Circus Jargon

Carpet Clown - It generally refers to a “fill-in” clown -- one who works the arena floor or up in the stands among the audience.

Chase - a quick run around the hippodrome track, usually with one clown literally chasing another

Charivari - A noisy whirlwind entrance of clowns; also called shivaree or chivaree.

Clown Alley - Originally a walkway behind the big top, where clowns awaited their entrance cues. As their makeup tent was near the performers’ entrance, the term also came to refer to the clowns’ tent itself.

Come In - The period an hour before showtime when the public is entering the arena before the circus begins. Some clowns specialized and only performed during come in.

Clown Stop - Circus lingo for a brief appearance of the clowns instead of a longer gag. Stops are common while props are being changed; or during a clown walkaround on a larger show.

Clown Walkaround - Here the clowns parade around the big top, each pausing to do a brief sketch for a section of the audience before moving along to repeat a sight gag in front of a different section. Each clown creates and performs his or her own bit lasting about 30 seconds.

Gag - A basic term to refer to all clown routines -- tricks, stunts, scenes, etc. Loosely speaking, to “gag it up” is another way of saying to “ham it up.” Clown stops during a walkaround are usually shorter than those of a carpet clown, which are shorter than a production gag such as the 5-10 minute firehouse number.

First of May - A term also used in the carnival, meaning a novice performer in his first season on a show.

Hippodrome Track - The oval area between the rings and audience.

Producing Clown - This is the clown who designs and stars in a major gag, and who develops the accompanying props.

Trouper - A person who has spent at least one full season with the circus, and whose response to the demands of life and work on the road are those of a seasoned veteran.

Walkarounds - A clown feature in which they stroll the circus track performing very brief visual gags that can be easily picked up, moved and performed again for another section of the audience.