Clowning, Serious Business In Mexican Convention

Mexican clown Ganni Pichote y Chinchalete poses for a portrait at the 17th International Clown Convention in Mexico City, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013. Clowns from Latin America gathered in Mexico's capital to enter competitions, exchange experiences and take workshops in order to brush up on their clown techniques and learn new tricks. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (AP2013)

Mexican clown Llantom stands in front of hundreds of clowns as he tries to organize a group photo and a laugh-a-thon against violence in Mexico during the International Clown Convention in Mexico City, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013. Leaders of clowns gathered for a convention in Mexico City said Wednesday they are saddened that a killer disguised himself as a clown to kill a drug lord last week, and insisted no true member of their profession would have committed the crime. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (AP2013)

In this Monday, Oct. 21, 2013 photo, clowns chat after registering to attend the 17th International Clown Convention in Mexico City. The goal of the convention is to professionalize clowns in Latin America and highlight the need for a School of Clown Arts in Mexico. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (AP2013)

Mexican clown Johnny Johnny poses for a portrait at an international clown convention in Mexico City, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013. During the four-day event, the clowns competed in best makeup, improvisation, best group show, juggling and, of course, best balloon shaping. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (AP2013)

A young clown blows on a trumpet while performing with other clowns on the third day of the 17th International Clown Convention in Mexico City, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013. Clowns from Latin America gathered in Mexico's capital to enter competitions, exchange experiences and take workshops in order to brush up on their clown techniques and learn new tricks. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (AP2013)

Clowns wait for the start of a laugh-a-thon on the third day of activities at the 17th International Clown Convention in Mexico City, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013. They sought a world laugh record but no Guinness official was seen present and they fell short of 15 minutes. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (AP2013)

In this Monday, Oct. 21, 2013 photo, a clown relaxes briefly against a wall near the bathroom door on the first day of the 17th International Clown convention at a theater in Mexico City. Wearing oversized shoes, colorful wigs and red noses, the clowns lined up to register for the convention at a theater in Mexico's capital. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (AP2013)

Wearing oversized shoes, a pair of clowns wait to participate in a laugh-a-thon at the the 17th International Clown Convention in Mexico City,Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013. The laugh-a-thon was to protest violence in Mexico. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (AP2013)

Clowns listen during a workshop on the second day of the 17th International Clown Convention at a theater in Mexico City, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013. Hundreds of clowns from Mexico and Latin America gathered to brush up on their clown techniques and learn new laugh inducing tricks. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (AP2013)

In this Monday, Oct. 21, 2013 photo, Mexican clown Chuponcito ZigZag poses for a portrait at the 17th International Clown Convention in Mexico City. The main objective of this convention is to professionalize those involved in the clown arts in Latin America and highlight the need for a professional school of Clown Arts in Mexico. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (AP2013)

Guatemalan clown Tonito poses for a portrait at an international clown convention in Mexico City, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013. Wearing oversized shoes, wigs and rubber noses, the clowns lined up to register on the first day of the 17th International Clown Convention at a theater in Mexico City. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (AP2013)

Mexican clown Llantom poses for a portrait at the 17th International Clown Convention in Mexico City, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013. Llantom, whose real name is Tomas Morales, said the goal of the convention is to professionalize clowns in Latin America and highlight the need for a School of Clown Arts in Mexico. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (AP2013)

In this Monday, Oct. 21, 2013 photo, clowns raise their official clown rule book while others without the rule book raise an imaginary one as they stand in line to register on the first day of the 17th International Clown Convention in Mexico City. The main objective of this convention is to professionalize those involved in the clown arts in Latin America and highlight the need for a School of Clown Arts in Mexico. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (AP2013)

In this Monday, Oct. 21, 2013 photo, clowns sit on a couch during a break on the first day of the 17th International Clown Convention at a theater in Mexico City. Clowns from Latin America gathered in Mexico City to enter competitions, exchange experiences and take workshops in order to brush up on their clown techniques and learn new tricks. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (AP2013)

A pair of clowns talk backstage prior to giving a special award to a clown on the second day of the 17th International Clown Convention at a theater in Mexico City, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013. Despite their elaborate face paint, weird wigs and rubber noses of different sizes, the clowns reveal a slice of the humanity they seek to entertain: happy and sad, pensive and exuberant, playful and macabre. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (AP2013)

Mexican clown Bomborita poses for a portrait at the 17th International Clown Convention in Mexico City, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013. The goal of the convention is to professionalize clowns in Latin America and highlight the need for a School of Clown Arts in Mexico. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (AP2013)