‘A real talking point’: Geelong’s clown invasion explained

Why are men in trucks driving around Geelong asking if they can put inflatable clowns in people’s front yards?

If you’ve driven around Geelong over the past few weeks, chances are you would’ve noticed the giant clowns peering over so many of our major roads.

But what’s the deal with the hoard of harlequins?

The inflatables are the property of the Great Moscow Circus, a touring company with a unique marketing strategy.

One of the dozens of Moscow Circus clowns outside Geelong properties. Picture: Alison Wynd

One sits in the front yard of Matthew McKinnon’s Corio home.

He said a pair of men came and asked if they could leave it.

“I wasn’t home, but my partner was,” Mr McKinnon said.

“A truck pulled up, with two fellas in it, and they just asked if they could put the signs and the clown out the front.”

Head of marketing for the circus, mark Edgley, said the creative advertising strategy was the best way of getting people to attend.

“Funny enough, it’s our No.1 form of advertising,” Mr Edgley said.

One of the dozens of Moscow Circus clowns outside Geelong properties. Picture: Alison Wynd

“As far as the surveys say, people say ‘I saw the clowns.’ ”

Mr Edgley said the novelty of the clowns meant they were more than just advertising.

“It’s great, the kids love it,” he said.

“People spend time counting how many they can see, it becomes a real talking point.”

Not every house is a suitable home for a clown, employees search for properties on main roads, and ensure they’re evenly distributed.

“We have about 40 of them, sometimes we don’t get them all out but we space them out,” Mr Edgley said.

“We basically go ‘that would be a good position,’ and we go and knock on the door and see how they feel.

“most places don’t have a problem with it, it’s only there for a few weeks.”

The property owners aren’t left without reward.

“They gave us 10 free tickets to go to the circus,” Mr McKinnon said.

“I reckon it is (worth it.)”

The Great Moscow Circus will be in Waurn Ponds from March 28 to April 14.

Originally published as ‘A real talking point’: Geelong’s clown invasion explained