My thoughts are a bit scattered and long, so I numbered them, but this is what's on my mind:

I'm a hula hooper of 13 years. I'm starting massage school in a few weeks, and my hope is that because massage therapists generally work 15-30 hours a week as opposed to a traditional 40 hour a week career, I'd be able to support myself while performing professionally. The past three years I have done 9 hobby performances, taught four workshops, one of them at a festival that I also got paid to perform in, and a small paid role in a bigger show, while running a circus arts group for two of those years.

The Plan!

1. Get my massage license so I have a stable career.

2. After massage school I'll have money to afford aerial lessons (I want to combine aerial arts with hula hoops), get some fire hoops, more LED hoops, high-quality costume wardrobe, choregraph a list of really solid acts, get a promo video, etc. etc... I can't imagine paying for all of this with a performance job, I'd strongly prefer for that to come out of a more high paying income.

3. I'm super super lucky and have a minimum wage job with scholarship money, so I'm considering getting another BA in dance. I did a self-designed BA in Somatic Psychology already, and just graduated from that.

4. I would hope between a BA studying body awareness, another one in dance, aerial lessons, having hooped over half my life, and having a solid character and choreography put together that I could start applying places to perform professionally. What types of gigs would be realistic? Would I be able to get hired as both an onsite sports massage therapist for the performers and a performer for a traveling group? Maybe teaching circus arts at a school and doing local shows and not caring if it's professional or hobby since I'd already have 2 main sources of income. Any suggestions on what a realistic way would to have both careers are appreciated!

I have always been interested in sideshow/body tricks suck as the human blackhead and swordswallowing but I have heard that its not a good idea for me to learn them without someone who can safely teach me

Is there any place in Pittsburgh that I can find someone who i can learn from?

Clowning around in San Diego after ImprovCon… I climbed this crazy park structure wearing the clown pants I made. 🤡

I was at the park with my family — and a year ago I would’ve looked at this thing and been like “that’s cool… but no way I’m going up it.” The new me instantly decided to climb. It felt so good... 🥹🌈

I’ve been rereading The Creative Act by Rick Rubin and honestly it’s such an incredible book I had to reread it. I’ve been starting and ending my days with it and there are constantly little nuggets that hit me so hard. There’s a section about experimenting with your process that’s been especially fun lately!! 🎨

The past few nights I’ve been playing around on my Ableton Push 3 (magical live beat making music device thing ✨) — letting myself mess with characters and voices, stream-of-consciousness style, whatever pops up. It feels a bit like clown in some ways!! I’ve been trying little experiments… singing upside down off my couch, singing past midnight when I’m really tired, moving around my bedroom like I’m on a stage performing for an audience. Each variation took me somewhere unexpected. 🎤

And the other night I had this little breakthrough moment where I slipped into a very subconscious flow state. I felt so connected to creating. That spark of being alive and human. Surprised by the words coming out of my mouth — are they me or something else or is there really no difference? I love that thought. 👁️

Conquering fears and actually doing things instead of just living in my mind has been so rewarding. Converting nerves into excitement and play. Musical improv especially — I’m so excited by the idea of doing it live in front of an audience. Just need to fully work up the courage and set a date!! 👀

Basically… I just wanna laugh all the time. At myself. In general. Giggling. Surprising myself. Clown energy forever. 😂💖

Multidisciplinary life is so fulfilling and fun. Following the fun day by day. 💛

I love playing with the arm on the opposite side of my body. Does anyone know what that trick is called? I understand there's a Ukrainian woman who does it very well, but I can't remember her name.

Live Court Jester juggling

Hi all. As an aspiring acrobat I wish to expand and be in a constant. productive environment. Now, I will pursue ground acrobatics myself, but classes aren't a daily thing, so I wish to compile a list of what I should practice at home. I can dedicate an hour or two every day. I am currently practicing juggling, with a goal of juggling 4 balls at a time, but I don't really know what else I should be practicing. My only guess is I should maybe try basic headstand? If somebody could help me make a list of the things that would be helpful to learn at home, I will be eternally grateful.

Just some thoughts bouncing around my lil head... I think we underestimate how important spectacle is.

We live in a culture increasingly designed around convenience, efficiency, screens and the relentless flattening of experience. And then there is the circus: a room full of strangers watching someone fly through the air for absolutely no practical reason whatsoever.

That feels important to me. More important now than ever.

Circus creates a particular kind of collective awe. You gasp together. You laugh together. You watch someone do something that seems completely impossible, and for a moment your ordinary understanding of the world gets interrupted.

That is a kind of ritual.

We need experiences that take us outside the mundane. We need heightened theatricality, beauty, danger, absurdity and people attempting things that have no obvious reason to exist except that they are extraordinary.

The circus reminds us that being alive doesn't have to be entirely utilitarian.

Maybe spectacle isn't frivolous. Maybe deliberately creating wonder is actually a valuable thing to do with a human life.

I insist on everything being operatic because why not.

There is already enough ordinary in the world.

Give me the lights. Give me the music. Give me the impossible thing happening twenty feet above my head.

Let us be amazed.

Thoughts....

Very weird posts recently, both by an account called coolsomethingnumber, both 1 day old with one post, both no context pictures. Its obviously bots, but why? My guess is AI astroturfing, where people put stuff on reddit for the ai to read and include in its results.

Hi all. I am somebody who wishes to become an acrobat. After some consideration, I have started practicing acrobatics. My biggest worry was that I had no chance as I didn't practice acrobatics as a child, but I have been relieved after I've heard stories of people starting in their 30's and having success with employment. This made me question some things though, as I heard many things about the employment in the circus, and one of those was that it was a competitive field to get into.

So, now I am up at night, thinking not only about my future, but wondering how I will find employment in acrobatics. I mean from what I hear, there is a fair share of acrobats who started doing this as children. I wonder how does this differentiate them from an adults aged 20-30+ years old. For example, I see Du Soleil requires 10 years of experience and at least two appearances in national competitions. I mean I may be young, but I think I won't hit my peak, since I did not start practicing as a child. By the time I get 10 years experience, I will be 30.

And that's ok, since Du Soleil is not my priority, though it is something I consider a pinnacle of my career if it is ever going to happen. Now, I assume that other circuses have less strict requirements, which is why people aged 30+ can get jobs in acrobatics there. A trained acrobat can do impressive stuff!! Doesn't matter their age.

Now for my biggest question: How drastically would an acrobat's career change have they started practicing as a child as opposed to starting at 20 years old. Do less experienced acrobats usually travel the country or stay at one place? Does their skill determine whether they are going to travel or be in a stationary circus? Also, how likely is it that somebody who starts at the age of 20 or even 30 will have a shot at working in Du Soleil?

Some background on me! I am a drag performer and musician with a decent amount of stage experience under my belt!
I am looking to start incorporating both more mundane sideshow acts into my performances in the future (juggling mainly, but i am open to all suggestions!), and in the future have a great interest in things like body stapling and various other more extreme acts (needles, nails etc etc)

Is there any good, and more importantly trustworthy online resources for these things? I’m looking to learn as much information as possible before I dive into learning myself!! Thanks!! :D

Hi! This is my first time using Reddit so I apologize if I do anything wrong. I’m in love with aerial and all things circus but I’ve been having joint pain in my wrists that seems to just get worse and worse, and I’m unable to use my hands very much. It’s been heartbreaking not being able to do silks, lyra, trapeze, juggling, etc; but I recently remembered that the art of hair hanging exists! I know at a higher level you would need your hands to do cool poses and such, but at a beginner level I think it would be a great way for me to continue doing aerial while I figure out what’s wrong with my hands! The only problem is, my studio in VA doesn’t teach hair hanging, so I wanted to ask if anyone knows any studios that do teach it or offer workshops or private lessons? Thanks so much!

It’s gotta be bots right? Like half of them have the act or apparatus wrong and they’re all the exact same wording.

🎭 The Jester And The King 👑

Enjoy a playful hula hoop dance where the King is entertained by the Court Jester (me)!

Featuring my husband Michael Richards as the king! 🤴🏻

Filmed at the Winter Gardens, Virginia/Rotokawau Lake, Whanganui, New Zealand. 🇳🇿

Yo gang. :) I'm trying to find a place that makes nice (& unfortunately expensive) costumes to perform in. Every time I go looking for stuff I keep finding this cheap kitschy stuff.

Is there an industry standard outlet that folks go to? (prefereably in Europe)

Hi guys! I’m looking to travel somewhere where I could also spend time learning something new. Any recommendations for places where I could learn preferably aerial silks, flying trapeze or fire poi? It would also be cool if i could make it a seaside vacation. Any recommendations appreciated :)