Hoopreneur Highlights: Carisa Hendrix

From school teacher to pro prop manipulator and sideshow darling! Carisa took the dive and has not looked back. I first met Carisa via the wonderful internet ~ she’s an inspiration to any entrepreneurial type. She’s the lass behind the best DVD on fire-eating, manages Firepedia.com, and recently added Prop Art Product Designer to her many titles.

• Carisa Hendrix
• Circus Sideshow & Fire Performer, Prop Manipulation Artist, Blogger and Podcaster, Teacher, Prop Festival Organizer,
• Hoopreneur since December 2008

When and how did you discover hooping?
My career as a prop manipulator has evolved bit-by-bit over the past 7 years. I started by learning to eat fire, discovered poi, then staff, and then card manipulation and magic. I was constantly trying to add new elements to my show.

In 2008 I meet SaFire through a mutual friend. Her command of the hoop was amazing and a few months later SaFire made me a collapsable hoop of my own; I was hooked. As I worked with the hoop I couldn’t help notice how different it was from everything I’d worked with before. The hoop taught me that object play can go beyond the experience of the audience. For the first time I began to play with all sorts of props; contact and juggling balls, throwing knives, mini hoops with my only goal being to enjoy the experience rather than build an act.

The hoop was the first thing to come to mind when I’d hear music, I’d want to pick it up and jam to the rhythm. The hoop made me rethink my role as an entertainer.

How many hours do you practice a day? How do you keep your practice “interesting”/not dry?
It depends on what projects I’m involved with at the time. It fluctuates between about an hour or two a day and 3 hours a week. But it’s always with me as I travel.

Do you have a background in dance and/or performance, previous to discovering hooping?
I have no formal dance training or gymnastics background from before discovering the hoop. Recently I have begun to take classes and private dance coaching, I recommend this to anyone who wants to take their performances to the new level.

Note: The best way to completely distract a belly dance class is to show up 5 minutes late and lean a few hoops against the wall. 10 minutes later you’ll be the one teaching.

How long after you started hooping/circus arts did you realize you could make
some cash from it?
Almost as soon as my sideshow coach had me swallowing fire, I was doing it in front of an audience. It was actually the hoop that brought circus arts and prop manipulation out of the performance arena and refocused my interests. I have a hoop act in my show, no doubt, and a huge contingent of my blog and podcast audience are hoopers . But for me the hoop will always be a private love first and a cash flow second.

“Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”
I actually began to cry when I considered this question. I felt selfish for wanting to leave the kids and my job to try to make it as a performer. It seemed so foolish, but that question forced me to think of a future where I had let my act die and I knew what wasn’t the life for me.

I gave my two weeks right then. Everyone in the office was shocked, I was one of the youngest people in my position, I was dedicated to teaching and clearly loved my work. But I had to be honest with myself about what I really wanted.

Another “a-ha” moment happened at the first Light and Motion Festival, the prop manipulation conference in Alberta that SaFire and I started in 2009. It had been a few years since I gave up teaching and I was really starting to missing it. The festival gave me a vehicle to combine teaching with prop manipulation. It felt like becoming a whole person. Now I didn’t have to deny my love of props or my love of teaching.

Since then it’s been easy to chose money making projects that incorporates my prop manipulation with teaching. I produced a DVD teaching fire eating, worked with a number of duos and troupes, written several lectures and workshops around prop manipulation and self awareness, helping people achieve greater flow or take their performance career to the next level.

I run a blog (Firepedia) and podcast (the Fire Bug Podcast) which is focused on making important information easily available to individuals in our community.

When people whom you don’t know ask you ~ “What do you do?” ~ what do you tell them?
I love to give answers that make people ask more questions.

Them: “What do you do for a living?’
Me: “I play with toys”
Them: “What?”
Me: “You know, hula hoops, balls, magic tricks”
Them: “I’m sorry what?”

What percentage of your income is hoop-related income?
My income is split up between the DVD I produced, live classes and workshops, and performances. It’s 100% prop related, but only about 20% from hooping specifically.

List the 1st, 2nd and 3rd steps to becoming a Hoopreneur. 

1. Figure out what type of business you are uniquely qualified to start and run. Example: Are you a hooper who is also a yoga teacher? How about yoga for hoopers? Are you a DJ and a hooper? What about creating remixes for hoopers?
2. Love doing what you do so much you makes you a tiny bit crazy. Passion counts for a lot when you’re starting a business. It will give you the energy to get through the tough parts and will help separate you from the competition.
3. Find people to motivate you and help you with the things you are not as good at. Know your weaknesses, and be honest about them. Don’t spend 4 hours doing something that someone else could do better in 30 minutes. Ask for help when and where you need it.

What resources or tools did you find most helpful when you were getting
started?
Other entertainers and business professionals. It’s likely that there is a circus, juggling club or magic ring in your community. These are groups full of working professionals who can answer all your burning questions about the entertainment industry. Remember to be humble and grateful for their help, it is invaluable and should be treated as such.

When I started the podcast and the blog I emailed and called everyone I could think of who was doing what I wanted to do, successfully. Asking good questions and being open to new ideas will help jump start your business.

How did you decide upon your rate, as a performer?
At first I would try to find out what other performers were charging in my area for performances of similar length and skill level, and charge similar rates. Once you become more recognized and have a few accolades under your belt it’s alright to charge a little more.

I strongly recommend you keep your rates consistent and only raise your prices once a year. People talk, especially in small communities. If someone finds out that they were charged double what another group was for the same exact show, it will reflect poorly on your reputation. As an entertainer or and instructor, your reputation and word of mouth are your best forms of advertising.

Any big exposures that helped you get your name out there? How did they happen?
Two things.

Firstly, the Fire Eating DVD was a big push in my career. It put me on the world stage and opened up doors to perform in cities and countries I didn’t think would ever possible to perform in.

Second is acting. A little over a year ago I worked on a few films. One of the films, “Pick, an experimental short”, has been playing in festivals and galas all over the world and won a few major independent film awards. I was even nominated for a Maverick movie award for best actress. Not only was the exposure great for business, the award nomination has provided me with a great credibility indicator that separated me from others in the industry.

What’s the most pivotal point in your Hoopreneurship so far?
Other than quitting my teaching job to be a performer full-time, combining performance with travel has been a major pivotal point. When I first started to tour with my show, just around Canada and more recently internationally, I finally felt that I was really making it as and entertainer. Confidence is key, and taking my show to different cities was great for my self esteem and pride in my show.

What’s the #1 piece of advice you’d give to starting Hoopreneurs?
Go big or go home.

Throw your full weight behind what it is you’re trying to accomplish with your hooping business. Train hard, talk to people, put up a website, start the buzz. Hustle and you can make it.

What keeps you motivated to keep your Hoopreneurship going?
In my Hoopreneurship I get the opportunity to meet and inspire so many different people. Each time I help someone nail a move or inspire someone to start hooping it re-ignites my passion for all that I’m doing.

In terms of the blog and podcast, all the emails, comments and followers remind me that I’m making an impact on peoples lives. I can’t think of a more worthwhile venture for me.

Do you have a “day job”?
Not since 2009; however a word of advice….

Being in debt is no fun, so don’t quit your day job till your hoop business can sustain you financially. Lowering your monthly expenses and keeping overhead low will help you get there sooner but resist the urge to jump in before you really know the viability of your new endeavor.

Anything you would’ve done differently? What key lessons have you learned?
I have very few regrets. The failures have been as important for my development as an entertainer as the successes. One thing I have learned is to know when to turn down work. All opportunities are not created equal, you can get in a lot of trouble saying yes to everything. If you have a clear idea of what it is you want to accomplish it will be easier
to avoid the gigs, classes, students, etc. that will only serve to make you miserable and rob you of your enthusiasm.

What’s next?! What goals do you have for the future? 
My main focus for the past year has been traveling and getting Firepedia off the ground.

I see a huge need for a reliable, concise and accessible resource for fire performers and prop manipulators of all sorts. What Firepedia exists as now is just a small part of what we have in mind for the future. We are working with experts from many field from all around the world. I have programmers working to create the infrastructure that a resource like this will require. I want to help more people become hoopreneurs, poipreneur or come just a few steps closer to what ever dream they want to bring to life. Our community is so loving, welcoming and passionate. My goal is to do what I can to make that community stronger, safer and more knowledgeable.

Recently I started working with Hoop Gear, the new sister company of Juggle Gear, the online prop manipulation store ran by Peter Van Theil, an ex-Cirque du Soleil performer, and the founder of the local Circus school. We just started working on new designs about 4 months ago, but have already manage to produced and released these beautiful, seamless anodized, hardened aluminum hoops. When the final design came in, it was the most satisfying experience ever, it was exactly what we wanted and I could hold it in my hands, it was real. (Barbra: Um, I need these aluminum hoops! Swoonville!)

• Websites: www.carisahendrix.com, sideshowdarling.com, learnfireeating.com, firepedia.com, lightandmotion.ca
• iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/fire-bug-podcast-show-biz/id351938434
• YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/carisahendrix
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/CarisaHendrix
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/carisa.hendrix