Drummer on the Sax

"Our shows include a band, vaudeville, black-light puppets, aerialists, flame-handlers, jugglers, magic, sideshow performers, and just about anything else you can think of," says Glenn Allen, music director for the Technomania Circus. While putting together a house band with local performers, Allen says musicians were taught circus skills.

"Our drummer just learned how to drum and play saxophone at the same time, which is kind of like musical juggling. If nothing else, we can put band members in clown makeup."

He acknowledges that some performances involve danger.

"The fire marshal checks out acts that use fire, and I carry a million dollars of insurance, just in case something happens to an aerialist or something. So far, we've never had an accident."

The circus performs monthly in a back yard near 25th and Commercial Street. Performers can be hired for private parties as well. For a 45-minute show with a troupe of five to ten performers, expect to pay $1500; magic sword acts run $400, and several puppet-themed shows are available for $175 per show, per puppeteer.

For $200, "Willy Bologna, the Vulgarian Clown," does headstands on broken glass, sticks quarters up his nose, and puts out fires in his pants.

"That's me, actually," reveals Allen. "I don't do the pants fire for kids' parties, though."

The next Technomania Circus performances are on December 7 and 8. See technomaniacircus.com.