[dfwgator]

There’s a reason why entertainers used to be considered to be second-class citizens in decent societies.

[Red Badger]

I assumed it was because of ‘travelling’ minstrels and circuses......................

[SamAdams76]

For most of civilization, entertainers were firmly entrenched in the lower classes of society. For example, in a royal household, they were typically lodged in servants quarters and dined at the servants table. They were never taken seriously and it was well established that they were only kept around for the mirth and entertainment of their betters.

In fact, modern words like joker, jester and fool originated from the times when entertainers were "kept" by nobles and royals as forms of amusement.