How to Be a Really Smart Idiot

This blog post is dedicated to my friend and collaborator, Andy Mac—a true connoisseur of foolishness, who once shared a nugget of wisdom: “A stand-up is trying to be funny. A clown is just trying to be, and that’s funny.” These words perfectly capture what it means to embrace your inner fool—a journey toward joy, creativity, and freedom. Here’s how you can let go of seriousness, dive into joy, and step boldly into your really smart idiot.

1. Let your body be boss

We often think playfulness is just for kids, but it’s your secret spicy salsa for reducing stress, getting creativity going, and making us feel gooooood. Your body is your greatest tool in this—how you move, gesture, and sound invites the audience (and yourself) into a shared experience of joy and spontaneity. When you let your body lead, playfulness becomes a natural state of being.

Tip: Start small by incorporating playful movements into your routine. Begin with a warm-up of imaginary bananas—pretend to squish them with your feet (grounding). Then, open your eyes wide, stick out your tongue, and pant like a dog (curiosity). Finish with taking your hips downtown and circling them around and around like an imaginary hula hoop (pleasure). This playful routine helps get you out of your head and into your body. If you feel like an idiot trying these moves, then you're doing it right. 
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2. It’s okay to get it wrong
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One of the key aspects of being a “smart idiot” is letting go of the fear of making mistakes. Clowns don’t shy away from mishaps; they embrace them, turning them into moments of shared joy and clever solutions. This principle isn’t just for the stage—it’s a way of living that frees you from the pressure to be perfect and opens the door to creativity.
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Tip: Intentionally introduce surprise into your day. Put Vegemite on your toothbrush or flip a coin to decide your route to work—ditch the GPS! I tried this last month and ended up on a delightful, unplanned adventure. The goal is to disrupt the expected and celebrate the joyful chaos that follows.

3. Build Bridges with your quirks

Think of your quirks as the bricks and mortar of a bridge, connecting you to the people around you. Your clown persona is an invitation to build rapport (complicite), to share your most authentic self with the world. When you play with your quirks, you create a space where others feel safe to join in the fun.
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Tip: What odd habits or quirks make you, you? Exaggerate them, play with them, and see what character emerges. This isn’t about putting on a mask, but about revealing the playful, raw you. Are you a clean freak? Imagine being a character who's obsessed with wiping down every surface they come across—polishing doorknobs, washing the air, maybe even carrying a mini vacuum to clean the floor before they take a step. You could have a collection of spray bottles strapped to your belt, misting everything and everyone you meet. Do you love collecting remote controls? How about becoming the king or queen of remotes? Picture a character with dozens of remotes dangling from a belt, each one with a different function. Perhaps one controls the volume of people's voices, another changes the weather, and a special one only works on cats.

4. Become a mirror

Imagine holding up a mirror that reflects the world as it is—unfiltered and unjudged. When you stop worrying about how others see you, you become that mirror, simply reflecting the absurdity and beauty of life. This lets you connect with others, not by trying to be the life of the party, but by being genuinely curious and engaged; the clown who genuinely wants to know where the party's at.

Tip: Get into the quirks of everyday things. Get ridiculously fascinated by how a toaster turns your bread into crispy gold, or how the ocean pulls its tide dance. Obsess over the nuts and bolts of these oddities. This kind of wild curiosity makes you present, engaged, and ready to share a laugh or two about the bizarre world we live in.

​5. Boredom is our friend

In the often misunderstood world of clowning, there exists a paradoxical truth—a creative approach can emerge from embracing boredom. Transforming the mundane and empty spaces into fertile ground for exploration and self-expression is where the artistry of the really smart idiot shines through.

Tip: An exercise I use in class known as "The Black Emptiness" encourages performers to delve into nothingness and emptiness, trusting that movement and inspiration will organically surface. You can try this abridged version: enter a room, tune in with your body and breath, turn on your clown radar by picking up how you’re feeling moment to moment (hungry, tired, itchy, etc), and responding without censorship. Take emptiness and silence as a starting point for play and see where these subtle nuances take you. The exercise encourages an unfiltered, honest exploration of emotions and reactions.

6. Breathe together in absurdity

Tension is like a balloon—if it’s inflated too much, it risks bursting; if it deflates too soon, it loses its impact. The key is knowing when to puncture it with a burst of absurdity, allowing everyone to exhale together. This shared breath, this collective release, is the catharsis that binds the audience in a moment of joy and relief. Being a really smart idiot means embracing the absurdity of life. It’s about recognising that sometimes; things just don’t make sense—and that’s okay. By celebrating the absurd, you allow yourself to let go of the need for everything to be logical and orderly.

Tip: Use absurdity to puncture the tension and invite your audience to breathe alongside you. Try something completely illogical, like hiding your partner’s shoes in the freezer (yup I did this and we still crack up about that brilliant moment of madness years later), or crafting a nonsensical poem for a friend. The aim is to create a moment so unexpected that it pops the balloon of tension, letting everyone breathe out and laugh together. In these shared, quirky moments, you and your audience find release, connection, and laughter.

7. Be big in a small-ish way

A truly smart idiot knows when to dial it up or down. Imagine your presence as a warm breeze—gentle but noticeable, carrying just enough energy to stir the leaves without overwhelming them. When you're with younger audiences, or in sensitive environments like hospitals, it's important to be "big" in a small way. This means using your body and sound in ways that are soft yet expressive, engaging but not overpowering. It’s about being fully present, but with a light touch—like a whisper that captures attention more than a shout ever could.
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Tip: Practice using your body and voice to create a gentle impact. Instead of broad gestures, try small, deliberate movements—wiggle your fingers like a wave or bounce lightly on your toes to convey excitement. Your voice can be a soft hum or a gentle coo, rather than a loud shout, to draw children in without startling them. This approach is especially powerful in settings like hospital clowning, where your ability to create a bubble of calm and joy can be a gift in an otherwise tough environment. Your presence, when subtle and intentional, can make even the smallest moments feel wonderfully big.

If these tips didn't tickle your funny bone, here are some bonus hacks straight from our real-life clown classes. And if that still doesn't do the trick, it's time to haul your butt to clown school! 👇

​Butt dance

Chuck on some music and partner up and do some butt-to-butt dancing. Yep, you read that right. Let your backs “talk” to each other in a silent, slightly ridiculous conversation. It’s physical, it’s funny, and it’s a great way to get into the clown spirit.

Nail your entrance

First impressions matter—even for clowns. Work on entrances that catch people off guard, whether you’re sneaking in with a sly grin or busting in with a bang like Kramer the king of Seinfeld entrances.
 
Play “Clown Assassin”

Get a group of friends or colleagues in on a game of “Clown Assassin” where you “kill” others with ridiculous facial expressions. This is a modified version of the game Wink Murder. Think death by pout, nose wiggle, or exaggerated orgasm face. It’s a killer way to practice clowning without saying a word.
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These simple, playful acts can totally open the door to more spontaneous fun. Try them out and hit me up with the details—I’m keen to hear how you let your inner mischief-maker loose!

Long Live the Really Smart Idiot!