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  • Strange Jobs: Escape Artist

    Strange Jobs: Escape Artist

    Try to think of a job where you get handcuffed, locked in a box, and thrown in a river. Can you imagine anything like that? Most people work in offices, hospitals, factories, or schools. Escape artists, however, work in coffins, burning buildings, steel boxes, and many other unusual places. People such as Dean Gunnarson of Winnipeg use their skills with chains and locks to entertain people in circuses and private performances.

    Escape artists are part of a profession called escapology. The practice of trying to escape from restraints like handcuffs or chains has been around for a long time. In the 1800’s, people began to perform escapes as part of circus acts. The most famous escapologist was Harry Houdini, who could escape from locked boxes while wearing handcuffs and perform all kinds of other amazing feats. He earned a living by doing his escapes in front of people as part of circus acts or on his own.

    A Canadian escapologist is now becoming almost as famous as Harry Houdini. Dean Gunnarson grew up in Winnipeg and began practicing to become an escapologist while he was still a teenager. His success really began after he took part in a television program in which he performed one of Harry Houdini’s old tricks by escaping from a large can that was filled with water. That program made him famous, and soon the hosts of other television programs were talking about him. Soon, he was doing stunts that even Houdini had never done. He has received several awards and world records, including the “World’s Most Daring Escape Artist” from Ripley’s Believe it or Not in 2013.

    Dean Gunnarson earns money from his work as an escapologist, but he also gives a lot of performances for charity. Instead of taking the money for himself, he often performs at events for groups like the Cancer Society or the Variety Club. He has performed in many different countries, including China, Italy, and Venezuela, and his escapes have been shown on television around the world.

    Working as an escape artist can take people to many different places and types of work. Some escape artists work in circuses, where their basic living costs are covered, but they frequently have to move from one city to another. Others manage to get regular performances in places like concert halls and theatres. Some escape artists work at other jobs, such as teaching or library work, while they prepare for a few months per year of travelling around the world with their acts. Working in a circus provides the most reliable income for escape artists, but skilled escapologists can often earn a good living on their own.

    There is no specialized education for becoming an escape artist, but practicing and studying the methods of famous escapologists can help to improve anyone’s skills. Having a flexible body, being physically healthy, and being unafraid of small, dark spaces are some of the main things an escape artist needs. For the right person, escapology can be an exciting and rewarding career.

  • Joining the Circus – Cirque du Soleil

    Joining the Circus – Cirque du Soleil

    Some people, such as miners, work underground. Most other people work above ground in buildings like schools, offices, and hospitals. One group of people, however, works on the ground and in the air, quickly moving from one to another. Can you think of what that job is? Acrobats are known for their skills in flying through the air and for performing great feats of balance and flexibility. Acrobats work as street performers and in circuses around the world, including the famous Cirque du Soleil.

    Becoming an acrobat starts early. The physical ability to bend over backwards or to jump high into the air can take years to develop. Joining a gymnastics club or practicing with friends is a good way to learn the skills necessary to become an acrobat. Many people also attend lessons at the National Circus School in Montreal, Quebec, where they learn how to jump, bend, and do many other tricks. Montreal is also the home of the Cirque du Soleil, one of the world’s most famous circuses.

    The Cirque du Soleil started in 1984 in Montreal with two street acrobats. Guy Laliberté and Gilles Ste-Croix were trying to earn a living by performing their acrobatic feats on the streets and at special occasions. However, making enough money was difficult, and they decided to join together with other acrobats to start a circus. The group called itself the Cirque du Soleil.

    The Cirque du Soleil is famous for being unlike any other circus. Each Cirque du Soleil performance tells a story instead of having a series of acts like other circuses. Over 1300 performers and another 3700 employees work in the Cirque du Soleil around the world. Some of them help prepare for performances or help with some of the other tasks like selling tickets. Every job helps to make the circus experience good for performers and the audience.

    Being in a circus can involve a lot of travel with mostly evening and weekend work. Salaries vary, but they are usually between $40,000 and $70,000 per year. Experience and special skills can help performers rise to the higher income level. Even at the lower levels, however, this money can go far. During the months when people are on the job, they receive free food and a place to stay. Being part of a regular circus troupe like the Cirque du Soleil can be a very career for people with the right skills.

    Not all acrobats work in a circus. Some prefer to be street performers, making a living by setting up their acts as part of outdoor festivals. This type of work gives acrobats a lot of freedom to test and try to improve their skills, at least when the weather is warm and dry enough to work. Street performance is a good way to start if you think that a career as an acrobat is right for you. Eventually, you might be able to show your skills by performing in some of the world’s greatest circuses.