Ringling Advice

[MacMelvino]

Hello, All,

My name is Aaron Rider. If you went to MotionFest East 2001, I'm the guy who played bagpipes on the unicycle.

I'm trying to get into Ringling Bros. Circus as a clown. I've already sent a promotional package to their Florida office address. The package contained a cover letter, resume with good references (such as Steve Smith), some photos, and a video of the same act I did at MotionFest.

I know the package arrived on 12-06. (Express Mail ) I haven't heard anything from them yet.

What should I do?

**Advance Note** Don't tell me that Ringling stinks and that I shouldn't bother - I've heard it before.

Thank you,

--Aaron

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Visit my web that doesn't have anything to do with performing except for one of the pictures in the "Images" tab:

http://www.mp3.com/macmelvino

[Stephon]

Hey Aaron--I don't have any advice about Ringling ('cuz I don't know nothin' about it), but I wanted to wish you best of luck getting in. I really loved your performance at MotionFest.

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Cheers,
~Stephon

[le pire]

Hey Aaron,

For now, get a day job and start saving your $$$. Ringlings not gonna pay you $hi# when they take you, so it might be nice to have a little something saved up. This way you can buy some butter to go with your week's rations of a loaf of bread.

étienne

[Mr.Taxi Trix]

Aaron.

"Darn", from Darn Good and Funny was there at motionfest, and he goes back that way, but did you ask Steve Smith? You can call my friend Don Ganz at
617 USA CIRC. Dondo is ex-ringling, and a very intelligent networker. Feel free to tell him Karl Saliter LOVED your piece.
And I did. I was going through mental highlights of the weekend with a new tasty friend Saturday, and your piece was way way up there for both of us. Excellent work. Martin too. We were puking and coughing blood laughing. Brilliant.
The fact that you requested people avoid slamming Ringling because you've already heard it speaks volumes. Some of the most fun I've had in this life stemmed from actions taken directly in the face of "wise council". Go man go. You'll have a blast. Because you say so.

[Rich Potter]

Aaron, anyone who gives you a totally positive, or totally negative view is, by definition, not "on the level"

Ringling is notorious for not paying clowns well. ($180/wk before taxes in 1986). They have gotten better since Clown College closed. They realized they couldn't just take ignorant pipsqueaks anymore and actually had to pay. I have heard starting clowns get around $350, but possibly more depending on experience and negotiation abilities and supply and demand.

My advice would be just keep hounding them. Keep on track with your own career--it may never happen--but keep them abreast of your dedication and growth. Call them a lot. Send them every promo piece you have. Don't leave them alone. Let them know your name. Let them know you have heart. Let them know you're serious, and not insane. (I know; sounds like a contradiction to some) My experience is when they talk, they want you to talk business. When you audition, they want you to be a clown. Keep these lines clear and they will take you more seriously.

I have had good and bad experiences through Ringling. That was 15 years ago. Everything can change in that time. Everything can stay the same in that time. It will be what you make of it. If I would have had it to do over again, I still woulda done it, but I would have relaxed more to enjoy the ride.

You may email me or call me (on H'place roster) if you want more info, but it sounds like you've been talked out on the subject.

Good luck.
--Rich

[le pire]

Rich wrote:

"Let them know you're serious, and not insane. "

I think that has to be the single best piece of advice for anyone working or trying to work in the performing arts.

The last time I visited the Blue to see some friends in clown alley, there was some whack job in full clown face at the stage door trying to talk the guard into letting him in so he could run off with the circus. He eavesdropped on my conversation with security and tried to pretend he was with me when he found out who I was there to see. How often did you get this when you were on the road Rich?

...back in the day.

...Go on, streeeeeeetch the memory, it may hurt at first but you'll feel better afterwards.

étienne

[MacMelvino]

Thanks everybody for your replies. I'll definitely be sending more e-mails and making phone calls about this.

Now, does anybody have more contact info for me? I just have street addresses.

--Aaron

[le pire]

try this:


KFeld@feldentertaiment.com


étienne

[Rich Potter]

Le,

(That's your first name, isn't it, Mr. Pire?)

I don't know how often that happened on the Ringling show as I never associated with the public. They were dirty.

Seriously though, every now and then, I'd run into someone who said they had been with the show. Sometimes their stories panned out; sometimes they were fulla elephant doody. It was usually pretty easy to tell the difference.

Sometimes though, you'd meet a character who it really didn't matter whether or not they were telling the truth, as they were just fun to listen to. Korky the Keystone Cop comes to mind. He was 90-something in LA and told wild stories about being goosed by King Tusk (largest land mammal travelling the face of the earth -- or in other terms, a BIG, FREAKIN' ELEPHANT!!!) "back in 1956"

You do the math. The other clowns in the Alley vouched that the guy was with the Ringling show way back in the 19-teens. Word was a few years earlier, someone ran up to Lou Jacobs after meeting Corky and said, really impressed: "Lou! Lou! This guy, Corky, used to be a Keystone Cop!" Lou replied, "Who wasn't?"

Ta!
--Rich
P.S. GooOOooSe!!! (that IS fun!)