When the rodeo comes to town, so do the clowns and the bullfighters. But what is the difference?
Many years ago, a rodeo clown and a bullfighter were basically the same. The clown’s job was to distract the bull when the rider was bucked off. This was to protect the fallen rider.
When there was down time during the rodeo, the clown would entertain the crowd and provide comic relief.
However, the roles for each have evolved over time.
In most rodeos today, there is a clown and normally multiple bullfighters dressed like clowns.
The bullfighter has a big job. They must help distract a (on average) 1,500-pound bull from crushing a rider who is significantly smaller.
The bullfighter wears bright colored clothes, handkerchiefs, scarfs and other garments that might get the bulls’ attention. Bull riders depend on bullfighters to keep them safe after the rider has fallen or jumped off of the bull.
The rodeo clown is there to entertain the crowd throughout the rodeo. Some rodeo clowns started out as bullfighters, and just enjoy entertaining the people in the stands.
Rodeo clowns usually have a headset microphone and is known for telling jokes, talking to the crowd and interacting with the announcer. The do everything from singing to dancing to dressing up and several other things.
The rodeo clown is also known as the Barrel Man. While they keep the crowd smiling, they are never too far from their barrel because at any time a bull can come after them.
