Circus Performer CV:
What Bookers
Actually Want to See

Aerial Artists: What Else Belongs on Your Profile

Beyond the apparatus list, aerial artists need to communicate:

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Rigging point height requirement

Minimum and preferred height from stage floor to rigging point. This eliminates venues that can't accommodate your act before anyone wastes time.

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Rigging load rating

The working load your apparatus requires. This is a practical logistics question, not a performance question — but it affects whether a venue can book you.

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Stage space needed

Clearance required around the apparatus, especially for silks and duo acts with extended movements.

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Drop length for silks

Relevant for venues with low ceilings — your 6m drop may not fit a 5m stage.

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Ground vs aerial combination acts

If your act includes a ground-based opening or transition, note this explicitly.

Acrobatics and Ground Acts

Ground-based circus disciplines have their own specificity requirements:

For hand-to-hand and adagio acts, include the height and weight of both partners. Casting a duo requires compatibility, and bookers or choreographers building shows need to know the physical match upfront.

Photos for Circus Acts: The Mid-Air Standard

For aerial and acrobatic acts, a static portrait or costume shot is almost always the wrong choice for a hero photo. A booker looking for an aerial silk act wants to see you in the silk, in a characteristic pose, with good production quality.

What makes a strong circus act photo:

• —In the apparatus or at the climax of an acrobatic move
• —Professional lighting — not a gym or rehearsal space with fluorescent overhead light
• —Full body visible — range of movement is part of what's being evaluated
• —Costume that represents the act as it actually appears on stage
• —For duo acts: both performers in frame, showing the partnership

If you perform multiple apparatus or disciplines, include at least one photo per apparatus in your gallery. A performer who lists silks and hoop but only has silks photos creates doubt about whether the hoop act is actually performance-ready.

Video: Full Act vs Highlights

For circus acts, there is a specific question: should you show the full act or a highlights reel?

The answer depends on what you’re targeting:

Ideally: both. A short highlights reel as the primary upload, a full-act YouTube link as supplementary. Let the booker decide how deep they want to go.

Safety Certifications: Don’t Leave These Out

Safety documentation affects bookability, particularly for rigged aerial acts and fire performers. Including it signals professionalism and removes a logistical hurdle before it becomes a conversation.

• —First Aid / CPR certification — basic and widely expected
• —Public Liability Insurance — many event venues and cruise lines require proof of PLI before booking
• —Rigging certification (IRATA, SPRAT, or equivalent) — relevant if you rig your own apparatus
• —STCW Basic Safety Training — required for all cruise ship employment
• —ENG1 medical fitness certificate — required for cruise ship employment
• —Fire safety training — for fire acts, confirm local compliance (varies by country)

List these in the Certificates section of your profile with issuer and expiry date. Don’t just say “first aid certified” — say “First Aid (Red Cross, valid until March 2027).” The specificity makes the claim credible.

Tech Rider on Your Profile: Why It Belongs There

Most performers put their tech rider in a separate PDF sent after interest is expressed. This creates friction. Bookers who can’t quickly assess whether a venue can accommodate an act will often move to a more obviously feasible option.

What to include in a brief technical note on your profile (your custom block is the right place for this):

• —Minimum rigging point height (e.g. '7m from stage floor minimum, 9m preferred')
• —Maximum rigging load (e.g. 'working load: 200kg / two points')
• —Stage footprint needed (e.g. '5m × 5m clear performance area')
• —Power requirements if using lighting or effects
• —Approximate running time of the act
• —Changeover time if multiple acts

This saves time for everyone and positions you as a professional who understands production logistics — not just an artist who performs.

The Cruise Ship Market: Specific Requirements

Cruise lines represent one of the largest sustained markets for circus and aerial artists. Contract lengths range from 4 to 9 months. The requirements are specific and non-negotiable.

For aerial acts specifically: cruise ship theatres vary significantly in rigging capacity. Some have dedicated aerial rigging systems; others have none. Knowing which lines have rigging infrastructure relevant to your apparatus is worth researching before applying — but your profile should be explicit about your rigging requirements so mismatches surface early.

Partner and Group Acts

If you perform as a duo, trio, or group act, your profile should represent the act — not just you as an individual within it.

• —Use the act name as the CV title (e.g. 'Duo Vertigo — Aerial Silks & Hand to Hand')
• —Include a bio for each member separately, plus a group bio describing the act
• —Photos should include both/all performers — individual shots plus the act together
• —For hand-to-hand and adagio: include height and weight of both partners in specs
• —For aerial duo: note whether the apparatus is purpose-built for two or adapted
• —Experience entries should reflect the act's credits, not individual credits prior to the partnership

Common Circus CV Mistakes