Circus Entertainment in Wales

Circus Funksters provide circus workshops and performances for events, parties, weddings, they also do children's birthday entertaining in Cardiff and surrounding areas. Check for experience working with children is one of the useful pieces of advice shared below when looking to hire a similar entertainer.

What do you need to know from an organiser in order to provide a comprehensive quote?

The venue, the date and the type of event it is, whether a 40th birthday or a kid's party, in an indoor space or outside. It also helps to have their expectations of a performer too, so, for example, are they looking for a juggler to lead the carnival or a juggling teacher. This helps us to determine exactly what they want and provide them with a quote which is realistic and affordable.

What advice would you give to a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?

It's always good to know who else they have worked for and their experience. In my role as a teacher, I have worked for the largest circus company in Wales and some of the smaller ones too, for the last 20 years, giving me a well-rounded experience of circus entertainment, performance and teaching. If the job is anything to do with children and young people it's essential to get someone who is experienced and patient and can handle challenging behaviour, so it's good to ask a provider what their experience is of working with children and young people.

Please tell us a little bit about how and why you started the business.

I've been doing circus my whole working life. I started at festivals as a teenager and progressed from there, working for smaller and larger circus companies training and performing, and am still at it, using my skills to bring joy to children and adults alike. I still get nervous before big performances but performing and teaching people new skills is such a privilege and I love every minute of it.

Please tell us about a booking you've had through Add to Event, how did it go? Would you recommend us to others?

My first Add to Event booking was a carnival in what is traditionally referred to as Wales' most deprived estate, as a juggler to lead their community carnival.
I had a wonderful time, the community were so warm and welcoming and we chatted and warmed up in the sun before the parade started. I showed the children some tricks and admired the banners and floats that everyone had worked on beforehand, they looked fantastic, and I really admired the effort the whole community had gone to.

Afterwards the community leaders told me they were impressed by my setting a steady pace juggling over unknown ground in the ferocious heat wearing a full on entertainers suit complete with bowler hat, and I was very grateful to receive some cold refreshments from them once we reached our destination!

The organiser left me a lovely review for which I'm very grateful, and I'll continue to use Add to Event as it's a fantastic platform to connect with people and organisations I wouldn't meet otherwise.