Need a job?
The circus is hiring
By Andras SzigetvariOakland Tribune 08/09/2010
OAKLAND -- California is still battling with the aftermath of the economic crisis, but at least the circus is still hiring.
Fourteen applicants took the unique chance last Tuesday to show up for a clown audition at the San Francisco Circus Center.
The auditions were held by the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus, now in its 140th season.
At the beginning of the auditions, two circus clowns performed a short sketch to loosen up the applicants. The attendees then participated in a 1½ hour clowning workshop, where they practiced miming emotions and tested their improvisation skills. Finally, the 14 clowning hopefuls had to do their own three-minute performances. Some just choose to tell jokes, others did acrobatics or juggling -- a woman was even stilt walking.
Barnum & Bailey will decide by the end of August whether it will hire any of the applicants, of whom five have been singled out for meetings with the circus management.
The circus will be performing at the Oracle Arena in Oakland Aug. 11-15. Two of the clowns in the show were hired at the circus' last year's West Coast audition.
OAKLAND -- California is still battling with the aftermath of the economic crisis, but at least the circus is still hiring.
Fourteen applicants took the unique chance last Tuesday to show up for a clown audition at the San Francisco Circus Center.
The auditions were held by the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus, now in its 140th season.
At the beginning of the auditions, two circus clowns performed a short sketch to loosen up the applicants. The attendees then participated in a 1½ hour clowning workshop, where they practiced miming emotions and tested their improvisation skills. Finally, the 14 clowning hopefuls had to do their own three-minute performances. Some just choose to tell jokes, others did acrobatics or juggling -- a woman was even stilt walking.
Barnum & Bailey will decide by the end of August whether it will hire any of the applicants, of whom five have been singled out for meetings with the circus management.
The circus will be performing at the Oracle Arena in Oakland Aug. 11-15. Two of the clowns in the show were hired at the circus' last year's West Coast audition.
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