Being a “member” of the Madison Circus Space means you always have a place to practice, store equipment, work on new skills, and talk about circus with others. Membership comes with a variety of benefits, including:
- 24/7 access to our 7,000-square-foot space, with its natural light, sprung wood floor, and 17-foot ceilings
- Your own storage area (a locker or cubby; please provide your own lock)
- Free use of some communal supplies and equipment
- Free or discounted access to some MCS events and clubs
Members may practice in the MCS even while other groups are meeting, as long as they stay in parts of the space that are not already in use.
Membership Cost
MCS memberships cost $50/month for individuals and $80/month for families. If you sign up for a six-month membership, you’ll receive a 10% discount, and if you sign up for a year membership, you’ll receive a 20% discount. Memberships are billed automatically as a recurring payment. You may cancel or change your membership at any time.
Scholarships are available for memberships, visit the scholarships page for more information.
Membership Terms
All MCS members sign a safety policy and agree to abide by a membership agreement. Members must also be vetted by the MCS board of directors before they are granted access to the space.
The Process to Join
- Begin by contacting the MCS board representative associated with your discipline from the list below.
- Your board representative will vet your membership request, and make a recommendation to the MCS board. The vetting process differs by discipline due to the level of safety associated with each discipline.
- If the MCS board approves your membership request, you will then pay for your membership dues, and attend an orientation to receive your key and sign the membership agreement. You are now officially an MCS member!
Juggling – Nick Aikens
Acro – Deanna Schneider
Hoop/Flow Arts – Danielle Lee
German Wheel/Other – Carly Schuna
Aerial – Karen Nellessen. Review the criteria for becoming an MCS aerial member at the Aerial Membership Information page. For more MCS aerial policy information please visit out Policy and Guidelines page.
MCS Minor Memberships
Being a “minor member” simply indicates you are under the age of 18. A minor member of the MCS is granted most of the same benefits as a regular member, with a few important differences:
- You must always be at the MCS with an adult who has been authorized to supervise you.
- You will be issued a locker or cubby only if extras are available. If you need a lock, please provide your own.
- You will not be issued a key fob for the space. Instead, the adults who have been authorized to supervise you will use their keys to let you in and out.
Minor members may practice in the MCS even while other groups are meeting, as long as they stay in the half of the space that is not already in use.
Minor Membership Cost
MCS minor memberships cost $50/month for individuals. If you have at least one other family member who wants to participate, the total cost is $80/month, the standard family membership rate. Six-month memberships receive a 10% discount, and yearly memberships receive a 20% discount.
Memberships are automatically recurring. You may cancel or change your membership at any time.
Minor Membership Terms
Adults who are authorized to supervise minor members could include fellow adult MCS members, instructors, or adults who have been vetted by MCS to safely spot minors in their given disciplines. An adult supervisor for a minor member who is practicing aerial arts must also be an approved aerial member of the MCS.
When you begin your membership, you should provide a list of 1-3 authorized adults who can supervise you during MCS visits, as well as information on the adults’ qualifications to spot you.
The MCS is most concerned with safe spotting in disciplines that require a high level of training, such as German wheel and aerial arts. Disciplines such as juggling, hoop/flow arts, and unicycling require only adult supervision rather than demonstration of skilled spotting.
All minor MCS members and their adult supervisors must sign a safety policy and membership agreement. The MCS board must also vet minor members as well as their authorized adult supervisors before they are granted access to the space.
If you are interested in becoming a minor member of the MCS, please contact your board representative from the list above to start the process.