Meet Stephan Gaudreau

 

We recently connected with Stephan Gaudreau and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephan, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

In my opinion, work ethic is not something that can be taught. It comes from a passion, a fire inside and a drive to be the best one can be! When I am doing what I love there is no limit to how long I will work at it until I am satisfied. I want to be proud of what I do and what I create and unless I am 1000% satisfied, I can’t expect others to be.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am Stephan Gaudreau, Owner, President and Artistic Director of Trapeze Arts, Inc., I encapsulate the circus experience as a professional flying trapeze artist, rigger and teacher – I originally taught circus skills, including the Flying Trapeze, as an instructor for Club Med. After teaching for 6 years, I decided to pursue a professional performing circus career and was hired as the lead flyer with the Flying Angels Troupe at Circus Circus in Reno, Nevada. I am one of only a select few who have accomplished the triple somersault. I have also performed with a number of other flying trapeze acts both in the United States and around the world!

In addition to teaching and performing, I have always loved to create and innovate circus equipment, and have been designing, building and rigging circus equipment for over 30 years. Along with the work I do for Trapeze Arts, I am the Circus Expert for the North American Zone of Club Med Resorts, International, where I am responsible for the fabrication, installation, rigging and maintenance of the Circus equipment/programs at Club Med Resorts in the US, Mexico, Caribbean, Canada, Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.

In 1994, I set up a flying trapeze outdoors in Sonoma, CA and that was the start of Trapeze Arts! In 2000, my wife and I opened an indoor facility in Oakland, CA. Countess flying trapeze, aerial arts and trampoline classes, as well as camp programs and performances, took place within our walls. Through hundreds of performances and thousands of students since we began, we’re very proud of the circus school, performers, and custom circus equipment and rigging company that we created.

My love for teaching runs deep but it was time for Trapeze Arts to enter a new phase. In January 2022 we made the very difficult decision to close our Oakland teaching facility and move to a new space in South San Francisco, CA, where we are focusing on circus equipment manufacturing, rigging and consulting and special events.

We continue to offer off-site teaching and performance events, and we still teach flying trapeze during the summer months at various camps.

Circus arts are unique and exciting. They are challenging and empowering. We are honored to be able to bring the magic of the circus to the general public through our equipment, classes and performances.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

My journey has been successful because of my unique and specialized knowledge of Circus arts and equipment. I found a niche where my skills could excel. I knew what I knew and did not profess to be something I was not. I am a perfectionist who is not satisfied with anything less than 100%. My ability to design and work with my hands proved to be very valuable when I started designing and fabricating Circus equipment.

My advice to anyone starting on their journey is to find your passion, find your niche and figure out what you do well. Don’t enter an arena where you can not win!

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

My parents never told me I couldn’t do something. Whatever my interests, however fleeting, they encouraged me. I was allowed to follow my heart and my passion when I discovered the circus at age 20! They supported my dreams and desires and were my biggest fans.

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