Fri Sep 10 2010

Circus Performer

Circus performers entertain audiences with displays of skills, such as acrobatics, juggling, stilt walking and aerial work on trapezes and high wires. Other performers include clowns, mime artists, fire-eaters, sword swallowers and dancers.

They devise original routines based on one or more skills and promote them to different employers. The work involves spending a great deal of time rehearsing and keeping fit. To hold the interest of audiences and keep acts fresh, new and exciting, performers spend time devising and rehearsing new movements and routines. They usually tailor their act to suit different venues and audiences.

There are no set working hours, and evening and weekend work is common. Performers work indoors and outdoors in venues ranging from 'big tops' to theatres and shopping centres. A great deal of travelling is involved, sometimes overseas, and performers may spend long periods away from home.

Salaries may range from £50 to £200 a show for part-time or occasional circus performers, but vary as many performers work freelance. Well-established performers may earn the annual equivalent of between £12,000 and £30,000 a year.

A circus performer should:

be highly skilled in their chosen performance area
be physically fit and agile
be energetic, with lots of stamina
be co-ordinated, with good timing
be entertaining and confident
be self-disciplined and committed to practice and rehearsals
be aware of health and safety regulations
enjoy PE and dance and like performing in front of audiences.

Opportunities for work range from traditional 'big top' travelling circuses to outdoor festivals, stage musicals, theatrical productions, arts festivals, community festivals, cabarets, corporate events and private functions. Competition for jobs is intense. Work is usually short-term or seasonal contracts. New entrants may have to supplement their income with other work. There are opportunities to work overseas.

There are no formal entry requirements to become a circus performer, but there are various full-time specialist courses available, lasting from 12 weeks to three years. Candidates may be asked to provide a video of their performance work and to attend an audition and interview.

Circus schools and other organisations offer short courses, workshops and masterclasses aimed at circus professionals wishing to increase their range of skills and improve their chances of getting work. There are also courses and summer schools aimed at children and adults that wish to try circus skills. The Circus Development Agency website provides useful information on these classes and short workshops.

There is no formal promotion structure for circus performers. Performers looking for work with better pay must spend a long time establishing their reputations. With experience, there may be opportunities to direct performances, lead a group of performers or teach circus skills to others.

What is the work like?

They perform at a range of events and venues, including:

traditional 'big top' circuses
festivals and other outdoor events
musicals and other theatrical performances
street theatre and busking
corporate events
cabarets and nightclubs.

Some performers specialise in a particular skill whilst others base their act around a number of different skills. While some perform alone, others work together in groups. Performers are usually responsible for producing, creating and promoting their acts to different employers. This means finding places to rehearse, sourcing equipment, organising publicity and creating videos or DVDs.

It is essential for most circus performers to keep up a high degree of physical fitness, and there is an element of risk involved in most acts. Performers must train and practise regularly, and follow health and safety requirements to minimise the risk of injury.

To hold the interest of audiences and keep acts fresh, new and exciting, performers spend time devising and rehearsing new movements and routines. They usually tailor their act to suit different venues and audiences.

Hours and environment

There are no set hours for circus performers. As well as giving daytime and evening performances, they spend a great deal of time keeping fit, practising and attending auditions and classes. Weekend work is common.

Performers work indoors and outdoors, in venues like 'big tops', theatres, arts centres, community halls, parks, seafronts and shopping centres.

Some circus performers, especially those working with touring circuses or theatrical companies, do a lot of travelling, sometimes overseas. This may involve spending only a night or two in each place, staying in bed and breakfast accommodation, theatrical digs, caravans and motorhomes, before moving to the next venue.

Performers wear comfortable clothing that allows them freedom of movement. Depending on the act, this can range from relaxed sports attire to elaborate stage costumes. Some performers wear specialist grip shoes and safety equipment, such as harnesses.

Salary and other benefits

These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary, depending on the employer and where people live.

Most circus performers work freelance, receiving a fee for each performance or contract. It takes a few years to become established. The work can be seasonal.

Part-time or occasional circus performers may earn between £50 and £200 a show.
More experienced circus performers in regular work may earn the annual equivalent of between £12,000 and £20,000 a year.
A small number of well-established circus performers may earn up to £30,000 a year.

Skills and personal qualities

A circus performer should be:

highly skilled in their chosen performance area
physically fit and agile
energetic with lots of stamina
co-ordinated, with excellent timing
a confident showperson, able to keep an audience entertained
original, creative and versatile
self-disciplined and committed to practice and rehearsals
aware of health and safety regulations
prepared to take controlled physical risks
able to work well in a team.

Interests

It is important to enjoy:

subjects like PE and dance
performing in front of audiences.

Getting in

Some circus performers work with traditional 'big top' travelling circuses, but there are also opportunities to appear in large-scale, staged circus shows, outdoor festivals, seasonal celebrations, stage musicals, arts festivals, community festivals and cabarets. A small but increasing number of theatrical plays feature performers with circus skills, and there may also be opportunities for freelance workers to perform at corporate events and other private functions. Opportunities may be increasing slightly but competition for jobs is still intense.

Work is usually short-term or seasonal contracts. New entrants may have to supplement their income with other work. There are opportunities to work overseas.

Networking is extremely important to find work, and many performers hear about opportunities through other performers and directors. Freelance circus performers may have agents who look for auditions and jobs on their behalf and negotiate fees in return for a percentage of their earnings. Some jobs are advertised on the Equity website and in The Stage magazine.

Entry routes

There are no formal entry requirements, although a circus performer will need a high level of ability in at least one circus act. School or leisure classes in gymnastics and modern dance provide a good background for learning circus skills.

Circus skills can be acquired in several ways, including attending:

part-time adult education classes
fun days, weekend and summer schools
community circuses
full-time professional courses.

Some college and university performing arts courses may include some forms of circus skills, alongside mime, dance and physical theatre. Check with providers for course content and entry requirements. Candidates may be asked to provide a video of their performance work and to attend an audition and interview.

There are also a number of specialist courses, including:

The Circus Space two-year foundation degree in circus arts. On completion, successful students may audition for a place on the BA (Hons) degree, which takes a further year of study.
Circomedia offers a one-year full-time diploma course, a two-year foundation degree in contemporary circus and physical performance and a two-year BTEC National Diploma in performance.
Greentop Circus offers a 12-week, full-time circus skills foundation course, accredited through the Open College Network to Levels 2 and 3.

These institutions and a number of others, including Circus Maniacs and NoFit State Circus, also offer a range of short, part-time and introductory courses, aimed at both children and adults. The Circus Development Agency website provides useful information on classes and short courses available to anyone who wants to try circus skills.

The Diploma in creative and media may be relevant to this area of work.

Training

Circus performers with more than one skill are likely to find more opportunities for work. The circus schools listed above, as well as offering recognised qualifications, also offer various courses aimed at circus professionals wishing to enhance their range of skills and to improve their acts. These include:

NoFit State Circus and The Academy of Circus Arts (supported by Zippo's Circus), which offer training programmes allowing students to learn on the road while performing with a professional company. As well as different performance skills, courses are available in technical aspects like rigging, lighting and sound.
Circus Maniacs which offers various professional development programmes for circus professionals.

Getting on

There is no formal promotion structure for circus performers. Performers wanting to progress to more prestigious work with better pay must spend a long time establishing their reputations, developing routines and learning new skills.

For those working for one company long term there may be the chance to be promoted to become a solo performer.

Some circus performers move on to direct performances or lead their own group of performers. Most circus performers teach skills to others as a part of their work.

Further information

The Academy of Circus Arts (supported by Zippo's Circus), Circus Headquarters, Enborne, Newbury, Berks RG20 0LD. 07050 282624. Website: www.zipposcircus.co.uk/aca/aca.htm

Circomedia, Britannia Road, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 8DB. 0117 947 7288. Website: http://www.circomedia.com/

Circus Development Agency. 0207 096 0999. Website: http://www.circusarts.org.uk/

Circus Friends Association of Great Britain (CFA). 01522 827296. Website: http://www.circusfriends.co.uk/

Circus Maniacs, Office 8a, Kingswood Foundation, Britannia Road, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 8DB. 0117 947 7042. Website: http://www.circusmaniacs.com/

The Circus Space, Coronet Street, London N1 6HD. 020 7729 9522. Website: http://www.thecircusspace.co.uk/

Creative and Cultural Skills, Lafone House, The Leathermarket, Weston Street, London SE1 3HN. 020 7015 1800. Website: www.creative-choices.co.uk/performingarts

Equity, Guild House, Upper St Martin's Lane, London WC2H 9EG. 020 7379 6000. Website: http://www.equity.org.uk/

Greentop Circus Centre, St Thomas Building, 74 Holywell Road, Sheffield S4 8AS. 0114 244 8828. Website: http://www.greentop.org/

NoFit State Circus, The Annexe, Ebenezer Chapel, Charles Street, Cardiff CF10 2GA. 029 2022 1330. Website: http://www.nofitstate.org/

Handsworth Wood Girls´

Visual and Performing Arts Specialist College and Sixth Form Centre