One Year Anniversary!
We held our official Grand Opening one year ago on September 14, 2024
Here’s a look at our first year (and three months). This is the good, the bad, and the ugly. They warn you opening a small business is hard. There were so many hurdles. Looking back, I can’t believe how much we accomplished as a community.
One grand opening
Six coaches
Hundreds of classes
Dozens of members
Two student showcases
One troupe audition
One show
Three photo shoots
Four workshops
Nine gigs
During 2 years of tentative searching in COVID uncertainty and 2 years of full-time searching after, we felt so close on so many spaces. On May 19, 2024, we found out a space we had negotiated with and lost twice (it’s complicated) was available and wanted us to take possession in 13 days. These deals take months. We had 13 days to finalize the lease and take possession. We had 43 days to plan the demo, order equipment, rig the gym, make a class schedule, and recruit as many students as possible before our first rent payment was due.
Got the keys from Selfie Wrld!
The first thing we brought into the space was the cat poster at the front desk
I picked this corner as my progress photo angle
This is where we started
Playing in Selfie Wrld
Paul was singing the national anthem
Demo started
So much dust
Demo continues
The demo crew promised not to leave holes in the floor bigger than a screw
They destroyed the floors
Demo complete
Put up our first rig point and invited our founding members in for a sneak peek
Paul’s ping pong table arrived
Vacuuming, mopping, scraping paint/caulk
Lights came down
Picked up the lockers and treadmill at an auction
Found out the new energy-efficient lights were way too bright and would need dimmers
Performed at Uncork Me Indiana wine fest
More new lights going in
We have lights
We have 4 rig points…and 2 mats
Classes started for our founding members in late June
On June 27, my dad was involved in a bad accident that totaled his truck and trailer so I drove 4 hours in a rented Uhaul to pick up our foam mats
(My dad was banged up but ok)
Performed at the Harrison Center First Friday
Selfie Wrld prop washer and dryer FINALLY got hauled away!
The rest of our mat order arrived
Every item in the order was incorrect in some way
Our wire aerialist by Chad Campbell (@mobilistindy) went up
Painted the front desk in our color scheme
Still patching holes from the demo with Quikcrete
Brown duct tape working surprisingly well to cover the patched holes
Kristin finished painting the front desk with beautiful silhouettes of our students
Roomba refused to learn his gym job
Summer photo shoot with Brian Stidham
Photo by Brian Stidham Photography
Some day all of these holes will be patched
Also we have a drop point!
Shout out to our rigger, Ryan
Gig rehearsal
It’s finally looking circus-y in here
Our door sign is up
Performed at Museum by Moonlight
Photo by Brian Stidham Photography
Hosted our first ever workshops with Carly Schuna
Installed the lockers
Grand Opening day!
The Grand Opening had performances and guests could try an aerial pose
We had an amazing turnout
I took almost no pictures
No power? No problem!
Classes by emergency floodlight
Did you know that if you lock your dumpster because you are trying to save money on trash service people will throw their trash on the ground next to the dumpster?
Still trying to get the new lights working on a dimmer
Performed at the Harrison Center First Friday
Learned it’s not illegal to live in a tent in our parking lot
I tried to help them find resources, but they weren’t eligible for any of the services I found
They were our neighbors for about a month before moving on
Prepping for the student showcase
Our first student showcase in the gym was a huge success
Photo by Brian Stidham Photography
The gym was feeling so full
The gym reconfigured for our first Low Flow Dance class with Coach Amanda
Steel going up
First class using one of the new rig points
More steel
Holiday shenanigans and photo shoot
Photo by Brian Stidham Photography
The pin rails arrived damaged from Canada
Ready for rigging
Guess who doesn’t like scissor lifts?
All points are up
If only there was something to tie them off to…
We missed our scissor lift deadline and had to rent it one extra day
Outside and ready for pick-up
They still hadn’t picked up the lift
Spoiler…it would not get picked up until January 21
The pin rails came back from a fresh powder coat
But the bolts provided by the fabricator failed in our concrete
Back to the drawing board with the structural engineer!
We were featured in North Indy Magazine
Photos by Brian Stidham Photography
New modified pin rails are ready
Performance troupe audition
Nine months in and the rigging is FINALLY done!
And the stall bars are up!
Goodbye to the old Cinema Movie Grill next door
Indy Beauty Grand Opening next door was wild
The RoomPlace and Big Lots closing right after we opened left us as the only business in our building for a long time
Performed at Noblesville Creates Fairyville
It got moved inside for weather but we still had a great performance
Spring photo shoot with Brian Stidham
Photo by Brian Stidham Photography
Performed at the Harrison Center First Friday
100 new chairs arrived for our shows
Never underestimate the CircusMobile
Our spring student showcase was amazing
Photo by Brian Stidham Photography
Performed at the Harrison Center First Friday
Dress rehearsal for our pride show
Let Your Love Fly raised $2,000 for Trinity Haven Indy
Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, performed, and donated
Photo by Brian Stidham Photography
Workshops with the amazing Kristi Alyssa
Photo by Brian Stidham Photography
Performed at the Harrison Center First Friday
Finally got Ashley’s locker open
I am so grateful for our amazing students
Performed at the Second Century Soiree at the Children’s Museum
Photo by Brian Stidham Photography
I’m so proud of how hard our performance troupe has worked
Photo by Brian Stidham Photography
If you made it this far, thank you for letting me share this journey. It has been so hard and expensive and stressful and rewarding and fulfilling, and I love our community so much. I have received so much help and support over this year. Words can’t adequately convey my gratitude. I can’t wait to see what comes next.
Love you all,
Coach Heather