GUIDELINES FOR COMPETITION
Aug 2009
The officers of this
Association feel the spirit of competition should be kept alive and nourished
so that all Units will want to enter into the fun and gaiety that prevails at our
Shrine conventions and competition.
A.
Conduct
and Discipline
1.
The
promotion and advancement of Shrine Clowning is the uppermost reason for
participation in competition. For this reason, conduct of all individuals must
be consistent with specified Shrine Code of Conduct.
2.
While
each individual must govern himself, it becomes necessary that each Unit Head
assist by governing the conduct of his members. Any conduct that would bring
unfavorable criticism upon the Shrine, A Shrine Clown Unit, or clowning in
general could result in a member being disqualified from competition.
3.
Participating
Clowns, acts or stunts per A.N.O.N.M.S. shall:
a.
Not
drink any intoxicating beverages before or while in make-up and costume.
b.
Not
wear a costume or use any equipment that may be offensive to this Association
or to the general public.
c.
Not
use any obscene gestures or language while appearing in costume, make-up or
uniform.
d.
Not
impersonate a woman, race or other minority group which might reflect
unfavorably upon the Association.
e.
Not
smoke in costume in public.
f.
Not
use any live animals or fowl, domestic or wild, nor reptiles.
g.
Not
use full or partial face mask of any type.
h.
Strive
to look their best as a true clown.
i. Not abuse spectators by subjecting them to
practical humiliating jokes or by squirting or shocking.
(Note: The President or his
emissary shall, at his discretion, have full authority to discipline, including
ejection from functions of this Association, any member who does not abide by
the Code of Conduct as listed above.)
B. Eligibility
All clowns from Units in good standing in this
Association are eligible to participate in the competition (regardless of
whether your unit is present at the TEXAS SHRINE CLOWN ASSOCIATION MID-WINTER).
C. Presentation
of Awards
Trophies and/or awards will be presented at an Awards Affair following
the competition, or such other time and place as the President may direct. Winners
will not be announced until this time.
D. Trophies
and awards for mid-winter to be funded by T.S.C.A. up to $850.00 maximum
expense.
II JUDGING
A. The
T.S.C.A. 1st Vice-President is Chairman of the Clowning Competition.
The T.S.C.A. President will have the responsibility for the selection of judges
for competition. The Parliamentarian will have the responsibility for the final
interpretation of the judging rules.
B. Judges
will not be selected from the Texas Shrine Clown Association.
C. A minimum
of three (3) judges will be utilized. Preferably, all three will have a minimum
of five (5) years of clowning experience.
D. Each judge
will complete score sheets as appropriate and as directed by the T.S.C.A. 1st
Vice-President.
Score
sheets will be turned into the T.S.C. A. President for final tallying the
completion of the judging of each individual in the TOP FIVE of each category.
E. NO ONE may
speak to judges during the competition unless answering a direct question.
Exception: The T.S.C.A. 1ST Vice-President, or his personal
delegates.
F. All
judging shall be done at the competition site.
III
CATEGORIES FOR COMPETITION AND SPECIFIC RULES
A. Individual
Clown make-up and Costume Competition
There has been much discussion as to the various classes
for individual clown competition. A clown may enter only one category. An
individual must decide what type clown he is portraying and declare himself
accordingly. There are few absolute rules regarding the various categories. One
clown will look upon himself as a Whiteface where another clown might consider
him as Auguste type. Certainly the costume and make-up must go hand-in-hand,
but the particular performance also plays an important part as to the type of
character being portrayed.
1. WHITEFACE
CLOWN: The Whiteface Clown is the classic Pierrot, harlequin clown face. All
white, with features (eyebrows, nose, mouth) painted on in black and red. Other
decoration in various other colors. The Whiteface is not unpleasant to look at;
he had decent manners and his performance is generally artistic in nature. He
usually appears to be in command of any situation he finds himself in.
2. AUGUSTE CLOWN: The Auguste Clown is the
character clown. He is the comic face. Base color, pink or reddish instead of
white. Features (red and black) are exaggerated in size. Mouth, usually thickly
outlined with white, which is often used also around the eyes. The Auguste is
the most slapstick of all clowns; his action wilder, broader than the other
types. The Auguste gets away with more and bigger pranks. He may be impeccably garbed in clothes that
do not fit, or his costume may be elaborate.
3. THE TRAMP OR HAPPY HOBO CLOWN: The Tramp or
Happy Hobo Clown is the third category used for judging competition. Again the
overall effect of make-up, costuming and performance must complement the
character being portrayed. A Tramp might be a happy or sad and soulful. This
shabby vagabond is the individual for whom nothing ever goes right. The Happy
Hobo is the Hobo Clown that has a smile and is happy.
4. THE
CHARACTER CLOWN: The Character Clown is the fourth category open for
competition. Here is where any specific individual may be caricaturized or
portrayed in good taste, such as Charlie Chaplin, Laurel, Hardy, W.C. Fields,
Smokey Stover, Keystone Kops, Lord Fauntleroy, Mickey Mouse, and on and on.
However, NO MASKS will be allowed. Patented individuals can not be used unless
permission has been granted. Character clowns will wear clown makeup and have a
clownish appearance with includes his costume; as well as his makeup. Character
clowns may carry props in their hands if the prop embellishes and enhances the
overall clown character being portrayed. Tramp or Hobo clowns will compete in
the Tramp or Hobo competition and not as a Character Clown.
5.THE SENIOR
CLOWN: The Senior Clown is the fifth category and you must be age 55 or older
to compete. The Senior Clown includes all classifications of clowns and seniors
will compete as one group.
6.Novice
Clown: The novice clown has never been
to a mid-winter or competed in costume and make-up competition. The novice includes all classifications of
clowns and will compete as one group
Contestants can enter only one ( 1 ) of these categories and must
declare it before the competition starts.
1. Any individual
clown who meets the eligibility requirements may participate. It is again
emphasized that your Unit does not have to be present at the T.S.C.A.
Mid-Winter.
2. A. First,
Second and Third place awards in each of the following six (6) categories will
be made:
(1) Whiteface
(Costume and Make-up only)
(2) Auguste
(Costume & Make-up only)
(3) Tramp-Happy
Hobo (Costume and Make-up only)
(4) Character
(Costume and( Make-up only
(5) Senior
(Any Costume and Make-up listed above)
(6) Novice
Clowns-First Mid-Winter (Any Costume and Make-up listed above).
b. In
addition, Certificates of Merit will be presented to the Top FIVE in each
category at the awards ceremony.
3.
Clowns will be grouped and presented for judging according
to the category they wish to enter.
4.
Upon being directed each clown will walk onto the prescribed
platform of dais, do a complete turn-around so they may be viewed from all
sides. As soon as the judges are satisfied, they will dismiss the clown. The
next contestant will not enter the judging area until the previous contestant
has cleared the area.
5.
During all judging there will be ABSOLUTELY no objects in
contestants hands, no electrical devices, no flashing lights, etc. except for
Character Clowns.
6.
There will be no performing in the judging area.
7.
Judging will be based on costume, make-up, facial
expressions, etc. Talking is not
allowed by contestants unless answering a direct question of a judge.
8.
The judges will not touch the contestants.
9.
Clowns shall observe all items listed under Code of Conduct.
10. Make-up
must be complete. The exposed areas of flesh around the ears and the back of
the neck are as important to the clown image as the face and throat areas and
must be covered (except for Tramps, Characters, and Happy Hobos).
11. Make-up must
be powdered down as appropriate.
12. Make-up
should compliment the character being portrayed and should not detract from the
overall effect.
13. Gloves are
required of all Whiteface and Auguste clowns. Tramps and Happy Hobo clowns may
wear gloves as appropriate. If worn, they should help to portray the character.
14. Patches:
All identification tags, badges, and/or patches must be removed or concealed
(example: clown name tags, unit clown heads, etc.)
15. Competition
Identity Number: Each member participating in competition shall be given a
number for identification. This number must be worn on the outside of the
costume in front above the waist for all competition.
16. The
attached Individual Clown Competition Score Sheet will be used in judging the
Individual Clown Competition.
These rules supersede all
other Rules heretofore published by the Association and shall be in until such
time as they are superseded or rescinded by The Executive Committee.
1.
Does the make-up portray a character, or is it
simple lines painted on?
2.
Does the face fit the particular character being
portrayed?
3.
Is make-up complete, well powdered, smooth, neat?
4.
Does wig, skull cap, or other head covering
compliment the character?
5.
Is costume clean and in good taste?
6.
Are accessories used (footwear and gloves)?
Do they compliment the costume?
MAKE-UP &
COSTUME
WHITE FACE,
AUGUSTE OR CHARACTER
1.
Does the make-up portray a character, or is it
simple lines painted on?
2.
Does the face fit the particular character being
portrayed?
3.
Is make-up completed? If exposed, are ears done,
back of neck finished, is make-up applied smoothly and powdered completely,
lines neat, under chin finished?
4.
Does wig, skull cap, or other head covering compliment
the character?
5.
Is costume neat and clean?
6.
Is costume in good taste and colorful?
7.
Are the accessories used, such as footwear and
gloves, polished and clean? Do they match or compliment the costume?
8.
Does costume, make-up and overall appearance show originality?
A. One
Man skit Competition;
1.
All ISCA
Rules and Regulations shall apply to the one man skit competition
2.
A clown may only compete in one-one man skit
B. Two Man Skit Competition;
1.
All ISCA Rules and Regulations shall apply to the
two man skit competition
2.
Any clown may compete in two-two man skits. The clown may not use the same partner
twice.
Aug2009