2. CHOOSE RIGHT: Circus Arts Discipline

.... All key factors should be managed at top level. Of course many of us cannot reach the maximum of each key factor.

Let's start with 

Tricks, Techniques

Many successful performing acts have good or very interesting tricks. To have good tricks and to present them every day at good level you will need to have good techniques. For good techniques you will need to have a good teacher. In case you are really talented and do not find a teacher you can manage to do it with a mentor.

The following diagram shows the aspect of the student how to determine his or her dream:

person > discipline > teacher/mentor > techniques > tricks > performing act

The student (person) will choose a discipline and look for a teacher/mentor. During the practice session the teacher will show the basic and advanced elements of the techniques to achieve interesting and powerful tricks. After developing a lot of tricks you have to create a performing act.

To reach the maximum in these factors, you need to choose the right circus arts discipline.

How can you make a good decision?
Here are the most important factors that you need to consider when you make a decision:

• Age
• Physical Endowments
• Previous Experience
• Other Special Skills
• Personality
• Motivation
• Cooperation

"B" Factors (Base)

Age

To choose a circus arts discipline you need to consider what age you are. In some disciplines you need  an early start, but of course your previous experience does mean a lot too.

Physical Endowments

The physical attributes of a person might be athletic ability, flexibility or attractive looks. You need to determine what attributes you have and what are the key elements in the discipline you would like to choose. For example: you would like to be a contortionist but you are not flexible. Result: low level tricks and in long term you will have a lot of pain in your body.

Previous Experience

Previous experience are experiences like gymnastics skills for acrobatics discipline or ballet for choreography.

"X" Factor (eXtra)

Other Special Skills

Other special skills (e.g. mental endowments) are things like being good at math, music or singing. These skills can be useful by creating your performing act.  

"P" Factors (Person)

Personality
Your personality can be in- or extrovert, persistent, hardworking ... 

Motivation

Motivation is an important driver to be successful in short and long term. Are you motivated? Would you like to be the best in your discipline? Want to earn good money or travel a lot?

Cooperation

The student has to be open to work and understand his teacher or colleagues, accepting advises and solving problems together. If you cannot accept other persons or you are not a good team player do not join groups. Cooperation with the teacher is very important and can determine your working process. If you cannot accept the teachers advises or you will not communicate with him during the practice session or right after your performance, it won't work good in long term.

The BXP Evaluation Model developed by the author can help you to make decisions.

If you have already chosen a discipline you can go through the BXP factors and determine which factor could you improve and maximize.

How to use the "Previous Experience" factor when you have chosen a discipline years ago?

Easy!  After many years training you have reached a technical level in your discipline, you will use this knowledge as "Previous Experience". All you have to do is to check the best artist in your discipline and compare their technical level to yours. And evaluated as 0 pt (0%-30%), 3 pt (31%-70%) and 5 pt (71%-100%).

Do not worry if you do not have the maximum in all factors, just focus on them and think long term.

"Very often, the difference between success and failure is simply perseverance."

- Arianna Huffington

Watch the following video "Understanding Talent":

 "... choosing a sport that you will enjoy and suit you."

Below you will find two case study how to use BXP evaluation model:

Case Study No.1.: ACROBAT BOY

The boy was a good gymnast, but has a lot of family problems. He is not a good student as he hardly accepts advises. At the age of 16 he is part of an acrobatic team.

Case Study No.2.: AERIAL GIRL

The girl had some previous sport experiences (RG Rhythmic Gymnastics), was a good student (accepting most of the advises), but has some self-confident problems due to being an introvert personality.

When you have the overall result the table below helps you to make decisions or actions to do.

Donwload the BXP Model spreadsheet for trying it: Open and Download. (File Menu/ Download)

FEDEC has an interesting research related to this blog:
"Analysis of key skills of young professional circus artists" by Zita Herman (Hungary)

Other recommended resources (Instruction Manuel, Reports, Surveys, etc.) from FEDEC: http://www.fedec.eu/resources.1637.html

My next blog will continue with the first key factors: Tricks, Techniques, Teacher or Mentor ...

Until than CHOOSE RIGHT!!!


All the best..... be the best!

György Losonczi