Whats up forum clowns? Just wanted to let you guys know that i am doing swell here at the Greatest Show on Earth. I did my first show Saturday night, I did all three shows yesterday, and have one coming up today... Load out is tonight then its off to Louisville, KY.

I promise I will share pics of costume and makeup as soon as both stop going through changes-- so far nothing is 100% complete yet...

Also I'll have to wait until I get a memory card reader-- some how I managed not to make it here with mine!

Hope you all are doing well!

-Chris

Louisville is a fun town. Enjoy your time on the road!

wooohoooo! can't wait to see you guys!

train is in Louisville, KY now-- Load in tonight, then performances thursday, friday, saturday, and sunday. 1, 1, 3, 1.

See if you can get out to Lynn's Paradise Cafe for lunch or dinner.

Lynn's Paradise Cafe (http://www.lynnsparadisecafe.com/)

congrads chris

Opening night in Lousivlle, KY was great last night--Col. Sanders was honored as guest Ringmaster. Plans for today-- Lunch with Suitcase Sam, and then another show tonight.

Plans for tomorrow, three shows, and then hanging out with my parents and Knute.

Had a great time In Louisville Kentucky... Spent some quality time with the one and only Suitcase Sam, Knute, and my parents. Now we are in Virginia... We hit Hampton this weekend, then Norfolk, then Richmond.

Okay... I'm lousy at keeping up with this ...

So ... We hit Hampton, Virginia

Norfolk, Virginia -- Met up with the one and only Jessika Light-- aka Nora Boogermiester and her boyfriend Richard.

Now we are in Richmond, Virginia -- Moosecampers listen up-- had a great evening with Christopher and Peggy Hudert and their kids-- Dinner after the show and late night clown chatting-- so much fun.

Next stop. Providence, RI

Hello to you in the center ring!

I looked at Ringling Bros. website and saw that you'll be coming to San Diego around the middle of July. That's awesome! That's where I'm from. I'm glad you're having such a great time with the circus.

wonderful Lily.

Providence, Rhode Island was great... survived my first working sixpak weekend... three shows saturday three shows sunday.

On Tuesday before our opening several of our cast members went to Boston, Massachusetts to see Big Apple Circus.Where I was able to spend time with a good friend and fellow clown-forum member DJ who works as a member of their ring crew.

Now we are in Hartford, Connecticut... next up Trenton, New Jersey... and then a week break between Trenton and Hershey, PA.

You are really making a lot of zig-zag trips up and down the east coast. What were the dates for Hershey? Hopefully I can keep that free for a roadtrip.

may 25- 30th are the performance dates for Hershey

THen its off to Omaha, Nebraska ...

Welcome to Ringling Bros. Circus! (http://www.ringling.com) for more information just click on Fully Charged Red tour and scroll down to tour dates.

Sounds great and I hope you having a wonderful experience

IM hoping to still make Omaha Chris ill have to check the dates

What about Cleveland, OH, Ft Wayne ,In or Grand Rapids, MI?

O.M.G. R.D !!!!!! I haven't been on the forum in months!!!!!! And what do I find first thing when I get there??????? Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You little rascal you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm sooooooo jealous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You Rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a rush. I can't even imagine what fun you must be having!!!!!!!

What about Cleveland, OH, Ft Wayne ,In or Grand Rapids, MI?

The show typically plays Cleveland for 8-10 days in mid to late October just before Chicago (for the four week November run - split between Allstate Arena in Rosemont and the United Center on the West Side) in it's first year of the tour. Since he's on a show that is on its first year, that is when it would be there this year. Last year, though, I think they threw a Pennsylvania date between these two cities.

They also play Grand Rapids, but usually near the end of the two year run. So, that would put the Red Unit there sometime like September of 2012. (You'll have the Blue Unit - "Barnum's Funundrum" - there this year.)

Ft. Wayne is too small (or at least must not have an arena large enough) to book in the big shows, but might occasionally attract the Gold unit.

Ultimately, the answer to any questions about, "When will the show be.....(insert city here)?" is to watch the Ringling website. Once there is an official announcement, that's the place you will find a listing.

A good way to track (no pun intended) historic jump patterns (as well as ongoing intercity movement) is to join the yahoo circustrain group.

Tim, you are right. Ringling had a really good habit of coming into town around my Birthday when I lived near Chicago and if I recall, they also made a November run in Toledo. Yes, they will be coming to Cleveland in October...And with friends in the area, it will be just a hop skip and a jump away for me.

Early November through Thanksgiving weekend is always the Chicago dates. They often visit one additional city on the way back to Florida for the Winter break in December.

The other unit usually plays a big date in Michigan or elsewhere (they used to close out in St. Louis, but that seems to have changed) before ending the two year run by about the 2nd week of November; then returning to Winter Quarters to build a new show.

There are always changes from year to year in the schedule. (For instance, this year they played Louisville - which is now possible because of the new basketball facility - and didn't play Madison Square Garden due to building renovations.) But generally, there are some typical patterns to their travel and the time of year when they regularly tour through cities. It isn't at all random and is actually quite well organized and largely predictable.

Plus (unlike a lot of the mud shows) they publicize their appearances well in advance. So, usually, you can know when they are headed your way months before they arrive and plan accordingly. If the particular show which you're interested in seeing isn't on the schedule for this year, see if that city is being visited by the other big show sometime this year, and you'll know approximately when you might see the other unit next time around.

The Red and Blue Units generally play larger cities and the Gold will, less frequently, visit some of the smaller places. That isn't entirely clear, at time. For instance, it is obvious that the major units would appear in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Or that it wouldn't play, say, Sound Bend. But Peoria? Yep, they're on the tour, too. And places like Milwaukee and Minneapolis/St. Paul are not. So, go figure!

Awww! Hershey's way too far away! Can't you talk them into taking it closer? Oh, and tell them not to mind the lump in the canvas when they leave. There's no clown in there!

How close? They typically also play Wilkes-Barre and (as of last year, once again) Pittsburgh!

What? No comments about me trying to stow away in the canvas? I think Wilkes Barre is still too far and I'm sure Pittsburgh is at least a few miles. Ask them to take it to the Grove City Factory Shoppes(AKA Grove City Outlet Mall) and I know I can be there! Seems like everybody knows where the outlet mall is, lol.
Of course I'm kidding. I would never in a million years expect the circus to change its course for me.:D

I think the last time they played Pittsburgh (in the 50s) they still WERE under canvas!

Maybe a mud show will come your way. They tend to play the smaller towns and their malls or school grounds.

Wow this thread has been Hoppin' since my last post..

Duckie... you quack me up!

As far as performance locations, dates, and times... I agree with Tim... Check www.ringling.com and visit the tour map... My list of cities on our tour schedule was copy pasted from there. And my memory is terrible so I have to check it frequently to see where we are going over the next month.

We don't get our schedule for the next week until almost the last performance of a Sunday show as we are loading out... so unfortunately I don't know the times that far in advance but the website should help! give you details you need for the specific venues.

We just left Hartford, Connecticut and I am on the mile long train headed to Trenton, New Jersey... after this week we get a week off ... I'm making a little trip to New York to spend time with DJ and the Big Apple crew. Then off to Hershey, PA for the next week of performances.

Hershey is fun do they still et you guys into the park for free? If they do ride the bear claw or bear paw or what ever it is called.

Hershey is fun do they still et you guys into the park for free? If they do ride the bear claw or bear paw or what ever it is called.

I don't know for sure... probably wont have much park time as I'll be spending the majority of my break in NY. I won't be back in until Tuesday night and I go straight into a full dress rehearsal before a performance on Wednesday. I have heard talk about going othe park for an old timey portrait of us in clown makeup...on a split show day... but thats about it.

Is your show going to be in Buffalo?

Are you telling him to shuffle off?

Just wanted to say that I attended Señor Dazzle]'s show (a.k.a. Mr. Christopher Clown) tonight and it was wonderful. I didn't get to meet up with the STAR OF THE CIRCUS due to various things conflicting this weekend.

That said tomorrow I'm planning to head back and at least say hello during pre-show. I will make sure to wear my pink ponytail wig that I paid $12 for, and I would also like to offer some of the stray felines in the neighborhood to the tiger trainer as I believe they may be more well behaved than the cats tonight.

Oh, and pictures. I'll have to do that, but I'm sure you can imagine what our superstar looks like under the spotlight...

*Photo removed at the request of our superstar* :)

hahahahahhahahahahahahhaha

Well well well ... five more weeks to the end of our season this year. I seem to have been bad at keeping updated with this thread... but we've been all over California for three months, Denver, Salt Lake City, St Louis, Cleveland, Toledo... and now we are in Illinois... -- Rosemont for two weeks then Chicago for the other two! Over all its been an amazing experience and I love getting to meet my forum contacts along the way! On the other hand I'm looking forward to going home for Christmas this year and seeing my family for a month... before continuing on with my second year of the tour.

It was totally awesome to finally meet you. That was my best circus experience ever! Chris, you are doing a good job and keep up the good work. I have grown leaps and bounds clowning with having the circus in town last week. I am so thankful for everthing I learned and got to apply right away (literally right away)....Thanks for everything. Have a good Christmas!

Here's a couple of pics.

Thanks for Sharing Jill... We spent Thanksgiving opening the McDonalds Thanksgiving Day Parade in Chicago.... also there was a wonderful attendance of Forum Clowns for this past weeks shows. Tim, Fitzwilly, Scruffy, Scoop, Daffodilly, Duckie, and Sara Dippity. -- Wonderful to see you all and meet those of you who I hadnt had a chance to officially meet... Thanks for Attending

Chris,
Sounds like you are doing a great job, is there any chance that your show will be comming to Buffalo,NY next year?:applause:

Are you coming through Indy? hope you get this soon.

i missed you by 2 weeks before you got on tour, so hopefully see you on 144 edition.

Darn... There is a performance comin through indy dec. 2-5ish...

Chris is in Indy right now skooter, I'm going up to hang out with him a bit tomoro and i'll be at the saturday night show and sunday night show. If you are free either night you should come up too and meet up!

I had a great time in Indianapolis... it was fun seeing Knute, Squire, and the one and only Beth Grimes.

It feels good to be back home visiting. I got home on Dec 5th. On January 5th I'll fly to Miami to continue with the second year of the tour.

Jozo... hopefully I'll see you with the 143rd. Red show does the odd editions!

Flying into Miami January-5th Shows start back up January 6th. I'm starting to get cabin fever and suffering from performance withdrawls!

Well after a fantastic month at home with family and friends... I am back on the tour... We had a great 2 week opening in Miami... we just opened our show in SC... and next week we are in my home state-- TN -- thats where things go full circle for me... Two years ago in Nashville I saw my very first circus... The Red Unit Zing Zang Zoom... there I met a lot of the clowns I currently work with for the first time. Thats where I really caught the circus bug... I haven't been the same since, and dear lord I hope I never recover.

Hey, Chris. Tell the boss that you want to come up to Minneapolis/St. Paul. Okie dokie?

It's nice to hear from someone who's on the train. Are you getting any dukie bags? Circus folks here (NC-Wilkes Co. & Burke Co.) include the Bunkers, Chang & Eng's descendants. And one Grimaldi.

Chris, Glad to hear everything is going well and you are enjoying yourself. I know in about a month you will be coming into Cincy. I plan on going to a show or two. If you get a minute, let me know and we could meet up or something.

Should be a great show this Friday!! Can't wait!