Want To Succeed In Business: Maybe You Should Join The Circus

07 Jan Want To Succeed In Business: Maybe You Should Join The Circus

Mark Lonergan | Guest Director for The Big Apple Circus 2015-16 season

The Big Top is probably the last place you’d look for good business advice, but Artistic Director Mark Lonergan will have you trading in b-school for clown college in no time. The Ontario native has been directing clowns at Parallel Exit a preeminent physical theatre company in New York City for the past 10 years. In that time, he has learned a thing or two about ways to hone your craft and deliver the best results to turn strangers into fans. We caught up with Mark before the American Circus Awards to get his best tips for finding success in any industry: 

What inspired you to become a performer?

It was seeing the films of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton that inspired my love for clowning and circus.

What type of performance do you specialize?

Physical Comedy and Clowning.

What is the hardest part of what you do?

The hardest part of my work is to find the best possible way to inspire laughter.  It’s very delicate, and can be altered by tiny adjustments in timing, energy, and intent.

So, have you ever performed poorly? What did you do to bounce back?   

To bounce back from a poor showing, one needs to have faith and confidence in their own abilities.  An off-night, or a show that is not well received is a learning experience, and should be treated as such.

I know the American Circus Awards is an event to celebrate this artistry, but why is it so important?

Circus in America is not yet regarded in the way it is elsewhere in the world.  Most Americans experience the circus as children, having been exposed to either the biggest commercial enterprises, or the smallest rough-and-tumble productions.  The field has grown artistically over the past few decades and now offers a wide variety of artistic choices.  These awards help legitimize the various choices available in the country.

So, do you think recognition is important in the business world as well?  

Yes, absolutely.  The circus is a business – show business – and operates with all of the same obstacles and experiences.

What advice would you give a business professional seeking to become a expert/star in their field?

Dedicate yourself to that pursuit with your entire being – research the field thoroughly, make contacts, work with as many smart and talented people as possible, and develop your skills/product until you are confident and ready – however long that takes.

That seems like sound business advice that every entrepreneur should try.

– à bientôt

Charell Star | A Girl In A Dress