What People are Saying about Working for the Circus

What follows are a series of testimonials from people holding different positions in different circuses. Some people love their work and some people dislike it. However, everyone can agree that the life is exhilarating!

You barely make enough money just to survive.. you will be forced to live 3 or 4 to a cheap apartment with other performers, just to survive. If you manage to go with Ringling, you will be living like a rat and traveling on an old PULLMAN CAR that was built in the 1930’s or 1940’s where you will have a small sleeping space that isn’t big enough to swing a cat and you will live a life where your world compresses to practicing, doing shows and traveling. It’s a lifestyle that wears you down quickly and many people can’t take the living closely with others and having only minimal privacy.

            -Username “Theater Dork” Yahoo Answers

The contagious excitement and pure joy of the customers each night; the stimulation of working with people from so many diverse cultures, languages and nationalities; the giddiness of living the Cirque magic and dream day in and day out made everything else I’d ever done pale in comparison. That, and using my French every night to converse with my supervisors, made for the ideal job.

            -Kristin O’Brien, Cultural Map: Austin

For eight months of the year, this group leads a nomadic existence… [T]here is a palpable spirit of making do, the kind of mood one might expect from the survivors of an apocalypse, once they had got over the shock.

            -Leo Bendictus, The Guardian

“We get tickled when the media refers to something being a ‘circus,’” said Byrd. “A circus is a very organized precise business. It has to be to do what we do, to transport all the people, all the animals, and all these vehicles to a new town every day and set up and do a show. There’s nothing erratic or crazy, except maybe what goes on in the ring.”

            -Edward Southerland, Carson & Barnes Circus

We usually do not have a hard time finding unskilled laborers for tent crew and we do not place inexperienced employees in our animal department. Please inquire about positions with our company if you have specific skills or experience. If it is not a traditional circus skill or it’s an “off the wall” experience, let us know what you think you would contribute to our organization.

            Culpepper & Merriweather Circus, Employment Information

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110117152732AAS5KH7

http://austin.culturemap.com/newsdetail/08-05-11-15-10-a-one-woman-adventure-she-always-said-shed-run-away-and-join-the-circus/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/apr/11/working-life-circus-performer

http://www.cmcircus.com/work/

http://www.carsonbarnescircus.com/day-in-the-life/

Cirque de Financials

The above video is President and Chief Executive Officer of Cirque du Soleil, Daniel Lamarre, discussing the strategies employed by his company to stay ahead of the curve. The interviewer alludes to the fact that this is a multimillion dollar industry and no circus is bigger than Cirque du Soleil. The magnitude of the company is put into focus when it is revealed that $500 million dollars are being invested in new shows in Macau, Tokyo, and Las Vegas. Clearly this industry has tremendous upside and the company, which remains private, believes that it is recession-proof.

Furthermore, Cirque du Soleil is reportedly financed by “a third party.” These third parties are typically large casinos that pay the troupe to perform for a season. Due to the quality and demand of the show, people are attracted to it and it becomes a profitable affair for everyone involved. However, ticket prices remain between $40 and $195, a relatively cheap price considering the $165 million dollar price tag to stage “Wheel of Death.”

However, the opening of Ka generated approximately $600 million dollars in revenue for the company so there is a promising market, and the company believes in can capitalize on the inauspicious economic environments. People are searching for an escape, and what better opportunity to do so than in a family setting with a performance that manages to bring people back year after year.

Attendance Decline

Circus has been one of America’s greatest pastimes.  Having begun as a small group of entertainers their popularity peaked into late 1800s and early 1900s, as they grew larger and more popular.  However, their popularity declined in the mid-20^th century.  With the increase in electronic entertainment, such as TV and radio, attendance declined.  The circus had what television and radio did not have: high overhead costs.  With railroad travel, city licenses, rentals and salaries, shows were forced to raise the prices of their tickets as their expense increased.  As a result, consumers began substituting the media for the circus, choosing the cheaper of the two options.

Job Opportunities with the Circus

Joining the circus in an interesting career path and requires the right individual.  To get a job with the circus, the applicant must be extremely talented and willing to devote a great deal of time working on the show.  A few months ago, I saw the Cirque Du Soleil in New Orleans.  Here is a clip from the performance which was Michael Jackson themed.

In order to join the Cirque Du Soleil, applicants go through an intensive three step job application process.  The majority of the selection is determined by the audition component.  Today, Cirque du Soleil employs 5000 employees worldwide including several former professional athletes.  They are always looking to hire hard-working, talented people to join their team.

 

-Lauren

 

http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/jobs/casting/how-to-join/step2.aspx