How important is the setting, lights, music, costuming etc. in show casing an act and making it look great? Mr. Raffo above in France and below in the United States of America
Monday, September 15, 2008
Daniel Raffo--Ringling Bros. Circus
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
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5 comments:
Wade,
The tiger on the left seemed to be in a fowl mood at the show in Seattle last week as well. I wonder if he simply doesn't get along with the others in the group. He is always distanced from the others when he sits. quite interesting when you notice tiny things like that in a show.
-Amy Scott
Amy,
That is very observant of you. I hope to educate the "layman" on what to look for/at when viewing animal acts. The general public as a rule has now idea what they are seeing. Hopefully there can be a standard of understanding based on an animals mental well being, and not misconceived notions.
Some of the most dastardly trainers/presenters have been perceived as gentle given their false stage persona, while competent, qualified Trainers have been perceived as hard given their correctness of training an animal. How they act in the performing area is a great indicator of how comfortable they are, and there are many situations which cause comfort/discomfort. With out knowing the history of the tiger you mention, he may just be a new animal who has not become completely comfortable with a public performing situation. It takes a different amount of time for each individual. It is the ones who are laying down sleeping, or looking uninterested, or looking back and forth over their shoulders as they are performing, that you want to be suspect of. They have never had a true gentle day in their life, and life is a daily bundle of stress.
Wade
Wade,
At the show he at first tried to get the tiger to get into the group, but backed off when realizing the tiger would have nothing to do with it. The rest of the group seemed very comfortable with each other. One was cleaning the other during the show. (still regretting that I forgot my camera that night).
The tiger on the left seemed uninterested in the act. He didn't want to participate. In fact when Daniel was getting them lined up on the ground to roll over, he left a much bigger space between this tiger and the group. It also took him longer to get that tiger to lay down. I also noticed three of the tigers at the end of the act left at the same time... possibly litter mates making it easier for them to get along with each other.
Whatever the case, that tiger's stance in the way his body is leaning towards the left and not towards the right can be heard louder than their growl.
Amy,
Very observant. The licking of each other is the same behavior as laying down/standing up on the seats. It points to disinterest/boredom. An animal should never take it's eyes of of the Trainer, and should always be paying attention. This qroup of tigers has been performing since 1998 when they were purchased from Dickie Chipperfield from England.
Wade
Amy and Wade,
I noticed this same tiger last March when I saw the show. If I remember correctly he was a huge Siberian, and he lunges at Daniel as part of the act. Another smaller cat leaps back & forth over his back. Aside from this he is clearly seated apart from the cats and Daniel is always keeping a close eye on him (or her?)
Chris
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