Full-Time Circus Life: A World Tour of Reality and Challenges

At the break of dawn, I am roused by repetitive thumps overhead. My dog's ears perk up, vigilant against the persistent intruder threatening our sanctuary from above. A rhythmic thud, a subsequent garbled noise—turns out it's an assault by seagulls on my mobile home.

Shaking off the morning drowsiness, I exit my small mobile dwelling into an expansive field we've temporarily transformed into our abode. As if eager entertainers themselves, the birds have raided my trash, spreading its contents spectacularly towards the entrance of our large tent. Wonderful.

The Illusion of Glitz and Glamour

People often express amazement when I reveal my profession, imagining it to be a dazzling affair. However, my best friend quickly shatters this image, recounting tales of tent-building in torrential rain or performing amidst goat dirt.

Admittedly, this career has an allure I would never have accessed elsewhere. Growing up in Virginia, close to the poverty line, the idea of owning a passport was mere fantasy, with career choices traditionally limited for girls. Now, I have performed across five continents, dined with nobility, and showcased my acts to royals in private theaters resembling paradise resorts.

Even without festive holidays like Christmas, the electrifying sensation of performing to a cheering crowd in a packed 4,000-seat venue is incomparable. It's a sprinkle of rock-star euphoria that fills up the stage-loving part of my soul.

A Balancing Act with No Net

Each year, my routine typically involves tours during spring and summer, followed by special Halloween and Christmas shows or residencies. This nomadic lifestyle often means negotiating personal commitments like weddings and birthdays around demanding show schedules. In contrast to theater, the absence of understudies here means the performance must push on, sacrificing personal time whenever necessary.

Living so close to the workplace—often just steps away—eradicates the concept of work-life separation. Many colleagues find partners within our industry, drawn to the shared understanding of this unique lifestyle. For a time, I followed suit, but eventually, I met my partner, a lawyer, and we are now deep in wedding plans.

My partner could have made a brilliant clown, her comedic talents rival numerous professional ones I've known. She has embraced our lifestyle, traveling with me, enjoying luxury hotel stays, and enduring the humble confines of damp caravans in England. She's even become adept at operating the crucial machinery that supports my aerial acts.

Love on the Road: Wedding Plans in Motion

This year has kept me constantly traveling through Germany, the UK, Ireland, and the United States while planning the 'big event'—our wedding. We previously eloped in Las Vegas, with a touching ceremony performed by my former partner, now a Cirque du Soleil acrobat, during her break.

This grand wedding is slated for February in England, promising a display of circus acts by friends persuaded to join the celebrations on their free day.

Squeezing in venue visits between work commitments has left my partner attending many details solo. Post-Halloween tour, I'll hastily dismantle the tent, attend a beauty trial, enjoy a food tasting, and then jet off to prep for another tour in Las Vegas—my partner's patience is truly saintly.

During breaks between performances, I've been building our wedding website and ambitiously tackling DIY projects. After a brief residence at home, I will embark on a US national tour, performing in 34 cities spanning 18 states until the year concludes. Post-tour, the frenzy of wedding planning resumes until we again say 'I do,' surrounded by our beloved friends amidst a splash of glamour and sequins, before resuming the touring cycle.

Because, ultimately, the show must always continue.