Remember when you were a kid and you wanted to run away to the circus? No? just me? Well for those who have entertained the idea, you’ll love hearing Chelsea McLean talk about how she actually did that. She joined the freakin’ circus! She was one of the talented singer/dancers I met on Norwegian Cruise Lines when I was performing on it with The Second City. Over the last few years, I’ve kept up with her on Facebook and Instagram and see that for Chelsea, the adventure never stops. She’s been a part of all sorts of professional theater productions such at CATS, Hairspray and Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, performed at Universal Studios as a singer, dancer and actor, done supporting work on “The Vampire Diaries” and was even a professional mermaid for Mertailor. It really was just a matter of time before the crazy girl ran away with the clowns.

Serial Optimist: So your background is as a dancer, but this summer you were hired by the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Baily Circus. What’s your official “title” now?

Chelsea: Actually my background is primarily in singing but with my extensive work in musical theater I have been able to successfully passed myself off as a dancer for a few years now, haha. But at the moment my official title is Ringling Ringlette.

SO: Nice! What the heck is a Ringlette?

Chelsea: The best way to describe a Ringlette would be a dancing, elephant riding, ringmaster backing powerhouse of rhinestones! We are basically the ringmasters right (hand left) hand girls.

SO: That’s right, I saw you with a camel, or was it a llama. Which one spits?

Chelsea: Yea, I was filling in for one of our camel trainers for a few weeks while she was on vacation. And they both do, but more so llamas. 

SO: Good to know. Has it always been your dream to be in the circus? It has been for me. I even took trapeze classes a couple of years ago.

Chelsea: Actually no, I never really considered being in the circus until it happened. I always thought you had to be able to twist yourself into a pretzel (literally) or swing from your teeth to be in the circus.

SO: I’m sure it helps pad the resume. If you don’t do that stuff, how did you end up getting involved? What was the audition process like?

Chelsea: My situation was special in that I joined midway though the tour. One of my good friends who lives in Orlando had joined the circus at the beginning of the tour as a ringmaster, and had been posting religiously on FB about how wonderful it was. So one day after reading one of his more exciting posts I decided on a whim to send my information away to a casting link found on FELD Entertainments casting website. Two days later I was on a plane to South Carolina for a private audition with one of the shows dance captains. Then a few days after that I was in the circus!

SO: I love how you never know when things are going to change.

Chelsea: So true, it literally happens overnight.

SO: I keep picturing myself in your position and I think I’d feel like a kindergartner on her first day of school… only a school with elephants and zebras in it. 

Chelsea: And lions and tigers and clowns!

SO: Oh my! Sorry. What was that first day like for you?

Chelsea: Haha! My first day was just a lot of walking around in awe, trying not to get in the way and realizing that I was going to have to learn a lot of basic conversation in about six new languages (being the only American).

SO: So how long has it been now?

Chelsea: Nine months! Wow! Time flies! I spent the first four months on the Blue Ringling tour, Dragons, one of the three ring circus shows, before being transferred to the Gold tour where I am now.

SO: It’s like you were pregnant with a circus. Wait, what?

Chelsea: Hahaha!

SO: So what’s the toughest and what’s the best part about the job? 

Chelsea: Well, I think the toughest part varied between the two different tours. During the first leg, I think I struggled most with just acclimating to tour life. Living on a train, not always having cell reception/internet, having to cook where I ate (very tiny rooms). Now, the most difficult part is just living out of a suitcase. Having to pack and unpack your life every week.

But the best part of the circus remained the same for both tours. Not only am I surrounded by the most freaky talented people I’ve ever met, I get to travel around the United states (and Mexico) and do and see all the awesome things our country has to offer.

Job hazard: Getting pied by a clown

SO: Are you getting to learn any new skills, like juggling or tight rope walking?

Chelsea: Yes! I’ve learned a lot about animal training and care from our amazing animal team, as well as how ride as elephant and how not to flinch while having 12′ knives thrown at me.

SO: Oh man. Any close calls?

Chelsea: I have complete trust in my team! Hahaha… but it still makes my heart race every time.

SO: How many times a week do you think you step in poop?

Chelsea: Every. Single. Day. Multiple times And no, you never get used to the smell of elephant poop.

SO: Oh no. Do you have a poop shoe locker or something or do your shoes come back with you to your room?

Chelsea: Thankfully we have a wonderful costume team that takes care of everything from poop shoes to missing sequins.

SO: Eek… tough job.

Chelsea: They are troopers.

SO: So what about the animals? Did you have any reservations about working around “kept” animals? I know that can be a controversial topic.

Chelsea: You know, at first I was more curious than anything. After all of the controversy I had heard out animals in the circus, I was really interested to see exactly how the conditions were. I am an avid animal lover and am always saying how I love animals more than people! But I am thrilled to say that every one of the negative accusations against the circus’s animal care are completely false. During my time here I have never once seen a situation in which an animal was mistreated or harmed in any way. Having the opportunity to work so closely with these animals I have seen everything from where they live to what they eat, to elephant bath time! And to be completely honest, our animals are treated better than the rest of us!

SO: That’s definitely nice to hear. Well I’m super excited for you and congrats on the wonderful experiences and even more to come!

Chelsea: Thank you! I am as well! I can only imagine what I’ll get myself into next.

SO: No kidding!

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SO Note: Follow Chelsea’s adventures on Twitter @Chelseaann_09 on her Facebook page and on Instagram!