Matthew Bagshaw Circus

What to expect can be broken down into 3 main stages. Planning, site inspection, and performance.

Planning:
The planning phase begins as soon as a potential client gets in touch. During this stage, we outline the scope of the event, discuss what the performance will include, send over any technical riders, and collect the deposit. This is when we lock in the overall vision, making sure we’re aligned so we can bring it to life and know exactly what success should look like.

Site inspection:
Then comes the site inspection, this can be done the same day as the event or potential before depending on timeline and and availability to the venue. You may have a grand vision of Cirque Du Soleil's 30' wheel of death, but if the venue is inside with 13' ceilings, it is not going to work. This should never happen because of the tech rider, but it is much more plausible that a decorator decided to hang a decoration that impedes with the performance. The site visit is to identify issues that may have been overlooked and rectify them, primarily focusing on safety for the performer(s), staff, and guest. This is also where I try to do the tech rehearsal.

If the site inspection is the same day I like to start a minimum of 4 hours before the actual performance time.

Performance:
The performance part should be the simplest, but also the most varied as every clients needs may be different. Now we get to see the vision come to life. A sample day may look like this.

1:00 pm – Arrival and set up in green room

1:30 pm – Site inspection

2:30 pm – Technical rehearsal

Break

6:30 pm – First performance

7:15 pm – Second performance

8:00 pm – Third performance

8:30 pm - Departure

Bio
Jumping straight in, I port people and I spin left. More so I base Hand to hand, banquine, and Russian Bar and cradle. The spinning left? Well this is what started it all, it was what took me away from one obscure job choice into another – the cyr wheel. Cyr quickly became my obsession, drowning out other hobbies almost overnight. The dizzies, the crushed fingers, the countless times being tossed on the ground by this cruel piece of metal, mental fatigue and physical pain.. worth it. Cyr showed me new places of the world and opened different doors, one such door was hand to hand.

While cyr wheel is cold and cuel, hand to hand is warm and cruel. Cruel as in with cyr if you make a mistake you will fall and the wheel will try to come crashing down onto your head, with hand to hand you make a mistake and your flyer tries to come crashing down onto your head, but then asks you if you’re ok? But atlas we’ve done it, we’ve ran away and joined the circus!

Matthew Bagshaw, international award winning circus performer.

Technical Rider – Cyr wheel

Adequate space is essential for both safety and quality of a cyr wheel performance. An ideal allotment of space is in the range of 20’ by 20’ and 30’ by 30’ and a height of 9’ or greater. However, various performance sizes can be utilized. Minimum space for a cyr wheel routine, i.e. the smallest possible space allowable to be able to perform simple tricks, is 18’ by 18’
The space needs to be clear of obstructions/ obstacles, including objects protruding from walls and hanging from ceilings.
There must be a minimum height of 7’

Surface
The ideal surface is a level smooth hard clean dry surface and minimum space requirements are based on that.
Surface details such as is the surface smoothness or roughness; are there large cracks, joints, material, or any other imperfects to the surface; or if there is a grade on the surface, must be noted beforehand. In some cases a photo of the performance space may be requested.
If there is any doubts about the surface it is best to contact Matthew Bagshaw.

Shows are hectic ever-changing spaces that may compromise the surface negatively; care should be taken to prevent surface changes and in some cases, it may be required for the surface to be cleaned before the performance.
*Special effects such as fog, haze, fireworks, or any others that deposit particulates on the ground may cause an unsafe surface for cyr.
* LED floors will require inspection.

Lights
General :Ambient light must be present at all times during the performance. A wash is preferred but a spot is also acceptable.
Special lighting should be discussed before hand, and for the duration of the performance Matthew Bagshaw will be able to change lights that are problematic;
Strobe lights and lasers pointed at the performer,
Floor lights and mid lights pointed at the performer.