Good Morning Northampton!
As the 4pm show in Waltham, MA came to a close yesterday evening, the entire staff jumped full speed into action. All hands were on deck as the bleachers were loaded out, lights lowered, tents taken down and the back lot disassembled. Thus began our overnight jump to the Three County Fairgrounds in Northampton. During a standard jump, at the end of the show each department will begin taking down their own things, the concessionaires packing up concessions, tent crew taking down the tents. Everyone gets to sleep by 1:30am and wakes up early to pack up the area where…
The Boss Clown Olympics!
Clown Alley, the Troupers who keep the Smirkus tent ringing with laughter, were put to the test in between shows in Great Barrington by the yearly tradition of the Boss Clown Olympics. Boss Clown is a competition of wacky games based around clowning skills, such as putting on makeup without a mirror! “Boss Clown” is a traditional role across circuses which is typically given to the most senior clown and was adopted by Smirkus in the early 2000s. For many years, an obvious senior leader emerged from the clowns to serve as 1Boss Clown. But then, one year, there were…
Behind the Scenes: Elizabeth Stubbs Part 2!
Here is the second part of a look into the life of one of our concessionaires! -Emma “We moved into a tiny bunk in one of four trailers. Our room was about the size of an average bathroom, with 2 bunks, up and down, and a tiny closet. It was crowded, but comfortable enough. That first night I was surprised by the motion of the trailer every time someone moved around. After a few days that became my method of ascertaining whether my neighbors were home. It was beautiful at the barn. There were fireflies at night and a hummingbird…
Behind the Scenes: Elizabeth Stubbs
Hello All! This week I have the pleasure of sharing a post by Elizabeth Stubbs. Elizabeth is a Smirkus fan, friend, former Trouper parent AND concessionaire (and also an all around lovely person)! Here she’ll share her path to becoming a Smirkus concessionaire and give you a little look into what she does behind the scenes. She’s done so much with Smirkus over the years that there was no possible way to fit it all into one blog post. Instead, Elizabeth’s story will be shared over two posts! Hope you are all having a lovely summer, Emma “Evolution of a Concessionaire…
Through Fields and Fairgrounds
After leaving the fairground of Swanzey, NH, we ventured to our first stop in Massachusetts: Great Barrington. Setting up our circus lot is always a puzzle involving fitting trucks, trailers, and tents into a complex arrangement, and here the puzzle was further complicated by the trees and old buildings surrounding the Great Barrington Fairgrounds. With careful planning and nimble coordination though, we began our load-in. Soon, the blue and white tents became visible from the road overlooking the fairgrounds, offering a splash of color in the sea of green. In the center of the grounds, there’s an old race track,…
What a Special Day!
Dear Smirkus Family, Today was a special day for so many reasons! First off, we’re in beautiful Saratoga Springs, NY with gorgeous weather. We’ve had the pleasure of seeing many Big Top Tour alumni who stopped by to see the show and say hello. More than that though, it’s Smirko Sarah’s birthday! As a fourth year trouper, she was well aware that this meant a pie to the face as per circus tradition. Troy Wunderle, Artistic Director, knew that she was prepared for a pie and took great joy in setting up fake situations all day long to make her…
Seven Circusy Supersitions
Every profession, including circus, has its own superstitions. They were perhaps based in logic once, but now have become engrained in the lives of performers and have stood the test of time. The staff here at Smirkus come from a variety of backgrounds, many having also worked with other circuses. We have people who have worked with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, the Big Apple Circus, and Cirque du Soleil, just to name a few. Talking with some of these people, I’ve put together a list of common circus lore! Seven Circusy Superstitions Never sit with your back to…
No Matter the Weather
Circus life is always moving, always changing. The weather doesn’t seem to stay the same for very long, either! In St. Johnsbury, Vermont, we were welcomed with a heat wave. Before the shows, the Troupers sat on the ground in front of fans as they did their make-up, hoping that the slight movement of the air would cool them down. Outside, little kids ran through “Mr. Mister,” an arched trellis that gently misted them with water offering a much needed relief to the heat. At the very top of the Chapiteau, sprinklers danced back and forth spraying cool water over…
Down the Road!
Hello Smirkus Family, It’s been a few days and, in that time, so many exciting things have happened! I woke Sunday morning to music blaring out of Trailerville, the bunks in Greensboro where the Troupers live during training. But now, training was over. Classes and rehearsals came to a close. It was showtime! Following an early lunch, everyone began readying themselves. There were props to place, costumes to change into and clown noses to put on! Meanwhile, in Millie the front-of-house tent, concessionaires were adding finishing touches to their beautiful displays. At noon, the ticket-booth opened and families began to…
As Opening Approaches…
Dear Smirkus family, The hum of the show music drifts through my window as I write this. Crisp sunlight glistens off the wet grass. It’s been a little while since I’ve blogged and for that, I apologize. Things have been so exciting around here, but it’s been a little difficult to find a moment to sit and write. Everyone has been doing their part to get ready for opening day, Sunday! One cool thing that I’ve noticed at Smirkus is how willing everyone is to lend a hand to each other. Just last night, several Troupers gathered to help Patsy…