Introduction
Cirque du Soleil (“Circus of the Sun” or “Sun Circus”) is an entertainment company from the Canada which is providing these live services since 80s, currently performing as largest contemporary circus company across the world.
Where is the company located?
Cirque du Soleil’s headquarter is located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Company was founded in year 1984 by two individuals Guy Laliberté and Gilles Ste-Croix renowned as two former street performers, and started their initial shows and events with near to 75 people (Bilan, 2006).
Who’s in charge?
Currently Daniel Lamarre is working as President and CEO of the company. Company has provided worldwide services and currently has more than 5,000 employees working on regular payroll including more than 1,500 artists from all across the world with more than 50 nationalities and near to 30 different languages.
What’s Cirque du Soleil doing differently?
According to the vision of company’s founder that company will drive according to the directions and the requirement of the people, company will fulfil every individual’s hope who is associated with company. According to the company’s annual report 2016, company has delighted near to 200 million spectators with diversified events and productions in different cities near to 450 around the 60 countries of six continents of world.
Moreover, near to 10 million people got entertained through shows and live events during the year 2016. Company mainly works in audacious projects with diversified range and scope. Furthermore, company has produced numerous and countless world-renowned shows over the times and has been extending its creative approach for further large variety of entertainment through multimedia productions, immersive experiences, theme parks and special events (KLUDAK, 1999).
Purpose of company is to ensure positive impact on people, communities and the planet with positive messages through their important tools like creativity and art. Company with famous creative approach ensures more than 100 types of occupations at their Cirque.
On the other side, entire costumes of the company have been custom-made and maximum production is ensured at the Costume workshop at the International Headquarters (IHQ) where company has more than 1,500 employees.
Some of the renowned costumes designer companies are ZED, Varekai and Zumanity. Focusing on the famous projects and events conducted by the company;
Super Bowl XLVI
84th Academy Awards
Soleil de Minuit (Midnight Sun)
A Taste of Cirque du Soleil
Reflections in Blue
Eurovision Song Contest 2009
Les Chemins invisibles
Scalada
La Forge aux étoiles
Some famous projects
Cirque du Monde (projects for reaching marginalized youth through social action)
Safewalls (An artistic project with popular international street artists and lowbrow artists)
Desigual inspired by Cirque du Soleil (partnered with Desigual fashion design in 2011)
And much more as successful case studies of the company.
Background
The company faced number of challenges and financial hardship at early stages, it got slight relief through the Canadian Government grant under Council of Arts in year 1983 for performing their live shows and performances in 450th anniversary celebrations of Jacques Cartier’s voyage to Canada later found more stability in year 1984 after receiving grant for second year.
In same year, Guy Caron – National Circus School was hired for innovation and creativity in events and shows as a “proper circus”. Considering the valuable contributions and character-driven approach of this person, Cirque du Soleil reaches sky heights as the contemporary circus (“nouveau cirque”) and also that it remains today as market leader across the globe.
Major success of the shows has been ensured through synthesis of circus styles with own central theme and its matching storyline. Company expanded operationally in the 90s with increase of its shows and live performances from 1 show to around 20 shows in more than 270 cities in each of the continent except Antarctica with annual revenue collection exceeding $800 million with employment of more than 4,000 people from more than 40 different countries. Adding the company’s success in Las Vegas only, more than 9,000 people were performing at night in live shows.
Later in 2008, company invested in investment groups ‘Istithmar World’ and ‘Nakheel of Dubai’ with equal 20 percent split.
Company attained number of prizes and distinctions through their hard work and dedication towards new interventions and innovations like Bambi Award in 1997; a Rose d’Or in 1989; three Drama Desk Awards in 1991, 1998 and 2013; three Gemini Awards; four Primetime Emmy Awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Furthermore, in 2000, National Arts Centre Award was won by the company and Canada’s Walk of Fame in year 2002 (Distinctions, 2007); (Fame, 2011). Also, employees and artists performing in events uses near to 4,500 costumes every night.
Most importantly, company has not received any funding support or grants from both public or private sectors from the early 90s and managing its entire operations in more than 60 countries at their own. Company has initiated in some of its subsidiaries like;
45 DEGREES
Cirque du Soleil Theatrical
Outbox
4U2C
45 DEGREES
It produces Custom-made experiential content focusing special projects related to both public and private sector regarding high-end creative services and branded entertainment.
Cirque du Soleil Theatrical
It supports in developing the unique theatrical opportunities for the company, all the previous traditional theatrical practices have been taken under consideration for new productions. These productions also support global touring.
Outbox
It provides 3D venue plans to the users in more than ten different languages in more than twenty countries for selling and purchase of the tickets effectively. Although clients are the major promoters of the international and national level events and this platform supports them with integrated and specialized solutions through call center services and ticket selling window.
4U4C
It provides support in multimedia visual environments which further combine video, sound, lighting and special effects in all live events and projects.
Why is ‘Cirque du Soleil’ so popular?
Focusing on the popularity of the company, it includes numerous factors and indicators that have been taken care off by every individual working within the company like on each of the turn near to 2,000 firm’s 5,000 employees working globally got engaged in choreography, costume design, and acrobatics for helping out the Cirque du Soleil to maintain top position as market leader in global circus phenomenon.
On the other hand, having 19 touring along with performances of the residents around globe, company earns annually more than $1 billion (£600 million). Another crucial factor supported company was the live performances with animals on acrobatics in one big tent similar to the activities like the Ringling Brothers. Other crucial decision was the addition of company’s roster of touring productions as permanent show resulted fame and success along with high popularity among people.
Also, Canada’s lacking in the circus culture also benefited the company to explore with more experimental activities and events. The 90s decade helped company to explore new places along with high expansion and growth of their business, the Europe was explored in 1995 on the Switzerland’s Circus Knie and organized shows throughout the region.
Company also entered with success in Japan in 1992 which allowed company to enter Asian market. Company’s CEO Daniel Lamarre announced to increase company’s output and revenues at three times through one show a year to three in 2008. In current scenario, company has been earning revenues majorly outside the Canada.
Popular Events and Shows
Company has produced large number of success events which led the company to maintain top market position in this sector across the globe. Following sectors have been covered extensively by the company;
Public events
Songs albums (Alegria-1994, Banquete-2009, Rain One-2002)
Sports events
Expos
Tourism (at Sea)
Dinner Shows
Concerts
Brand Activation
Corporate events
Award shows (Michael Jackson ONE show, KÀ, Mystère the thrilling Acrobatics, O, The Beatles LOVE and much more)
Starting from the 90s, following list has some details of successful events and shows;
1997-1999; Pomp Duck and Circumstance (Jointly organized original dinner-show concept with German entertainment company ‘Pomp Duck and Circumstance’)
2002; 74th Academy Awards (Four months preparation for five-minute performance with 11 acts in Los Angeles)
2014; 30th Anniversary Concert (Performed at Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church, it was 75-minute concert with live performances like a 30-person orchestra, a 70-person choir, and 8 veteran Cirque du Soleil singers)
2015; Aditya Birla Awards for Outstanding Achievement 2015 (Performed in India)
2016; Scalada: Vision (Program was directed by Choreographer Mukhtar Omar Sharif)
There are so many other events, projects and activities under the name of this company that have led to high success. Project in partnership with Saban Brands like ‘Luna Petunia’ in October 2014, Company will ensure production of an animated series for preschool-aged children.
Later in 2016, it was aired through Netflix. Company co-produced the television broadcast of ‘The Wiz Live’ with the collaboration with Universal Television and Sony Pictures Television, which was aired on NBC by the end of year 2015.
Upcoming Shows and Events
There have been numerous upcoming ventures and plans for the Cirque du Soleil company in both aspects; firstly the upcoming events and performances and secondly the upcoming projects of the company.
Company has planned Grand Chapiteau on 23rd April 2020 at Montreal, QC for two hours. Other shows are Berlin 2020, Cirque 2020, Disney 2020, Dubai 2020, and ‘Twas The Night Before’. On the other side, Company has great investment plans in the coming year 2020 like,
Cirque du Soleil Theme Park in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico; which could adjust and manage near to 5,000 audience in one time.
Dubai Resident Show; This show has been planned for the Expo 2020, Marsa Al Arab project will construct a theater with 1,700 chairs capacity for this particular event. Selected venue will be any of two new islands being built next to Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Dubai.
New Jersey American Dream project; this project has been linked with American Dream Mall, having 65,000-square-foot venue for theater with capacity of 1500-seat theatre managing 10 shows a week.
Untitled Disney themed show; This show has been planned for March 2020 for covering ‘Disney Springs’ activity.
‘Twas The Night Before..; It is based on classic Christmas Poem, this new production will be a part of the play which will be at Chicago Theatre from 29 November 2019 through 8 December with objective of soft opening ahead of an engagement at Madison Square Garden for ‘Hulu Theater’ within tenure of 12–29 December 2019.
Recommendation
Focusing on the broader scenario of this company in context of more than 5,000 employees from all around the world with diversified nationalities, there need to be a proper health checkup and data management system with proper information filled of these employees especially in the context of last incident happened in November, 2003 which caused company $600,000 in compensation and other charges.
Also, company need to ensure zero digital piracy along with proper documentation during partnerships and joint ventures in context of Timbaland and Sony Music Entertainment. Further, company has to ensure time management and need to comply strong execution over plans with rational strategy because due to tight and packed schedule of multi activities, company failed to fulfil some of its activities in past which resulted financial loses in revenues and also affected goodwill of company among people.
Also, company has to comply execution of the human rights which remained challenge for them in past like cancelling the shows in North Carolina. In the end, company has to manage and allocate proper compensation to its employees in case of any staff fatalities and disabilities which has been a challenge for the company in past years.
Conclusion
To conclude, Cirque du Soleil has been a great case study for the world which has providing employment to more than 5,000 employees with different nationalities all across the world. To summarize, company has great systems regarding management of their custom-made costumes for artists for performances, almost 4,500 costumes are required daily night.
In the end, company with its innovative and creative approach has performed countless events and live performances and as success, company has attained number of awards and dealing as market leader in this industry. In short, subsidiary projects like Cirque du Soleil Musique (Blue Man Group) have been the successful examples of the company’s popularity and fame.
References
Hello everyone, I am the main writer for SIND Canada. I’ve been writing articles for more than 10 years and I like sharing my knowledge. I’m currently writing for many websites and newspaper. All my ideas come from my very active lifestyle. I always keep myself very informed to give you the best information. You can contact me on our contact page or by email at: info@sind.ca.
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