Artist Insight:

Chris & Elaina Steele - Captain & Maybelle

1: What is your name and stage name or company if you have one?

We are Chris & Elaina Steele, and we perform as “Captain & Maybelle”.

2: What is your skill, craft, profession, or industry that you are in… In your own words?

We are contemporary sideshow entertainers that perform world record breaking stunts! Our skills include including sword swallowing, fire breathing, The Human Blockhead and more!

3: What got you interested in, or involved with circus?

Fascination!

4: What is the biggest challenge you faced in your professional career so far?

Chris: My biggest challenge has been learning how to carry the crowd, talk to the audience. I knew I had the actual skill , or stunt, accomplished, but it was more important for me to be a polished, witty entertainer. I am now incredibly comfortable and confident on the microphone.

5: What is one fond memory you have of the circus?

Seeing grind shows on the traveling midways when I was a kid.

6: Where do you see your professional career going, where would you like to end up?

We feel like we’re living the dream now, but we can’t wait to live on the road, traveling everywhere!

7: If you could change one thing about your field in the circus in the present, present or future … What would it be?

Cell phone use! It’s not industry specific, but it is a common and accepted occurrence now. Put down the phone and watch the show in front of you, not through your screen. Enjoy LIVE entertainment!

8: What is the one best piece of advice you can give to someone starting off in this field?

Learn how to be a good talker, an entertaining personality, before you learn the dangerous stunts.

9: If someone wanted to learn more about you or what you do, where should they go?

10: Is there anything else on your mind about circus or this field you would like the reader of this to know?

Lift each other up, don’t knock each other down!

About: Artist Insights

The Imperial OPA is a leader in the Circus field, we are the Circus of Atlanta, and as such its our duty to help lift up others.

Further, we believe that knowledge is power. Knowledge can help inspire, help lift up, and better direct those in the field with us currently and those who are coming up. Knowledge is gained in time, training and living and it costs but time to pass along.

Beyond this, guests and friends want to know more about who these artists are, what inspires circus people to perform, what was the inspiration for them to start living this life.  So many questions.

To address all these points and many more, we present the Artist Insights program. This program is aimed at interviewing people and spreading knowledge and supporting those around us on their search for knowledge. We hope you enjoy reading the blog posts form time to time from various artists.

Want to be interviewed as well?

We are always looking for Artists, Producers, Circus owners and others who want to pass along their knowledge to help others learn.

If you are interested, send us an email (* Circus(at)theimperialopa(dot)com ) and let us know a bit about you.

We will follow up with questions for you.