Crown Plaza Northbrook Hosts Clowns from Around the World

More than 200 clowns are around town this week for the World Clown Convention being held at the Crown Plaza Northbrook. The convention is a yearly event sponsored by the World Clown Association.  

The convention provides support and education for clowns, including seminars and training on magic, balloon-making, make-up, face painting, slapstick comedy and more, the website states. 

Recent news reports have stated that there is a clown shortage, and on a serious note, that does appear to be the case.

According to an interview on Fox 4, there are just 2,500 members of the World Clown Association, which represents a decline of about 30-percent over the last year. The reason why numbers are dwindling, according to the television station, is that fewer young people are becoming clowns as older clowns retire. 

The World Clown Association exists to promote the art of 'clowning' around the world, as well as to serve the needs of association members and affiliate clown alleys, the website states. 

According to the Daily Herald, clowns at the convention come from America, Mexico, London, Japan, Canada and Malaysia among other countries.