Rodeo Clown Salary
If you're thinking of becoming a rodeo clown but not sure of how much the job pays, the short answer is: not much. Though some of the most experienced and best-paid rodeo clowns can make close to six-figures in a good year, most make far less. The rodeo clown business is also dangerous, and most clowns pay for their own health insurance, which cuts into their net income.
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The Job of the Rodeo Clown
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The primary job of a rodeo clown is to distract angry bulls after they toss their riders. This allows the bull rider to get out of the ring unscathed while the clown lures the animal into an enclosure, where the bull is secured. Clowns usually do this by hiding in rubber barrels during the brief bull ride and popping out to get the bull's atttention once the bull throws a rider. Clowns also entertain the crowds at rodeos during lulls in the action and generally do whatever is necessary to keep the crowds happy and the bull riders safe.
Rodeo Clown Salary
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Rodeo clowns typically don't make much money. According to the Art of Clowning, a rodeo clown makes $100 to $225 per show and salaries are based on experience, the size of the events, and the type of rodeo circuit. The truly elite clowns, who work the most prestigious circuits, can make up to $500 per show but they are an exception. Given that the work is seasonal and an average rodeo clown can work 200 shows per year at best, a beginner will earn as little as $20,000 per year and a more experienced rodeo clown will take in about $45,000.
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Hidden Costs
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As one veteran clown but it in a recent profile of rodeo clowns, "The job can be brutal and it's hard to find an insurance company that will touch you." Since rodeo clowns work as independent contractors, they have to buy their own health insurance, and high monthly premiums for even the most basic policy can take a big chunk of a rodeo clown's salary. Another maxim of radio clowning is that it's not a matter of if you'll get hurt, but how often and how badly. A veteran clown named Scooter said he's suffered 24 broken bones, three concussions and a dislocated jaw during his painful career. So injuries and downtime will impact a rodeo clown's annual income.
The Pros and Cons
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For somebody who is young, likes to travel, and enjoys the adrenalin rush of performing before crowds in a dangerous environment, working as a rodeo clown can be a good career choice. And the adventures - along with the bumps and bruises - will give you a lifetime of stories to tell in your golden years. But the downside is that the job is dangerous and doesn't pay particularly well when you consider the high insurances costs and the risk of injury that can be physically and financially debilitating.
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