InsaneJournal

about the circus.

Life in a circus isn't easy by any stretch of the imagination. The days are long, the nights even longer, and you aren't always guaranteed a pay day at the end of the month. What you are promised though is food and board, regardless of how badly the show's doing, and the company of like minded individuals. The romanticism of life on the road isn't entirely untrue either, the life can be extremely seductive and even rewarding. A different town every day, a different city sometimes every week. The people in the towns adore you, you're the 1900s version of what passes for celebrity after all.


THE TRAIN.

The Birling Brothers' Circus travels across the country by train. The conditions of your train car very much depends on your status -boss, performer or working man. Those higher up the food chain have beautifully furnished cars reminiscent of caravans whereas the working men live in cars very similar to those which house the animals. The single women are housed together in what's referred to as "the girls' train" in the guise of a dormitory. Porters patrol the train cars at night -via the roof- in order to ensure the safety of the girls and to keep an eye out for stowaways... as well as to carry out redlighting.


THE MARCH.

This is the street parade which marches through the town on the first day in an attempt to entice the locals. Elephants, horses, dancers and clowns may all take part.


THE SPEC OR SPECTACLE.

Originating in the late 1880s, this is a lavish spectacle using up to thirty people and animals, many of whom might be employed for this sole purpose. Show girls, Bally girls, menage horses, clowns etc. might all take part. Some of the spectacles are so huge that all the back side seating has to be left out. The whole thing cuts way down on profits but each circus owner attempts to out do his competitors.


WAGONS.

The exotic animals are housed in wagons which allow them to be visible to passers-by as the train travels through each town. This ensures curiosity is heightened and a crowd is drawn before the parade has even marched through.