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Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

In this Monday, Oct. 22, 2012 photo, Bufon Marley, 44, a medieval jester, poses for a photo during Mexico's 17th annual clown convention, La Feria de la Risa, in Mexico City. (AP Photo/Anita Baca)

Laughter was a serious matter at a clown convention in the Mexican capital, where hundreds of the performers gathered this week to discover some of the secrets of making people laugh.

The most important lesson at the four-day event was the difference between being a simple joker and a top-notch merry-maker.

Master clown Tomas Morales, who organized the 17th annual Feria de la Risa, or Laughter Fair, said what he calls "simple" clowns taunt their audiences searching for flaws, turning the spotlight away from themselves and onto their viewers.

What he describes as "prepared" clowns keep the focus on themselves, entertaining the audience without resorting to the ridicule of others.

Morales, who has been performing for 19 of his 60 years, plays a "grotesque" clown called Llantom and changes his colour scheme daily. His fright wig always matches his suit, sometimes blue, other days electric orange, or perhaps yellow.

Demonstrating the kind of humour employed by more sophisticated clowns, Llantom delighted a young boy who held a stuffed toy monkey as he walked across a theatre lobby. Llantom introduced himself to the child and told him how much he liked his dog, referring to the plush fake monkey.

Llantom says some of the more sophisticated clowns employ props, such as white-faced, rose-colour costumed Paulynn, who carried a white fake dog called Chuleta. Another clown had a fake pet rat in his pocket.

Those attending the clown fair paid $50 to attend workshops teaching skills ranging from how to twist balloons into sculptures to the intricacies of clown makeup and costumes.

But the biggest attractions were afternoon performance competitions at local theatres, with clowns filling red plush seats to draw inspiration as they watched each other's skits. Participating in a theatre on a well-lit stage is a real luxury for clowns who have spent the previous year working private parties or in the streets.