Workshop Announcement:

The Carpetbag Brigade will teach two acrobatic stilt workshops for performers in Oakland, May 16-17 (beginner) andMay 22-24 (advanced). Both workshops will be held in Mosswood Park; the advanced workshop will also be partly at an indoor space in Oakland TBA. We will have several pairs of stilts available for participants' use.

www.carpetbagbrigade.com/v1/calendar.php
(a link to the workshop flyer)

Beginning Stilts for Performers
OAKLAND: Saturday and Sunday, May 16-17, 1-7pm
with Anson Smith & Sid Silver

No previous stilt experience necessary. A medium-fast-paced introduction to stilt work geared towards dancers, physical actors and other embodied performers. We will begin with warmups and training intended to bring awareness to the musculature and movement technique stilts require. We will work with proper stilt alignment and gaits, then move each day into choreography, character work and transitions to the ground and back.

We will have several pairs of aluminum stilts available.

$160 early reg.: by May 1
$190 regular registration


Stilt Asanas
(Advanced Stilts for Performers)
OAKLAND: May 22-24, Fri 2-8pm, Sat. & Sun. 10am-6pm
with Jay Ruby, director of The Carpetbag Brigade

In this workshop we dynamically integrate yoga postures, Butoh dance and Contact Improvisation into acrobatic stilt work, with an eye towards presence and performance application. We will work with stilt inversions, investigate oppositions and graceful ground movement. Exercises for falling gracefully, effortlessly and safely to the ground will be taught along with a focus on partner work. A secondary aspect of the workshop is to develop character, choreography and composition.

If you have aluminum or other non-wooden stilts, please bring them (wooden stilts will break in this workshop!) We will have several pairs of aluminum stilts available.

$265 early registration (by May 1)
$315 regular registration

Special rate for both workshops (registration by May 1): $400


Registration and info:
Anson Smith
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517-881-9307

posted in Circus - 0 replies

Here ye here ye!

A Santa Cruz based children’s entertainment company, http://www.happilyeverlaughterparties.com is on the search for a few new performers! This is the perfect way to add some sparkle to your life (and extra cash) while only working 1-2 days per week! You can live anywhere in the Bay Area, as the position requires travel to several different cities. If you have an eye for costume and make-up design, and a knack for making children laugh, this may be your dream come true!

You may have heard of someone performing at birthday parties before...and let me take a moment to say Happily Ever Laughter is a bit different. Unlike most children’s entertainment providers, we do not use wigs or franchised characters (like Cinderella or Snow White). We like to remind children what can happen if you just let your imagination run wild, instead of just copying the television/movie characters. Each costume is hand-made by the head Faerie (Fae) and truly unique. We also focus ONLY on performing. We don't bring out jump houses and are not a 'one-stop-shop' party business. That means you are treated like a princess not only on the job, but behind the scenes as well.

Job Description;

Attend events around the Bay Area as a whimsical character (Mermaid, Faerie, Princess etc) and perform a magic show, twist colorful balloons, paint faces, make puppets come alive, and many other fun activities! Each performance is only an hour and a half and your compensation will be up to $90.00 (plus tips!)...and sometimes more (sometimes parties are longer in which case you are compensated $30 per extra 1/2 hr. Also, if you party is more than 1 hour from your home, you are compensated $30 per extra hour of driving, roundtrip). As you gain experience, you may have the option to attend 3-4 parties a weekend! If you look around at different companies that offer these services, you will find that Happily Ever Laughter pays the highest to our performers. Other companies range from $50-$75 per show and you need to provide all supplies, costumes, and travel costs. Our clients are also paying more for our quality of shows, and so you end up performing in more welcoming environments. That means being around better behaved children, happy grown-ups, and sometimes, bigger tips *smile*.

Full Faerie training will be provided to the right applicant. The training will consist of 3-4 sessions of 2-3 hours in Santa Cruz. Your compensation will begin after your initial training (these are skills you get to keep for a lifetime) with your first tag-a-long (where you get to see a real live Faerie perform!). Compensation will begin at $75 and increase as you receive good reviews from parents. If your preview goes super well, faeries have been known to start at $90 (or even higher!) right off the bat! With proper practice, you could begin performing by the end of February! Again, the training will take place at the Tree House headquarters in Santa Cruz, CA...the schedule is quite flexible. After each training session, you will be required to rehearse on your own time to prepare for a final performance for me (the head Faerie). If you have too much on your plate (full time student+extra job+slaying dragons in the evenings), you should not apply for this job. It takes a lot of time to become a true Faerie, but the reward is immense. Once trained, the job doesn't take much time at all. Just 1.5 hours per party!

You must have your own, reliable vehicle, as you may have to travel up to 1 hour away (depending on where you live) for the event. Most shows are in San Jose or San Francisco. You also MUST MUST MUST be punctual. Being on time (and even early) is more important than anything else. If this is a problem for you, do not apply. I ask that you are available 3 weekends a month, with one weekend off (if you want, you can work 4 weekends). Anytime off must be requested at least one month in advance.

Applicants are strongly recommended to have experience with theater, young children, music, glitter, and working independently.

Email your resume to (please, NO phone calls)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
and include a current photo of yourself, any special talents, and at least 3 references (not family). These positions usually yield a lot of applicants, so I encourage you to make your resume STAND OUT! This is one job where creativity comes first, so let it shine! Good luck!

Respectfully,
Fae Diddle Diddle

posted in Circus - 0 replies

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Flora Lv

Company: Hong Kong International Amusement Information Limited
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Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Skype: up-wing

posted in Circus - 0 replies

Hi Folks,

I have been hearing people throw all sorts of terminology around to try and define different areas of "new circus." I am wondering how y'all see the scene.

There is Circus and Cirkus
There is American Circus and European Circus
There is Classic American Circus and Traditional American Circus
There are many more classifications...

What kind of "circus" do you belong to and why?

XOX
Shea FreeLove

posted in Circus - 3 replies

I'm wondering if anybody knows of any circus arts training anywhere in Texas? I am already doing silks at Blue Lapis Light and I just missed some trapeze stuff that was out here. Please let me know if you know of anything!

posted in Circus - 1 reply