Why do people join the circus

Start with corporate events, private parties, and halftime shows. To do this, take whatever opportunities you can. Tell your friends and family members to talk to their friends and family members about your act. You may get booked into private parties and local events just by word of mouth. This is one of the most reliable ways to market yourself and it can spread like wildfire. Consider doing long-term gigs, like on cruise ships. In addition to small, one-off gigs like private parties, think of less traditional semi-related gigs like on cruise ships.

This is a great stepping stone to getting to one of the bigger, official circuses around. Consider websites like Workaway [3] X Research source , too, where you can sign up for a period of time and be part of the circus in exchange for room and board.

Participate in circus festivals. Yep, those are a thing. Apply as early as you can, talk to your coach, agent, or recruiter, and get your name in the ring. It may, at least initially, cost you money for travel and what not, but it's a small sacrifice to make to be showcased.

Apply to and join a circus troupe. Can you believe you made it happen? Sometimes you'll apply and won't hear for months. If you don't hear back automatically, don't give up hope, but keep applying elsewhere. Don't shy away from international gigs, too. Live on the road. The one brutal fact that most circus hopefuls don't really think about is the fact that they'll be away from home, constantly living out of a suitcase.

Life onstage will be glamorous, but life offstage means hotels, vending machines, and sleeping in cars. Some people find this life rewarding, but others find it very challenging. To make it, you've gotta be the kind that thrives in this setting. It can be very lonely, too. You'll develop a circus family definitely, but your real family may even be thousands of miles away.

This, of course, depends on your contract. Only sign up for a period of time you know you can handle. Part 3. Understand what you're getting yourself into. Life in a circus isn't all glamorous as it's made out to be. If you're working with a traveling circus, you might have to deal with moving around a lot, and you will probably have to do your own makeup and need to buy or make your own costumes.

Working with circuses requires a lot of dedication just to stay optimistic for shows. If you're working for a legitimate, big business circus, most odds and ends like costumes will be handled for you. But if you're working on a smaller circuit, you may need to take certain expenses on yourself. Consider it the price to pay for doing something you love. Be determined. You will, without a doubt, run across people that will say "No.

It's very important you be able to push through these walls — or perhaps trapeze your way over them. If you are dedicated and love performing, you will find a job that works for you, and you will be able to continue performing. No one makes it on their first try. You have to hear a chorus of rejections before you finally "get your break.

If you don't believe in you, no one else will. Be ready for the physical demands. Being a circus performer is almost like being an athlete — your career will be over well before you feel like you're "old. You could be in tiptop shape or you could need two knee replacements. It won't be easy, but hopefully the physical stress is worth it.

In fact, your body basically means your job. If you don't take care of it, you could be out of a gig in no time. It's important to sleep, eat right, stay healthy, and, above all, stay safe. The last thing you want to do is compromise your career because you made poor decisions. How does circus work pay? Although it differs from circus to circus, it mostly depends on the job, the show, and the length of which you're working. To order copies of Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.

Hit the beach. Report an error. Journalistic Standards. About The Star. More Life. Top Stories. About Contact Us Feedback. The work-hands, like me, were drifters, very few of whom who lasted the whole season.

You ran away to the circus, which is at once an actual thing you did and also this wild idea of freedom that has beguiled thousands of kids for hundreds of years. Now, that avenue has been forestalled so the loss of the circus is actual and, to some extent, poetic.

The reason I joined at first was because I loved animals. Just show up when school is out. For me, but not just me, the circus meant freedom. It meant a way to get out. It meant a way to escape. In each town we came to, there were people who would drop off.

Sometimes just because they were too drunk to catch the train or sometimes they made the train but then fell off. My god. So there were always openings. What would you tell kids who are going to grow up with the circus? While both are indeed circus classics, some circuses may opt not to include these mainstays, for safety or other practical reasons.

Not Helpful 3 Helpful Most of the times, they sleep in their caravans, but some large circuses might give the performers a place to live. Not Helpful 4 Helpful 8.

I am a professional knife-thrower. Is that an act that a big time circus would want? It's possible! Get in touch with a circus that interests you and see if they might have the space for your act. Not Helpful 7 Helpful Not Helpful 6 Helpful I've been told that I'm good at playing piano. Is there room for piano in circus? A lot of circuses have people play music during the shows. Most small circuses use pre-registered music though.

Most of the time, they use instruments like trumpets, saxophones etc. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 3. First you should know what you're getting into. Educate yourself on what circus clowns do by watching videos of circus clowns and visiting circuses. Then you should start planning what you will be doing.

Avoid cliches as much as possible. Your costume should be original, so try avoiding classics like a red nose and oversize shoes. You can also consider getting custom made costumes. Most circuses have their clowns appear multiple times throughout the show, so plan multiple performances. Things like making balloon animals and other things most people think of when they hear the word "clown" aren't part of what circus clowns actually do.

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 4. Yes illusionists are a staple of circuses. So if you have a magic act, that is good enough you can try out. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1.