We recently connected with Gina Schettini and have shared our conversation below.
Gina , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Looking back, what’s an important lesson you learned at a prior job
All my past work is in the hospitality industry! It’s been an adventure over the last 20 years. All types of restaurants, diners, casual places and high end establishments. I have worked several positions: from busser, server, bartender, catering and moving up into management. All of these roles have taught me that every person that is part of the team is important. It’s wild! There are lots of moving parts in the hospitality field. My past experiences working, for different types managers with their own style. It has molded me into a well rounded manager. I have had managers that are angry, mean, and down right rude. Ones, that won’t ever tell you that you aren’t keeping up with their company standards. Ones that would tell you are the best employee, even though, it’s a false statement. I have had managers that are the hardest working person in the building. All of my experiences has shaped me to be a well rounded boss with a focus on clear communication.
Gina , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
This past June 2022, I entered the Circus Entertainment Business. After, seven years of watching and supporting my partner excel with all types of performing. Why, Circus? Well, I am a stilt walker! At the young age of 31, I took a stilt walking class with my partner and fell in Love! I learned to walk that high life! I have been standing tall ever since that first class! I didn’t think it could turn into a secure career or job for me….well, as a free lance performer! I had fun throwing on my stilts and walking around at any chance possible. I find it be challenging and vulnerable to prove yourself as performer. I commend all solo performers applying and putting themselves out in the world. Y’all, deserve to give yourself a ton of praise! Over the years, I continued to stilt walk for fun at a few events and then even got compensated for a few opportunities. I couldn’t believe how I felt after a few gigs! I loved it! Is this what it means to love “your job” I had a so much fun working as a stilt walker! During the pandemic, I leave the art of balloon twisting. Now, I twist balloons; from unicorns to funny hats. Another skill I didn’t know could be so creative and adventurous! As the world started to open back up after the pandemic, I noticed that my partner wasn’t being offered as many opportunities as the previous years have provided….I asked myself the question, could I be, could I be, a business owner! Nah, not me! Well, I took the leap and Elevated Circus. Was born! Debuting in June 2022.
Elevated Circus provide all types of circus entertainment (fire, aerial arts, juggling, stilt walker, etc ) circus workshops, facepainting and balloon animals. My hospitality background helps Elevated Circus provide specialized entertainment and communication that all clients are happy customers. We have entertained private and public events for the last 7 months and I can’t be more excited for our future. You can find Elevated Circus at the Envision Festival 2023
Have you ever had to pivot?
My major change in career was a forced change, I was fired from my job of 6 years! I was in shock! I couldn’t believe it! I was let go and no longer “needed” and I was devastated! This was February 2020 and then a few weeks later the world shut down for Covid! I had to take some time and figure out my next move for making money. I dabbled with my odd jobs from online streaming, app work and house cleaning. All of these ways of income helped me survive but I wasn’t happy. I did learn that I loved the freedom of working different hours and not being locked into a minimum of an 8 hour work shift. That year was interesting, figuring out what to do with my life….. over the course of 2020, I was able to create more art and teach myself new skills, I learned how to twist balloons. I never thought a bag of balloons and hand pump would provide my with income and joy. As, the world opened back up, I had a few opportunities stilt walk for a few different entertainment companies. I had so much fun! Could I be a performer? My partner loves her job with all the highs & lows. As, 2022 began, thats when I decided I would pursue the gig life! A few months into 2022 , I noticed a decline in my partners gig opportunities from other companies! We had chatted about the idea of having our own Circus entertainment company…..I was, nah, be a business owner, thats very risky! On the other hand, I was determined to break into the gig entertainment industry and see a change. June 2022, Elevated Circus was born. Our mission is provide Circus Entertainment to all types of people with all types of people represented as performers! Circus arts has helped me focus, and improve myself little by little. I look forward to being at your event twisting balloons or walking that High Life!
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson I had to unlearn,….is to be a kind person. I grew up in a toxic dysfunctional household. There was no clear communication. All communication was based off emotional reactions, instead of logically reasoning. Passing blame onto another instead of taking accountable for any actions. It’s a struggle for me to adjust how I speak and express myself to others. Even different, managers I had worked for we’re rude and crude. I had learned and adapted a cut throat attitude towards everyone. I grew up in New Jersey, and moved to Colorado ion 2013. That was a culture shock! The communication style is softer and gentle. I had to learn how to communicate. Theses days, I work on communicating with kinder words. I had to drop my cutthroat communication style if I wanted to thrive in Colorado. It’s not easy, to communicate with logic versus emotion on daily basis. We are human and have feelings , my advice that I practice to work on better communication with clear intentions with all interactions.
Contact Info:
- Website: Elevatedcircus.com
- Instagram: ElevatedCircus
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElevatedCIrcus?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Image Credits
Martha Wirth Photography