[TN_Gal]

Who Are These Clowns?They put themselves in the line of danger every time they go to work. With names like Shane, Flint, Cody, Scooter, and Tex, they evoke the nostalgia of the old west. If you're lucky, you might get to see them do the Ostrich Jockey, or Devil in My Barrel, or maybe Crazy Ambulance. They wear painted-on smiles and baggy britches. And they actually like it when people laugh at them, even as they risk their lives to protect others.

Who are these clowns?
The double life of rodeo's unsung heroes
It may look like fun and games to the people in the stands, but this is serious business, and not just any clown can do it. Between rides, the barrelman's job is to keep the crowd amused by bantering with the announcers and performing comedic skits that can include props, explosions, fireworks, clown cars, and sometimes lucky members of the audience. This part requires charisma, creativity, comic timing, and boundless energy.
But the real work - cowboy protection - begins the minute a bullrider enters the ring, hanging on for dear life. And this part requires nerves of steel, lightning reflexes, and a selfless devotion to someone else's well-being. It falls to the rodeo clown to distract the angry bull from its toppled rider so the cowboy can get to his feet and make it to the safety of a fence.
Into the barrel
Nowadays rodeo clowns have a little more technology in their corner, by way of an invention some years back by a bullfighter named Jasbo. The "clown lounge," as some call it, is made of heavy-gauge steel, weighs 175 pounds, and is lined with industrial foam rubber.
But just because a barrel protects the man inside doesn't mean it's invincible. Remember, these are 3,000- and 4,000-pound bulls. With horns. "I spend anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour after every show pounding out the dents with a five-pound mallet," says Scooter Culbertson, a Texas-based barrelman who's been involved with the rodeo since he was 16 years old.
"Its not whether you're gonna get hurt, it's when and how bad"
The job can be brutal, says Scooter. "And there's not an insurance company in the world that'll touch you." He should know: he's suffered 24 broken bones, three concussions, a dislocated jaw, and worse. One bull, after knocking him down, proceeded to "camp out" on top of him. It took a while to get him off, and when the dedicated performer tried to continue the show, somebody told him he was hurt. "I'm ok," he said, turning toward the arena. "No, no, man," the guy shouted. "Here's your ear!" He didn't get back into the ring that day.
Scooter sums it up this way. "It's a great feeling when the crowd applauds and appreciates your efforts. But the greatest is when the cowboys come to you and let you know how much they appreciate you being there for them night after night."
Rodeo clowns make perhaps $100 to $225 for a show, usually setting their own price based on travel expenses. The real money is at the national freestyle bullfighting competitions.
Rodeo clowns - who prefer to be called bullfighters - apprentice at local, small rodeos and at youth rodeo events. They may attend clown training schools, which hold training camps across the southwest and in Colorado, Montana, and Kansas - big rodeo states. Or they may start out as cowboys first, and become bullfighters later.
Coors sponsors a Man in the Can Award, a great honor to have on your clown resume. In addition, many rodeo clowns belong to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys' Association.

[TN_Gal]

While gathering pics for the previous post I came across this one....What do you think happened next? Notice the bulls hooves are already off the ground...ouch!!

[TN_Gal]

Check this photo/video out....."a collection of action pics of Eddie"the eagle" Phillips bullfighter and protector....CRANK UP THE VOLUME...

Oh yeah, it's 11 mins long so get yourself a fresh one and enjoy

Eddie Phillips - Bullfighter Creative Photo - Google Video

[Gotham Dark Knight]

okay, so basically $100 to $225 a gig and no insurance?...yikes..something is totally wrong with these clowns...

So what is the ponit of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys' Association?...These guys get them a pension?...or insurance?...

I wonder what Lloyds of London would insure a clown for?

[TN_Gal]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

okay, so basically $100 to $225 a gig and no insurance?...yikes..something is totally wrong with these clowns...

So what is the ponit of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys' Association?...These guys get them a pension?...or insurance?...

I wonder what Lloyds of London would insure a clown for?

GothGuy....The real money is at the national freestyle bullfighting (was in the post )

Lucky for you, you can watch it tomorrow nite at 9:30 PM EST on OLN

National Championship Bullfighting - Cheyenne

Dickies National Championship Bullfighting represents the ultimate in American freestyle bullfighting action. The competition format features athletes engaging in a 70-second freestyle bullfighting display. Bullfighters are evaluated based upon the aptitude they display in controlling and maneuvering a 2,000-pound opponent. Precision in jumping the bull, contact with the bull, and handling of the barrel are additional criteria used in critiquing each contestant's performance. The world's top bullfighters who are qualified to compete in the Dickies National Championship Bullfighting in Las Vegas will be gunning for a piece of the $20,000 in added prize money.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

What is real money though?..for a Clown that is...if you get hurt and have to cover your medical bills, at the tune of 24 broken bones...then what do you net?...How high is the prize money?...A cut of $20K is not all that much...and that's for bull fighters...we are talking clowns...what is a top clown cut?

[TN_Gal]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

What is real money though?..for a Clown that is...if you get hurt and have to cover your medical bills, at the tune of 24 broken bones...then what do you net?...How high is the prize money?...A cut of $20K is not all that much...and that's for bull fighters...we are talking clowns...what is a top clown cut?

A BULLFIGHTER IS A CLOWN....Rodeos are not held every day, so they make money on a per event basis.....and the object is not to get hurt.

I will look into the injury vs insurance question and get back to you.....let me make a phone call

[TN_Gal]

Ok..Specialy Insurance for Rodeo's and Contestants is available....for example...

I assume if you are not a member of one of the many Assoc that you are on your own.....or you don't quit your day job


A partial list of SPI's clients includes:
Rodeo Associations
Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association
Women's Professional Rodeo Association
National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association
Professional Bull Riders, Inc.
National High School Rodeo Association
National Little Britches Rodeo Association
International Professional Rodeo Association
Livestock Show/Rodeo Events
PRCA National Finals Rodeo
National Western Stock Show & Rodeo
Cheyenne Frontier Days
Reno Rodeo
San Antonio Livestock Show & Rodeo
Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo
Greeley Stampede

[TN_Gal]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

What is real money though?..for a Clown that is...if you get hurt and have to cover your medical bills, at the tune of 24 broken bones...then what do you net?...How high is the prize money?...A cut of $20K is not all that much...and that's for bull fighters...we are talking clowns...what is a top clown cut?

Bullfighting



They were clowns in the beginning, almost literally. Their job was to entertain, to provide comic relief. Protecting cowboys was almost secondary. Today, they still dress like clowns, but they are bullfighters first and most importantly. They are often the difference between life and death. Bullfighters are the first line of defense for the bull rider. The bullfighter is responsible for distracting the bull while the cowboy regains his sense of direction and escapes to safety after a fall or dismount. Today's bullfighter, far from being a clown, is so serious about his job he routinely places his own life in danger in an effort to protect the cowboy. The modern bullfighter is also an accomplished athlete, a master of timing and agility.

The bullfighter is judged on his willingness to expose himself to risk and on his aggressiveness. His objective is to stay as close as he can to the bull throughout the fight. Bullfighters have elevated the sport by employing spectacular maneuvers such as jumping over a charging bull. Like the riders, the bullfighters score higher when the bull is more aggressive. Bullfight bulls are bred to be smaller, quicker and more agile than those used in bull riding. They can compete for years and, like their human counterparts learn from their mistakes and improve with experience.



http://

[WVGrandma4Kasey]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

What is real money though?..for a Clown that is...if you get hurt and have to cover your medical bills, at the tune of 24 broken bones...then what do you net?...How high is the prize money?...A cut of $20K is not all that much...and that's for bull fighters...we are talking clowns...what is a top clown cut?

How it all works I don't know. But the bullfighter do have sponsers too. And like the riders, I think a lot of them also invest in the stock. That could be where the real money is, close to 1/2 mill for a top bull.

[TN_Gal]

Originally Posted by WVGrandma4Kasey

How it all works I don't know. But the bullfighter do have sponsers too. And like the riders, I think a lot of them also invest in the stock. That could be where the real money is, close to 1/2 mill for a top bull.

The bullfighting is a timed event. They are one on one with the bull for 70 seconds. The clown/bullfighter can stop the event anytime prior to the 70 seconds if they choose to.

They are scored by a points system based on various techniques, danger levels, amount of physical contact with the bull etc. ....the one with the most points wins!!!

Scores are kept, and those in the highest standings go to the finals and championships.

[WVGrandma4Kasey]

I thought I posted this but if I did I can't find it, so here goes again.

Cheyenne Frontier Challenge
Bullfighters Lance Brittan 1st and Wacey Munsell second they will move on to the nex round.

[DodgeFB]

If I felt good enough to be a bullfighter/ clown I hope I would be smart enough to take better care of me than that. But I do love to watch them work.

The bullfighters I know make at least make a six figure income and only work 90 days a year only on thats on the weekends. 275 days at home and believe me I count the days. The funny man just signed a contract for 1 million

six figures? Ha! Now that is funny... I don't know any guys that. For someone to make that much money you'd have to get paid almost $4,000 every weekend. Good luck with that... Most guys are EXTREMELY lucky to make half that in one weekend, and who has a show for every 52 weekends??

Bullfighter