Abigail Munn - Circus Bella - Bananas

1 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:09,450 Podcast is Curtain Entertainment. 2 00:00:12,510 --> 00:00:13,680 Hello everybody. 3 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:17,530 How you doing? You have reached Green Room on Air, and I am your host. 4 00:00:18,495 --> 00:00:19,935 Ray Reti. 5 00:00:20,055 --> 00:00:27,405 This is my little space in the corner of the various interwebs as our friend George w used to say. 6 00:00:27,465 --> 00:00:29,765 I hear there's rumors on the internets. 7 00:00:29,765 --> 00:00:31,835 How y'all doing out there? Hope you're having a great day. 8 00:00:31,835 --> 00:00:34,595 It's a beautiful day here in Palo Twin California. 9 00:00:34,925 --> 00:00:40,145 The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, the frogs are croaking, and I'm a happy camper. 10 00:00:40,305 --> 00:00:41,175 Yes indeed. 11 00:00:41,175 --> 00:00:42,255 Siri, Bob. 12 00:00:42,465 --> 00:00:43,065 Oh boy. 13 00:00:43,425 --> 00:00:45,975 You know, I'm supposed to hike half Dom again. 14 00:00:46,095 --> 00:00:56,595 Maybe some of you realize if I told you in the past that I did do this less than a year ago and I made it, I was the really fat old guy in the top. 15 00:00:56,745 --> 00:00:58,726 I was kind of a celebrity up there for a little while. 16 00:00:59,055 --> 00:01:01,235 Just because of my age, I think. 17 00:01:01,385 --> 00:01:03,275 So I had my little 15 minutes of fame. 18 00:01:03,975 --> 00:01:08,655 And I'm supposed to do it again on June 25th because I am addicted to h hiking half down now. 19 00:01:08,660 --> 00:01:13,695 And I'm supposed to do this with my dear old friend Chris from high school and college. 20 00:01:13,845 --> 00:01:17,985 And I think I'm gonna make it, but I'm having some back problems when I go out and hike. 21 00:01:17,985 --> 00:01:21,405 Now I get like this spasm on the right side of my back. 22 00:01:21,435 --> 00:01:22,115 Oh, I love getting old. 23 00:01:22,245 --> 00:01:25,725 Don't you love getting old? Who? Whoever's out there listening, you old. 24 00:01:25,845 --> 00:01:26,655 You old like me. 25 00:01:27,030 --> 00:01:31,650 61 or are you a young whipper snapper? Well, if you're a young whipper snapper, you'll see. 26 00:01:31,710 --> 00:01:33,030 You'll see. 27 00:01:33,150 --> 00:01:33,690 Yeah. 28 00:01:33,780 --> 00:01:34,050 I dunno. 29 00:01:34,050 --> 00:01:35,330 Getting old ain't easy. 30 00:01:35,420 --> 00:01:39,830 It infr amateurs and there's no guidebook and it happens pretty darn fast. 31 00:01:39,950 --> 00:01:42,390 One day you think you're kind of young and then the next day, whoa. 32 00:01:43,020 --> 00:01:46,530 I'm getting old o l d, old, not gold. 33 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:48,270 I wish it was gold, but it's old. 34 00:01:48,300 --> 00:01:49,170 Yeah. 35 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:53,440 I've been watching this television show on Netflix called beef. 36 00:01:53,590 --> 00:01:56,230 It's a very dark comedy, I guess I would say. 37 00:01:56,230 --> 00:01:59,480 It's a Korean TV show, although it's in the United States and. 38 00:01:59,955 --> 00:02:00,975 It's all in English. 39 00:02:01,005 --> 00:02:05,475 Well, almost all, but it features mostly Korean actors, which is kind of cool. 40 00:02:05,535 --> 00:02:11,980 It's the, the, the lead actor is the guy from Zonie show what do you call it, walking Dead, who played Glen. 41 00:02:12,130 --> 00:02:18,980 And also he was in a movie that either got nominated or won the Academy Award for best picture. 42 00:02:19,665 --> 00:02:26,655 Yeah, his name is Steve Young and yeah, you might remember him as Maggie's husband in the Walking Dead. 43 00:02:26,985 --> 00:02:27,945 Poor old Gwen. 44 00:02:28,155 --> 00:02:30,705 He got munched by them zombies. 45 00:02:30,855 --> 00:02:31,815 Yes, indeed. 46 00:02:31,875 --> 00:02:34,655 Well, most people end up getting munched by zombies on the Walking Dead. 47 00:02:34,905 --> 00:02:35,865 That's why it's called. 48 00:02:36,395 --> 00:02:37,565 Walking, dude. 49 00:02:37,685 --> 00:02:37,985 Let's see. 50 00:02:37,985 --> 00:02:48,095 What was that movie that the movie that he was in that got nominated for academy Award? Yeah, it was called Menari. 51 00:02:48,155 --> 00:02:49,715 I think it won one Academy Award. 52 00:02:49,715 --> 00:02:51,966 I don't remember what for, but yeah, he was, he's good. 53 00:02:52,125 --> 00:03:00,485 You know, I saw him, the first time I saw him was years ago in a movie about some penguins. 54 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:08,010 That invaded someone's apartment and he was a pizza delivery guy and I think he had a scene, he had five words. 55 00:03:08,010 --> 00:03:10,020 It's called an under five in Hollywood. 56 00:03:10,140 --> 00:03:11,700 Yeah, he was the pizza delivery guy. 57 00:03:11,700 --> 00:03:16,200 I specifically remember that because the Walking Dead had already started and I was a huge fan of The Walking Dead. 58 00:03:16,650 --> 00:03:16,980 I know. 59 00:03:16,985 --> 00:03:17,750 Embarrassing. 60 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:20,860 Oh, well, what can I say? I love zombies. 61 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:24,090 And he was yeah, Pete's delivery guy. 62 00:03:24,090 --> 00:03:32,790 What movie would, let's ask chat, g p t, our old friend, what the name of the movie was with the Penguins that take over a guy's a. 63 00:03:32,830 --> 00:03:33,340 Apartment. 64 00:03:33,460 --> 00:03:33,730 Okay. 65 00:03:33,730 --> 00:03:41,500 What's the name of the movie that take over a guys apartment? I am addicted to chat G P T. 66 00:03:41,500 --> 00:03:42,790 This is scary. 67 00:03:43,060 --> 00:03:44,440 It's a comedy. 68 00:03:44,500 --> 00:03:46,570 You have to sometimes give it some extra. 69 00:03:47,290 --> 00:03:48,130 I don't have chat. 70 00:03:48,135 --> 00:03:51,460 G P t Fork if you've gotta pay for it, and I'm a cheap MFer. 71 00:03:51,465 --> 00:03:51,590 Let's see. 72 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:56,380 The movie you're referring to is the Man Who Knew Too Little. 73 00:03:56,470 --> 00:03:57,040 Hmm. 74 00:03:57,100 --> 00:03:58,180 I don't know if that's right. 75 00:03:58,330 --> 00:04:01,090 I'm not sure if that's the man who knew too little. 76 00:04:01,365 --> 00:04:05,265 Is that right? Or is my imdb? I don't think that's right. 77 00:04:05,445 --> 00:04:07,455 I just don't think that's right. 78 00:04:07,935 --> 00:04:09,255 imdb.com. 79 00:04:09,705 --> 00:04:10,065 Okay. 80 00:04:10,065 --> 00:04:10,575 Let's see. 81 00:04:10,575 --> 00:04:22,275 The man who knew too little I, I think this is totally wrong, isn't it? The man who knew too little is this it? Wallace Richie is a mistaken for a spine. 82 00:04:22,275 --> 00:04:22,575 Must stop. 83 00:04:23,185 --> 00:04:25,795 Buts assassinate international leaders at a banquet. 84 00:04:26,065 --> 00:04:27,625 What? No. 85 00:04:28,035 --> 00:04:28,255 No. 86 00:04:28,795 --> 00:04:28,825 Oh. 87 00:04:29,365 --> 00:04:31,645 Well, let's see if, what's his name is in here. 88 00:04:31,765 --> 00:04:33,435 Steve? Steve. 89 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:34,485 Search on Steve. 90 00:04:34,665 --> 00:04:35,025 Steve. 91 00:04:35,145 --> 00:04:35,535 Hmm. 92 00:04:35,685 --> 00:04:37,215 No, this is not right. 93 00:04:37,435 --> 00:04:41,296 See, CPIT is sometimes just way off. 94 00:04:41,595 --> 00:04:47,745 Oh, well who cares? You know, we gotta get to our guest and Oh. 95 00:04:48,355 --> 00:04:49,795 Special day today. 96 00:04:50,125 --> 00:04:50,755 Very. 97 00:04:51,195 --> 00:04:53,025 Special day indeed. 98 00:04:53,025 --> 00:05:02,805 Sirri Bob, ladies and gentlemen, hold on to your hats and prepare to be deed because today we have a very special guest with us. 99 00:05:02,805 --> 00:05:07,245 Her name is Abigail Man and she is the artistic director of Circus Bella. 100 00:05:07,395 --> 00:05:13,425 Abigail is a true circus superstar with a background in dance and aerial arts. 101 00:05:13,715 --> 00:05:24,425 She has loud audiences with her performances and renowned circus troops like the Pickle Family Circus and Zap or zpa, I'm not sure. 102 00:05:24,455 --> 00:05:32,095 Well, if it's a true Italian circus, zpa Italian Circus, zpa, Italian Family Circus, that's a, how you would say it. 103 00:05:32,305 --> 00:05:34,785 And the Pickle Family Service was a circus. 104 00:05:35,555 --> 00:05:40,625 The Pickle Family Circus was a huge deal when I was a young man in San Francisco. 105 00:05:40,895 --> 00:05:48,695 Abigail is kicking off Circus Bella's 14th annual summer season with their newest show, bananas. 106 00:05:48,845 --> 00:05:59,310 It's a one ring outdoor circus extravaganza featuring acrobats, aerialists, jugulars and clowns from the Bay Area and beyond. 107 00:05:59,390 --> 00:06:08,150 With live music by Rob Reich and the Circus Bella All-Star Band, this 60 minute spectacle is free for children of all ages. 108 00:06:08,300 --> 00:06:13,130 The show runs from June 8th to July 16th, 2023. 109 00:06:13,250 --> 00:06:14,180 That's this year. 110 00:06:14,300 --> 00:06:15,870 In case you're listening far out in the future. 111 00:06:16,755 --> 00:06:24,255 And the performances will take place at various Bay Area parks, including some out of town shows. 112 00:06:24,375 --> 00:06:29,055 So, without any further ado, I bring you Abigail Mun. 113 00:06:32,145 --> 00:06:35,285 I just saw you at a play in San Francisco recently, right? Yeah. 114 00:06:35,625 --> 00:06:42,405 I was, I was being Lawrence Hellman for the night, so I would Oh, that's, that's what it was, is Lawrence had. 115 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:52,170 Was unable to make the opening of the play, and so I was there just to make sure it was my one only foray into being a publicist. 116 00:06:52,850 --> 00:06:53,470 Oh, I see. 117 00:06:53,620 --> 00:06:53,910 Okay. 118 00:06:54,230 --> 00:06:55,830 I was just, I was just helping. 119 00:06:56,570 --> 00:06:56,990 Oh, yeah. 120 00:06:57,070 --> 00:06:58,410 I was surprised to see you there. 121 00:06:58,590 --> 00:06:58,800 Yeah. 122 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:08,400 But because it's all of, you know, Lawrence's contacts, I knew everybody from Circus Bella World, so that's why it was kind of fun to Yeah, it was fun. 123 00:07:08,610 --> 00:07:08,880 It was. 124 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:10,800 I actually missed, I had in-laws in town. 125 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:11,580 I missed the play. 126 00:07:12,495 --> 00:07:13,245 Oh, no. 127 00:07:13,395 --> 00:07:17,505 Yeah, well, I ran off, I, I did my d due diligence and then I ran out the door. 128 00:07:17,865 --> 00:07:21,495 Well, my wife loved the play, and I was lost the entire time. 129 00:07:21,495 --> 00:07:27,885 So it was a, it was very, I guess, I guess I would say sort of avantgarde. 130 00:07:27,885 --> 00:07:30,835 And my wife is French and she loves stuff like that. 131 00:07:30,835 --> 00:07:33,435 That is difficult to, to figure out. 132 00:07:33,435 --> 00:07:37,665 I mean, I, I, I, I almost felt like I needed to watch it again. 133 00:07:38,325 --> 00:07:41,355 Yeah, I think there, there was so much there and it went so quickly. 134 00:07:41,355 --> 00:07:42,405 I just, I, I just. 135 00:07:43,575 --> 00:07:43,965 I dunno. 136 00:07:46,095 --> 00:07:47,625 So it goes, yeah, yeah, yeah. 137 00:07:47,625 --> 00:07:48,795 But people seem to love it. 138 00:07:48,795 --> 00:07:50,415 Anyway, thanks for coming. 139 00:07:50,505 --> 00:07:57,975 And you have another show come up with your, your circus with circus Bell ath, what's it called? It's a, a show is called Bananas. 140 00:07:58,335 --> 00:07:58,845 Yeah. 141 00:07:59,775 --> 00:08:00,705 On na oz. 142 00:08:00,795 --> 00:08:02,375 It's a, it's not, not off on guard. 143 00:08:03,315 --> 00:08:03,375 No. 144 00:08:03,375 --> 00:08:03,585 Yeah. 145 00:08:03,765 --> 00:08:04,545 Tell me about it. 146 00:08:04,745 --> 00:08:11,495 So bananas, it's just going to be an explosion of silliness, I think. 147 00:08:12,395 --> 00:08:22,145 I think the idea of, you know, just kind of silliness and absurdity, it's still a circus, so we'll have all of our, you know, amazing feats of. 148 00:08:22,895 --> 00:08:25,535 Strength and balance and all the things. 149 00:08:25,775 --> 00:08:29,075 And we have our live band, the Circus Bella All-Star Band. 150 00:08:29,075 --> 00:08:31,415 So we have a live six piece band at all our shows. 151 00:08:31,805 --> 00:08:31,865 Yeah. 152 00:08:32,045 --> 00:08:39,725 And, and then I think the idea of bananas is just kind of, to me, the world feels like it's going bananas a little bit. 153 00:08:39,725 --> 00:08:45,305 So let's, let's kind of embrace this feeling that we are all having and, and. 154 00:08:46,535 --> 00:08:48,005 Make fun of it a little bit. 155 00:08:48,005 --> 00:08:56,735 So it's, we're working, actually right now, we're in clown rehearsals coming up with material that's specific for this show, which has been. 156 00:08:58,065 --> 00:08:58,715 Been fun. 157 00:08:58,715 --> 00:08:58,875 Neat. 158 00:08:58,985 --> 00:09:04,865 Yeah, so I think the website said it's sort of a, a play on a wondering circus or something like that. 159 00:09:04,925 --> 00:09:11,015 We follow the format all our shows, we are not even a play, we are a wondering circus. 160 00:09:11,015 --> 00:09:11,016 Okay. 161 00:09:11,021 --> 00:09:13,195 So we, we show up in the morning. 162 00:09:13,715 --> 00:09:22,295 If you, if you really wanted the full ex, if you wanted an all day Circus Bella event, you could show up five hours before the show and watch us unload the truck. 163 00:09:22,620 --> 00:09:23,260 Oh, that'd be fun. 164 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:24,620 That'd be fun. 165 00:09:24,930 --> 00:09:31,260 You could have a cup of coffee while we're all working and, and then we, so we set up a, a ring. 166 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:45,720 We, we were always performing the round, so we put the ring back down, we put the ring curb on, we set up the bandstand, we put up the set, then we practice a little bit and then, and then we do a show. 167 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:47,460 And that's fun. 168 00:09:47,460 --> 00:09:48,150 And then we. 169 00:09:49,265 --> 00:09:53,525 Take off our costumes, put our work suits back on and put it back in the truck and leave. 170 00:09:54,155 --> 00:09:59,045 So, so everybody works in all areas of, of the production. 171 00:09:59,050 --> 00:10:06,915 Everybody works in all areas of the ca to be Yeah, a glamorous circus performer with Circus Bella, you also have to be willing to load an unload a truck. 172 00:10:07,905 --> 00:10:08,195 Yeah. 173 00:10:09,155 --> 00:10:16,745 So how has that shaped your perspective on the circus industry as a whole, having to do it all like that? I think circus is. 174 00:10:18,065 --> 00:10:21,095 In general, like unlike other. 175 00:10:21,845 --> 00:10:22,835 Kind of performances. 176 00:10:22,835 --> 00:10:27,935 I grew up in traditional circus, or I came, started my career in traditional circus. 177 00:10:27,940 --> 00:10:28,335 Mm-hmm. 178 00:10:28,745 --> 00:10:36,425 And unlike other performance modules, there is this kind of, everybody does a little bit of everything. 179 00:10:36,425 --> 00:10:38,976 So there is this community family feeling in that we all. 180 00:10:39,965 --> 00:10:41,585 Work together to make this show. 181 00:10:41,585 --> 00:10:47,615 And there's nobody that's, there's, nobody's not, that's not willing to roll up their sleeves and get to work. 182 00:10:47,645 --> 00:10:54,455 One of the kind of, there's a very old circus saying that's kind of the little tag is called with it and for it. 183 00:10:54,815 --> 00:11:03,185 So that comes from Ringley Brothers a long time ago, and it's basic like when something has to get done, you drop what you're doing and help out. 184 00:11:03,935 --> 00:11:04,175 Yeah. 185 00:11:04,790 --> 00:11:05,090 Great. 186 00:11:05,330 --> 00:11:20,300 So I think that's that and that, I think there is something, when you see Circus Bella, you see that we're all really working as a family and as a community and in some ways maybe that truck loading and unloading becomes kind of a company bonding, community building. 187 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:20,680 Mm-hmm. 188 00:11:21,110 --> 00:11:32,210 You know, there is this, that's, I think that's sort of the magic of our shows as you watch is is that feeling of a really diverse group of people, ages. 189 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:34,340 Genders race, everything. 190 00:11:34,340 --> 00:11:44,480 We check every box, but we're all working together towards this show, so, so was it hard for you to get used to that at, at first or, oh, no. 191 00:11:44,480 --> 00:11:45,680 I mean, I grew up in circus. 192 00:11:45,680 --> 00:11:47,030 This is, I didn't know anything different. 193 00:11:47,330 --> 00:11:47,840 Oh, okay. 194 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:48,080 Great. 195 00:11:48,650 --> 00:11:56,840 Cause it's, it's very different than most theater where Yeah, everybody has their job and that's what you do and you don't, you definitely never encroach on anybody else's job. 196 00:11:57,545 --> 00:12:01,295 No, I think it's pretty, it's pretty standard for circus to be like this. 197 00:12:01,295 --> 00:12:05,195 So that wasn't that, it wasn't very surprising to me. 198 00:12:05,195 --> 00:12:08,405 And we, we cast people that are also willing. 199 00:12:08,675 --> 00:12:14,245 I don't think every circus performer today is willing to do all the things and we, but we, we, I. 200 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:18,220 Cast people who believe in work or are interested in working this way. 201 00:12:18,310 --> 00:12:19,180 Yeah, yeah. 202 00:12:19,270 --> 00:12:19,990 As a team. 203 00:12:19,995 --> 00:12:20,770 A team, as a teamwork. 204 00:12:20,860 --> 00:12:21,280 Yeah. 205 00:12:21,910 --> 00:12:25,420 Well, I mean, I've seen your show a couple times and it's, it's really fun. 206 00:12:25,690 --> 00:12:29,170 I think the addition of the live band is, is really cool too. 207 00:12:29,290 --> 00:12:31,390 I, I love musical aspect of it. 208 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:31,890 Yeah. 209 00:12:32,290 --> 00:12:35,020 It, and your performers are incredibly talented. 210 00:12:35,680 --> 00:12:37,540 I mean, you have, you get some amazing people. 211 00:12:37,910 --> 00:12:40,430 Really? Yeah, really exciting this year. 212 00:12:40,430 --> 00:12:43,130 You know, usually it's mostly local performers. 213 00:12:43,130 --> 00:12:43,220 Mm-hmm. 214 00:12:43,460 --> 00:12:45,560 And then we'll bring one or two people in from out of town. 215 00:12:46,060 --> 00:12:46,480 Mm-hmm. 216 00:12:47,330 --> 00:12:53,200 So this year we're bringing in to make my list, just to make sure didn't anybody outta, didn't get anyone. 217 00:12:53,480 --> 00:13:02,560 I'm spying right over here, but I, we have Cole Bennington and he comes from San Diego, California and he's gonna be working, he's from the San Diego Circus Center. 218 00:13:03,395 --> 00:13:07,475 And he is gonna be stacking a bunch of chairs and doing handstands on them. 219 00:13:07,655 --> 00:13:08,405 Oh my God. 220 00:13:08,585 --> 00:13:09,635 It's very scary. 221 00:13:09,635 --> 00:13:10,475 Scares the heck outta me. 222 00:13:10,505 --> 00:13:10,805 I know. 223 00:13:10,805 --> 00:13:11,225 It's great. 224 00:13:11,725 --> 00:13:12,015 Yeah. 225 00:13:13,235 --> 00:13:14,645 We have to scare you a little bit. 226 00:13:14,645 --> 00:13:15,635 That's part of our job. 227 00:13:15,635 --> 00:13:18,815 You guys like 50 feet up in the air on 20 chairs or something? Yeah. 228 00:13:19,115 --> 00:13:19,385 Yeah. 229 00:13:19,385 --> 00:13:20,975 That's doing handstands and Yeah. 230 00:13:21,075 --> 00:13:22,686 You know, you know. 231 00:13:22,691 --> 00:13:23,315 Yeah, yeah. 232 00:13:23,315 --> 00:13:24,665 I hear everyday kind of thing. 233 00:13:24,725 --> 00:13:25,025 Yeah. 234 00:13:25,295 --> 00:13:29,225 And then we have Logan Care, who's a tightrope walker. 235 00:13:29,825 --> 00:13:30,385 A tight wire. 236 00:13:30,385 --> 00:13:33,445 So we've never actually had, this is our first time having a tight wire act. 237 00:13:33,775 --> 00:13:33,895 Yeah. 238 00:13:33,985 --> 00:13:35,725 In the rains, the circus bellow ring. 239 00:13:35,725 --> 00:13:38,005 We've had slack rope, but not tight wire. 240 00:13:38,005 --> 00:13:41,965 So we're really excited to bring her here. 241 00:13:41,970 --> 00:13:50,585 And she has been a part of kind of, we have a sister circus in New York City called the Bindle Stiff Circus, and so she comes from that company, so that's kind of fun. 242 00:13:51,775 --> 00:13:56,515 Do you remember that that family in France that used to do tightrope walking like across. 243 00:13:57,290 --> 00:13:58,670 You know, Highrise buildings. 244 00:13:58,680 --> 00:13:59,600 Oh, oh, no. 245 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:00,200 Amazing. 246 00:14:00,410 --> 00:14:04,310 I mean, we're, we're doing and they didn't, you know, and they live like normal lifespans. 247 00:14:04,640 --> 00:14:05,480 Yeah, yeah. 248 00:14:05,485 --> 00:14:09,300 Well there's, there's also the Lion Mels and Yeah, that's what I was thinking of. 249 00:14:09,300 --> 00:14:10,380 Maybe flying Mels. 250 00:14:10,380 --> 00:14:10,580 Yeah. 251 00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:13,900 So I mean, I've met a few of them and they're all very nice, normal people. 252 00:14:14,390 --> 00:14:17,795 The only thing that they do is that they like to, Normal. 253 00:14:17,925 --> 00:14:18,215 Okay. 254 00:14:19,205 --> 00:14:30,485 Just, just, just like average people, but they happen to, or how about those rock climbers who put the rope across like two like rock spires over a 3000 foot drop and walk across it? It's, it's incredible. 255 00:14:30,565 --> 00:14:31,895 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 256 00:14:32,495 --> 00:14:34,626 Well that won't be happening, but it will be tightrope walking. 257 00:14:34,665 --> 00:14:35,766 There will be tyro walking. 258 00:14:35,975 --> 00:14:38,225 We'll, I still slightly lower to the ground. 259 00:14:38,225 --> 00:14:45,665 We have to, you know, that's the one other thing about working in the parks is we're not allowed to put stakes in the ground, so things have to be a little, yeah. 260 00:14:46,655 --> 00:14:49,355 And you don't wanna horrify any children, you know? Right. 261 00:14:49,355 --> 00:14:50,525 We don't wanna horrify any children. 262 00:14:50,525 --> 00:14:50,615 Yeah. 263 00:14:50,735 --> 00:14:51,005 Yeah. 264 00:14:51,005 --> 00:14:55,415 So, and then, and so you don't have tigers and lions and stuff? No, no lions, no tigers, no animals. 265 00:14:55,655 --> 00:15:02,165 Occasionally at some locations we have a, our clowns during the pandemic trained a dog Finley. 266 00:15:02,345 --> 00:15:04,935 So Finley sometimes performs a pre-show performance. 267 00:15:05,375 --> 00:15:06,365 I think I saw that. 268 00:15:06,370 --> 00:15:06,495 Maybe. 269 00:15:06,695 --> 00:15:10,445 Yeah, you might, some, some performances will have an opening dog act. 270 00:15:10,525 --> 00:15:10,815 Yeah. 271 00:15:10,820 --> 00:15:11,075 Yeah. 272 00:15:11,075 --> 00:15:11,645 I think, yeah. 273 00:15:11,645 --> 00:15:13,145 Well, like you gotta love dog acts. 274 00:15:13,175 --> 00:15:14,585 I mean, dog acts are the best. 275 00:15:14,645 --> 00:15:15,575 I love Dog Act. 276 00:15:15,940 --> 00:15:20,090 So, so you used to perform with Pickle Family Surface Circus, right? I did. 277 00:15:20,090 --> 00:15:22,130 And they were a big deal in San Francisco. 278 00:15:22,130 --> 00:15:34,040 I dunno if they're still around or not, but they are no longer around, but they're, I think we carry on the tradition of that feeling of kind of public circus in the parks. 279 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:34,400 Correct. 280 00:15:34,970 --> 00:15:35,320 Parks. 281 00:15:35,510 --> 00:15:37,120 Their shows were slightly, oh, I'm sorry. 282 00:15:37,260 --> 00:15:40,460 I'm gonna, I forgot to turn off my dings. 283 00:15:42,470 --> 00:15:44,120 Yes, I've learned, I I turned mine off. 284 00:15:44,120 --> 00:15:45,350 Just before we start, I Stupid. 285 00:15:45,670 --> 00:15:46,970 I'm sorry about that. 286 00:15:47,060 --> 00:15:47,480 That's all right. 287 00:15:48,260 --> 00:15:49,130 It happens a lot. 288 00:15:49,130 --> 00:15:50,570 It happens almost every time. 289 00:15:50,570 --> 00:15:52,310 Actually, I should warn people. 290 00:15:52,310 --> 00:15:55,220 I never, I always forget to Oh yeah. 291 00:15:55,880 --> 00:15:57,111 So the dings distracted me. 292 00:15:57,150 --> 00:15:58,700 Pickle Family Circus. 293 00:15:58,700 --> 00:15:59,060 So yeah. 294 00:15:59,060 --> 00:16:04,340 So I started with the Pickle Family Circus School when I was a kid, and then I performed. 295 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:11,420 As part of, we were the pickle family, circus kids, and so we, I performed in their Glen Park show, I think 89. 296 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:20,430 How did that happen? How did you get involved in circus as a child? How old were you? Well, I started when I, I started when I was eight or nine years old. 297 00:16:20,990 --> 00:16:21,740 My mom. 298 00:16:22,745 --> 00:16:40,595 We still joke about this as this was the key parental mistake that happened is my, my parents signed me up for a kids' circus class, ah, to Pickle Family Circus School up in Glen, up in on Potrero Hill, and I met, I mean, I still remember I walked into the building and. 299 00:16:41,285 --> 00:16:54,235 This is kind of funny, but I, I smelled the smell and I was like, and I looked at a picture of Buster Keaton on the wall and all the props and the gorilla suits, and I was like, this is, this is what I wanna do. 300 00:16:54,415 --> 00:16:55,105 This is it. 301 00:16:55,165 --> 00:16:58,075 This is what I'm, this is, this is, I love this. 302 00:16:58,235 --> 00:16:59,975 So, Neat. 303 00:17:00,485 --> 00:17:06,065 So I just, I'm always amazed at that when, when kids find out what they wanna do when they're eight years old and they actually do it. 304 00:17:06,155 --> 00:17:06,455 Yeah. 305 00:17:06,455 --> 00:17:13,895 I mean, I think if you had asked me when I was five, I would've wanted to be a ballet dancer, and then by nine I was kind of focused on trape artists. 306 00:17:14,225 --> 00:17:14,765 Oh, okay. 307 00:17:14,995 --> 00:17:22,625 And then, and then I had a, I had a parade to modern dance and cabaret dancing, and then kind of kept. 308 00:17:23,285 --> 00:17:24,125 Kept with the circus. 309 00:17:24,125 --> 00:17:33,665 So, I mean, I can't even imagine not having, I just, I'm just com you know, the thing about me is I, I, I am stubborn. 310 00:17:34,185 --> 00:17:34,475 Yeah. 311 00:17:35,135 --> 00:17:36,485 Kinda have a one track mind. 312 00:17:36,485 --> 00:17:45,365 So once I get something to my brain, it's, I have kind of, can't I obsess and so that's, Yeah. 313 00:17:45,695 --> 00:17:49,685 Well, well you were also involved in sort of a burlesque troupe as well called kiang. 314 00:17:49,685 --> 00:17:53,105 I don't, does that have any influence on the circus arts that you perform? I, I think so. 315 00:17:53,105 --> 00:17:56,795 We joke, we were in rehearsal and we were needing, I love choreography. 316 00:17:56,795 --> 00:17:58,535 I love Busby Berkeley. 317 00:17:58,595 --> 00:17:58,835 Yeah. 318 00:17:59,075 --> 00:18:03,275 I think there is, you know, we, we are, we perform at noon rather than midnight. 319 00:18:04,055 --> 00:18:04,225 Yeah, right. 320 00:18:05,225 --> 00:18:06,395 Some differences there. 321 00:18:06,545 --> 00:18:09,575 I get a lot earlier than I used to, but, but I think there are. 322 00:18:10,005 --> 00:18:11,775 I love, you know, my other inspiration. 323 00:18:11,775 --> 00:18:17,295 You know, I always think my, what are my inspirations other than actual circus itself is I always love to watch the Muppet show. 324 00:18:17,295 --> 00:18:18,095 The Muppet shows mm-hmm. 325 00:18:18,175 --> 00:18:19,695 Are just the best thing ever. 326 00:18:19,695 --> 00:18:27,405 And then MGM musicals and all of that kind of, and I think you see it in our, the out outrageousness of the colors of our costumes. 327 00:18:27,410 --> 00:18:32,475 And I try to, you know, there's that little bit of spectacle that I try to achieve, I think. 328 00:18:33,455 --> 00:18:56,315 I think there's something about going to the circus, or at least the circus that I wanna create in my particular mind, that you just can kind of escape reality for a little bit and see something, you know, we can all see something beautiful, or at least, I guess that's what I think is beautiful and see something amazing and see something funny and, you know, well, I, I love, I love your shows. 329 00:18:56,320 --> 00:18:57,305 I mean, it, it's. 330 00:18:57,830 --> 00:18:59,540 It's not like going to Ringling Brothers. 331 00:18:59,540 --> 00:19:08,720 Well, like in Ringlings you have the clowns and they're funny, but in your, in your show, like everybody's always performing and you know, they're always kind of acting, you know? Absolutely. 332 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:09,560 It doesn't, yeah. 333 00:19:09,620 --> 00:19:11,330 And, and the costumes do. 334 00:19:11,330 --> 00:19:13,880 Who do you do the costumes or They're incredible. 335 00:19:14,060 --> 00:19:22,760 I work closely with Autumn Aam from Garden, unique Corsetry, and actually Autumn was a kitty. 336 00:19:23,020 --> 00:19:23,440 With me. 337 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:34,690 So we were, we were in the burlesque scene together when we've been friends forever, and we've had a couple different, I used to make all the costumes myself, and they're, you know, slowly, I'm trying to let go. 338 00:19:34,690 --> 00:19:39,700 I can't, I'm trying not to have the sewing machine out the night before the show. 339 00:19:40,210 --> 00:19:40,270 Wow. 340 00:19:40,740 --> 00:19:41,600 This is the big goal. 341 00:19:42,250 --> 00:19:47,470 I'd still have sometimes, but, but now Autumn does a beautiful job designing all our costumes and. 342 00:19:47,855 --> 00:19:48,785 I'm working on that. 343 00:19:48,785 --> 00:19:50,645 And so she's, she's incredible. 344 00:19:50,645 --> 00:20:02,555 And, you know, shout out to Dark Garden, this incredible local business that that makes, you know, if, if you need a corset or some custom item, go to Dark Garden. 345 00:20:02,555 --> 00:20:06,315 They're really an incredible, I think they're a legacy business now in San Francisco, so. 346 00:20:06,695 --> 00:20:06,876 Oh yeah. 347 00:20:06,881 --> 00:20:08,795 I think you mentioned them last time we talked. 348 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:12,170 Where are they over in? They're in, they're in Hayes. 349 00:20:12,230 --> 00:20:12,980 Hayes Valley. 350 00:20:13,130 --> 00:20:13,460 Yeah. 351 00:20:13,460 --> 00:20:13,730 Okay. 352 00:20:13,730 --> 00:20:14,270 Hayes Valley. 353 00:20:14,270 --> 00:20:14,271 Right. 354 00:20:14,450 --> 00:20:14,570 Interesting. 355 00:20:14,630 --> 00:20:15,020 Yeah. 356 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:16,250 Hayes Valley's cool. 357 00:20:16,250 --> 00:20:17,870 There's a lot of cool shops over there. 358 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:25,220 We have a great show this year in Hayes Valley, actually one of, one of our, we will be in, I cannot remember the date off the top of my head. 359 00:20:25,225 --> 00:20:25,410 Yeah. 360 00:20:25,550 --> 00:20:28,450 But mid-June will, or mid-July will be in Hayes Valley. 361 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:28,970 Okay. 362 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:32,300 As part of their carnival Carnival day. 363 00:20:32,780 --> 00:20:35,970 So, so, so the show, when is the first performance. 364 00:20:36,785 --> 00:20:42,235 Our first, we are gonna be doing an open rehearsal preview on June 8th. 365 00:20:42,375 --> 00:20:42,795 Mm-hmm. 366 00:20:43,375 --> 00:20:45,545 At a Demery park in West Oakland. 367 00:20:45,935 --> 00:20:50,735 And then from there we go down to Laguna Beach for the following weekend. 368 00:20:50,735 --> 00:20:55,175 And then I, I never like to say dates out loud on because I don't have the list with me. 369 00:20:55,175 --> 00:20:55,775 That's okay. 370 00:20:55,925 --> 00:20:59,105 But it's gonna run in June and July, basically June and July. 371 00:20:59,110 --> 00:20:59,205 Yeah. 372 00:20:59,205 --> 00:20:59,485 Yeah. 373 00:20:59,485 --> 00:20:59,765 Okay. 374 00:21:00,185 --> 00:21:00,305 Yeah. 375 00:21:00,305 --> 00:21:02,315 And I'll just put the link in the notes. 376 00:21:02,615 --> 00:21:03,245 That sounds great. 377 00:21:03,250 --> 00:21:03,325 Yeah. 378 00:21:03,365 --> 00:21:03,845 Yeah. 379 00:21:03,905 --> 00:21:05,125 I love that park in Oakland. 380 00:21:05,435 --> 00:21:07,025 It's really nice venue. 381 00:21:07,365 --> 00:21:09,485 D different park is a beautiful park. 382 00:21:09,575 --> 00:21:09,995 Yeah. 383 00:21:09,995 --> 00:21:11,285 Family park is a beautiful park. 384 00:21:11,495 --> 00:21:13,175 And there we've been. 385 00:21:14,090 --> 00:21:16,070 Partnering them to do our preview performance. 386 00:21:16,070 --> 00:21:19,220 They've hosted us for their, for since the beginning of Circus Bella. 387 00:21:19,220 --> 00:21:20,600 So it's great. 388 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:25,730 We love going there and that, that park in the dog patch area was nice too. 389 00:21:25,850 --> 00:21:27,170 I think we're going there this year. 390 00:21:27,260 --> 00:21:28,010 Oh, okay. 391 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:30,020 That's not, that's a, there's other places. 392 00:21:30,020 --> 00:21:32,060 There's so many other places I went there, so I like that. 393 00:21:33,580 --> 00:21:33,870 Yeah. 394 00:21:34,130 --> 00:21:41,810 So you've been increasingly involved in the advocacy work for circus arts and workers' compensation rates and things like that. 395 00:21:42,215 --> 00:21:44,675 All of the sexy stuff that goes behind the scenes. 396 00:21:44,675 --> 00:21:44,955 Yeah. 397 00:21:45,365 --> 00:21:56,045 So how's that been? Well, it's interesting, so we, I am on the bounding member and on the board of a organ new organization called the American Circus Alliance. 398 00:21:56,960 --> 00:22:18,470 And it's pretty exciting because basically now all the circus owners in, in the United States are actually in a room talking or in a zoom room talking to each other about kind of the problems that we all face running circuses and, and one of the things that we're working and we're making progress on is to be treated as our own. 399 00:22:19,205 --> 00:22:20,615 Art form in the United States. 400 00:22:20,615 --> 00:22:28,205 So, you know, you have opera and you have ballet, and you have theater, and there's like a, when I, I write a lot of grants. 401 00:22:28,295 --> 00:22:30,575 We just got our first NEA grant this year. 402 00:22:30,575 --> 00:22:31,805 It's a really big deal. 403 00:22:32,195 --> 00:22:39,175 But when I write an NE NEA grant, we always get into the other, like circuses always are put in the other category loop. 404 00:22:39,180 --> 00:22:39,545 Okay. 405 00:22:40,055 --> 00:22:41,255 We want our own box. 406 00:22:41,435 --> 00:22:43,655 So this is National Endowment for the Arts. 407 00:22:43,775 --> 00:22:43,835 Yeah. 408 00:22:43,835 --> 00:22:46,775 Which has been cut and cut and cut over the years. 409 00:22:46,775 --> 00:22:48,906 So getting anything from them is a, a big deal. 410 00:22:48,911 --> 00:22:49,665 It's a really big deal. 411 00:22:49,665 --> 00:22:50,735 Yeah, it's a really big deal. 412 00:22:50,735 --> 00:22:55,805 I'm really, I got a, a letter from Nancy Pelosi with a wet signature congratulating me. 413 00:22:55,810 --> 00:22:57,460 I was really, Wonder. 414 00:22:57,560 --> 00:22:59,090 Oh, frame that. 415 00:22:59,450 --> 00:22:59,990 Yeah, I know. 416 00:22:59,990 --> 00:23:01,100 I was so excited to get it. 417 00:23:01,100 --> 00:23:01,880 I was like, wow. 418 00:23:03,890 --> 00:23:04,610 Well, good for you. 419 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:05,660 So, yeah. 420 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:14,410 So yeah, we're working on that and we're, you know, working, this is the first time I think, yeah, we're just trying to create. 421 00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:15,710 Yeah. 422 00:23:15,710 --> 00:23:25,310 Recognition for circus is an art form is a valid, you know, and actually one of the things that we're finding is, is that, you know, there is a lot of money we, we generate, you know, a lot. 423 00:23:25,310 --> 00:23:30,021 There's some, em, economic, you know, CIR sole and all the shows in Vegas and yeah. 424 00:23:30,230 --> 00:23:35,090 You know, we add to the economy of the United States, so we're, we're worth having around. 425 00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:36,470 Right. 426 00:23:37,070 --> 00:23:39,500 God, Cirque Dulay is huge in Vegas. 427 00:23:39,505 --> 00:23:39,700 Huge. 428 00:23:39,700 --> 00:23:43,100 They, they usually have three or four different shows going on at one time. 429 00:23:43,790 --> 00:23:44,990 They employ a lot of people. 430 00:23:44,995 --> 00:23:45,580 Yeah, A lot of, yeah. 431 00:23:45,770 --> 00:23:46,060 Yeah. 432 00:23:47,270 --> 00:23:59,851 Have you, have you, have you ever thought of working for them? Well, I'm now over the hills, so it looks like, it looks like career at Cirque Dule might not last too long given what the stuff that they want you to do. 433 00:24:00,330 --> 00:24:01,480 I mean, well watch people. 434 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:24,390 I know people that have had life, like I have a friend who's been working there now for 15 years, so I think you can, I have actually quite a few friends that once you, you know, they're, I think it's, they're a great company to work for because they move you, you know, you move into different roles as, and I think there's, as you advance, advance and age. 435 00:24:25,050 --> 00:24:29,340 So yeah, start out someplace and then move around. 436 00:24:29,345 --> 00:24:31,740 I think, you know, good people are good people. 437 00:24:32,655 --> 00:24:34,935 You know, even at Circus Bella, we've had a little bit of that. 438 00:24:34,935 --> 00:24:40,905 You know, a lot of us in the company, I started out as the, I mean, I was the founder, but I started out as the trapeze artist. 439 00:24:41,085 --> 00:24:42,615 I'm moving on along the line. 440 00:24:42,615 --> 00:24:43,725 I'm the ringmaster. 441 00:24:43,875 --> 00:24:43,965 Yeah. 442 00:24:44,055 --> 00:24:48,915 Our, our contortionist, our for Dora now does the aerial act. 443 00:24:48,915 --> 00:24:52,755 You know, Carlo who had a foot juggling act now is our production manager. 444 00:24:52,755 --> 00:24:55,915 So there is this kind of Yeah. 445 00:24:56,325 --> 00:24:57,285 Progression that happens. 446 00:24:57,535 --> 00:24:59,385 So, so how long can a person. 447 00:25:00,210 --> 00:25:06,330 Perform in the circus with some of these acts? I mean, it seems like it's just brutal on the body, I think. 448 00:25:06,420 --> 00:25:10,080 I think it depends on the act and it depends on the person. 449 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:10,081 Yeah. 450 00:25:10,140 --> 00:25:11,970 And it depends on your training. 451 00:25:12,330 --> 00:25:13,740 Depends on a lot of things. 452 00:25:13,890 --> 00:25:13,950 Yeah. 453 00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:15,091 I mean, I think. 454 00:25:17,295 --> 00:25:19,695 Yeah, there's no real particular number. 455 00:25:19,700 --> 00:25:19,945 Yeah. 456 00:25:20,625 --> 00:25:23,145 You see kind of every and every time you're like, oh, well it's this. 457 00:25:23,145 --> 00:25:23,835 You age out at this. 458 00:25:23,835 --> 00:25:25,665 You see somebody who's breaking all the rules. 459 00:25:26,145 --> 00:25:39,375 And then also I think sometimes people just decide, you know, I think I maybe on the Trape could have gone for a few more years, but I was like, well, there's other things I'm interested in doing, so I'd rather do thi you know, I think there's this, it sort of is a personal journey for each. 460 00:25:39,375 --> 00:25:46,785 You mean breaking the rules of like personal safety or, or? Or physical, you know? Well, I think that deterioration of the body. 461 00:25:46,855 --> 00:25:50,865 Yeah, I think, but also I think it's like everyone is such a unique journey for each corner. 462 00:25:51,555 --> 00:25:57,945 So it's, it's, you know, you see, I mean there's a, a friend of mine who we loosely. 463 00:25:59,295 --> 00:26:06,075 Just chat over, we did a show together in Colorado and he's, I I, he must be in his sixties and he is still doing contortion. 464 00:26:06,435 --> 00:26:06,615 Yeah. 465 00:26:06,615 --> 00:26:09,675 So it just depends on the person, right? I mean, it's like any other sport. 466 00:26:09,675 --> 00:26:10,225 No, I know. 467 00:26:10,225 --> 00:26:13,755 He, I, I just ever, I see pictures of like, wow, you're still doing it. 468 00:26:13,755 --> 00:26:15,375 That's in, that's incredible. 469 00:26:15,380 --> 00:26:20,835 I mean, he's really bending, so, you know, you just, you know, every person has their own journey of Yeah. 470 00:26:20,840 --> 00:26:34,410 Everyone's physiology's different and mental capacity and desire, you know, so, I mean, I, I used to be heavily involved in competitive sports and I couldn't anymore cuz of arthritis and all this stuff. 471 00:26:34,410 --> 00:26:36,330 And I still know people who are doing the same thing. 472 00:26:36,330 --> 00:26:38,340 And so it just kind of depends on the person. 473 00:26:38,345 --> 00:26:38,440 Yeah. 474 00:26:38,660 --> 00:26:40,110 So, yeah. 475 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:45,160 I'm just amazed though, at what I see, like when I see the contortionist, oh, Elise is an archist. 476 00:26:46,110 --> 00:26:46,770 She's so good. 477 00:26:47,040 --> 00:26:48,330 She's not doing that anymore. 478 00:26:48,390 --> 00:26:48,630 Oh no. 479 00:26:48,630 --> 00:26:50,670 She, the one that you've seen is doing, yeah. 480 00:26:51,165 --> 00:26:51,705 Oh good. 481 00:26:51,885 --> 00:26:54,405 The one, the woman who's our aerial, you'll see is our aerialist. 482 00:26:54,405 --> 00:26:54,675 Dora. 483 00:26:54,675 --> 00:26:57,795 Yeah, she's, she was on the hoop two years ago and she's coming back. 484 00:26:57,800 --> 00:26:57,965 Okay. 485 00:26:58,725 --> 00:26:59,745 She was our contortionist. 486 00:26:59,925 --> 00:27:03,795 If you went to the show five years, six years ago, yeah, I did. 487 00:27:03,855 --> 00:27:04,485 And then, and now. 488 00:27:04,490 --> 00:27:06,955 Now to be a contortionist, does that take. 489 00:27:08,040 --> 00:27:20,590 Natural ability and then practice? Or can you actually practice your way into being a contortionist? Who can do that stuff? I, or do you already have to have like loose joints? I think you have, there is, you have to have some natural ability. 490 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:21,450 Okay. 491 00:27:21,870 --> 00:27:33,840 Just because, I mean, I think for me personally, I'm not, I mean, I'm more, I guess I'm more, I, my comparison is a flat contortionist, but I can stretch and stretch and stretch and stretch and it's just not gonna, it's, I'm not gonna get myself there. 492 00:27:33,845 --> 00:27:34,920 So there has to be some. 493 00:27:35,355 --> 00:27:46,695 Some national ability, lots of training, and I think every act kind of, it reflects I think, your personality a little bit. 494 00:27:46,695 --> 00:27:50,155 It's like what you, you know, I think the contortionist, you kind of have to have this. 495 00:27:51,590 --> 00:27:51,880 Abil. 496 00:27:52,230 --> 00:28:04,170 I mean, I guess all circus actually have to have a tolerance for discomfort, but, but the ability to really sit there in these, like the, the training is, is really intense and you have to have the mind to be able to handle it. 497 00:28:04,290 --> 00:28:04,680 Yeah. 498 00:28:04,890 --> 00:28:12,810 You know, I, I can only speak from my own personal experience, but for me, you know, I can think I have, I have the discipline to practice every day. 499 00:28:12,810 --> 00:28:16,980 I, and I still even do that in the way I stay in shape and everything like that. 500 00:28:16,980 --> 00:28:17,490 And I have the. 501 00:28:17,940 --> 00:28:18,270 Comfort. 502 00:28:18,270 --> 00:28:21,840 But I also like to move, like I like to swing. 503 00:28:21,840 --> 00:28:23,730 I like to like go. 504 00:28:23,730 --> 00:28:25,320 I don't like to sit still very much. 505 00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:36,580 So I think that's where trapeze was a better fit for what, and I wasn't, I'm not very flexible, so I could kind of hide my flexibility a little bit and move, or my lack of flexibility and move. 506 00:28:36,670 --> 00:28:44,085 And so that's, I could see where trap being a trapeze artist can become such an addictive, sort of obsessive thing. 507 00:28:44,085 --> 00:28:48,435 It's so, yeah, it's real as you get a little addicted to the height and the adrenaline. 508 00:28:48,525 --> 00:28:49,215 Yeah. 509 00:28:49,405 --> 00:28:54,166 I, I, I went to, what was it, club Med once and they had a little, a trapeze thing there, and I, and I did it. 510 00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:56,700 You know, basic stuff. 511 00:28:56,730 --> 00:28:58,290 Oh my God, that was incredible. 512 00:28:58,290 --> 00:28:58,980 It's so fun. 513 00:28:59,160 --> 00:29:05,760 It's so, and you can do stuff like super easy, basic stuff right away and just absolutely, absolutely blew my mind. 514 00:29:05,760 --> 00:29:06,450 It's like, oh, wow. 515 00:29:06,450 --> 00:29:09,330 If I had done this when I was younger, I think that I, I might have gotten into it. 516 00:29:10,065 --> 00:29:11,295 Yeah, it's, well, it's never too late. 517 00:29:11,295 --> 00:29:12,405 You can go to the Circus Center. 518 00:29:13,365 --> 00:29:13,635 Yeah. 519 00:29:13,635 --> 00:29:16,935 You can take classes at the Circus Center in San Francisco, huh? Yeah. 520 00:29:16,935 --> 00:29:17,215 Yeah. 521 00:29:17,685 --> 00:29:18,975 Who? I know some people there. 522 00:29:19,125 --> 00:29:19,365 Yeah. 523 00:29:19,365 --> 00:29:19,845 Cool. 524 00:29:20,505 --> 00:29:32,475 So do you have any advice that you could give people who might be interested in pursuing a career in circus? Is it, is it like a, a way you're gonna become super rich or I'm being, I'm kidding. 525 00:29:32,745 --> 00:29:42,755 Noelle, what advice could you give young people who wanna do circus performance? I mean, I have, my cynical advice is if there's anything else you wanna do, you should do that first because it's hard. 526 00:29:43,485 --> 00:29:43,665 Yeah. 527 00:29:43,665 --> 00:29:51,765 But on the other hand, What I actually think is pretty magical about the circus is a, you get to join this community of people. 528 00:29:51,765 --> 00:29:53,175 That's spectacular. 529 00:29:53,325 --> 00:30:00,225 And I also think it's an art form where there really, it celebrates the uniqueness in people. 530 00:30:00,230 --> 00:30:00,375 Mm-hmm. 531 00:30:00,825 --> 00:30:06,105 So that there really is a, if you wanna do it, you have to, you have to be willing to work really hard. 532 00:30:06,135 --> 00:30:08,025 You know, you have to train. 533 00:30:08,450 --> 00:30:09,050 Hard. 534 00:30:09,290 --> 00:30:09,410 Mm-hmm. 535 00:30:10,100 --> 00:30:11,720 One of my early coaches, Mr. 536 00:30:11,720 --> 00:30:13,910 Luie, would say training is bitterness. 537 00:30:14,480 --> 00:30:17,000 So you have to, you know, you have to train hard. 538 00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:24,560 But, but I think with that, there is a place, there's so many different paths you can take. 539 00:30:24,750 --> 00:30:31,350 And so there's a, there really is a place for everybody in the circus, which I think is pretty special. 540 00:30:31,710 --> 00:30:33,120 Provided you're willing to do the work. 541 00:30:33,610 --> 00:30:34,060 And you're nice. 542 00:30:35,740 --> 00:30:44,350 Well, the athleticism involved in a lot of these things and yeah, and the night, the friendliness and the sense of humor and the acting ability and the energy. 543 00:30:44,350 --> 00:30:50,300 Like peop, you have to bring 110% all the time because a circus is always, yeah. 544 00:30:50,300 --> 00:30:58,015 Elevated, you know? I think all shapes and sizes and talents are celebrated and there's really is a place for all of that, so, yeah. 545 00:30:58,405 --> 00:30:58,825 Yeah. 546 00:30:59,365 --> 00:30:59,725 Well that's great. 547 00:30:59,725 --> 00:31:12,295 I think that's, that's, that's my, so if you want, if you want to join the circus, pick a class, find, find your teacher, you know, what do you want? You know, take a bunch of classes, what do you wanna try a lot of things. 548 00:31:12,295 --> 00:31:18,495 And I think you do have to find what comes just a little bit easier than the other things, you know? Yeah. 549 00:31:18,765 --> 00:31:19,055 Yeah. 550 00:31:19,870 --> 00:31:20,080 Yeah. 551 00:31:20,080 --> 00:31:29,960 So it's like a lot of the arts or any athletic endeavor, if you wanna really do something at its at, its, you have to really, really wanna do it, you know? But you have to just really, you can't do it. 552 00:31:30,180 --> 00:31:31,480 You just kind of wanna do it. 553 00:31:31,900 --> 00:31:34,120 Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure. 554 00:31:34,690 --> 00:31:42,525 So how do you see the, the future of circus arts evolving in the years to come? I think it's really hip right now. 555 00:31:42,555 --> 00:31:49,845 Everyone wants, you know, you go to, you go to these like the Circus Center and we're actually rehearsing at Kinetic Arts Center in the East Bay. 556 00:31:49,995 --> 00:31:50,085 Mm-hmm. 557 00:31:50,330 --> 00:32:07,365 And there's lots of people who are taking circus classes and taking aerial arts classes and, and you know, we hosted a clown workshop we with on Friday with this amazing out of town artist, Michelle Matlock, who's working our clowns with our clowns. 558 00:32:07,365 --> 00:32:08,565 And I've said, well, let's do a. 559 00:32:08,965 --> 00:32:11,095 Works out for the whole community and it was sold out. 560 00:32:11,095 --> 00:32:17,545 You know, I think we're at this amazing time where people really are interested in the circus arts and it's hip. 561 00:32:17,545 --> 00:32:22,165 And I think, you know, in my, when I was a kid, it was popular. 562 00:32:22,195 --> 00:32:30,955 All the little girls would take ballet classes and now all little girl, oh no, even, and everybody takes circus classes. 563 00:32:31,135 --> 00:32:33,985 So I, what do you think is accounting for that? I have no idea. 564 00:32:36,285 --> 00:32:39,575 Prob probably Cirque du sole, you know? Oh, okay. 565 00:32:40,045 --> 00:32:55,525 You know, because it's, once again, I think there was a time when circus wasn't as accessible and now, you know, there really is this, you know, maybe, maybe movies like The Greatest Showman, you know? And I think, but whatever. 566 00:32:55,525 --> 00:32:59,755 Or maybe that's be, it's popular because, but it's, PO Circus is popular right now. 567 00:33:00,295 --> 00:33:01,465 People like to go to the circuit. 568 00:33:01,495 --> 00:33:04,825 I mean, they always have, and I think it's one of these things that goes up and down. 569 00:33:04,825 --> 00:33:15,085 But we're, I think we're in a moment, you know, I sit on these Zoom calls and there's so many little regional companies and there's so much interesting work being done in the circus community right now. 570 00:33:15,085 --> 00:33:18,025 It's a really cool, cool time. 571 00:33:18,415 --> 00:33:25,015 Now I re, I remember when I was younger and in the seventies and eighties, I guess it had a, I think it had a boom around that time. 572 00:33:25,015 --> 00:33:27,825 Do you think this is similar? I think so, yeah. 573 00:33:28,245 --> 00:33:29,065 So great. 574 00:33:29,890 --> 00:33:32,560 So I, yeah, I think we're in this a great time for circus. 575 00:33:32,650 --> 00:33:33,010 Yeah. 576 00:33:33,790 --> 00:33:36,340 Well, and everybody loves the circus. 577 00:33:36,340 --> 00:33:39,310 I mean, who does love? Wanna love the circus? Oh my God. 578 00:33:39,790 --> 00:33:40,570 I mean, seriously. 579 00:33:40,575 --> 00:33:42,070 It's like just happiness. 580 00:33:42,190 --> 00:33:42,670 Yeah. 581 00:33:43,540 --> 00:33:48,790 I think also, I think this is, maybe that's why my plug for circus is it's this, this. 582 00:33:49,945 --> 00:33:50,905 Amazing. 583 00:33:50,905 --> 00:33:51,805 Unifying. 584 00:33:51,835 --> 00:33:52,765 It's a great unifier. 585 00:33:52,765 --> 00:34:01,435 You can't really, and I think we right now, I mean this is my personal artistic statement, is it's nice to find a few things we can all agree upon. 586 00:34:02,095 --> 00:34:02,245 Yeah. 587 00:34:02,995 --> 00:34:10,255 You know, let's just, you know, and I think circus is kind of one of them, you know, you know, our show's only 60 minutes. 588 00:34:10,255 --> 00:34:11,935 What, what could, you know, just Yeah, yeah. 589 00:34:11,935 --> 00:34:14,095 And laugh for an hour together. 590 00:34:14,125 --> 00:34:14,365 Yeah. 591 00:34:14,365 --> 00:34:17,215 It's, it's lacking in, in politics, I assume. 592 00:34:17,845 --> 00:34:20,035 Yeah, great. 593 00:34:20,465 --> 00:34:21,895 We, we stay far, far away. 594 00:34:21,895 --> 00:34:23,965 We just, yeah. 595 00:34:24,265 --> 00:34:27,085 Try to find a moment that we can come together and laugh. 596 00:34:27,745 --> 00:34:28,255 Yeah. 597 00:34:29,095 --> 00:34:29,635 So great. 598 00:34:29,635 --> 00:34:30,175 So great. 599 00:34:30,355 --> 00:34:32,425 Thank you so much for speaking with me today. 600 00:34:33,430 --> 00:34:34,240 Thanks for having me. 601 00:34:34,330 --> 00:34:34,960 You bet. 602 00:34:37,120 --> 00:34:38,260 Well, there you have it. 603 00:34:39,130 --> 00:34:42,010 Our guest, Abigail Man from Circus Bella. 604 00:34:42,070 --> 00:34:51,670 I've been to their circus a couple of times in the past and she's been on the Green Room before too, and I really, really enjoy the show. 605 00:34:51,675 --> 00:34:52,230 And it's free. 606 00:34:53,110 --> 00:34:54,130 It's an hour long. 607 00:34:54,130 --> 00:34:55,960 She has these incredible performers. 608 00:34:56,020 --> 00:34:57,910 The costumes are magnificent. 609 00:34:57,910 --> 00:34:58,600 The music. 610 00:34:59,115 --> 00:34:59,865 Is excellent. 611 00:35:00,375 --> 00:35:08,955 It's full of energy, full of love, full of life, and I guarantee a good time for you and yours. 612 00:35:09,675 --> 00:35:13,305 Thanks so much for listening today and visiting the Green Room. 613 00:35:13,815 --> 00:35:20,115 As always, if you enjoyed this podcast, please give me a rating on Apple Podcast. 614 00:35:20,565 --> 00:35:23,865 It really, really helps for me to get ratings. 615 00:35:23,865 --> 00:35:27,105 I can get more listeners and put more into the show. 616 00:35:28,045 --> 00:35:33,295 If you would like to contact me, just write an email to greenroom OnAir gmail.com 617 00:35:33,295 --> 00:35:37,795 and I will be happy to read your email and answer. 618 00:35:38,665 --> 00:35:39,895 Thanks so much for listening. 619 00:35:41,650 --> 00:35:47,620 And until next week, which may be from a remote area of Europe. 620 00:35:49,450 --> 00:35:52,930 Until next week, I will see you on the boards. 621 00:35:53,560 --> 00:35:54,310 Bye-bye everybody.