Source
r/IAmA•
cirquedoodle

IAmA trapeze artist in Cirque Du Soleil, ask me (almost) anything.

I can't give any answers that would indicate who exactly I am or what show I am in, but I can answer most questions. I can provide proof to the mods if needed.

EDIT: I have submitted proof to the mods.

EDIT 2: I am going out for dinner right now and will answer any questions I can when I get back!

EDIT 3: So sorry I haven't been able to answer questions- I have to work right now but I will be back on answering as many questions I can tonight!

Posted Jul 12, 2011, 12:13 AM UTC · edited

347372
BrawndoTTM•

Are you flexible enough to perform oral sex on yourself?

394
[deleted]•

I love that this is the most upvoted comment. Thanks again Reddit!!

Edit: so I scrolled down and found out OP is female. Now this question really deserves an answer....for science

49
uhhguy•

You don't need to be a gymnast to do that. I have the ability, just not the heart.

24
Shrim•

Believe in yourself, the courage will come.

41
[deleted]•

..all over your face.

69
random314•

I think this is one of the questions not included in "almost" anything.

1
flaminahole•

Wheres RelevantBash when you need him?

The feeling of a mouth on your penis is cancelled out by the feeling of a penis in your mouth.

Hey we ALL tried it. I just actually made it... and was very disappointed. Unless thats what turns your crank your not missing anything.

Also I imagine OPs muscles are too well developed for her flexibility to be a factor. Sorry to dash your hopes. If its any consolation, whatever she lacks in flexibility she probably make up for with gripping power, and I ain't talking about her hand strength.

tl;dr sucking yourself is over rated and OP probably cant reach but probably can kick our asses.

1
lawyerup124•

Reminds me of the scene from Chasing Amy Clerks about how every guy has tried to suck their own dick at one point or another.

EDIT: Alas that scene took place in Clerks, not Chasing Amy. Apologies. This tripped me up. Good interview though.

-2
wildgratitude•

That comes up in pretty much every Kevin Smith movie.

11
bac42•

meanwhile, that was clerks not chasing amy...damn kids.

8
desmondsdecker•

Except it's Clerks.

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
Mashm•

Upvoted to 69 interesting...

-10
prostars•

your glory was shortlived, but proud and dignified.

7
malakoda•

It must be really easy for you to balance your work and personal life.

210
White_Power_Ranger•

get out.

137
cpp_is_king•

I won't lie, the stress can be like walking a tightrope

18
dooog•

You're right, she must be juggling a lot of activities

5
zeiben•

Sure there are sacrifices, but it's a net positive if she just hangs in there..

0
Meowkit•

She better, someone has to support the elephants.

-2
abnerdude•

Well all you really have to do is keep hanging on and never let go.

-3
cpahor•

Friday afternoons is mostly just clowning around then?

0
ryhntyntyn•

You just have to keep jumping through what ever hoops they put in front of you, now matter how much of a clown you feel like, otherwise they might throw you to the lions

0
[deleted]•

Yeah, it's probably her strength.

-6
[deleted]•

[deleted]

-8
[deleted]•

[deleted]

-2
XavierD•

Sex?

70
cirquedoodleOP•

Female.

75
XavierD•

Lmao! Time for my next question: Sex?

88
cirquedoodleOP•

Spoken for- I'm not a contortionist.

96
lurkerturneduser•

I don't see a "no"

71
Zyxt13•

Whoa, what are you implying about contortionists, eh?

8
lazysundae•

Soooooooo no freaky positions going on?

1
brunt2•

If you were a contortionist would you lick your pussy/clit with your tongue?

0
TentsonFire•

Hey, Oh Man, I have a bunch of questions. I myself am a training circus performer, and work at a Circus School here in San Francisco.

What is your background? Where did you train?

What show are you in?

What act(s) do you perform? Saying trapeze artist instead of aerialist, I assume you mean static, swining, or flying trapeze. Do you have any other acts that you have trained or performed outside of cirque?

How long have you been with Cirque, how long do you see yourself staying?

What do you see as the pinnacle of your artistic career? Where do you want to be with your performance in 10 years?

Do you have any stories that you always love to tell about your time at Cirque du Soleil?

62
sgarbusisadick•

"What show are you in?"

"I can't give any answers that would indicate who exactly I am or what show I am in"

.....

19
kwh•

Nobody said you had to be smart to get into circus school.

22
StVitus•

Graham?

2
Annoyingquestion•

What operating system are you currently running?

54
cirquedoodleOP•

OS X 10.6

84
MacsAreForFags•

ಠ_ಠ

327
white_killer_whale•

What is that? I can't see it... I'm running a mac.

88
ltjboy03•

I thought I was the only one.

5
gbchaosmaster•

Installing the font on a Mac is insanely easy. ಠ_ಠ

1
[deleted]•

[]_[]

1
CyberEars•

how do you tell somebody owns a mac , you don't we'll tell you

-1
henriwatson•

4 months and 29 days

Carry on...

10
Hellenomania•

You my hero......

9
mouthdrummer•

Upvoted for clever username...

3
blessedwithacurse•

ಠ_ಠ

0
[deleted]•

Why is this upvoted so much? This joke is inane, tasteless, offensive, and hardly funny. I feel like I'm browsing 4chan when I see comments like this that are upvoted so highly.

-2
o0DrWurm0o•

You win at everything forever.

-3
JonasBrosSuck•

you're gonna love r/buildapc

-4
[deleted]•

[deleted]

-5
[deleted]•

The fact that a username like "MacsAreForFags" has 180 upvotes for posting one of the most tired memes of Reddit is truly testament to the fact that the /b/reddit merger is finally completed.

That or it's all the high schoolers on break right now.

-6
o0DrWurm0o•

You may be over-analyzing this a bit.

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
FreshFruitCup•

Brilliant.

-7
[deleted]•

[deleted]

-7
Annoyingquestion•

Hey common man its G not g even if you don't believe still show some respect alright?

-3
averyv•

that isn't a question, and shut up.

2
Annoyingquestion•

Yes it is because I said alright?

0
Norfonz•

Have you ever been seriously injured in a trapeze incident? About how high from the ground are you during trapeze performances? Do you get along with the clowns?

53
cirquedoodleOP•

Have you ever been seriously injured in a trapeze incident?

The worst injury I've had was a shoulder subluxation (dislocation), but I've seen much worse happen.

About how high from the ground are you during trapeze performances?

About 50 ft, though height ranges depending on specific acts.

Do you get along with the clowns?

Yes, the clowns are wonderful people!

84
[deleted]•

Lies! Clowns are evil, soul-sucking demons from some parallel dimension where they feed off the pain of small children and animals. They only cross over when they deem the amount of pain is insufficient. They are not to be trusted.

102
Buster_the_Clown•

Ha. Ha. That was a funny joke. ಠ_ಠ We're gonna be watching you now, wouldn't want you to see you get too funny. Sleep well tonight, IHatePuns.

Everyone else, clowns are wonderful people, just like the OP said. ^_^

85
[deleted]•

Googling "how to kill demon clowns from another dimension" didn't come up with anything. Shit.

4
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
AmBuSh3R•

Why so serious?

18
MrBlockOfCheese•

Want a balloon, Georgie? They float, and when you're down here with me, you'll float, too...

10
SensualPrincess•

What? Stop clownin' around!

9
[deleted]•

I see what you did and I do not like you.

19
infidel78•

Famous clowns include John Wayne Gacy, Pennywise, and Ronald McDonald. Seems like the proof is in the pudding, clowns are, in fact, evil.

2
addicted2reddit•

Allen Shore? Is that you?

1
addicted2reddit•

Allen Shore? Is that you?

1
Oatmeel•

I've seen much worse happen.

Like what?

3
MacDancer•

Sorry to hear about your shoulder, and glad to hear it wasn't worse. What's your experience with healthcare for performers in Cirque, and in general? Specifically, do you have access to athletic trainers and/or physical therapists and/or doctors knowledgeable about the specialized demands placed on your body? Additionally, do you feel that many of the performers have some tweak or injury they have to take care of on a regular basis?

2
[deleted]•

I have a total clown fetish. Do clowns mind being hit on by people who have clown fetishes? What's the best way to approach a clown? Seriously.

2
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
random314•

I worked with a clown who also worked in our IT department. He came from a clown family and married a clown wife in a clown wedding... they can be pretty serious about that clown stuff...

Subtle funniest guy I have ever met.

1
[deleted]•

Way to not answer any questions.

40
tronk•

I did an AMA and answered a lot of these same questions. Check it out if you want.

29
Mojotokin•

Great AMA! Thank you - very interesting!

2
[deleted]•

[deleted]

2
tronk•

this is an act that is almost identical to the act I was in. This video is from a Big Top act, so the bars are only about 35 feet in the air. I was in a Resident Show, so our bars were 60 above the stage with a net 15 feet off the ground. We did the same tricks and much of the same choreography. Unfortunately, the show was performed in a casino owned by MGM, and they wouldn't allow any filming of the actual stage/act, so it's hard to get footage of the act I was in. There is some out there, but it's not easy to find.

I didn't ever go back into a scientific field, although I would like to finish paying off my student loans so I could justify taking out new loans to go to graduate school and get a Masters. Currently, I'm teaching gymnastics, hoping to train at least one boy to a higher level than I reached, and waiting to hear about opportunities to coach for Cirque or for a college. I've been runner-up for both a Cirque Head Coaching position and for a Division 1 University Head Coaching position in the past year, so I think it's about time...

Thanks for the questions. I hope you enjoy the video.

1
CotatiCrawler•

There we go, answers!

1
tronk•

Yeah, ask away!

1
iflossdaily•

Way every question being about sex and drugs.

6
mrpopenfresh•

I heard Guy Laliberté has crazy coke parties. Details?

32
cirquedoodleOP•

I don't know, but he sure lives a luxurious lifestyle!

49
mrpoopistan•

That's French for "yes, he owns statues made of cocaine that he forces loose women to sniff before seizing said women in a manly way".

74
gump47371•

French

manly

Umm...yeah, OK.

-7
mrpoopistan•

Downvoted for apparent lack of awareness of how manly Pepe Le Pew is.

0
zoinks•

fabulously well-to-do

12
thisismytrip•

Vonnegut!

7
fazon•

Go on...

1
prof_doxin•

I've seen 12 Cirque shows and can answer more questions than this IAMA.

Ask away!

Not a pro tip: For no extra charge you get to imagine them all naked.

2
xdrenched•

  1. Do you have a favorite audience to perform for? (i.e. special private show for a certain group, or performing in a certain city etc.)

  2. Any interesting social dynamics amongst the circus performers and staff? (Are you all super close? Are there cliques by professions/specialties?)

  3. Do you & your colleagues ever play practical jokes on each other? Or, what's the funniest thing you've had happen?

21
PaleBlueThought•

How long does a typical career in acrobatics/Cirque Du Soleil last?

How much do you get paid?

How much time do you spend training/working out?

What is your social life like? Do you hang out almost exclusively with other people in your company?

Cool IAMA, thanks for doing it! I just saw Dralion in Victoria, BC and it was amazing :)

19
snorky94•

Oooh, this one! This one! Please answer this one:D

1
insanity1•

Proof is needed, I think. I'd give it early if I were you.

Edit (Forgot to ask my questions, stupidly): How did you get started in your work?

What were the requirements for your job?

How long have you been doing it for?

What's the environment like behind the scenes?

Best/worst parts of your job?

17
cirquedoodleOP•

How do i give proof to the mods without making it public? I can show them an image of my ID card.

22
insanity1•

Send a moderator mail with an ID or something that shows that you are who you say you are and that you actually work for Cirque Du Soleil.

15
cirquedoodleOP•

Sent.

25
insanity1•

Thanks.

3
paganpan•

why cant you make it public?

-7
averyv•

why don't you throw your driver's license up here?

3
paganpan•

I'm not talking about name and such, but it sounded like she wasn't aloud to say what shows she's been in. I fully understand not wanting your name online. I realized i totally worded that wrong...

1
[deleted]•

Edits don't orangered to op

0
insanity1•

Ah, kay, I didnt know that. Thanks for letting me know.

0
45441•

Just so you know, up until about a year ago, I thought Cirque du Soleil was really cheesy and stupid, and never wanted to go to any Cirque shows. I thought it was some hokey Vegas act, and I wasn't going to pay $200 for some Celine Dion showgirl revue with a flying monkeys and painted midgets.

However, last summer my boyfriend bought us tickets to Kooza in Redmond, WA (super small tent venue). I went reluctantly. To my surprise, what I saw and experienced was one of the coolest and most beautiful things ever. Every single detail - from the live music and vocalists to the costumes to the acrobatics - was perfect. It was such a rewarding experience, and I walked away from it wishing every waking moment was watching a Cirque show, for real.

I saw 3 different Cirque shows in Vegas a few months ago (KÀ, Mystère and O).They were all fucking amazing - I totally lost track of time during the performances.

So, I guess congrats on being part of that. It is really genuinely cool. :)

11
ocdscale•

Nice try Cirque du Soleil.

But in all seriousness, yes, the shows are magical inventions of imagination and beauty. Guy Laliberte, perhaps more than anyone else, has reinvented what the circus can be.

2
raitai•

I'm so sad for you that you ever thought that. We saw Kooza - my BF at the time bought us VIP tickets and it was one of the best shows I have ever seen, of anything, anywhere, ever. Getting free champagne all night really seals the deal.

2
Phyzzx•

The Vegas shows are great, I wish you had seen Zumanity tho. I took my wife for an anniversary; its a very sexy but brilliant show on what was a much smaller stage than the others (the setting was much more intimate). I saw three shows like you did but instead of O we saw Zumanity.

2
veul•

I did notlike mystere, that big baby was too much. Ka was awesome though

1
ItIsActuallyWayWorse•

KA is amazing.

5
45441•

I think KA was probably my favorite. The big platform!

1
5secondsofmayhem•

how long have you been a trapeze artist and how long have you been in Cirque Du Soleil?

To me artists in Cirque Du Soleil and such shows are super heroes...

9
He11razor•

OK, I know you said you can't tell us what shows you've worked on but can you give us an idea where? Have you worked on the Las Vegas strip? Have you gone on tour to other countries? Where are you based? Finally, are you Canadian?

8
Trucero•

Have you been to any of Guy Lalibertés crazy parties in Montreal, I think they were mainly after the races. Word is they were pretty much sex fests.

I've also heard that it's pretty much a sexfest for the cast, any water to that?

Also which shows have you been in and what acts do you do?

Where did you train? Busker before?

7
rahtin•

So many hot people with perfect bodies.

Seriously, how much sex is there backstage?

7
bizzykehl•

Answered approximately two questions.

6
ampearce89•

What did you do before this

5
nixnaxmik•

Was Wayne Jarvis really the worst audience participant Cirque Du Soleil ever had?

5
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
zziks•

(( waving to fellow cirque employee)) Greetings from "O"

5
dialtone•

Can you answer some of the questions for her?

2
zziks•

I'm just a tech. their is a lot i cant really go public with details about equipment,procedures, design and other magic.

I can say though that safety training is top notch . we ( technical staff) run contingency / rescue scenarios all the time. the absolute last thing we want is an injured artist or technician.

me personally been with CDS for almost 5 years.. have seen the show i work on over 2500+ times and counting. Even after that many times i still love it.. The artists are amazing, they make the impossible look like walk in the park . A cirque show is one you don't want to miss.

Cirque is a fantastic company . It really does feel like you part of a big family working for them.

And should you find yourself at my show "O" at the bellagio hotel Las vegas Nevada be sure to wave to me or my fellow techs in the control booth. we make the magic possible .

6
dialtone•

Seen "O" last time I've been in Vegas. Great Show and great job!

2
demonofthefall•

Have seen Alegria, Quidam, and have tickets to Varekai next october. All shows have been fantastic, and I thank you and all the cast for being so awesome.

1
BaconZombies•

You'll love Varekai, I caught that one in Austin a few years ago.

2