Thinking of joining the circus? Here's how that works

Meanderer

Meanderer

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[h=2]Sorry, the human cannonball jobs are filled; do you like elephants?[/h]http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/thinking-of-joining-the-circus-heres-how-that-work/nRw8L/

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Years ago, I actually talked to two people who had been clowns with the Ringling Bros. Circus. The told me "being with a circus isn't as easy as anyone might thing..........even for clowns. You live on a train, and because of Show times, you do laundry in the middle of the night. In fact, what a lot of people do during the day, you do in the middle of the night and that includes trying to get sleep. One thing being in a circus is not........a 9 to 5 job with weekends off."

That's what this husband and wife told me.

Wife and I have been to the Ringling Bros. Circus before and loved it. Wife loves lions and tigers and there was an entire act/ring of that.
And to boot, a female tamer! I got a picture of this lady w/a beautiful White Tiger standing up on it's hind legs.Circus21.jpg
 

ClassicRockr said:
Years ago, I actually talked to two people who had been clowns with the Ringling Bros. Circus. The told me "being with a circus isn't as easy as anyone might thing..........even for clowns. You live on a train, and because of Show times, you do laundry in the middle of the night. In fact, what a lot of people do during the day, you do in the middle of the night and that includes trying to get sleep. One thing being in a circus is not........a 9 to 5 job with weekends off."

That's what this husband and wife told me.

Wife and I have been to the Ringling Bros. Circus before and loved it. Wife loves lions and tigers and there was an entire act/ring of that.
And to boot, a female tamer! I got a picture of this lady w/a beautiful White Tiger standing up on it's hind legs.View attachment 8787
Click to expand...

That's a great picture of the white tiger! Yeah, I guess back in the days when the Circus "came to town" in every little burg & hamlet, it seemed romantic and exotic enough, that later when life soured at home, a kid might think "that's where the action is"! Being a married couple might make it better I guess, but for a single guy or gal, it could be a sad life. What a life....getting up early and taking the elephant for a walk! :)
 
Now, that REALLY made my wife and I laugh! We love humor........two "thumbs up" for that statement.

Meanderer said:
That's a great picture of the white tiger! Yeah, I guess back in the days when the Circus "came to town" in every little burg & hamlet, it seemed romantic and exotic enough, that later when life soured at home, a kid might think "that's where the action is"! Being a married couple might make it better I guess, but for a single guy or gal, it could be a sad life. What a life....getting up early and taking the elephant for a walk! :)
Click to expand...
 
I'd love to attend Clown College - if I were about 30 years younger. I'm not sure I could keep up with the pratfalls anymore.

But I think I'd enjoy life on a train and the weird schedule - heck, I already keep that kind of schedule.

... and most people tell me I'm a clown, so I guess in a roundabout way I got my wish. :pepper:

Actually, many moons ago I hung out and traveled a bit with a carnival in Florida, working as their official photographer / writer. Some of the folks in that company were damned scary, including the one guy who threatened to kill me if I took his picture.

I got revenge by making out with his girlfriend just before I left. :rofl:
 
I never considered a circus. As a young teenager I did seriously consider taking off with a carnival. Common sense finally prevailed or I hope that's what it was.
 
We've been to a few Carnival's and seen some pretty scary looking people operating rides. Some of them sure don't look very clean. And, sure aren't the kind of people you'd see at a Starbucks! Wonder if any are felon's and this is one of the only jobs they can get. I think Circus people must have experience in their act in order to work in that industry. Now, where they get that "experience" from, I really don't know.
 
ClassicRockr said:
We've been to a few Carnival's and seen some pretty scary looking people operating rides. Some of them sure don't look very clean. And, sure aren't the kind of people you'd see at a Starbucks! Wonder if any are felon's and this is one of the only jobs they can get. I think Circus people must have experience in their act in order to work in that industry. Now, where they get that "experience" from, I really don't know.
Click to expand...

It's funny how words change their meaning. In today's word "Carnival" spells Cruise ship! :)

View attachment 8802
 
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