People live on the circus. It’s a family tradition for many circus performers. Some of their parents and grandparents performed here. We’ve had people working for us for over 30 years. It’s a way of life. – Brett Van Fleet
Boxes, crates and semi-trucks overflowing with costumes, cages, lights, floats, props and tools are packed beneath the seats at EnergySolutions Arena this weekend.
Not to mention the personal microwaves of the performers.
The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus arrived in Salt Lake City, and with the circus comes the unique lifestyle of approximately 300 cast and crew members who travel with the circus. They essentially bring everything they own with them.
Circus operations and production manager Brett Van Fleet is no stranger to the circus lifestyle.
“People live on the circus,” he said. “It's a family tradition for many circus performers. Some of their parents and grandparents performed here. We’ve had people working for us for over 30 years. It’s a way of life.”
Van Fleet, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, started working for the circus seven years ago. He was hired by Feld Entertainment and was trained as the business manager. Van Fleet now works at Feld Entertainment headquarters in Ellenton, Florida, but is back with the circus in Salt Lake City to manage the new show "LEGENDS."
Although working in the entertainment industry can prove challenging to those of the LDS faith, Van Fleet said a strong testimony of the gospel standards makes life in showbiz a possibility.
Van Fleet said knowing his limits has kept him in line with his standards.
“I will go hang out with my friends, but I know my limits," he said. "If they’re out drinking, I don’t go. If they want to stay out until 3 in the morning, I am usually home by 10:30 or 11. I just know my place.”
Van Fleet, a member of the Palmetto Ward in Parrish, Florida, currently serves as a ward financial clerk as well as a stake singles representative. He works hard to balance his time between his callings and career.
“Both callings are hard to do when I’m gone 50 percent of the time,” Van Fleet said. But keeping in good contact with the other ward clerk and with his stake singles representative counterpart allows everything to be taken care of. “It all happens; probably not ideally, but it happens.”
Traveling and working with the circus has allowed Van Fleet to meet people from all over the world and share his testimony of the gospel. “One of the blessings is people know that I’m a member of the church,” Van Fleet said. “I’m not shy about it.”
Van Fleet said he does not know of any other circus employees who are LDS, but one of his co-workers in Florida is a member.
As the operations and production manager, Van Fleet is in charge of managing and scheduling rehearsals, ordering props and gear, assisting the general manager, working in public relations on a national level, and working in animal public relations.
Van Fleet’s passion in the circus resides with the animals. “They’re our No. 1 priority,” he said.
He said performers with animal acts camp their RVs right next to the animal cages or stalls for easy surveillance. A tech vet is onsite at the circus and the animals are watched over 24/7, according to Van Fleet. Toys, ranging from branches, balls or tree stumps, are brought in to keep the animals entertained.
The circus also has its own education program. While circus performers must be at least 18, teachers and nurseries are available to provide schooling and care for circus families with kids.
Van Fleet never dreamed he would work for the circus but loves everything about it. Working in Florida now, he doesn’t get as many opportunities to travel with the circus and is excited to be here in Salt Lake.
The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus has been around approximately 145 years, but the "LEGENDS" theme is new.
“I hope (the audience’s) imaginations are sparked," Van Fleet said. "One of the reasons I got involved in entertainment is because I like to dream, I love stories, I love fantasy, so if kids can go away dreaming about unicorns and Pegasus and woolly mammoths, I think that’s amazing. Just let your imagination run wild.”
The tiger act, wheel act and the double trapeze are a few performances Van Fleet recommended for circus goers. The circus will also feature the China National Acrobatic Troupe, a group of performers from Beijing, as well as big cat trainer Alexander Lacey, Ringling Bros. circus clown Clown Alley and the Globe of Steel motorcycle daredevils.
If you go…
Where: EnergySolutions Arena, 301 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City
When: Friday, Sept. 26, at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 27 at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 28, at 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Tickets: Ranging from $20-$100, online at Smithstix.com, at select Smith’s grocery locations, by phone at 801-355-SEAT or 800-888-TIXX or at the EnergySolutions ticket office.
Amber Clayson has a bachelor's degree in Communications from BYU and writes for the Church News and Mormon Times. She can be reached at aclayson@deseretnews.com.