Circus Performers

P. T. Barnum once said, "As long as there are children, there will always be circuses." Circuses will continue, though their formats change with the times.

Although the U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment for entertainers and performers will grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2032, job opportunities for circus performers will not be as strong. The entertainment tastes of the public have changed, and it is also costly to run a large traveling circus. The circus industry does not include a large number of employers, and with the number of circuses declining, there are fewer opportunities for performers.

Traditional circuses are changing. Tents are seldom used because they are costly and impractical. It's often more convenient to perform in an arena. Also, many animal acts are being eliminated because of the large costs involved in maintaining and transporting them, as well as complaints from animal-rights activists. There is less emphasis on props and equipment, to make travel easier and cheaper. Circus acts are more flexible: They are able to perform in either a three-ring format or on a proscenium stage. Circuses are becoming more theatrical, using professional designers, lighting, and musicians. They often have a special theme. Specialty circuses are expanding, such as Cirque du Soleil, Big Apple Circus, and Circus Flora.

Those who work in a resident company of a circus can become well known and have greater job security. There are more opportunities for circus performers outside the circus, and there is always an interest for new, unusual, never-been-seen acts. The private party business is growing, and circus performers may appear in television and music videos.

The number of circus performers far outnumbers job openings. More and more circus acts from overseas, especially from Eastern Europe, Russia, and China, are competing for openings in American circuses. In addition, the rise of animal activism has made the development of acts involving animals more challenging. So while opportunities remain good for the most highly skilled performers, they are marginal for those at the entry level.