Circus performers cover a wide range: stilt walkers who greet guests, hoop and LED performers, acrobats, jugglers, and aerial acts that perform overhead. Booking one for an event in Calgary starts with how you’d like them to perform: moving through the crowd, or a short show people stop to watch. Send us your date, venue and guest count, and you can compare options with prices for performers who are available that day.
Roaming, or a show
Some acts move through the crowd or greet guests at the door, such as stilt walkers and costumed characters. Others perform a short show in one spot, such as an acrobatic, hoop or juggling act. Some do both. Tell us which you’d like, and when in the event.
How long, and how often
Ask each performer how long they perform at a time, how many times they can perform over your event, and how long the breaks are. Tell them when guests arrive, when food is served and when any speeches happen, so the act fits around them.
Space and a place to change
Ask the performer, and check with the venue:
- how much floor space the act needs, and whether the floor suits it;
- the ceiling height, if the act uses height, such as stilts;
- a private space to change and warm up;
- where guests should stand, so there’s room around the act.
Aerial acts
An aerial act performs from a hoop, silks or a frame above the floor. It needs a safe rigging point or a free-standing rig, and enough height. Ask the performer what they need, and check with your venue whether it allows rigging and who has to approve it. Allow time for setup before guests arrive.
Fire or LED
If you’d like a fire act, check first with the venue and with the City of Calgary whether it’s allowed and whether you need a permit. Ask the performer what safety plan they bring. An LED act gives a glow without flame, which can suit a venue that won’t allow fire.
Children and families
If children will be there, tell the performer their ages, and ask whether they offer a family version of the act, or a short session where kids can try juggling or a hoop.
Questions to ask before you book
- Do you move through the crowd, perform a short show, or both?
- How long do you perform at a time, and how many times over our event?
- How much space and ceiling height do you need?
- Do you need a private space to change and warm up?
- For an aerial or fire act, what do you need from the venue, and what safety plan do you bring?
- When will you arrive, and how long do you need to set up?
- If the venue asks for proof of insurance, can you send it?
What changes the price
The price depends on how many hours you book, the number of performers, whether it’s a Saturday or in the holiday season, any rigging or equipment the act needs, and travel outside Calgary.
How booking works with AGNT
AGNT is a booking company. You send us your date, venue and guest count, and we check which circus performers in Calgary are available that day. We send you options with prices. You pick one, and it’s booked once the deposit is paid. If your first pick isn’t available, we’ll tell you and suggest a similar act who is.
Some of the Calgary circus performers you can book through AGNT are Ava Mabel, Paul Isaak and Soleil Spins. You can see more on circus performers for hire in Calgary.
How we put this together
We wrote this from what people ask when they book a circus performer: the kind of act, how long, the space and what the venue allows. It doesn’t list prices, because they depend on your date, your hours and the act you choose. You’ll see prices with the options we send.
Your next step
Tell us your date, venue and guest count, and we’ll send you Calgary circus performers who are available that day, with prices: book a circus performer in Calgary
Featured photo by Filios Sazeides on Unsplash
