For those Australian Circus Folk who aren’t on Facebook or are but haven’t (surprisingly!) come across the Facebook group Circus Garage Sale its a group where you can “BUY, SELL, SWAP, BARTER or BEG for Circus Gear of any kind! An Australian online marketplace for any new, used, broken, handmade, Circus Props/Costumes” and it has almost 6000 members.
It was started and run by performer, producer and proud #ClownPirate (Carnival Cinema Member) Ciara Thorburn back in 2011. Ciara voluntarily runs it for the love of it and is constantly coming up with ways to benefit the community, the latest being The Mentorship Program.
Using the power of Social media for positive change!
Being quite into Connecting Community myself 
I shot Ciara a bunch of questions to get the low down.
Thank you for your time Ciara,
Hamish
Tell us the background to Circus Garage sale – where did the idea come from? Why did you start it?
Funny story! And not one many people know… The first ever Circus Garage Sale post; 19th August 2011. I wanted to buy a balancing ladder, but had no idea where to buy one. I also had started handmaking making a few props (hula hoop bags, cigar boxes) that I wanted to sell. So I thought about having an ‘online garage sale’ type thing, little did I know…
It’s grown substantially and you keep coming up with new ideas to add value to the community – how much energy and time does it take to maintain it?
Luckily, I’m an open social media addict, and not afraid to admit it. I do check Circus Garage Sale daily, often multiple times, to make sure nothing off-topic or #nsfw gets posted (yes, it’s happened before). Also, to approve new members (I do this individually, to make sure posts and members stay relevant).
You’ve just launched a new feature on it, the Mentorship Program – Where did the idea come from? Is it a new feature on Facebook that prompted it?
Yes actually, Facebook suggested it to me. And I was like *BOOM*, that’s exactly what we need! I just didn’t realise the Circus Garage Sale could be the platform to deliver it. The idea of mentorship has also been something on my mind since we had a Circus industry meeting at Woodford Circadia this year, chatting to circus people from all over Australia (and abroad), that all had something to offer. I chatted specifically with @Anna Murray (TEOC Circus) who was able to share lots of insight into dealing with injury and rehabilitation, and @Harley Mann (Chasing Smoke) about cultural diversity in circus.
Can you explain it a bit – how does it work?
You can either register as someone offering a mentorship (mentor), or as someone seeking a mentor (mentoree). You just create a profile, explaining what you are seeking, or what you can offer. It can be on literally anything to do with circus, for example, help & info on auditioning for circus school, skill-based tuition, creating or directing a show, sound/lighting, advice on performing on the Fringe circuit, making a street show, making your own props or costumes …anything really! Oh, and it doesn’t have to be free either – that’s for you and your mentor to figure out, once you have made the connection.
Can people not on Facebook access it?
Ah… next question…haha
*Look, possibly! Something to look into, hey Hamish? … *
What would you like to see happen with this element of CGS? In what ways do you feel it would benefit the community?
I believe Circus Garage Sale already contributes a lot to connecting our community around Australia on a grass-roots level. It’s a free platform, and it always will be. I feel like the mentorship program will enable us to help each other, and give/seek advice from people who are willing to share it. I hope it will assist in raising the bar of the Australian circus industry, both from a performance/skill-based and business perspective.
Specifically for me, I have had several mentors over the past few years, in relation to building a street show, and entering into the professional industry post NICA. This has been really beneficial to me, and I wanted to try to facilitate this type of opportunity for others.
For me, CGS is as you say, a great example of Community, Connection, Culture – can you talk on it from those points of view?
Thank you! I agree, if I do say so myself 
Circus Garage Sale has helped me to network and connect with people from all over Australia. It has helped us connect as a community, sported some interesting debates/issues relevant to the Australian circus industry, given people gigs, and often helped to find the best person for the job.
You’re heavily involved in few projects/happenings with a strong grounding in Community Connection – ie: *Clown O’Clock in Melbourne & Spin Festival – How do you see CGS as a digital community/connection ‘tool’ mutually benefits your other projects?
Circus Garage Sale is a great opportunity to get the word out, however, it is never used as an advertising forum. I’m pretty strict on that! But it does serve as a platform for important discussions relevant to the Australian circus industry. We are able to connect and share with other artists, with all types of interests and levels of experience, as Facebook is such a convenient and accessible communication medium.
Personally
it helps me to form connections with others, and yes that may also mutually
benefit me with finding work or showcasing my networking/production skills (and
my favourite festival – Spinfest!) to others. Shhhh… Hey I need to benefit somehow
outta this!!
How do you hope CGS progresses going forward? Any plan mapped out or just taking it as it comes?
To be honest, I’m just taking it as it comes. I want Circus Garage Sale to remain a free and accessible platform available to all circus artists or enthusiasts throughout Australia. I have considered ‘selling out’ and offering paid/optimised posts, but you know what, some things are more important.
And lastly, You’re a patched #ClownPirate (Carnival Cinema Member) – what does Carnival Cinema mean to you? Why do you support it financially?
Is it just me… or do you feel the same connection that I do… We’re all in this together <3
Huge Big Ups to Ciara for all you do for this community!
You can check out Circus Garage Sale & the Mentoring Program HERE.
*ClOwn O’ClOck is a weekly Clown jam at Circus Oz in Melbourne on Thursday nights.
Ciara Thorburn
Circus Artist, Variety Performer, Children’s Entertainer, Clown, MC, Cabaret Luminary and human being.
Ciara is a passionate, progressive and creative circus artist based in Melbourne, Australia. An avid art critic in her past life, Ciara has combined her passion for conceptual art with entertainment in an inimitable fusion of variety skill with clowning. Ciara defies expectations, using everyday objects in extraordinary ways, and has a knack for turning the mundane into the astonishing with her unique character work.
Ciara Links
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