(no subject)

[taz_39]

Well. That was unexpected.

I've described how the news was broken to us HERE. Please read it, I'm not in the mood to type it out again here :P


And you can read what the media has to say about it HERE. And HERE and HERE and HERE and all over really.

We all knew that something was going to happen, and that it wasn't going to be good. The main theories had to do with downsizing or being sold off to another company. Turns out it was even worse than that.

(Let's see now if I'm asked to take this photo down. Place your bets!)

The day after (today, Sunday) we had two shows. As I type this we've done one, and it was extremely difficult. I don't know how people are running out onto the floor and performing with big smiles on their faces. It's gotta hurt.

It also hurts that now, of all times, there's this giant audience. Clapping and screaming and cheering. At the moment it feels like being surrounded by a bunch of vultures, or rubberneckers trying to catch a glimpse of the dead bodies in the road. And I'm sure this level of "enthusiasm" will continue to follow us as we die out. People are gross.

Anyway, I didn't want to be dark about this, but it's been less than 24 hours and like most people here I did not get much sleep last night. I'm feeling bitter about a lot of things. I'm worried for my future. I'm sad for all of us. I'm angry at how the news was delivered, how things turned out, all of it.

That said, I can't deny that it's been a privelege to work here. I am so glad that I've kept this blog, and documented every week as thoroughly as possible. It will be a great set of memories to look back on. Not many people can say they lived on a train, danced with clowns, walked with elephants. It was wonderful, and unfortunately, those who come after me will not have the opportunity to experience it. So I will treasure it, knowing that I am one of the last to do so. Wherever I go from here, I will carry five years of circus magic with me. And I can't thank Feld enough for that.

At the moment I feel like there's not a whole lot to say. There were warning signs that something like this might happen, but again, I don't think most suspected a plan to totally do away with Ringling Bros. The band had just started negotiations with Feld and were waiting for our next meeting date to discuss a new contract. Heck, we just hired a new female Ringmaster (who I hope will be compensated for the trouble of quitting all of her jobs for this gig). But despite all the warning signs, I think we were all convinced that none of it meant "The End". After 146 years, really?

But yeah, as any musician will tell you, all gigs must come to an end.

So I suppose next week we are to sit down with people from HR and other departments to figure out any kind of severance, incentive to stay through May, etc. I imagine that most troupes will stay through the end...it's probably beneficial to do that. But the band doesn't have an active contract, so I don't know what we should expect.

Each of us has a lot to do. I have to find a place to live, look for jobs, retrieve my car...all kinds of things. Jameson is busy doing the same, but being the incredible thoughtful boyfriend that he is, he is including me in his job searches and in his plans. What a great guy <3

I will continue writing my blog up until the last day, and I'll maintain it after leaving the circus. I'll do my best to show what it's really like around here. Oh, and now that there's no incentive for me to keep quiet about certain things, here goes:

The Truth About Ringling's Circus Animals and The People Who Train Them:

THE ANIMALS ARE NOT ABUSED. RINGLING'S ANIMAL SPECIALISTS ARE PROFESSIONAL, SKILLED, GOOD HUMAN BEINGS.

Oh, sorry! Were you expecting some scandalous revelation?

My opinion on this will not change despite the fact that I've lost my job. In five years here I have never seen any animal abuse, and no amount of PETA propaganda will convince me otherwise. Just sayin'.

Now we have a show to do, and then another on Monday. Then the job hunt begins.
Tomorrow I'm going to share the post I'd originally written to go up today, before I knew we were all getting canned.
Please enjoy as over the next few weeks I document the final days of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

See you down the road.

Comments

[hansalan.livejournal.com]

Megan, You are so kind. Thank you for thinking of that offer for us, but I could not have accepted. I work at a Performing Arts Venue and as you mention in another reply, people are always trying to take advantage of my employee tickets. I would not ask that of you.

I do have a suggestion, though. I had not thought of all the RBBB memorabilia that people are asking you for. I think those are great things that you should hold on to as keepsakes for your family and future family. For other items, there is a museum in Baraboo Wisconsin. It used to be the winter home of Ringling. They have many of the posters and train cars from the early days on exhibit. I bet you anything they would love to find a home for any items coming off the tour. Then at least they will be protected and kept for everyone to enjoy. They also don't charge an arm and a leg for admission. Shame on people trying to profit off this tragedy.

For all the performers... another thought. I spend a great deal of time looking at shows to book at our performing venue. We seat 1200, so not very much like an arena, but if some of the performers from RBBB were to put together a performance, down the road, that could tour to theatrical venues, I could see many of us (theatre venues) buying the show.

A show called Circus 1908 was mounted in Australia last year and is gaining momentum to tour the USA. If you guys were to have a similar show, but being able to say RBBB performers are the stars, I could see it selling really well. My friend who runs a huge venue in Madison was planning to book Circus 1908 and we had it in our top five with shows like Chicago, Jersey Boys, and Rent . So, I see interest. If you want to know more, feel free to send me a message.

[taz-39.livejournal.com]

I've sent you a private message here on lj.

So you know how it is! I love bringing people to the circus with free tickets or discounted tickets! But there are occasions where I have felt like a TicketMaster kiosk!

I don't actually have all that many "Ringling" keepsakes. I've got some jackets that were made by a person here on the show, embroidered with the logo...these have my name on them so I don't think they're valuable to anyone but me. I have an elephant hair and a tiger whisker, which I keep for good luck. I have a jar of rhinestones that I've collected over the years. I have programs, but so do millions of other folks.

There are some things that I have that could be valuable or at least interesting to a museum, so I will hold onto them (was absolutely planning to anyway). I'm sure things will begin popping up on eBay once the tour closes, as employees sell their mementos and collectors try to profit from what they've gathered over the years. But many of the things I have are precious to me in a personal way, so they will stay with me for as long as possible.

I wish that we could build a smaller show with Ringling people (and Big Apple, and Cole Bros, as all of those circuses have closed this year/last year) but I think we'll need someone to organize that if it's to happen. I've heard it talked about a lot by former circus folks. The problem with a lot of the Ringling acts is that they're brought in from other countries, and when their contract ends they have to go home. Plus...there's the issue of how we'd be paid, I think...I suspect someone would have to have money to get it started.

Circus 1908 is unfortunately in partnership with PETA (http://www.broadwayworld.com/sydney/article/Circus-1903-Invites-You-to-Name-the-Baby-Elephant-Created-by-the-Puppeteers-of-WAR-HORSE-20161005) and so although I would have liked to see the show, I will not. I think there would be interest, in either a show like this or a mini touring circus, but again, I think we'd need a business person and/or a sponsor to get it started.