THE BALLOON MAN

Meriden siblings thrive under the big top

From Jefferson Co. to life on the road with Ringling circus


 

SUBMITTED -Taryn Jacob, a former Meriden resident, strikes a pose on the 25-foot-tall dragon that is part of the finale of the Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus Blue Tour.
By Carolyn Kaberline
SPECIAL TO THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL 
from:  cjonline.com
April 7, 2012
It’s been said that some people “really get into their work,” but that phrase has new meaning when it comes to Tatton Jacob, a former Meriden resident.

At each performance of the Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus Blue Tour, Jacob crawls into the 25-foot-tall dragon that is part of the show’s finale.

“Another guy and I ride in the bottom — he drives, and I operate the physical movements that animate the dragon,” he said.

Jacob, a 2006 graduate of Jefferson West High School, has been with the circus since April 7, 2011, when he joined the show in Baltimore as head of video.

He said he first heard of the opening “through the friend of a friend” when he was a student majoring in journalism and English at Doane College in Nebraska. Since Doane is a small college, Jacob found that he was able to work in many areas, including video. That experience gave him the background for the job, which includes setting up and operating the stealth screens that help provide special effects, supplemental lighting and some of the story lines that go with the different acts.

“There are four other smaller dragons in the show representing different tribes, and when each tribe comes out, the screens tell part of their story,” he explained.

Part of Jacob’s job also includes positioning the screens and operating their up and down movement, until it’s time for him to take charge of the dragon in the finale.

Circus life can be hectic according to Jacob, and although he said it’s not for everyone, it’s definitely been great for him. In fact, he enjoys his job so much that he asked his younger sister, Taryn, a 2008 graduate of Perry-Lecompton High School, to join him.

“My brother called me and said, ‘Taryn, this would be perfect for you,’ ” she said. “I waited for an opening to come up and I took it.”

Currently working in the circus’ nursery, Taryn Jacob helps provide daycare for children ranging from 6 months to about 8 or 9 years old.

“When I first heard I’d be working in the daycare, I pictured all these kids doing somersaults and hand stands,” she said. “I had to tell myself these were just regular kids who would act like all other kids — and then I walked in and found they were doing somersaults and handsprings.”

“For the most part, (they) are just like all kids, but on the contrary there are some vast and obvious differences,” she said. “A handful practice acrobatics of some sort on a daily basis. All are bilingual, and some are trilingual. I’ve worked with kids all over and truly these are some of the most unique and amazing ones I’ve ever met.”

The siblings said their work schedules can vary from “an hour a day to 14 hours a day,” with days off being the time they travel from town to town, usually by train. Most of those working for the circus have living accommodations on the train, with each car having between two to 14 rooms — eight is the average — which means they can take only essential items with them since there’s no room for storage.

“We’re usually in a city for a week, sometimes for two, then pack up after the Sunday show and travel to the next stop,” Tatton Jacob explained. “When we travel, we’re not isolated like they used to be in the past. We can walk up and down the halls and through the cars, and get online and watch TV.”

His sister is quick to point out that one of the best parts of being with the circus is traveling and living on a train.

“Your entire home moves every week,” she said. “Everyone here is unique, and you have to be a little crazy to be here.”
read more at:
http://cjonline.com/news/2012-04-07/meriden-siblings-thrive-under-big-top