The Circus is Coming to Town

I have never had to plan a full-blown three ring circus complete with its daring young men on the flying trapeze, but I do have experience with a one-ring circus in small-town USA. Years ago my dad served with an organization that coordinated bringing this dinky but amusing little circus to town. It was the same circus year after year for probably five or six years at least. He loved being the busy planner; getting permits, making fliers, selling tickets, and greeting people as they arrived to watch the show.

There are a couple of things that stick out in my mind about this circus. Granted, I was 25+ years younger and it was just before my serious event planning days. Yet, I was still fascinated by the logistics and details of this traveling show because it was a novelty in such a small town.

One large family essentially ran the show. I mean, it only had one ring. Every year my young daughter loved the star aerialist/ballerina. She would strut around the ring with her feather headdress, sparkly unitard, and sequined cape with matching slippers. Her long eyelashes and flowing black hair were mesmerizing. She would spin around in circles from her wrist and neck and fly back and forth with the greatest of ease, feathers-a-flyin’. What I can’t get out of my head is that one year she was the “Lovely Lolita” and the next year the “Lovely Lana” and the next year the “Lovely Laura.” Same girl.

I’m also traumatized by the one-eyed horse. Of course there was a horse show, it wouldn’t be a circus without one. They’d run around the ring, stand with one leg on each other’s back, pose for pictures, and run around some more. These were the same horses you’d see before and after the show giving rides to little Susie and Timmy around the ring over, and over, and over. What stands out to me is that literally, one of the horses only had one eye. I managed to get over it after the first year but when it kept coming back, God bless the poor thing, I couldn’t see anything but the one-eyed horse.

This adorable one-ring circus did its best to change things every time they visited; they added tricks, animals, and family members. I can only imagine what this group had to go through show after show as the same people who entertained us for an hour or so were the same people who set up the tent and rickety bleachers, fed and cared for the horses and tigers, sold concessions, and gave elephant rides. Not only were they talented but they’d have to have been trained in rigging, safety, food and beverage health department standards, animal care, driving oversized vehicles, and I would imagine first aid. It’s no easy profession working in a one-ring circus.

Over time I recall camel and elephant rides, snake charming tricks, unicycle riding, roller skating, bicycles, tricycles, a tiger act of some kind, peacocks, monkeys, hula-hoops, quick-changes, and see-saws for people, animals, and magic tricks. As I reminisce, this family was really very talented. And, because it was such a rare occurrence and seating was limited, they were able to sell-out two or three shows in a weekend in this little farm community.

As I think back to the little circus that could, I can only wonder at how lengthy the task list must be for a proper three-ring circus. The safety checks, risk assessments, and insurance clauses required alone must be numerous. If I was asked to help plan one I would definitely need to do my homework on planning a circus to see what it takes. I highly doubt anyone is flying through the air with the greatest of ease without wires, a safety net, helmet, goggles, indemnity clause, emergency contact information, and possibly a parachute.

Do you have insight on planning a circus? Share some tidbits here or send me an email. I love hearing stories from other planners!

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