Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus

Part 2:  Talking Circus Talk

CIRCUS TERMINOLOGY

• Bandmaster — person who conducts the band, makes necessary changes in the music and usually plays the trumpet.

• Boss Elephant Man — person who feeds and cares for all the elephants.

• Boss of Ring Stock — person who feeds and cares for all performing horses, camels, ponies, etc.

• Bust Out — a time when many clowns enter the arena at once, usually during the pre-show come-in.

• Cherry Pie — extra work done by employees for extra pay.

• Clown Alley — alley is a variation on "allez, allez" (French for "go") the phrase used in old days of circusing to call the clowns to action.

• Clown Stop — a brief appearance of clowns while the props are being changed or rigging is being set.

• Clown Walk-Around — all clowns in show parade around the hippodrome track stopping from time to time to do sight gags, pratfalls, etc.

• Come-In — the period of clown performances when the public is still entering the arena. Begins 20 minutes prior to performance time.

• Dressed House — when tickets are distributed so that all sections are filled or "dressed" with no large empty areas.

• Ducat — a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^® ticket.

• Ducat Grabber — door tender or ticket collector.

• Finish Trick — the last "trick" of a specific presentation.

• Heralds — Ringling Bros. advertisements (approximately 9 x 20 inches) which can be pasted down or handed out.

Pictures used with permission from Carleton Public Relations

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