To start with, our spectacular parent organization The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus has been helping us sort out some logistical nitty gritty.  [...]]]> Hello world!
Speaking as an integral part of Downside Up, we’re positively oscillating with excitement! These days we’re jumping by leaps and bounds so that we can start bringing you all sorts of entertainment and goodies.

To start with, our spectacular parent organization The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus has been helping us sort out some logistical nitty gritty.  They are a non-profit organization committed to keeping alive the history, knowledge and love of vaudeville, sideshows, and other related circus arts. By taking us in under their wing, they have been an integral part of helping us bring this brain-child of a troupe into existence!

As of late, a lot of our energy has been going into planning our six week bike tour. INTERROBANG will be traveling from late May-June 2010, looping the Puget Sound region of western Washington state. With a core troupe of six (Tara, Molly, Victoria, Lindsay, Corvus, and Kristian) plus a rotating guest, we will be street performing, cycling, workshopping, camping, playing, and exploring.

In order to accomplish this feat we’re busy applying for grants, the most recent of which was the CLIF Bar Family Foundation. We’re hoping to operate on a $5,000 budget which includes:

+ travel expenses for troupe members on the East Coast to get to the West Coast
+ bikes, trailers, and the tools and equipment to repair them on the road
+ camping equipment
+ touring expenses (food, cost of campsites)

In addition to applying for grants, Downside Up will be performing small gigs and street performances throughout the next 9 months to raise money and awareness about our upcoming tour. (We’ll be sure to post up what we’re doing and when we’re doing it if you’d like to come out and see us!) And of course, we’re always accepting personal donations. Every little bit helps. In the meantime, we’re all keeping the spirit of circus alive by playing every chance we get!