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Anyone knows of a market for circus art instructors? This includes aerial yoga (involving trapeze & tightropes). No hazardous acts such as fire breathing or sword swallowing. Thank you!

Boring Or Soaring? Great Performers!
BORING OR SOARING? GREAT PERFORMERS! by Mike Manes IMMS Consultant Mike Manes strives to facilitate change, communication, learning, and positive results. To that end, Manes has written this powerful, substantial document that will help you build your skills and achieve your goals. PREFACE You’re a leader. You own or manage a business. You’re responsible for results success. Your role is multifaceted visionary, organizational architect, environmental engineer, coach, and cheerleader. You love what you do and you’re great at it. Unfortunately today you’re in a funk sad, frustrated, and confused. Usually you’re the bright light on dark days in your organization, but today you feel blue. You can remember the enthusiasm of your first day on the job the dreams, the passion, the hope, and the energy. Today you’ve discovered that you’re an administrator. The system is now managing you; you’re not leading it. You’re the head of a bureaucracy. You’d promised yourself you’d never let this happen. Why? What went wrong? What can be done to bring the fire back to your belly? More importantly, how can you transform your bureaucracy into an entrepreneurial venture? Reflect for a few moments. Rewind your personal life history. Go back to yesterday. Yesterday. You remember. You were too excited to sleep. Today’s the day the circus! You, your sister, your mom, and dad are going to the circus. You can remember the tent. It was huge. The smell of popcorn, the taste of cotton candy, the sounds the crowd, the animals, the clowns. The sawdust under your feet enhanced your experience. In the language of your youth, it was “cool.” Today you realize it was, in contemporary terms, the ultimate multisensory experience. Your heart was beating so fast! You’re in the bleachers when you hear, “Ladies and gentlemen and children of all ages, look to the center ring and focus your eyes to the top of the tent. On the high wire the greatest with no net “Your mouth was wide open; your eyes were even wider. You don’t remember breathing. She made it. No net! It was the most exciting thing you’d ever seen. You’ll never forget it. This was the greatest show on earth, and she was the greatest performer. You loved your parents. Your mom was a teacher. Dad was a carpenter. You knew what they did. It was boring! You’d watched your friends’ parents the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker. They were doctors, lawyers, and Indian chiefs. They were boring. You vowed that day to join the circus. This is what would make your heart beat fast. You never wanted to be boring. You shared your dream of a life under the big tent with your parents they laughed. You knew your life would be spent soaring, not boring! Fast forward to today. Today. On the way to work you passed the circus. They were raising the tent. You flashed back to yesterday. Now you’re at your office only to realize that you’ve settled in. Worse than not joining the circus, you’ve become your parents. You’re as boring as they were. You know you’re successful; you own the business (or you’re running it). You can remember the day you started the business (or the day you took it over). It was so exciting. Although you weren’t in the circus, you were operating without a net. What happened? Why? You rock back in your chair and remember the enthusiasm of your youth. You close your eyes. You’re on the tightrope; you’re balanced. You hear the crowd but can’t look down. You can’t lose focus on your goal: the landing at the end of the wire. The sounds, the sights, the smells, the lights, the energy! This is your second chance. You’re not working; you’re performing! Today you promise yourself that you’ll soar. Never again will you settle. No more boring only soaring! The door and your eyes open simultaneously. You rock forward in your chair and stare at your assistant. “Are you OK?” she asks. “I’m fine, I’m fine!” you respond. You realize your heart is beating fast for a good reason. Frustration has accelerated its pace in the recent past, but this is positive. This is great. Now the only question is, How? Tomorrow. No, you’re not selling the company or quitting your job. But you’ve committed to creating the greatest show on your Earth. You’re going to convert your team into great performers. You’re going to breathe life into this “dinosaur” that you call your organization. Don’t take this personally. Yours might be an excellent company, but that won’t help you tomorrow. The world and the marketplace are moving faster than you are. As a committed leader your first role is to define reality. The fact is that your once “lean, mean production machine” has evolved into a bureaucracy too sleepy and self-serving to survive in the fast-moving world of tomorrow. It needs resuscitation. What follows is the process the questions you must answer to become a great performer. HOW HIGH WILL YOU FLY? The first and most important is, “Are you willing and able to change to compete?” The truth about the high wire is that people only pay to see performers who do things they can’t do better themselves. Good performers can walk high above the ground. The great ones work without a net. To continue our tightrope metaphor, consider the possible scenarios: Boring. This is the equivalent of your child’s preschool circus. Your daughter walked across a rope on the ground, and you applauded wildly. She was pleased. Only other moms and dads noticed. Results weren’t even an expectation. In business only results count; efforts are immaterial. If you’re not getting results, you’re losing ground. Boring means you lack the willingness or ability to compete and change. Snoring. The tightrope is actually a parallel beam about two feet above the ground and four inches wide. Though practice was required, success was virtually guaranteed. And there was zero risk. Again parents cheered, and no one else cared. In business this means that you’re holding your own and could probably make it if the competition went away. Unfortunately that’s not going to happen. Even though you’re able to change, willingness is the issue. Soaring. This is the professional high wire artist who will walk any wire, anytime. This person gets paid to perform and is acknowledged as a professional. You’re a professional, with a successful business. You and your team are comfortable. You’ve reached most of your goals. You’ve worked hard. You’re tired. Its time to rest. You’ve built infrastructure the layers of management, policies, and procedures needed to guarantee future success. You’ve got great technology, your staff is technically competent, and you own the market. Your ability is never questioned. However, you’re concerned that some members of your team are reluctant to change to venture beyond their comfort zone. The net is an asset that’s creating a liability. You’re afraid the safety net is becoming a hammock. Adoring. This is “best of class”: the person revered by other members of the group, who will outperform any professional and always without a net. Removal of the net ensures excellence. There’s no margin for error. In spite of being No. 1, you wake up scared to death every day. You love the trappings of success, but you’re motivated more by a fear of failure. You’re willing and able to change to the future, as well as change the future. You refuse to get comfortable. You know there’s no net. You need no other motivation. Michael Manes can be reached at Square One Consulting, 8674 Quarters Lake Rd., Suite 10, Baton Rouge, LA 70809, (225) 922-9138, fax (225) 922-9106, e-mail [email protected], or Web site www.squareoneconsulting.com.

From banquets to festivals and everything in between, your clients need protection from lawsuits, claims of bodily injury and property damage. Midlands has broad access to multiple liability markets, deep industry expertise, and robust risk-management resources. When forces beyond anyone's control—flood, fire, severe weather or other perils—undo months of planning in minutes, agents can place Event Cancellation Insurance through Midlands to protect your clients’ revenue and expenses. Midlands Event Cancellation Insurance insures against loss arising from the cancellation, interruption, relocation or postponement of a covered event. Add Event Cancellation coverage to a Special Event policy or place a stand-alone Event Cancellation policy to protect gross revenue, event expenses and additional costs incurred because of a covered loss. Place your next special event and/or event cancellation risk with Midlands to ensure things go right when things go wrong. Available Coverages: • Liability • Liquor Liability • Event Cancellation • Weather Coverage • Excess • Property • Inland Marine • Spectator Liability • Commercial Auto Program Highlights: • Coverage based on gross revenue or expenses for the event — up to $85 million • Covers net loss and additional costs or charges paid by the insured • Optional extensions for disease outbreak, nonappearance, war risks and terrorism • Fast turnaround with instant quotes and instant policy documents • Coverage available for single events or multi-event schedules • A.M. Best rated “A” carriers available through the program • Competitive pricing and commission structures (varies by market) • Superior claims handling and benefits coordination, including quick referral service • Facility can be added as an additional insured at no extra cost • Large excess limits and hired/non-owned auto available • Short-term or annual policy terms available • Hundreds of eligible classes Available Classes (selected): • Wedding Receptions • Banquets • Auctions • Fairs and Festivals • Golf Tournaments • Inflatable/Moon Walks • Sporting Events and Races (bike, run, walk) • Recitals and Theatre • Educational Seminars and Public Lectures • Boat Shows • Rodeos and Parades • Trade Shows and Booths at Fairs/Shows • Fireworks and Amusement Rides • Fundraising Events and Senior Events • Arts/Craft Shows, Fashion Shows, and Exhibitions • Street/Block Parties and Refreshment Stands • Animal Shows, Dog/Horse Races, and Many More Overview of the Program from Midlands Management Corp This program is designed specifically for agents placing special-event risks who need tailored Event Cancellation protection alongside traditional special-event liability products. Midlands acts as a managing general agency and carrier intermediary, giving you access to multiple admitted and non-admitted markets, fast quoting, and flexible policy options. Ideal Accounts and Appetite Good fits: weddings, community festivals, fundraisers, races, trade shows, recitals, openings, and similar events where revenue or incurred expenses need protection. Appetite: single events and multi-event schedules with limits and coverages scaled to event size — policies available up to large revenue/exposure thresholds (see Program Highlights). Typical restrictions: extremely high-hazard attractions or events with known pre-existing cancellations or prohibited activities may require underwriting review or be excluded. Discuss specific risks with Midlands underwriting for guidance. Coverage Highlights and Advantages Flexible basis of loss: cover based on gross revenue or event expenses, including additional costs to mitigate loss. Optional extensions for disease outbreak, nonappearance and terrorism/war risks to match client exposures. Fast placement: instant quoting and instant policy documents help you bind cover quickly when clients need proof of insurance. Facility-friendly: facility can be added as an additional insured at no extra cost — helpful for venues that require proof before booking. Underwriting Notes and Minimum Premiums Underwriting considers the event type, location, attendance, ticketing/revenue structure, contingency plans, and any high-risk activities. Minimum premiums vary by market and coverage selections. Be ready to provide event revenue/expense estimates, event date(s), cancellation triggers of concern (e.g., weather, nonappearance), and any prior cancellation history when requesting a quote. Territories and Availability Available in many states: AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, DC, WV, WI, WY. Admitted availability varies by state; Midlands places business in some admitted markets and through non-admitted carriers where needed. Why Work with Midlands on Event Cancellation Managing General Agency and carrier relationships that provide wide market access. Quick quoting and policy issuance — designed for time-sensitive event placements. Flexibility to add cancellation coverage to Special Event liability placements or to write stand-alone Event Cancellation policies. Support for complex placements, including large revenue events, excess limits, and specialty extensions. Example Scenarios You have a client planning a weekend outdoor festival with $250,000 in ticket sales and vendor fees — Event Cancellation coverage can protect ticket revenue and certain event expenses if severe weather forces cancellation. An organizer of a multi-day trade show wants coverage for nonappearance of a headline speaker and related lost revenue — optional nonappearance coverage can be added to the cancellation form. How to Submit Business Provide event details, estimated revenue/expenses, event date(s), venue information, and any requested optional extensions. Midlands offers fast turnaround and instant policy documents for eligible risks. Minimum premium: varies by market and coverage. Frequently Asked Questions What types of events are a good fit for this program?Weddings, festivals, fundraisers, trade shows, sporting events, recitals, and similar public or private events where loss of revenue or incurred expenses from cancellation or postponement is a concern. Can this coverage be added to a Special Event liability policy or written stand-alone?Yes. Midlands can add Event Cancellation coverage to a Special Event liability placement or issue a stand-alone Event Cancellation policy, depending on your client’s needs. How quickly can I get a quote and policy documents?Midlands offers fast turnaround with instant quotes and instant policy documents for eligible risks; binding speed depends on underwriting requirements and any optional extensions requested. Are disease outbreak or nonappearance coverages available?Yes. Optional extensions for disease outbreak, nonappearance, and war/terrorism risks are available subject to underwriting and market acceptance. Need help placing an account? Connect with a market specialist.