Two street performers in Canada founded Cirque du Soleil, also known as the “Circus of the Sun,” and it quickly developed into a renowned modern circus. Often referred to as Cirque, it combines breathtaking stunts, acrobatic tricks, artistic creativity, whirling colors, flying performers, blurs of style, and beautiful music.
People who want to work at a top-tier entertainment company should consider Cirque du Soleil. Performers, athletes, dancers, musicians, clowns, and actors all work on stage. Athletes’ therapists, patternmakers, costume designers, personal trainers, interpreters, wig designers, riggers, technical producers, makeup artists, artistic directors, and show managers are examples of people who work in technical and show support. Finance, human resources, administration, IT, marketing, and talent scouts are among the corporate jobs. Consider the number of individuals necessary for Cirque du Soleil to consistently be the height of creativity.
New shows are created and new venues are selected annually. The current shows Totem, Varekai, Viva Elvis, Zed, Alegria, Dralion, Kooza, Iris, or Michael Jackson The Immortal are among the most inspiring and impressive. Some performances, like the one at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, are always in the same place, while other performances tour the globe to captivate live audiences.
Because everyone at Cirque du Soleil is passionate, the company has a reputation for being a great place to work. It’s a laid-back, informal, and family-friendly setting where everyone remembers your birthday. You might work at a training facility that resembles a college campus or tour the globe with a show. In either case, you’ll frequently cross paths with business executives, clowns with face paint, and set designers covered in paint. You can spend a lifetime with Cirque. Cirque makes internal career transitions simple, whether you want to become an acrobat, wig designer, or accountant.
Attending a performance is the best way to determine if working for Cirque du Soleil is right for you. Send in an online application if the music, performers, and experience as a whole completely dazzle and wow you. If your application is accepted, you will interview with department managers and receive a job offer. Attending a recruiting event or job fair is an additional way to stand out. Globetrotting talent scouts recruit individuals also.
Job offers usually come with 1 or 2 year contracts. Most performers make between $30,000 and $100,000 per year. Other Cirque employees may be paid hourly or by the show, depending on the position. At the Cirque Studios, employees can choose between shared lodging and travel accommodations. Benefits like competitive pay, paid time off, performance bonuses, insurance plans, discounted tickets, and retirement accounts are provided to all employees. Additionally, they have access to top-notch gyms and training facilities to keep them in top condition for their performances under the big top.
Skills for circus employees
Depending on their positions within the organization, circus workers may need a wide range of skills. Some of the most crucial abilities for performers and support staff are listed below:
Skills for circus performers
These are some important skills for circus performers:
Skills for circus support staff
The following are some crucial abilities for staff members who play supporting roles in a circus:
What are circus jobs?
All positions required for circuses to run and entertain audiences are known as circus jobs. This can include supporting roles as well as show-stopping occupations like tightrope walkers, acrobats, dancers, aerialists, ringmasters, and jugglers. Supporting roles, such as artistic director, hair and makeup artist, costume designer, lighting technician, stagehand, and set designer, enable performances. Additionally, circuses work with marketing experts, transportation specialists, merchandisers, talent scouts, and booking agents.
Types of jobs in the circus
Here are 10 circus jobs you can consider. Please click on the links below to view the most recent Indeed salaries:
Stagehands’ main responsibilities are to change the scenery and the stage during live performances. Their duties frequently involve setting up sets before performances, taking them down afterward, and moving sets between performances. Stagehands frequently change sets between acts, provide props, assist performers offstage, and create special effects during performances. Inspecting equipment, making sure safety precautions are taken, and cleaning and organizing the backstage area are some of their additional responsibilities. These specialists frequently work with trapezes, stunt gear, and trampolines in circuses and are in charge of making sure audiences are safe while watching performances.
Sound engineers’ main responsibilities are to design sound systems for various types of performances. They are typically in charge of providing the music and sound effects that go along with various acts in circuses. They frequently install speakers and sound systems in performance spaces, perform functional tests, work with directors, actors, and lighting specialists, and dismantle audio equipment after the performance is over. Sound engineers can also fix audio quality problems, put microphones on performers, and transport speakers and other audio equipment safely. These experts frequently need formal training in electronics and acoustics.
Stage managers’ main responsibilities are to oversee stage productions during live performances and rehearsals. They frequently collaborate with directors, stagehands, actors, audio technicians, and lighting specialists to produce performances that adhere to the artistic director’s plans. Giving directions to stagehands and performers, scheduling rehearsals, supervising prop and stage construction, ensuring crew safety, and spotting mistakes during performances and rehearsals are just a few of the common responsibilities of stage managers. To effectively carry out their duties, these professionals frequently need excellent communication, leadership, time management, and organizational skills.
Dancers’ main responsibilities are to perform a variety of dance forms for audiences. Dancers are frequently featured in circuses as separate acts or as supporting actors during acrobatic, aerial, juggling, and other acts. Dancers frequently dedicate a lot of time to learning and perfecting difficult choreography in unison with other performers as well as working out to stay healthy. Before live performances, dancers must coordinate with the staff doing their hair, makeup, and costumes. Some dancers might also need to be skilled in acting, singing, or acrobatics.
Hairstylists’ primary responsibilities include cutting and styling hair for clients or performers. In a circus setting, hairstylists frequently collaborate with wardrobe experts and artistic directors to create hairstyles that improve performers’ appearances during performances. Hairstylists frequently consult with actors to learn about their needs and devise plans for executing the director’s vision. They assist each performer with finalizing their preparations prior to performances, which may include styling and arranging hair, fastening wigs, trimming or coloring hair, or assisting with costumes. They frequently assist performers in resetting their hair and taking off costumes after a performance.
Booking agents’ main responsibilities include scheduling and overseeing performances by musicians, theater productions, speakers, comedians, dance troupes, and other performers. Many circuses work with booking agents to assist them in finding shows at appropriate venues. Finding potential venues, getting in touch with venue managers, negotiating contracts, setting up details like performance dates and times, and working with directors and event planners are all common tasks for booking agents. They might also help managers plan tours, book accommodations and meals for artists, or market their clients. These professionals frequently need exceptional communication abilities, a knack for time management, and the capacity for organization.
Primary duties: Lighting technicians provide light effects for theater performances. Lighting technicians are frequently employed by circuses to add spotlights and intricate colored light effects to their performances. Together with directors and stage managers, lighting technicians must determine the needs of a performance. They must also install lamps and lighting fixtures, create a schedule to match different acts, and attend rehearsals. Additionally, they transport lighting equipment between venues, set up lighting systems ahead of performances, take down lighting systems after performances, and uphold safety protocols around high voltage electrical systems.
Makeup artists’ main responsibilities are to prepare performers for performances by applying makeup and body paint. Expensive costumes are frequently used in circus acts, and many circuses work with makeup artists to help them design unique prosthetics for their performers. Before dress rehearsals and live performances, makeup artists meet with performers to apply makeup. They do this in collaboration with costume designers and directors. These experts must have the knowledge to produce garments that are both long-lasting enough to wear onstage and that blend in with the lighting of the performance. Makeup artists frequently assist performers take off their cosmetics and prosthetics after performances.
Primary responsibilities: Circuses employ a wide range of performers, and their particular responsibilities differ depending on their specialty. Clowns, jugglers, aerialists, unicyclists, tightrope walkers, acrobats, dancers, plate spinners, divers, poi swingers, and fire breathers are a few examples of common circus performers. These performers are accountable for consistently honing their performances, maintaining their physical fitness, collaborating with other performers, adhering to safety regulations, attending rehearsals, and showing up on time for performances. Additionally, they might go to costume fittings, consult with make-up artists and hair stylists, and create new acts.
Talent acquisition managers’ main responsibilities include providing their organizations with a large pool of qualified workers. To assist them in finding performers and support staff, some circus companies employ talent acquisition managers. These experts frequently collaborate with directors to establish the requirements for the circus, review audition tapes, invite applicants in for live auditions, host open auditions, scout out new performers, or connect with performers online or in person. Talent acquisition managers also assist with hiring processes like interviews, reviewing applications, setting up contracts, onboarding new hires, and developing retention plans for their organizations.
Marketing directors’ main responsibilities are to use advertising to raise their companies’ visibility and profitability. To manage their marketing initiatives and raise brand awareness, many circus businesses employ marketing managers. To create advertising campaigns, these experts collaborate with social media managers, graphic designers, and copywriters. They also track marketing metrics to identify successes and challenges, create marketing budgets, and formulate long-term marketing strategies. Marketing managers frequently need a lot of advertising experience, analytics expertise, creativity, business savvy, and knowledge of social media and paid advertising campaigns.
How to Run Away and Join the Circus
FAQ
What positions are there in a circus?
- Acrobalance.
- Acrobatics.
- Acro dance.
- Adagio.
- Aerial hoop.
- Aerial silk.
- Aerial straps.
- Animal training.
What are people who work at circuses called?
This could be something extraordinary and original like Silk aerials, trapeze, acrobatics, juggling, trampolining, tightrope, diabolo, clowning, stilt walking, etc. The majority of circus work is very demanding, so you won’t be able to pick up a skill overnight. To become stage-ready, it will take commitment, practice, and dedication.
What do circus workers do?
Cirky: A member of the circus and its equivalent to the word “carny” Clem — A fight. Cloud Swing is a rope “u”-shaped swing used in aerial acts that lacks bars. Most performers using the cloud swing never used safety features.
