A Tribute To Fathers - June 20, 2010 - Segment Three

Betsy and Renee are joined by Jonathan Lee Iverson, Ringmaster for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, to talk about his unlikely journey in becoming ringmaster for “The Greatest Show On Earth.” Jonathan, a professionally trained singer who once performed with the Harlem Boys Choir, was auditioning for a dinner theatre one time and it just so happened that the director of the dinner theatre was also directing Ringling Brothers. The evening after his audition, the director called him impressed and said he needed a singing ringmaster, to which Jonathan responded that he needed employment and the rest is history, Jonathan jokes. Jonathan is both the first black ringmaster in Ringling Brothers’ history, as well as the youngest. Being ringmaster, Jonathan observes, is like being “a glorified fan wearing gorgeous costumes,” and he is merely the person who has the opportunity to let the whole world know that Superman and Wonder Woman are in the building. It’s not hard for him to get out there and boast about what’s coming because he knows the performers can back it up. Or as Jonathan likes to put it, he’s the guy who gets to “talk the trash but doesn’t have to do the work.” He also thinks the same energy he tries to emit to the audience is what they give to them, and that it’s a two-way street where both sides feed off each other. Jonathan notes that it’s a real privilege to have that sort of trust for as long as Ringling Brothers have had it, which spans 140 years.

On the subject of family, Jonathan remarks that it’s not just family entertainment at Ringling Brothers, but it’s a family lifestyle. He actually travels and works alongside his wife—who is a dancer in the show—their children occupy the nursery and school at Ringling Brothers, and they travel on the world’s largest privately owned train, so everybody in the show has their own quarters. Consequently, when Ringling Brothers is building a show, they really understand what families want because they have families themselves performing in the show. It also speaks to one of the great traditions of the circus, which are family lines. Jonathan says that he works with people who represent 3rd, 4th, and even 10th generation circus lines.

The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus will be at the Staples Center from July 14-18, at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in the Inland Empire from July 21-25, and then in Orange County at the Honda Center until August 8.

2Minutes&More with Betsy Berkhemer and Renee Fraser airs every Sunday at 1pm on KFWB NEWS TALK 980. Tune in for a full hour of tips for business success.