown-comedian-career/849661/5 "2020-03-17T19:19:42Z")
**Clowns Inc. HR Director, Squeeky Bumblebuss** : Thank you for coming in to interview, **Mr. Tomato**. We’ll be contacting you shortly after we make our decision. Do you have any questions for us? > [@MrTomato](#): > > Firstly … > 1)Do you have to act as someone who was hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital? > 2)How much money do you earn? > 3)If someone had mental issues in this field that means he is not suited for this job? **Squeeky Bumblebuss** : You’re hired! ---
**Author:** ![MrTomato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@MrTomato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrTomato)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clown-comedian-career/849661/6 "2020-03-17T19:27:10Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > **Clowns Inc. HR Director, Squeeky Bumblebuss** : > Thank you for coming in to interview, **Mr. Tomato**. We’ll be contacting you shortly after we make our decision. Do you have any questions for us? **Squeeky Bumblebuss** : You’re hired! Is this a joke? ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clown-comedian-career/849661/7 "2020-03-17T19:37:26Z")
> [@MrTomato](#): > > Is this a joke? Yes, because you have such specific questions, I don’t know how anyone here could answer them. They don’t generalize to the clown skill set (or disqualification thereof) that would be default issues in hiring, or even something to speculate upon more broadly. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clown-comedian-career/849661/8 "2020-03-17T20:08:03Z")
**Moderator Action** Since being a clown or comedian is a performing art, let’s move this to Cafe Society (from IMHO). ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clown-comedian-career/849661/9 "2020-03-17T21:24:16Z")
Why do I get the feeling the OP’s questions are based solely on The Joker? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clown-comedian-career/849661/10 "2020-03-17T21:57:06Z")
In any sort of entertainment job, you’ll have a vast majority of people who are barely making anything, combined with a very small number of stars who are pulling in the big bucks. An average isn’t really meaningful. The best advice is to do it if that’s what you love, but don’t quit your day job until after it takes off (because it probably won’t). ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clown-comedian-career/849661/11 "2020-03-17T22:01:50Z")
I just want to say as someone who’s had several family and close friends who have been hospitalized for psychological issues, that’s not the behavior you want to see entertainers act out in public ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clown-comedian-career/849661/12 "2020-03-17T22:16:53Z")
No. Being a professional party clown is the opposite of being out of control. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clown-comedian-career/849661/13 "2020-03-17T23:48:35Z")
First of all, if you want to make people laugh, “Mr. Tomato” is not a funny name. Try “Mr. Kumquat” or “Mr. Quokka Doody Face.” ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2020, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clown-comedian-career/849661/14 "2020-03-18T02:35:08Z")
> [@MrTomato](#): > > Is this a joke? Now, since you’re clearly unclear on the ‘joke’ concept, this might be the perfect time to reconsider your career options. Let’s see your top three questions on Forest Ranger… and Golf Cart Salesman… and Coat-Check Girl At An Experimental Opera House.