r/circus

I’ve noticed that sometimes when I’m watching aerial routines online, I am transported into another world. Sometimes I’m watching a person on an apparatus do cool things but sometimes I’m watching a strange acrobat that i forget is human. They’re so captivating that im wondering what they will do next and what else they have in store. They don’t even have to be doing the hardest sequences. How does that second group of people do that? lol I don’t even know if this makes sense. What makes an act the kind of act that captivates you so much that makes you forget you’re watching a human being? (Hopefully y’all know what I’m talking about :) )

Edit: thank you so much for the responses! They are all super helpful. Going to really think about these more as I prepare for an upcoming showcase. It’s my first, so I know it’s not going to be anything spectacular. But I’d like to work towards that type of captivating act. Thanks again everyone!

Smarty Pants The Clown is looking for tips, tricks, and a new act for performance and entertainment. Please help us with suggestions on beginner level or something easily learned. She loves to sing, can't dance worth a flip, enjoys slapstick comedy, and can juggle clumsily. Possibly bubbles? Hoops? I don't know... I appreciate all the suggestions. Hopefully, this is a sufficient question for this subreddit. Thank you so much! I would love to be in a real circus 🎪!

i don’t mean this in a condescending way. my friend and i like to draw and share ideas with each other, she currently is drawing a clown and then we kind of stumbled into the topic. so i’m curious now, for anyone who has pursued the clown career, why? where did your inspiration come from and when did it start? are there any misconceptions about clown school, the career or the people that pursue it?

Hi all. I have to say that handstand give me a big dopamine rush when I stand just for a few seconds, but my biggest struggle is hand placement. As I was instructed, I kneel and put my hands flat on the floor, but usually I overdo it, and as I kick up, I feel pressure either on the bottom of my palms (and start going down) or I feel it on my fingertips and start falling over (I am glad I can catch myself now)

I want to know if there is an ideal way of how I should put my hands while kneeling, so that I am balanced when kicking up, and I also wish to know what a correct handstand feels like on the palm, like where I am supposed to feel the pressure during a successful handstand

Also, I usually catch myself with my right hand when falling over (front) and I hear doing a rear cartwheel is a better way to do it. Should I do that instead of using my hand to catch myself?

I am setting up a circus stage in my neighborhood and so far the events are working out well. The idea is to give to local jugglers and other circus artists opportunities to perform in front of people and for the neighborhood, which is one of the poorer places of the city, to give the possibility to enjoy circus culture for free. We ask for donations and split the hat after paying out the expenses.
Maybe in the future we will try to apply for fundings to be able to do more and better events and properly pay the artists, get some good sound and maybe an aerial rig. For this it would be great if our instagram page would be growing. Right now we are dreaming of our first 100 followers...
If you want to help us grow online we would appreciate if you consider to follow us on Instagram and like our stuff.
https://www.instagram.com/zinnzirkus/
the circus doesn't follow back. On my personal account I do follow back and will like your stuff.
https://www.instagram.com/milanleon.artist/

Hello all. I have spent all night thinking about it, but I just cannot quite understand if there is that big of a difference between somebody starting at childhood, and adulthood. I know people of all ages join the circus, and it is a really fun community to be in. But still, I get pretty nervous when I hear some people have been practicing since childhood. I have personallt started as an adult, and the only goal would really be to get into one of those tent circuses. I do not have any high ambitions like Du Soleil, and really any circus would suffice, as it is the experience, not the name that matters.

Personally, I have been practicing on my headstands and juggling, and am glad to see results after these couple of months. Practicing as an adult, I wonder what would be different if I have started a decade ago. How would my access, knowledge and skill differ? Being in the early twenties, I know that somebody younger than me can already be way better granted they have had a lot of practice. Particularly flexibility is one thing I am working on, and my biggest obstacle yet. Kids really seem to have it easier in that aspect.

I know that circus is moreso about networking than "elite gymnastics", and being okay performer will suffice, but you have to know people in order for others to know you "exist". To be honest my biggest issue is the lack of networking

I went to see a trapeze show last weekend and I spent half of it with my heart in my throat even though obviously these performers know what they're doing. Is that normal or am I just a wuss? Curious if other people experience this or if you get used to it the more you see live circus.

So this question is not for professional matters, I have been interested in being a clown but mostly for a hobbie, that being said I heard someone saying that having more than one clown persona is "bad".That bugged me a little, cause, I love Augustes and Arlecchinos but I also have a deep unconditional love for Pierrots and I thought that I could maybe do a separate persona for each of them.

I would love to know if that's actually seen as bad thing or not, I'm a complete ignorant on this topic so any word is really welcomed and I appreciate it

(Sorry if this is not the right sub for this question, I really didn't know where to ask)

To get to the circus stop at the street if you see a big path of basalt rocks. follow the trail when you see a blue house with a fence. go to the back of the fence then you see 2 trees. go into those trees and Walla you're in the circus or meet me at the end of the street at the basalt trail by 2:55. its in remond oregon

hi all! I am attending a production of 'Paranormal Cirque' tomorrow in my city and I am trying to figure out what its all about and if it is worth the money and how long the show is. Any tips or feedback on the show?

I often hear coaches and performers recommend taking clown or physical comedy workshops to work on stage presence, audience connection, and getting comfortable with vulnerability on stage.

For those of you whose primary discipline is something else (aerials, juggling, acrobatics, etc.) and decided to take some clown classes, how did that experience actually translate to your acts and the way you connect with the audience?