The GAAH Press Club is flying high at the circus

For this article, the Press Club was asked to review their experience at the circus, as well as try to include researched background information about Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey. 

Donny Age 12
It was September 1, 2012 (the date when the iPhone 5 was released at 8:00 a.m.), and the Van Andel Arena was very packed for the circus. There was a plethora of people downtown. It was a very chilly evening.

Well, I got to go to the suite and it looked very, but very awesome!!!! There were couches to sit on, a private bathroom and a 20” flat screen television. There was popcorn everywhere and it looked like I could live in it!

After that we got to meet the guy who introduced the circus. He was very odd because he kept on saying random things, but at one point he was very funny. I also got to see my clone! He was the total opposite of me. We got back to the suite, and we had to get up for the National Anthem. The elephants came with the flag of the U.S. of A.

So the show started and there was a man with a bike that had colossal wheels. The wheels ran over the other clowns. After that, the Matrix happened! The guy leaned back really far and went slow-motion when the other guy was trying to hit him with a stick. They were fighting in the air.

The circus ended with a man getting shot by an arrow, on fire, across the stage. It was very epic! I loved the circus because it was very entertaining.

Antonio Age 11
On September 21, 2012 the Press Club went to the Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus. According to their website, P.T. Barnum was born July 5, 1810, in Danbury Connecticut. He died in 1891 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, but his memory still remains.

The Van Andel Arena was very big. At first some of it was empty, but by the half of the show everything was full. We got VIP seats, and the best view. There were mostly clowns everywhere. Everyone had a lot of makeup. Their costumes were very creative and colorful.

They performed many things: a man on fire, the Matrix, and many more. Sometimes they would mess up in a part. One time, two persons almost fell from six stories high.

It was awesome! It was one of the best shows I’ve seen. In my opinion, the part when they copied the Matrix was the funniest part. Overall it was a very entertaining experience.

Edgar Age 10
It was the 21st of September, 2012. The Press Club and I went to the Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus. When we arrived at the Van Andel Arena, we got our tickets and went in. We got in and got into the place where the performers in the Circus performed. When we were in the stage, Ignacio asked in a British accent what got you into the circus business, and the man said “69.” Then, “I started when I was 4,” he said.

The place looked huge and it was packed. I was sitting in Suite 101. It had like a 20” plasma screen [tv].

The circus was so cool. I liked the Matrix, it was funny. So funny. The suite was the best.

Samaria Age 11
At the beginning of the circus a clown came out and was throwing frisbees from a far distance. Next, two clowns came out and they had a big giant plug and outlet. They started to sing “Think Big.” This all happened on September 21, 2012 at The Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus.

The Van Andel Arena was very big. The people in the circus were tumbling on a red carpet, and the people on the tightrope were riding on a bike with a girl sitting on a chair on top of the bike. My favorite part of the circus was when the clowns were so funny it almost broke my bones!

Brian Age 12
My favorite part of the circus was the tightrope walkers and the tigers. They were white and orange tigers. The venue was big and had lots of lights and people. We had our own room with lots of popcorn. The popcorn was too sweet.

I thought the circus was a lot of fun. I’m glad that I got to go, and I would tell other kids to go. They sold Icee cones there, brownies, and cotton candy. I wanted to buy them! They sold candy, swords and light-up stuff that glowed in the dark. My favorite part of the circus was the beginning when they plugged in the light and lightning came and the guy got hit. I liked when the ladies threw the frisbees too.

Juan Age 9
On Sept 21, 2012 we went to the Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus. There were tigers, stilts people, clowns and the tightrope walking. They shot a person out of a cannon.

The circus started by plugging in a plug that dropped from the ceiling. The light popped up like BOOM!, and the clowns were wearing overalls. The elephant did a headstand. Their website said that in 1995, a man named Kenneth Feld made a conservation center for elephants. They took care of the elephants.

I asked the clown how do they walk on stilts. He said, “I don’t, but someone in the circus did.” And they have to spread their legs out so they don’t fall.

They did their job because they train other animals to do other things they never did. I had a lot of fun, and I will go back to the circus!

Ana Age 11
On September 21, 2012 we went to the Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus. At the circus there was a clown and a guy that were doing funny jokes. The clowns and the guy were making the audience laugh.

The Van Andel Arena was half full of people. There were families and students. The whole audience was laughing and laughing like crazy.

There were people in sparkly outfits which were the performers. They had a lot of colorful clothing. They were wearing dresses, pants, shirts and hats that lit up.

I would like to go to the circus again but what I didn’t like about it was when all the clowns came out in the first part because there was no action. That’s why I thought it was boring. I thought all the shows were good except the singing part. The reason I didn’t like it was because there was too much noise.

Ignacio Age 13
It was a cold evening on September 21, 2012 when we walked to the Van Andel Arena to go watch the Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus. We sat in the suite which was perfect for my taste.

I got to talk to a clown. I asked “What got you in the circus business?” He replied, “69.” Then I asked again and he said, “Look at that guy’s tupee.” Then I asked again and he said “I have wanted to be in the circus ever since I was 4, and worked it up and joined.” Then a companion of mine, Antonio, asked, “How old where you when you joined?” He said “18.”

The performance was absolutely wonderful. I loved the clown though and the part where they re-enacted the Matrix was absolutely fabulous. When he flew in the air it was hilarious.

I thought that most of it was awesome!!! I give it 5 out of 5 stars and it was fascinating.

Shirley Age 10
There was this clown, he was trying to do the Matrix in slow motion. After he fell down really fast at the Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus. The circus was at the Van Andel Arena which looked like there were more kids than teenagers and adults. There was face painting and stuffed animals. There was a lot of stuff that they sold. It was really cool.

I would recommend the part of the Matrix for the kids because it was SO hilarious, but there was this cute little pony. She had the cutest bangs! So hope you go to the circus next year!

Carlos Age 14
On September 21, 2012 I went to the Van Andel Arena to see the Ringling Bros at the circus. At the circus there was a tiger trainer. He was telling the tigers what to do. Also, the tiger trainer was a horse and elepehant trainer too. At the circus the Press Club and I got a suite. It was a nice view.

At the circus they were giving out popcorn. Also, they were selling cotton candy for $12.00, snow cones for $10.00, colorful toys, cupcakes, brownies and candy.

The performers were so awesome and great. The first performers were clowns and they were funny. The second performers were dancers. They danced when the singer was singing. The third performer was the singer. He sang in the whole show. The fourth performers were the animal trainers. Finally, the last performers were the ring master.

The performance was very fun! At the start of the circus, the ring master and the clown connected a switch to start the circus, and it was awesome. The clown got hit where he was not supposed to get hit. Also, two guys got on top of high wheels and started to dance.

The enjoyment was pretty cool. There was a lot of dance. Also, there was a lot of singing. When the ringmaster and the clown connected the switch to start the show was awesome!

In conclusion, I hope you guys go to the circus next year when they come. It was pretty cool and awesome!