help

[Steven Ragatz]

Couldn't tell you one way or another, but if it is like most things, having guided training will certainly be more efficient and beneficial in the long run.

A question you should ask yourself is even if you get a wheel and learn to roll a bit in it, what are you going to do with it? There aren't too many opportunities for GW outside of having an established act. You might be better off taking your circus training in a stepwise manner and first study the fundamentals (gymnastics, dance, acting, acro, etc.)

Sorry I can't help you out with GW specifics. Been around them for years but have never wanted to get in one.

Steve

[miquee]

you can train alone on the wheel but without someone explaining the more complex stuff i don't think progress will be too quick. in the states i don't know how to go about learning but i know in germany and in valencia, spain there are teachers. first thing i would do is get in shape... i worked with one for about a month last year and if ya ain't got the physique its tough.

[Frisbee]

A question of the ages

A performer who I respect very much told me when I was first starting out in my early 20's that everything comes in stages.

If you are interested in performing and are commited to the art, use as much time as you can in your younger years learning your skills.

your teens are the preschool years...
your 20's are your main learning years
and your 30's are the magic years...

By the time you reach 30 imagine all of your training and learning from your past mistakes as well as what other people are teaching you...it will gel and WOW, what a foundation you will have.


just my 2 cents.

-Frisbee

[Butterfly Man]

death where is thy sting ...

and your 40's are your pathetic years ...

your 50's ... pitiable.

P.S. ... more information to follow.

[orestas1123]

Thanks everyone for all these posts. My plan as of now is this, when I turn 18 or 19, fly out to San Fransisco, live in some crappy apartment and work 40 hours a day, and train 30 at the SF circus center. Then, go to montreal and auditon for Ecole. Any suggestions of good things to do would be appreciated.

[Steven Ragatz]

Why wait 'til your 18? Start now! Take dance classes, acting classes, gymnastics, weight training, martial arts, and yoga. Work on flexibility and focus on developing a strong foundation. Learn some basic juggling, unicycling, and balance skills. Don't expect a circus school to be the magic key that opens the door - you will have to work to educate yourself even if you are enrolled in a formal program. The more vocabulary you bring in, the better the act you take out.

Ask specific questions. This site is a pretty good place to start.

Steve

[orestas1123]

Well I cant find any gymnastic classes around here for boys my age but I strength train and flexability train for about an hour a day. Will juggling really help me with the wheel? And Steven, how often do you talk to Chris?

[Steven Ragatz]

No, juggling won't help you with the wheel, but the reality of circus is that you have to get work once you have an act assembled. It is far easier to get into a gig if you have a broad set of skills to offer the show. More to the point, juggling, unicycles, etc. are going to be more accessible to you at this point since you don't actually own a wheel or have the facilities to learn one.

More to the point, if you are interested in going to a circus school, you will have to learn a wide set of skills (including juggling), so you might as well work on those that you can do now. Getting to do the German Wheel comes pretty far down the list of most school curriculum.

These days I talk to Chris about every ten minutes.

Steve

[orestas1123]

The SF circus center does have a class for german wheel but Im doin the best I can at home.
And Im sure this is probably a ridiculus question but is it possible that he might be able to answer any questions, I know you said he's fairly quiet about this stuff, but if he could it would be fantastic. Thanks.

[scot]

I agree with Steve. Not in the "broad diversity of skills department" as much as the "start working now" department. The people that are really successful are usually focussed on one thing and do it well. This can work for you, but you can't think about it, you've got to start training. Weightlifting and strength and endurance training without weights is going to help you a lot with wheel. Call around and search you should be able to find some one in a week if you really try. mostly, work work work. Start now because you're going to make mistakes. the sooner you get them out of the way the sooner you start making corrections.

[orestas1123]

No posts in a while, but thank you all for the advice, right now all im doing is strength training and flexabilty stuff, and saving money for whatever I need to help progress further. Steven, are you out there? I wanted to know about my last question, and about whether the SF circus center could give me the help I need in terms of getting me into a legit career witht the circus. Thanks again everyone.

[Steven Ragatz]

I would imagine that the SF Circus Center would be as good a place as any to train. However, no school will guarantee any level of success. Degrees or diplomas don't get you hired - a sharp act will. Maybe a school will help you build that act, and maybe not.

Steve

[orestas1123]

I'm starting to get into juggling to, although Ineed to find better balls to use. I don't know if I'm any good but its a fun hobby, german wheel is still what I would really like to do. I dont know how long it takes to get good at any of these things though, Im afraid that I already missed my chance, it seems like most performers started when they were 7.

[Steven Ragatz]

No, you have not missed your chance. Start today. Your biggest step towards success is the first one.

Steve

[Steven Ragatz]

P.S. Your lucky numbers are 6, 8, 12, 19, 32 and 41