Being ADD Snort I think that Circus clowning might be one of the lowest things on your clown totem pole. Not because it would not be exciting (at moments) but because it would be boring most of the time. I have a number of friends who have spent time on the road with Ringling and they talk of hours and hours riding the train staying in their room that is roughly 5 foot by 6 foot. (I have been on the Blue Train and some rooms are smaller!) Of riding through towns across the United States but usually parking in the slums, the run down industrial areas well past their prime; of rarely having time to see anything of the beautiful and varied cities they are "visiting"; of repeating the same show hundreds and thousands of times without variation (that is the part that would be very difficult for me.) In a small show I'm sure there would be more opportunities but... I think there are other avenues to the type of clowning you are thinking about in this day and age.
Oh, and another way to be "discovered" by one of the circuses? Go to one of the clown camps, go to the regional and international conventions, and talk to the circus clowns. I just returned from the COAI convention, Tricia wasn't there but Christopher Hudert was (he spent 8 or 9 years with RBBB) Kevin Brown was there for a day or so and we had a nice discussion for a couple of hours after he taught a couple of classes (He recently was in China performing with Toto Johnson and EZ Zander) and Leon McBride showed up for a couple of days. I only got to talk with him for a half hour or so a couple of times. These people know what is going on in the world of circus and they also know who to talk to when the time is right.
And if I remember correctly starting as a roustabout is one of the last ways you will ever transition into being a working clown for the circus. You need to go in as a clown and then add other chores to your plate.
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