Open Aerial Gym — Info & Rules

Purpose of open gym

• Enable students to work on established and developing skills that can be practiced safely.
• Build community and personal relationships.
• Provide opportunities for artistic collaboration.
• Provide an opportunity for students to do on-apparatus conditioning exercises outside of class, to gain the skills and strength to become members.
• Provide time for member aerialists to drop in without having to coordinate.
• Have fun and get circus strong!

Who can practice

• Current MCS aerial members; current MCS aerial members who have not tested in on a specific apparatus but received approval to practice it.
• Lapsed MCS aerial members who are not currently paying membership dues.
• Visiting aerialists who have received approval from the aerial board rep.
• Aerial students who take classes through MCS and have received explicit written approval from their instructor(s).
  • Instructors determine eligible students with this checklist:
    • Student has taken a minimum of 5 or 6 classes or a full session.
    • Student demonstrates safety and awareness to practice at open aerial.
    • Student has instructor permission.
  • Instructors should complete the open aerial approval sheet.
  • Instructors may indicate limitations for student practice but these should be clear and easy for the host to supervise (e.g., “low flying trapeze only”).
  • Eligibility can be revoked for practicing outside of accepted parameters.

Rules

• Rules will be expressed to students when they first attend open gym:
  • Open gym is a supervised but open practice time and no instruction will be given by the instructor or by anyone else. (This does not apply to instructors who are also renting space under the truss at the same time).
  • Students may not rig. The only exception is that students may ask for practice rigging under the direct, visual supervision of an instructor or the open gym host.
  • Students must practice skills that they have been previously taught by an instructor and that do not require hands-on spotting. If students are uncertain about whether or not they can safely practice a move without spotting, they should ask their instructor first.
  • Students cannot teach each other new skills. (Note that MCS members can skill share and collaborate with other members but are encouraged to have personal liability insurance if they do so.)
  • Students should never attempt moves based solely off of social media videos or what they’ve seen other people do.
  • The mat policy must be followed at all times, and students must demonstrate an understanding of appropriate mat usage.
  • Students may be asked to share space and apparatus as needed, and should be respectful of everyone at open gym.
  • Students may video themselves but should ask permission before videoing anyone else.
• Access can be revoked at any time by any host. See below for the proposed process to address concerns.

Cost

Suggested donation: $10 per two-hour session for non-members or lapsed members not currently paying membership dues (free for MCS members)

Payment link: https://madisoncircusspace.com/payments/

Donations can also be paid in cash (online payment preferred). Cash should be placed in the MCS donation lockbox in the lobby with a note on what it is for and the amount.