Ahem! I will step up the mantle and handle this one... Proudly bearing my scars from large, costume characters in the shape of mice, cave-men and eagles.

There are several things that I think about working in theme parks as a juggler.

First, the bad news... The money is probably not going to be very good. That is, you will be able to make a living for the summer, and if you skimp, you probably will be able to save some as well. The fees that you will fetch from theme parks will be dramatically lower than those from cruise ships. Next, more bad news... You will do a gazillion shows, usually six per day, each lasting between twenty and thirty minutes. But wait, there's more! Unless you are lucky enough to get a gig that plays in one of the park's theaters, you will be working on the sidewalk in the heat/humidity/rain/wind of the great outdoors. Chronic exhaustion is the norm. You will be required to wear the most demeaning costumes, play the most embarrassing characters and dumb your act down so that it is so clean and painfully sweet that you have to brush your teeth after every show. Hey, you can't even act surprised when management comes and tells you that things like knives, torches, or axes are not "entertainment-appropriate" for the park. Plastic bowling pins and rubber balls may be your only fare.

Now for the good news... If I can think of any... Oh, yes, it's a total blast and a great way to practice and get paid for it! If you are just starting out, and you don't have any financial obligations, like supporting a family, then I think it a great idea for juggling.

Now, your question: "How good do you have to be?" can't be answered. Nobody cares how "good" you are. They care how well you auditioned. It's entertainment, not a juggling competition. In the case of a theme park audition, the judges are blind to the juggling itself - they are looking for an entire package. They evaluate your "entertainment-value" based on your skills, presentation, looks, manners, ethnic background, height, weight, etc. Getting cast in any theatrical role is a crap shoot. Now, with careful planning and lots of practice, you can heavily weigh the odds in your favor, but nothing is guaranteed.

So, let me rant on the audition for a moment: I sent this email to Matthew Hall last year. He was interested in working at a Great America theme park and was inquiring about auditions. BTW, he got the gig and, to my knowledge, worked there last summer.

I have performed several seasons at theme parks (five actually) including Busch Gardens, Va., and Disney World, Fl. I was also did ice shows at Kings Island, Oh. and Great America, Ca. (the one that you are interested I believe). Not the best paying gigs, but they were enjoyable none the less. I liked the low stress environment and the freedom to do what I wanted.

Most of the time they will want you to perform outside as a roving act, dropping you wares and doing a show. Sometimes, they may want you to work in one of the theaters a couple of times a week to "open" one of the shows. Express interest in this as it is a great experience.

The resume that I have looks just like a regular resume except that the categories are a little different. You will want to split it up in such a way to promote your performing experience. Categories for Corporate/Sporting events and Television would be good. Keep in mind that theme parks are looking for the "All American" look. Clean cut all the way. No blue humor, not even suggested. Management has to know that they can send out their performer into the crowd and know that the park's image will be maintained.

They also like humor. Funny and light. Fast-food entertainment. Keep the skills honed though.

Theme parks are a good place to develop juggling skills. Typically you will go out for thirty minutes at a time, with thirty minute breaks in between. If you practice during the breaks, you get in a good seven hours of juggling time that is broken up between training and presentation.

For the audition, do your best stuff first. Have your routine well planned because you can only count on three minutes. After that, they may tell you to stop, or they may let you go on. Make sure that you have about ten minutes of material prepared. I've had it go both ways, doing about 120 seconds before they tell me to go get my photo taken to wondering if I was going to have to do an entire show for free just to get a job. Don't fight it and don't make excuses. No excuses! Nothing is worse than someone auditioning and apologizing for everything. Have confidence and a VERY professional attitude. Good dress (college look works well), clean props, and a rosy attitude will get you further than a seven ball cascade.

Last tip for now: perform for the people holding the audition, not to the wall. Don't pretend that there is an audience. The people auditioning you are the audience. It can be tough, because there may only be three or four of them which makes for a small crowd, but work them the same way you would work a small crowd. Pretend it is just another show. If you have a volunteer bit, go ahead and use one of the folks auditioning. Usually, they have been sitting there watching one crap act after another for hours on end and welcome the change of pace!

I'll add one more thing: don't "explain" what you do - actually do it. I've seen lots of guys audition and take up their time standing there describing what they do rather than showing it. Pretend it is a stage and you have an entrance - do your thing - and have an exit.

Break a leg!

Steven Ragatz