The proliferation of 'badut jalanan' over the last year has led to a boom in the costume retail and rental industry. — The Jakarta Post/ANN
Prices range from Rp500,000 to Rp3mil , depending on the complexity and quality of the costume. Secondhand costumes come for much cheaper, so are a more affordable option for people turning to performing as badut jalanan to make ends meet. “I get so many texts and calls from people who want to rent my costumes. Most are people who lost their main income [source], ” Paiman told me by phone. He added that he had to turn down the majority, since he had only two costumes to rent out.
“We have fewer orders from companies due to the pandemic, but we have seen an increase in orders from people who just lost their jobs and want to make some extra cash to survive, ” Beth told me by phone. As for legal enforcement, Prayitno said the agency did not have the authority: “That’s the task of Satpol PP, to enforce the law if [street performers] are caught disturbing the peace.”The term is the shortened form of “gelandangan dan pengemis” , an official category that includes unskilled or jobless people asking for handouts.
Daffa Andika, a 26-year-old who runs the independent Kolibri Records in Jakarta, feels this way about street clowns.