Through a series of fortunate events, I stumbled upon Super Geek League. Magical, fantastical, clown unicorn beast only semi-accurately describe it. All fantasy cannot remain forever trapped in our imaginations and SGL showed me that it is indeed possible and sometimes necessary to make this sort of “reality augmentation” real. I was helping a clown friend build a clown shoe mutant vehicle for festivals while dabbling in various aerial and acrobatic disciplines. This clown friend knew other clown friends, SGL adopted the shoe, and suddenly I too fell through the looking glass.
With SGL I learned how to manage things within the circus “umwelt” (this actually isn’t too different from managing in the tech umwelt). I started as a fire safety. I coordinated and organized fuel equipment for festivals. I coordinated the design of fire effects and acquisition of hardware to build them. I helped build the fire effects themselves. I wrote specifications for fire marshals as part of required pre-show safety inspections. I met artists, producers and performers who pushed themselves to their edges and inspired me to find mine. The man responsible for SGL, Floyd, gave me steadfast support and mentorship during and between every show, and I couldn’t be more grateful for that loving and approachable human.
Circus stuff isn’t for everyone. It takes grit, passion, humility and a strong sense of humor to work with clowns. At some point, you find the clown within yourself. You realize everyone is a clown. Some people just are a little less ashamed of it than others and are willing to manifest on the surface what’s within all of us.
Floyd and the SGL family taught me to fear not being as big as I can be. To own and accept my instincts and my imagination. To challenge limiting assumptions and push beyond what I think I’m capable of. I had a chance to spend time with a beautiful group of people who shared a drive to create, willingness to consistently produce, and inclination to unleash pillowfights and confetti on crowds. Thank you for your disruption and love, SGL.
Super Geek League
