Coney Island Circus Sideshow Opens School To Train Aspiring Performers

The Coney Island Circus Sideshow school opened yesterday to train people in the classic art of freaking people out.

People can attend classes on how to swallow a sword, recline on a bed of nails, exhale fire, or a number of sideshow acts meant to shock people.

The New York Times did a profile on the school yesterday, and spoke with the dean, Adam Rinn, a Coney Island native who told the Times that the school’s philosophy is to “be careful.”

The Coney Island Circus Sideshow opened in 1880, and has stood the test of time — something that can only be said of a few Coney Island attractions. In fact, the Coney Island Sideshow is one of the last of its kind in the country, according to the Times.

A former sideshow performer, Mat Fraser, made it to television with his role on the show “American Horror Story: Freak Show.” Despite the lucrative role, Fraser said Coney Island will always hold a special place in his heart.

“There’s something really raw and brutal and honest about performing in a freak show,” said Fraser, who met his wife, burlesque dancer Julie Atlas Muz, at the sideshow.

The cost of tuition is $800 for two four-day sessions. According to Rinn, the price is to avoid people who are merely curious about the sideshow feats, but not the committed performers set on being a part of the show. Graduates of the program make up the tuition cost in a couple of performances of their newly learned talents, Rinn told Thirteen.

So if your calling is to eat fire, walk on glass, or charm a snake in front of a crowd of shocked, but amused people, then this is the place for you.