If performing isn’t your thing but you still love the thrill a circus brings, there are lots of jobs in circuses that don’t require acrobatics or strenuous physical activities. You could work backstage, with costumes, with animals, or set design and production. However, for the purpose of this article, we will be concentrating on circus performers.
If you’re doing something like clowning or juggling, you won’t need to be in marathon-running shape, but you’ll need to at least be fit enough to do things quickly, or, for example, to keep your arms up and juggling.
Do you want to work for something like Cirque du Soleil? Something more traditional, like Barnum & Bailey’s? Would you rather do something on a smaller level, like performing at fairs and festivals? Ultimately, it’s up to you. Just remember that with bigger gigs and more glory comes more responsibility and commitment, too.
This will essentially be a job. You’ll need to find a coach, get the right equipment (for safety, for example), and set aside time each day to be the best in your field. This has to be a priority to be on circus-level.
You want it perfect so when you’re called up, you can audition or be a substitute on a second’s notice. When you get the circus they may change it as they see fit, but it has to get you there in the first place.
Many circus acts have agents and work through recruiters, too. The more time you spend in the field, the more networked you’ll be, making it easier to make and find connections.
There’s a great job outlook, too. Most schools tout one of their biggest selling points as placing 100% (or nearly 100%) of their graduates in jobs. [1] X Research source
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 websites like Workaway[2] 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. It’s not glamorous, but it’s a step in the right direction!
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.
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.
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.
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.
No one makes it on their first try. You have to hear a chorus of rejections before you finally “get your break. " It could take months, it could take years, but you’ve got to trust that eventually it’ll happen. If you don’t believe in you, no one else will.
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.
What’s more, every role gets paid differently, too. If you’re at the bottom of the ladder, you may be getting $300 bucks a week; if you’re a featured performer like an acrobat or a contortionist, you could be making between $40,000 to $70,000 a year. Don’t forget – you’re getting free room and board, too. [4] X Research source The perks just keep on coming.
