How can I join a traveling circus?

Hello, There are many different kinds of job options within the circus. For now let's just start with the basics! The first thing to do before doing anything else is ask yourself: "Am I willing spend anywhere from 3 to 11 months of the year traveling?" Some circuses stay in one place, but most are touring companies. Working with a traveling circus is exciting and rewarding, but the lifestyle requires a real commitment and a certain amount of grit that not everyone has. You don't just work for the circus, you LIVE in the circus too! It is very similar to camping. You must be prepared to live in a different environment every week. This means that the weather, the altitude, the work space, and general living conditions will vary drastically in every city you visit. You must constantly be prepared to adapt. Know that you will not be living a life of luxury. There will be inconveniences similar to those you might face while camping. Although your coworkers will help you as much as they can, in general you must be able to take care of yourself in these situations. If you are prone to claustrophobia or motion sickness, seriously consider whether you can handle a life of constant travel. You will be traveling by RV or train or bus, sometimes for days at a time. Your living space is pretty compact. You will encounter difficulties on the road, just as you might on any long road trip. Basically, if you don't think you can handle the lifestyle changes that go along with a job in the circus, you might want to reconsider applying. BUT! If you think you're up for the challenge, the next step is to make a list of circuses that you'd like to apply for. Assuming you are looking in America, there are many to choose from. As you probably know, larger circuses such Ringling Bros. will have a https://feldentertainment.mua.hrdepartment.com/hr/ats/JobSearch/viewAll that lists all of the currently available positions. Smaller circuses may not list career opportunities on their sites, but will provide a contact email instead. It can be difficult to apply for any job online; you can never be sure whether your application is being reviewed, or being lost in the spam folder. So what to do? If you have already tried applying via circus career websites, email, or phone, the next thing I would suggest would be LEGWORK, aka apply/inquire IN PERSON. There are two good ways to do this: 1: Scrape together $15 for a ticket to a show. Like Ringling, some circuses have a "preshow" or an option to arrive early and meet performers. You could use that time to ask questions about current openings, the process of getting hired, or who to contact about applying for a job. And don't just ask performers. There's also circus concessions, the floor crew, animal crew, sound techs, and more. Ask anyone you come into contact with. Most people will at least be willing to give you the name of someone to contact. 2: Simply be brave! If you see someone who works for the circus, walk up and ask about current openings, or who to contact to get a job. Most people will appreciate your interest and at least hear you out. If legwork doesn't get you anywhere, the next thing I would recommend would be to NETWORK using social media. Make friends in and around the circus. There are organizations out there that literally follow circuses from town to town. Circus Fans of America (http://CFA) is a great example. Their website is a great source of circus news and events, and it's free to view. Joining the organization and making friends would also give you insight into which circuses might be hiring at what time of year. Search for circus fan websites, facebook groups, twitter pages, blogs...whatever you can find. Some circus workers are accessible via social networking. If you want to be an aerialist, befriend and aerialist. If you have no acrobatic skills but still want a job in the circus, befriend a concessions worker or someone on floor crew. There are many types of entry-level jobs in the circus, and you never know when a spot will open up! Making contacts inside the circus means that you could receive notice on openings almost as soon as they happen. Overall, I'd say if you really badly want a job in the circus, don't give up. Every time an opening is posted that you want, apply for it, even if you've done so already. As with any job, persistence is key!

Megan nails all the big factors. I'll add one more thing to it all. Be ready at a moments notice. Circus shows are full of moving parts and people, tomorrow someone could get hurt, quit or fired and that position needs to be filled ASAP. If you tell them to call back tomorrow, the position will already be filled. Good luck!!!!