What do you look for in applicants to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College®
An
overactive funny bone and a heart the size of Alaska! Improvisational
ability, a sense of timing, and a sincere desire to be a clown are also
necessary characteristics of a potential applicant. Previous
professional clowning experience is not required.
Where is the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College located?
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College resided in fixed locations 1968 through 1997. Today Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College
is offered in venues and at designated times in different locations
throughout the United States which are advertised through different
media.
How long is the program when students are accepted?
The
length of the program varies on a variety of facts such as the number
of students, the current skill set of the students as well as the needs
of the three touring units of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey.
What are some of the classes at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College?
Character
development, improvisation, makeup, pantomime, gag development, prop
and costume construction, acrobatics, dance and the physical skills of
slaps and falls, stilt-walking, unicycling, juggling and arena
choreography.
How often do you conduct open auditions?
Auditions are only one of the ways that we recruit and evaluate performers that could potentially tour with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey.
We hold auditions when we are in cities where there is a talent pool
from which to draw, when our talent scouts are available to evaluate
candidates and when we have a desire to potentially bring new clowns to The Greatest Show On Earth. Individuals are also invited to contact us if they are interested in becoming a clown. More information can be found here http://www.ringling.com/TextContent.aspx?id=17084&parentID=390&assetFolderID=708.
What happens when candidates are selected at an audition to continue being evaluated?
They will have an opportunity to see a performance of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
and a more detailed application will be filled out. From there,
potentially, another meeting and an intensive training session will be
held. During this process, the opportunity will be evaluated on both
sides and it'll be determined if it's a mutual fit. If there is a fit, a
one-year contract will likely be offered.