Logistics and Technical Production Savvy with Travis Lahay
I’m going to start at the end. When wrapping up an interview, I like to ask if there’s anything my interviewee would like the CircusTalk readership to know. It’s a chance to open the floor to their expertise and for them to speak directly to you, our circus community. Without hesitation, Travis Lahay replied, “Everything is possible. And if you want it enough, you can go out and get it.” With that, all the puzzle pieces of our conversation fell into place. Lahay has fully embodied this advice in his career, and he is an example of how consistent determination can “create the life you want to live.” His resume reveals a steady climb up a twisting ladder — rungs marking a variety of positions in the circus sector — which has landed him as Head of Carpentry and Props on a large, internationally touring show.* His expertise and advice is a phenomenal addition to The Designer Series as Lahay offers a window into the practical and social skills necessary to work in circus Logistics and Technical Production departments.
It’s a familiar phrase, “a circus came to town,” but it’s how Travis Lahay’s unique circus journey began. He graduated from York University as a playwright and theater technician. When a big top rolled in, he was working for a local company that was hired to clean the tent. “It’s like being on a giant bouncy castle all day,” and he thought with exuberance, “I can get paid to do this?” Knowing he wanted to travel, he had been applying for touring shows and gigs, but quickly encountered a Catch-22. You need experience to get hired, but you can’t get experience unless you get hired. His in: a friend who was employed to set up the bleachers for a touring circus production. “It’s always the people you know. Your networking connections are the most paramount thing. You could be totally qualified and have all the skills, but still not get the job… The only way to get my foot in the door for circus was to go in through these logistic ...Do you have a story to share? Submit your news story, article or press release.