Circus Performers

If circus performance interests you, see a circus. Go to every circus that comes to your area. Talk to the performers about their work. Ask outright if there are jobs available, or write to or e-mail circuses to express your interest in finding circus work.

Gymnastics teams, drama clubs, and dance troupes provide performance experience and may help you decide if you have talent for this type of work. Those interested in animal training should volunteer at nearby zoos or stables. Ballet and mime are also valuable sources of insight into this field.

You may wish to join an association of jugglers, unicyclists, or another specialty. They often hold festivals, events, and seminars where you can train, get to know other circus performers, and perhaps find a mentor who can help you get into the field.

Attending a circus camp is also an excellent way to learn skills and find out about this career. Camps, such as Circus Camp (http://www.circuscamp.org) in Georgia, and Circus Smirkus (http://smirkus.org/smirkus-camp) in Vermont, are available across the country, and you can find out about them by searching the Web with the words "circus camp." In addition to being a camper, you may be able to find summer work as a counselor or instructor at such a camp once you have some experience.

Watch The Circus: Big Tent. Big Dreams., a four-hour mini-series that details the history of circuses and circus performers. It's available on streaming services. Check out Circopedia (http://www.circopedia.org), a free Web encyclopedia that features articles, oral histories, photos, and artwork about circuses and their long history.