An aerial artist’s profile has a higher information burden than most performers. A booker looking to fill an aerial slot doesn’t just need to know you’re good — they need to know if their venue can physically accommodate your act. Rigging point height, load capacity, stage clearance: these are logistics questions, and they have to be resolved before any creative conversation can happen.
This guide covers how to present aerial disciplines precisely, what technical information belongs on your profile, and how to approach the different markets where aerial artists work: cruise ships, corporate events, festivals, touring shows, and cabaret residencies.
Name Your Apparatus Exactly
“Aerial artist” is a category, not a discipline. A booker who needs aerial silks cannot book an “aerialist” without knowing which apparatus they perform — the rigging, space, and production requirements are completely different across disciplines.
Aerial Silks
Also: aerial fabric, aerial tissue — specify if you perform duo silks
Aerial Hoop
Also: lyra, cerceaux — note single or duo lyra
Aerial Straps
Also: bungee, slings — distinct from silks, different load profile
Static Trapeze
Note if you also perform flying trapeze — different rigging entirely
Flying Trapeze
Requires catch trap and return lines — complex rigging
Corde Lisse
Aerial rope — distinct from Spanish Web (has foot loop)
Spanish Web
Rope with foot loop, often spun — note if you spin or not
Cloud Swing
Hammock-style — note if solo or duo capacity
Aerial Cube / Frame
Structural apparatus — own rigging requirements
Hammock / Aerial Yoga
Low-aerial — note if your work is performance or instruction
List every apparatus you perform at a professional level. If you perform multiple, that’s a selling point — a performer who can offer silks, hoop, and straps gives a production director options and flexibility. Don’t undersell a secondary discipline by leaving it off.
Rigging Specs Belong on Your Profile
Most aerialists send a separate tech rider after expressing interest. This creates friction: a venue coordinator who can’t quickly confirm a space fits the act will often move to a more obviously feasible option before the tech rider even arrives.
The solution is to put the critical specs directly on your profile — in the custom block section. What to include:
Rigging point height
State minimum and preferred, measured from stage floor to rigging point. Example: '7m minimum, 9m preferred.' This is the single most important spec — it determines venue compatibility immediately.
Working load requirement
The load your rigging system must support, including dynamic loading. Example: '500kg rated anchor point required.' Give this as a single clear number, not a range.
Performance footprint
Clear horizontal space required around the apparatus. For silks with extended movements: the drop length plus 1–2m lateral clearance matters.
Drop length (for silks)
The working length of fabric from rigging point to lowest position. A 6m drop won't work in a 5m theatre — this eliminates incompatible venues before any conversation starts.
Rigging method
Whether you rig your own apparatus, require a house rigger, or bring a certified rigger. This affects both cost and logistics for the venue.
Act duration
Running time of the act. Some bookers assume aerial acts are long-form; others want two-minute inserts. Be explicit.
Tip:Keep the technical block concise — 6–8 lines maximum. A booker scanning your profile needs to be able to answer “can our venue fit this act?” in under 30 seconds. Write for that reader.
Solo vs Duo Aerial Acts
Duo aerial acts have additional profile requirements beyond the individual specs.
For solo acts
- —Your personal height, weight, and physical dimensions are relevant for costume and logistics
- —Note if you perform multiple apparatus as separate acts or in combination
- —If you also choreograph or teach: list this — it opens residency and workshop opportunities
For duo acts
- —Use the act name as the CV title — bookers are booking the duo, not two individuals
- —Include height and weight of both performers — critical for apparatus compatibility and visual balance
- —Note whether the apparatus is purpose-built for two performers or a single-person apparatus adapted for duo
- —List both performers as members with individual bios plus a combined act bio
- —Photos must show both performers together, not individual shots placed side by side
- —Rigging load rating should reflect the duo configuration, not solo
Photos: The Mid-Air Standard
For aerialists, a studio headshot or a static portrait is almost always the wrong choice for a hero photo. A booker looking for an aerial silks act expects to see you in the silk — in the air, in a characteristic position, with production-quality lighting.
What makes a strong aerial photo:
- —Shot from an angle that shows you clearly in the apparatus — not obscured by fabric or equipment
- —Full body visible — technique and body line are part of what's being assessed
- —Professional lighting, ideally stage or studio — not a gym or rehearsal space with fluorescent overhead
- —Costume that represents the act as it appears in performance, not training wear
- —Background that doesn't fight the image — dark or clean is better than a cluttered studio
- —For duo acts: both performers in frame together, showing the partnership dynamic
If you perform multiple apparatus, include at least one photo per apparatus. An aerialist who lists silks, hoop, and straps but only has silks photos creates doubt about whether the other apparatus are actually performance-ready.
Video: Reel and Full Act
Aerial video has a specific hierarchy:
Primary: highlights reel (1–2 min)
Your strongest moments across apparatus and performances. This goes on your PerformerCV profile as the first video. It’s what a booker watches in the first 30 seconds of looking at your profile.
Supplementary: full act recording (6–12 min)
A complete, uncut performance from start to finish. Cruise lines and touring show producers often require this for shortlisted performers — they need to see pacing, audience interaction, and how the act flows as a whole. Add as a YouTube link on your profile.
Ideally have both and let the booker decide how deep they want to go. If you only have one, the full act recording is more useful for serious bookings than a pure highlights reel — provided the footage quality is sufficient.
A common reel mistake
A highlights reel cut as a pure montage — drop, catch, pose, spin, cut, repeat — makes it impossible for a booker to evaluate what they actually need to see: the flow of the act, the physical quality of the movement, the stage presence, the pacing. When every clip is under 2 seconds, nothing is actually visible.
Include at least one continuous section of 30–60 seconds — uncut. A sequence from a live performance, a clean full combination, or a strong rehearsal run-through. This is what allows a booker to actually assess the act and make a decision.
Certifications That Matter
Safety documentation affects bookability for rigged acts, particularly in professional venues, cruise lines, and corporate events where liability matters. Listing relevant certifications is not optional — it signals professionalism and removes a logistical hurdle before it becomes a conversation.
First Aid / CPR
Basic and widely expected across all markets. Include issuer and expiry date.
Public Liability Insurance (PLI)
Many event venues, corporate clients, and cruise lines require proof of PLI before booking. Include coverage amount if it's in the range typically required (usually €2–5M+).
Rigging certification (IRATA, SPRAT, or national equivalent)
Relevant if you rig your own apparatus. IRATA Level 1–3 is widely recognized. Not all aerialists need this, but if you have it, include it.
STCW Basic Safety Training
Required for all cruise ship employment without exception. A 5-day course covering fire, survival craft, first aid, and security awareness.
ENG1 Medical Certificate
Seafarer fitness certificate required for cruise ship employment. Issued by an approved medical examiner. Has an expiry date — keep it current.
Apparatus-specific safety training
Some disciplines have recognizable safety frameworks. Include if you have documented training that a booker or venue would recognize.
Always include the issuing body and the expiry date. “First Aid certified” is vague. “First Aid — British Red Cross, valid until April 2027” is credible.
Cruise Ships and Theatre Rigging
Cruise lines are one of the most significant sustained markets for aerial artists. Contract lengths typically run 4–7 months, and the requirements are specific and non-negotiable.
What cruise lines require before boarding
- —STCW Basic Safety Training — no exceptions, applies to all crew including entertainment
- —ENG1 medical fitness certificate — issued by an approved seafarer medical examiner
- —Valid passport with at least 6 months remaining beyond the contract end date
- —Visas appropriate for ports of call (nationality-dependent — research this for your target routes)
- —Criminal background check — some lines require this before contract offer
- —Public Liability Insurance — required by most major lines
Cruise ship theatres vary significantly in rigging infrastructure. Some vessels — especially newer builds from lines like MSC, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity — have dedicated aerial rigging systems in their main theatres. Others have none, or have rigging capacity only for specific apparatus types.
When targeting cruise work, research the specific ship class before applying — not just the line. Royal Caribbean's Oasis and Icon classes have purpose-built aerial rigs in the AquaTheater and main theatre; their smaller Vision-class ships typically do not. MSC Seashore and MSC World Europa both have aerial capacity; older MSC vessels often require a portable rig, which adds to your technical rider complexity. State your rig requirements explicitly on your CV: maximum hang point height, attachment type, and whether you can perform with a portable rig. Agencies use this to filter before the audition stage, so vague specs cost you auditions.
What this means practically: know your rigging requirements precisely (as described above), and when applying to specific lines, research whether their primary vessels have the infrastructure to support your act. Your profile should be explicit about requirements so mismatches surface early — not after a contract offer.
Aerial disciplines commonly placed on cruise ships
Silks, hoop, and straps are most commonly placed because their rigging requirements (a single high-rated point) fit a wider range of venues. Flying trapeze is rarely placed outside dedicated circus ships. Static trapeze and corde lisse fall in the middle — possible on equipped ships, not universal.
Corporate Events and Festival Market
The corporate and festival circuit is a different market from cruise and touring shows, with different priorities.
Corporate events
Bookers in this space often have no aerial experience. They’re looking for a “wow moment” and may not understand rigging at all. Your profile needs to be accessible enough for a non-specialist: a clear description of what the act looks like, how long it runs, and what the venue needs to provide. Keep technical language minimal in the bio; put specs in the technical block where specialists can find them.
Festivals and outdoor events
Outdoor performance introduces weather and structural variables. Note whether you perform outdoors, and whether you bring or require a portable rigging structure (A-frame, tower). Some aerialists work specifically with portable structures — this opens outdoor events that have no fixed rigging and dramatically expands the venues you can play.
Roaming aerial acts
Low-aerial acts — hammock, low lyra, ground-level silk work — are increasingly booked for ambient entertainment at corporate and festival events. If your work includes low-aerial or seated aerial performance at under 2m, note it explicitly. It’s a distinct market from high-flying acts and has different rigging and safety requirements.
Common Aerial Artist CV Mistakes
Listing 'aerialist' without naming the apparatus
Silks, hoop, straps, corde lisse, trapeze — name each one. 'Aerialist' alone tells a booker almost nothing usable.
Missing rigging specifications
A venue coordinator who can't confirm their space fits your act will move to the next option. Give them the numbers they need on your profile, not in a PDF sent later.
No safety certifications listed
For rigged acts, particularly at corporate events and cruise ships, this is expected. Not listing them doesn't read as neutral — it reads as absent.
Hero photo that's a headshot or costume photo
Use an aerial photo — in the apparatus, in the air, showing technique. That's what's being booked.
Reel that's only a montage of individual moments
Include at least one continuous 30–60 second section. A booker cannot evaluate an act from 1-second clips.
Duo acts presenting as two individual profiles
If you perform as a duo, create a single profile for the act. Bookers are booking the partnership, not two solo aerialists.
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PerformerCV editorial team
Written from the booking desk of Prime Line Agency — reviewing performer applications for cruise lines, shows, and international agencies.