5 THINGS I WISH I KNEW when I started my PERFORMING CAREER

[@giovannirizzi5022]

This video appears at the right moment! Thanks. I especially appreciated the final considerations. As a university student, I live with the fear of having to spend my life fossilised in one place trying to like the occupation that represents my source of income. I pursue juggling both as a passion and as a profession (not at your level or even in the circus world) so as to leave myself a way out in case things don't go my way. Your last words give strength to my thoughts and are an incentive to continue training. Thanks again. Giovanni

[@EricBates]

Hey that's awesome! Thanks for the feedback. I feel that same way of worrying if I'll get stuck into a career or job I'm not happy with, even when it's having a circus company! Definitely ups and downs to every lifestyle, and hopefully what you end up doing with most of your time is a career in which the pleasures make the sacrifices worth it. That said, it's cool to have some options so you can know that what you're doing is a choice and not an obligation- I went to university for 2 years for business before switching to circus school. In circus school I juggled boxes but also did russian bar. With our russian bar team, since it was all of our 2nd discipline, we said "we'll do it as long as it's fun", and we just kept doing it. We started our company and do shows under the Cirque Barcode name, but we also still do gigs on the side, and I also do video and photography work because it's fun. Maybe one day when I want to travel less that'll be my full time job and juggling will be a hobby. Who knows. I hope you find a path that works for you!

[@giovannirizzi5022]

@@EricBates I agree! If you have an interest that runs parallel to what occupies most of your time, you should continue to cultivate it. The problem is that sometimes what motivates your passion is lacking. Yesterday was one of those moments as I tried for the fist time to perform outside of a European context and it didn't go as I had hoped. In any case, thanks for your message and when I get back to Europe I hope to be able to see a Cirque Barcode show, as so far I have only seen you perform at the Brianza juggling convention.

[@EricBates]

@@giovannirizzi5022 haha yea it's a different audience in every country, definitely surprising the first time. Ahh we just performed outside of Turin, bummer we missed you! We'll be back in Europe early 2023 though, hope to catch you then

[@valentinazackrone]

Amen to #5! It does help to know everyone before you get to that step😂

[@TheJugglingGenius]

Great advice. I'm sure sharing your thoughts will help a lot of other artists. To add to tip #1, always be friendly and easy to work with. When it comes down to a choice, people want to work with someone they like.

[@EricBates]

Totally. And most people in hiring positions do have that choice (to work with someone they like)

[@manuelrejanomorales8370]

I love this video. It's very very interesting. Thank you!!!!!

[@EricBates]

Thank you!!

[@sergeyryzhkov7]

Nice video, Eric good advices👍

[@EricBates]

Thanks!

[@cirquegravity]

Dope video! Great thoughts!

[@EricBates]

Thank you!

[@VinnyCarter]

this was some really great perspective. thanks, Eric!

[@EricBates]

Thanks Vinny!

[@uptownjay]

❤️⭐️❤️

[@EricBates]

Thanks Mitch! Learned from the best ;)

[@renaldlaurin9697]

Salut Éric, wow, super contenu, qui mérite d'être vu par tout le monde! Sans compter le montage des extraits vidéos et photos, super travail, vraiment!

[@EricBates]

Merci!

[@michaelvamper5793]

I know how to freedive do you think that would be beneficial to any circus ?

[@EricBates]

Hey I think O (the cirque du soleil show) uses scuba gear, but I think if you were creative about it you could use it somehow. I think there's a show about climate change ("Holoscenes"?) that takes place in a big tank full of water, maybe if you could find something like that, find how to make it accessible to an audience it could be a really interesting skill. But it might take some work on your part convincing people or coming up with an idea that could make it work since it would be a new idea.

[@EyalBor]

Nice video! You could talk about romantic relationships as circus artist :D

[@EricBates]

Thanks. Yea that’s a good idea for a topic, relationships are definitely tricky on tour

[@cirkuspeter]

I agree with everything!! :)

[@EricBates]

Haha thanks!