THE BALLOON MAN

Culpepper & Merriweather Circus wasn't what I expected, no exotic animals this year - great for kids

from: columbuzz.net

Edinburgh, IN 

28.Apr, 2012

THE PERFORMANCE!

At the beginning the announcer tells everyone not to record the acts because it is all copyrighted. I didn't understand that statement, our act is copyrighted and here is why.



The first act, Ms. April, a balancing act on a one round cylinder, bowling ball and then stacking 4 platforms while balancing on a cylinder rolling left and right. I don't see anything someone else can't do and learn and this would be exclusive to Culpepper & Merriweather circus.

The sole clown in the whole show, DJ, runs around trying to kill a fly with a oversized flyswatter. He kills the fly with a frying pan, bug spray and then sits down to eat his sandwich only to get sick from the bug spray which causes him to fall to the ground. Again not sure how this is a copyrighted act.

They bring out 2 horses which run around the circle or ring desperate to get away but stays on course fearing of being whipped by the trainer who has not one but two whips she cracks in front of the horse, I believe, on the horse at one point. The miniature horse and a large horse eventually stand on a wooden platform and jump a wooden beam to stop and stand next to each other. I don't see how a horses running around is copyrighted.

 Now it is time for the sole clown, DJ, to come back out and exercise using a jump rope. The announcer calls out commands which he doesn't follow and then falls to the ground 2 times before calling on 2 people from the audience. 
Where DJ uses a child to hold one end of a jump rope and DJ holds the other end, and they ask a grown man to come and jump blindfolded. He is told every time you hear the whistle blow, to jump, since he is blindfolded, DJ and girl just slam the rope on the ground while the man jumps to every whistle sound... this was funny to watch. Still not seeing how this is a copyrighted act...

Mr. Melray Silverlake comes out and has 2 whips (probably the ones used on the horses earlier) and uses them to hit paper from his assistants hand, pop a balloon, tear up newspaper, and hit a piece of paper lit on fire from the mouth just like they did in the ol'west.

Time for some juggling, Angel comes out juggling pins which grow into more and more, then he switches to rings where he is juggling them then catches them as they fall placing them on his head. 
He even juggles hats which was very entertaining to watch, but I'm still not sure how juggling is copyrighted, I saw some juggling when the new Commons opened.

Now it is time for some hoola hoops by Karina - entertaining...

The unicycle family, Arlise Troup from St. Augustine comes out and rides, weaving in and out of obstacles and carrying people while ridding in a circle, they even juggle fire, very skilled and talented and I enjoyed watching them. Have you ever riden a unicycle? 
It isn't easy. 

Now it is time to announce winners for the grand prize, a fine dinning experience right in the circus ring. The winners, Leslie Crawhorn (in the black and left)and Alicia Streeval (on right in green) both came down to the front of the circus ring. 
While DJ entertains them by serving them dinner for the crowd. During the dinner Leslie gets a phone call who she passes off to her child. Both ladies look to be enjoying themselves while laughing at DJ the clown.

Now it is time for the doves,Miss Paulette & Her Feathered, to come out of their dark small box and fly on command and land. They walked a ladder, was swung around, walked a disco ball, and rode on a rotating circle. I was surprised how smart the birds were by staying, well maybe that is a sign they are stupid who knows. It was fun to watch, but again not sure how this is copyrighted.

Miss. Simone takes to the air swinging from the air, she even hangs from her neck and the announcer says she will "attempt" to do it. A few times she swings almost to the top of the tent and then falls catching herself with her knees. At one time she even hangs by the back of her neck.

The High-Flying Perez Troupe use the Russian Swing and throw one of their own in the air. This wasn't anything spectacular but was neat to see him jump through a hoop like a trained dolphin. Jumping through the air and doing summersaults doesn't seem like a copyrighted act.
Overall this wasn't what I was expecting in a circus, but for the small children this was a wonderful event and If I had children would visit again. Since I don't have any, it took everything I had in me to even stay because I was so board. I don't think I would visit another Culpepper & Merriweather Circus because their standards aren't as high as I expected. 
We did send a request to Culpepper & Merriweather for the information about the copyrighted information about their acts. After an hour or so of searching the copyright office website, I was unable to locate anything about the Culpepper & Merriweather Circus. So until I can read the copyrighted info on their act, the VIDEO I took will be published. 
A NOTE FROM THE BALLOONMAN--
PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT IF I'VE OFFENDED ANYONE
THAT I DIDN'T MEAN TO!
I JUST TRY TO REPORT THE NEWS AS I GET IT.
WE ALL KNOW THE PERFORMERS IN THIS STORY AND WE KNOW THAT THE GENTLEMAN IS A LOCAL GUY
THAT DOESN'T UNDERSTAND OUR BUSINESS.
EVERYONE SHOULD UNDERSTAND DIFFERENT PEOPLE
HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS.
THIS STORY WAS PUBLISHED IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER FOR EVERYONE TO READ AND I CERTAINLY DID NOT MEAN TO HURT ANYONE'S FEELINGS!
I DO KNOW THAT I DON'T SHARE HIS OPINON!
DICK