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The Aerial Violinist: Janice Martin’s Circus of Sound- Circuspreneur Podcast Ep.112
26 Plays3 months ago
#WomenInTheArts #ArtistJourney #Aerialist #ViolinVirtuoso #ClassicalMeetsCircus
In this episode of the Circuspreneur Podcast, host Shenea Stiletto sits down with the phenomenal Janice Martin — aerial acrobatic violinist and a groundbreaking force in the performing arts.
From NBC’s America’s Got Talent to the White House, Carnegie Hall, U.S Army, beyond, Janice has redefined what’s possible on stage — fusing classical music mastery with breathtaking aerial performance.
We dive into her incredible journey:
🎻 The discipline and innovation behind her artistry
🎪 The evolution of circus and symphonic crossover
💫 Life lessons from balancing high art and high altitude
🎤 How she continues to inspire the next generation of performers
Janice’s story is one of resilience, creativity, and limitless imagination — a reminder that art has no boundaries when passion takes flight.
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:00:01
Circuspreneur Podcast
This podcast is also available via stage link.com, the groundbreaking new platform for live performing arts. Please support the podcast by liking, subscribing, commenting, and tagging the podcast. It helps us to continue to bring the industry high level content. I'm your host, Shanae Stiletto. And today on the Circuspreneur podcast, I'm joined by Janice Martin. Welcome to the podcast, Janice.
00:00:21
Janice Martin
Thank you so much. It's an honor to be here.
00:00:24
Circuspreneur Podcast
Well, we are so honored to have you and you're currently on a cruise ship. So you are floating in the great beyond.
Janice Martin's Career Highlights
00:00:32
Janice Martin
In the Great Caribbean, actually, to be exact. Not a bad place to be at Christmas time.
00:00:35
Circuspreneur Podcast
Oh, the great great beyond.
00:00:37
Janice Martin
Yeah. so
00:00:38
Circuspreneur Podcast
oh Oh, that sounds nice. We love all the warm vibes. i have I have cruise shipped in the Caribbean myself a time or two, so it is fabulous. And Janice, we want to tell listeners a little bit about you, about your fabulous and multifaceted career. Janice Martin is a world-renowned, multi-talented performer, a virtuoso violinist, pianist, vocalist, and most uniquely, an aerial acrobatic violinist. She's captivated millions around the globe through her unforgettable appearances on NBC's America's Got Talent, NCW's The Big Stage, where she stunned audiences by fusing breathtaking aerial artistry with world-class musicianship.
00:01:14
Circuspreneur Podcast
A recipient of the prestigious Stradivari Society recognition and a three-time female entertainer of the year, Janice's headline stages from Carnegie Hall and Alice Toley Hall to Tokyo's Century Hall, Prague's Riddle Finem, and even performed at the White House for the President of the United States.
00:01:31
Circuspreneur Podcast
Her productions, including the Janice Martin Cirque Show, Princess of the Violin and World on a String, have taken her artistry across continents, blending the elegance of classical music with the excitement and freedom and of aerial performance.
Inspiration and Writing of Children's Book
00:01:43
Circuspreneur Podcast
Janice's collaborations with orchestras like the Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Pops, and Cirque de la Symphony have solidified her place as one of the most innovative and boundary breaking artists of our time. She's also a US Army veteran, an actress, a composer, and the author of the children's book, How I Learned to Fly, inspiring the next generation to embrace creativity, courage and heart and if you get a chance listeners please go to janice's website and watch her little uh her music video i like to say with uh children while she reads them her children's book it's darling and it's really precious and you're reading excerpts to them and they are just absolutely adorable i was going to ask you janice where did you shoot that little portion that little promo for your children's book
00:02:30
Janice Martin
That was actually, I had a show in Branson, Missouri. And when I was in Branson, I i was able to, i we got a team together and and gathered some kids and asked them to be in the video and we did it.
00:02:42
Circuspreneur Podcast
They were so cute. they were They were absolutely adorable.
00:02:44
Janice Martin
Wednesday.
00:02:45
Circuspreneur Podcast
Yeah, they were so, so, so cute. I was like, oh my gosh. And I love I love your book. I love your children's book.
00:02:51
Janice Martin
Thanks.
00:02:51
Circuspreneur Podcast
We were speaking before you got on the podcast, Janice, about, you know, the book is very a very modern expression of how to run away with the circus. And you put in all the different themes of your really fascinating career and your life.
00:03:04
Circuspreneur Podcast
into your book. And so what compelled you, Janice, to write your children's book and, yeah, put it in this specific type of form to appeal to children?
00:03:14
Janice Martin
Well, actually, I was performing in Branson. I lived in New York and i was invited to go to Branson, Missouri. i thought I'd spend a year there and I ended up spending a lot more than that. And when I was there, this author came to one my came up to me after one of the shows and said, you know, you really you should write your your story. And I was like, yeah, yeah, yeah. And like, no, really, like you you you should share it. And so it kind of stayed with me. And they came again and said the same thing. And so I thought, well, you know I don't think I could write an adult version, but maybe I could write a children's book. And so I thought, I mean, I think it is important to share our stories. And I get inspired by inspirational books and podcasts
Transition from Juilliard to Army
00:03:58
Janice Martin
and so forth. So I thought, well... why don't I just share my story of how i sort of overcame my fear of heights and which actually led to overcoming a lot of fears. And so I did. And I wrote it. In fact, I have a copy right here.
00:04:11
Janice Martin
So that's my book. And I had it actually. So i I made little drawings and took pictures.
00:04:16
Circuspreneur Podcast
Mm-hmm.
00:04:17
Janice Martin
And then i found an an illustrator. I never actually met her in person because she lived in Romania. But yeah, so... That was through guru.com.
00:04:29
Circuspreneur Podcast
Oh, really? Oh, that's awesome. And I love the book. the The cover is so sweet and you're on your red aerial silk for everybody that's listening in here and not watching us on the podcast. It's very sweet. And I love to know that that those are like, yeah, your illustrations and your, again, you do so, you do like everything. Like, what is it that you don't do? And, you know, I think it sends a really great message to to children in a very modern sense of how you can run away with the circus. And you have, you know, the different parts of your life where you were in the military and, you know, you had to, you were told to climb this really big thing and you were, you know, it was really hard and very scary, very intimidating. And, you know, you were able to do that. And then that's what thought you kind of interested in, in, in exploring like aerial arts work, which again, you, who would think that that is the thing, but I think we never know what is going to inspire us in our life to go to kind of point where point A to point B. And I love that, you know, you went into the military because you went to Juilliard.
00:05:21
Circuspreneur Podcast
That's another wonderful, you know, facet of your story where, and then you were thinking about how do I pay off all of my student loans? And the thought came to you that there is a program in the military where they do pay your student loans. Again, very, you know, creative and innovative coming from that and then harnessing that experience to go you know, into the military. And so what was that experience like for you, Janice, like transitioning from, you know, Juilliard into the army?
00:05:51
Janice Martin
Oh, total culture shock. I mean, unbelievable. I mean, yeah on one hand, so and and the way that I found out about the the whole program, by the way, is right around the corner in New York, in Juilliard, they have a recruitment center for the for the army. And I was stewing over, what am I going to do? You know, I've got these student loans, I've got to pay back. And I was at i was on my final year in in master's and I knew so many people who just were burdened by these student loans and couldn't actually do do work that they were capable of because they're just running around doing gigs just to pay off loans. And I just really wanted to have freedom from that. And I saw this sign that said student loan repayment program, inquire within. And then I looked up and it said the U.S. Army Recruitment Center. And I just thought,
00:06:37
Janice Martin
There's no, that's funny. but And then I walked about the block down and I thought, well, you know, that's not being very open to the universe, Janice. So I went back and asked the guy, the recruitment officer, you have any violins in the army?
00:06:51
Janice Martin
And he was like, I don't think so, but let me go check. So he comes back and he's like, not only do we have to Do we have violins, but there's a job opening and they have an audition next week.
00:07:01
Janice Martin
So if you can get your you know promo in there and they accept you, they'll fly you down to the
Aerial Arts and Overcoming Fears
00:07:07
Janice Martin
audition. So they did. and I got the job. And then i was like, now what?
00:07:11
Janice Martin
It was October, actually, when this all happened. So I was going to finish up in June. So i I just, I knew nobody who had been in the military.
00:07:17
Circuspreneur Podcast
Thank
00:07:22
Janice Martin
I mean, it was just completely, completely left field.
00:07:23
Circuspreneur Podcast
so
00:07:25
Janice Martin
So I didn't know what to do. And and I was studying with a wonderful teacher at the time, a Dorothy DeLay. And she said, honey, I think it's a wonderful opportunity. You can come here and take your lessons.
00:07:37
Janice Martin
And because New York, because I'd be stationed in Washington, D.C., And, you know, you can certainly have a career not being in New York City. So I had from October until June to get ready.
00:07:50
Janice Martin
And at the time, i literally couldn't do any push ups and I was incredibly weak. And so had grown i had grown up like where my violin teacher told me, do not do push ups.
00:08:01
Janice Martin
It's bad for a violinist. So i I was very weak.
00:08:03
Circuspreneur Podcast
Yeah.
00:08:04
Janice Martin
And then because of tendonitis, I started getting much more interested in physical health and I started taking dance classes. I took Alexander Technique and Feldenkrais and I started to become much more interested and more educated about how my body actually worked.
00:08:18
Janice Martin
And so I became very, very interested in strengthening. So from October until June, I sort of trained myself. And i I was watching movies like Full Metal Jacket and Apocalypse Now and getting myself freaked out about these drill instructors. So I, you know, in the morning, I'd have somebody in my head saying, Martin, get that going. And so I really trained hard. And I ended up getting to being when I got there, I was the fastest runner in the company. And I almost could do the most push ups and sit ups. So after being at Juilliard in a place where
00:08:51
Janice Martin
I don't know, you you spend so many hours a day in a practice room looking at the four walls. And here I was out and they had adventures for us every day. We had to throw live hand grenades and went to a gas chamber. And we did what bivouac, which is basically camping for soldiers where you like, I mean, I kind of got into it because it was so, it was so different from what my life was like. And I remembered,
00:09:19
Janice Martin
Like a week before I went off to basic training, I saw this Time magazine that was talking about these, you know, really rich people who would spend lots of money to be dropped off in the middle of the forest and they'd have to fend their way out.
00:09:32
Janice Martin
And I was like, I'm getting paid to to go on this kind of survival wilderness retreat. So, you know, I did have...
00:09:40
Circuspreneur Podcast
That's a way to look at it.
00:09:42
Janice Martin
every and And honestly, i I kind of had a good sense of humor about it until I reached this confidence course and where I really truly was paralyzing with paralyzed by a fear of heights.
00:09:47
Circuspreneur Podcast
Thank you.
00:09:54
Janice Martin
And so that... I really i you know, when you don't think you can do something, it just seems completely impossible. And then when somehow you manage to do it, that really, really changed my life. And so that's that's how where that that book came from. And that's also where the drive to just, well, if I can do this, what else can I do?
00:10:18
Janice Martin
And and I came to aerial acrobatics pretty late in life.
00:10:19
Circuspreneur Podcast
any
00:10:23
Janice Martin
I had been studying martial arts at the Shaolin Temple in New York City, which was very I mean, it's it's well, it's actually more acrobatic than it is martial art arts.
00:10:29
Circuspreneur Podcast
Naturally. Yeah.
00:10:35
Janice Martin
Like, I mean, you know, we're doing lots of cartwheels and and things like. But I loved it.
00:10:39
Circuspreneur Podcast
Yeah.
00:10:40
Janice Martin
I just loved that environment so much. I loved the discipline and i loved our Sifu.
00:10:43
Circuspreneur Podcast
Mm-hmm.
00:10:48
Janice Martin
But I went to a Cirque du Soleil show. I think it was oh Not I think.
00:10:52
Circuspreneur Podcast
Thank you.
00:10:53
Janice Martin
It was O. I was in the steam room. I took myself to Las Vegas because I had a gig and i was just going to enjoy the time. And this woman and in the steam room said, hey, I have a free ticket for O.
00:11:05
Janice Martin
Would you like to have it? i Because I can't go. And I was like, sure. So that was my introduction, honestly, to aerial arts. And I just had this emotional reaction to it.
00:11:16
Janice Martin
I just like felt tears coming down my cheeks. And I just thought I have to do this before I'm too old. So I went back to New York and enrolled in a class and I just said, look, I, I,
00:11:30
Janice Martin
I highly doubt anyone's going to hire me as an aerialist, even if I work very hard. But if I involve the violin, you know, maybe we maybe I can do something. So it but my lessons were with the understanding of let's figure out what we can do playing violin.
00:11:43
Janice Martin
And I just have been on a quest ever since to try to incorporate and make it an organic thing.
00:11:44
Circuspreneur Podcast
Mm-hmm.
00:11:51
Janice Martin
And so the music is inspiring the movement and the movement inspires the music. And That's a lot easier said than done. So, you know, it's it's probably a lifelong journey, but I I i love it.
00:12:03
Janice Martin
So.
00:12:04
Circuspreneur Podcast
It looks like you love it.
00:12:04
Janice Martin
That's what I do.
00:12:05
Circuspreneur Podcast
And it's it's it's really amazing. I mean, it looks so hard. I think that's like the first word that anybody will say, hard, little bit scary in there. And as someone who really wanted to play the violin when they were younger, but got stuck with the flute.
00:12:21
Circuspreneur Podcast
And, you know, again, I love the flute to this day. Yeah. I wanted to play the violin so bad. Like I would, i would have maybe, i would have maybe have been you, Janice, had things gone my way.
00:12:28
Janice Martin
really
00:12:34
Circuspreneur Podcast
But it didn't. And that's okay. But I played the flute and I was doing ballet and I was usually even doing gymnastics. And, you know, I've always had this, you know, this idea. I always tell this story because it was a really big deal in my life. Yeah.
00:12:46
Circuspreneur Podcast
when I was little and and I've always been an enthusiast about the violinist. No, I have never taken classes or lessons. I'm not like you where you saw things out, you saw it and you're like, let's pair this. But I've always been very musically minded in that way.
00:12:58
Circuspreneur Podcast
And I have always thought of like the what if because I didn't love the flute.
00:12:59
Janice Martin
Oh.
00:13:02
Circuspreneur Podcast
So then I didn't stay with it. And for me, if I don't love something like if I love it, I mean, I'm going to spend my entire life dedicated to it. You know, I think I think you're like that, too. But If it's just not in there, it's if if it's not a part of like my innate being, I'm not going to stay with it.
00:13:18
Circuspreneur Podcast
Even if I could have excelled, maybe I could have been good. I don't know. But that's all to say, you know, have you paired the love of the violin and the complexities complexities and the intricacies of being such a highly regarded violinist?
00:13:33
Circuspreneur Podcast
I mean, you went to Juilliard and then also to fusing them together. within aerial arts performance. you know What have been the challenges within doing that? And then you know I think also too, what is this the perspective of other musicians?
00:13:45
Circuspreneur Podcast
you know You're a concert pianist, you do these really you know wonderful symphonies, you do these great, I mean, you can do a little bit of a little bit of everything, but it's not like you're even doing a little bit of everything because you can tell even without knowing that you're so highly skilled.
00:14:13
Janice Martin
Mm-hmm.
Breaking Boundaries in Classical Music
00:14:25
Circuspreneur Podcast
And I think that's probably, yeah, what is most fascinating about your journey to me of, you know, what has been the challenges within that and the overall, I think, feedback from, you know, coming from that environment and then sequencing into something else like this.
00:14:44
Circuspreneur Podcast
love long questions. Yeah.
00:14:50
Circuspreneur Podcast
Yeah.
00:14:53
Janice Martin
My audiences tend to get really excited about my multi multi-talents. And agents, it's been a harder sell because they, especially when I lived in New York, I felt like,
00:14:59
Circuspreneur Podcast
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:15:07
Janice Martin
there's sort of a box that they want you to fit in. And if you don't fit in that box, they don't really know what to do with you. And i I've had some very open-minded people in my life who have opened doors for me, but I definitely had to work for that and definitely got, I mean, you know, I've had...
00:15:13
Circuspreneur Podcast
you
00:15:26
Janice Martin
I remember i was promoting my work and and at this orchestra league and it it actually got a laugh. They were talking about this aerial violinist. And so it was hard to not be a little humiliated by that. But,
00:15:43
Janice Martin
But on the other hand, and and honestly, when I first went on America's Got Talent, I think they thought I was going to be like a freak show. So they put me on. i put me on. I went on at eight zero in the morning.
00:15:54
Janice Martin
I had to do my rigging check and i did not do my audition until 10 o'clock at night. The whole day I sat there.
00:16:01
Circuspreneur Podcast
I know the feeling. Same.
00:16:02
Circuspreneur Podcast
Oof.
00:16:02
Janice Martin
And the people who were on right when I was there, they were like, there was a guy who was a toe dancer, which means he put a little tuft of, you know, just to be like hair on his toe and some eyeballs and he wiggles it in this box.
00:16:05
Circuspreneur Podcast
o
00:16:17
Janice Martin
And another, i mean, like they just had ridiculous acts around mine. And I just, so they were like, Don't bother. Like, so, and when they gave us their advice, it was like, you know, your presence, your everything is so important.
00:16:31
Janice Martin
That interview before your act is just as important as your act and blah, blah, blah. So I get on stage and they're like, oh, don't bother with the interview. Just climb and tell us your name as you're climbing.
00:16:41
Janice Martin
And I was like, oh God. So I get there and I'm as fabulous as I can.
00:16:45
Circuspreneur Podcast
Oh my God.
00:16:48
Janice Martin
And the audition went but like my act went really well and it got a standing ovation.
00:16:51
Circuspreneur Podcast
Yeah.
00:16:52
Janice Martin
So they're like, okay, we need you to come back and do the interview.
00:16:53
Circuspreneur Podcast
Yeah.
00:16:55
Janice Martin
And then, and then it ended up being like this really long ordeal. Then I, i had to sing alone. Then I had to sing and accompany myself with the violin. And it went, it went, it went a long time.
00:17:06
Janice Martin
And, yeah, But the thing is, like, people kind of have to see and experience what I do to appreciate it. Because when I talk about it, it's very difficult for people to understand it.
00:17:15
Circuspreneur Podcast
Mm-hmm.
00:17:18
Janice Martin
And they just think it's weird or they don't understand it. And I guess so. And back to the question of how it is that I ended up doing all these different things. Yeah. And why I sort of clung to that is, well, I started off as a pianist.
00:17:33
Janice Martin
I was four when I started piano and five when I started violin. And in my family, I have two older sisters.
00:17:37
Circuspreneur Podcast
in
00:17:39
Janice Martin
And so we all played together and we'd play at church together. And then it just became kind of a competition with my sisters. Like, well, I'm going to learn... you know, this instrument.
00:17:49
Janice Martin
and then i played trumpet in high school to probably to just prove that I was a tomboy or something. I was a cheerleader. And then I played trumpet in the halftime. It was really stupid, but at any rate, I went to a tiny school.
00:18:00
Janice Martin
So I also had lots of opportunities. And,
00:18:03
Circuspreneur Podcast
and
00:18:04
Janice Martin
You know, i I started just acquiring this mentality of like, and part of it was because, you know, my parents were like this. It was like, it wasn't a question of how to do it. You just do it. Now go practice piano. I'll go do this and go to that. And you just do it. And it's kind of like in school, you do math and then you do science and then you do, you know, sociology or whatever your courses are. And that's kind of how I grew up thinking. And so when, you know, I'd have a violin teacher who was like, you really need to focus on just one, you know, you're really sabotaging your life because you're not focusing on one thing. i
00:18:41
Janice Martin
it's possible I have sabotaged my life and that I could be super famous if I wasn't. But i I just, I was inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, quite frankly. Like, well, you know, here's an example of somebody we really admire because he did all these different things.
00:18:51
Circuspreneur Podcast
a
00:18:56
Janice Martin
And also because his knowledge from one field informed another field.
00:18:56
Circuspreneur Podcast
Mm-hmm.
00:19:00
Janice Martin
So I can bring my musicality that I learned from singing into playing piano and into violin you Yes, they have different techniques, but I mean, I sort of have acquired the the mentality that everything is a technique technique.
00:19:14
Janice Martin
You just have to learn what it is. Sometimes it's a mental technique. Sometimes it's a muscle technique. Sometimes it's, you know, a food technique. it's you know it It all comes down to the systems that we that we learn, right?
00:19:27
Janice Martin
And you can always perfect that and polish it.
00:19:27
Circuspreneur Podcast
Right. Mm-hmm.
00:19:29
Janice Martin
So I just thought, you know, we have pop singers who sing and dance and play an instrument and we admire that. So why am I limiting so myself so much? Because at this moment, I'm in the classical field.
00:19:41
Janice Martin
i And I was going to be just a classical soloist. And then I i just I felt so limited by that. And I missed playing piano. And then when I went off to college, I i was going practice 10 hours a day because I wanted to be a famous violinist.
00:19:55
Janice Martin
And I got tendinitis. I couldn't play anything. So, so I started opera and I was at a great opera school.
00:19:59
Circuspreneur Podcast
Wow.
00:20:04
Janice Martin
So I figured I might as well. And i was going to be an opera singer and I just, I didn't identify as an opera singer. I i probably am more like that now, but at the time I was very much like nerdy violinist.
00:20:17
Janice Martin
Like I know I, cause all the opera singers said I'd go to see at parties.
00:20:17
Circuspreneur Podcast
It's not me.
00:20:22
Janice Martin
They were like, oh hello oh and i and they'd boast about how fabulous they were and i just i didn't see myself like that so i wanted to get myself back i wanted to get myself back to health and and and so it just i just decided instead of limiting myself like
00:20:32
Circuspreneur Podcast
different
00:20:44
Janice Martin
You know, life is short. And I, what am I trying to be like another violinist for?
00:20:46
Circuspreneur Podcast
pedigree.
00:20:50
Janice Martin
Because we have enough of those.
00:20:51
Circuspreneur Podcast
Yeah.
00:20:53
Circuspreneur Podcast
Yeah.
Creativity and Perseverance in Performance
00:20:57
Janice Martin
Maybe even the circus world has the same thing.
00:20:57
Circuspreneur Podcast
Mm-hmm.
00:21:00
Janice Martin
And I think it's because the discipline is so difficult.
00:21:01
Circuspreneur Podcast
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:21:03
Janice Martin
Daily practice, doing things that are, you know, drudgery and sometimes the improvement is minuscule.
00:21:04
Circuspreneur Podcast
you
00:21:10
Janice Martin
Right. or incremental and just the the dedication you have to have you know sometimes we just get locked into a mentality and we stop seeing you know what else can be done with it and we stop we limit ourselves you know
00:21:26
Circuspreneur Podcast
Yeah, absolutely. I'm glad that you didn't limit yourself. I'm glad that you were like, no way. I want to do whatever I want to do. Like, yes You know what's going to limit me or put me in a box?
00:21:36
Circuspreneur Podcast
I think you know i think it's in it's it's incredible. You start out in these art forms where it's all about expanding the capacity who of who you are. And then people then start trying to put you back into something else.
00:21:49
Circuspreneur Podcast
like They try to put you back in that box. But we're in the arts. We're in the creative spaces where you're supposed to explore. it You're supposed to... you know, evolve and look into those different like facets of yourself.
00:21:56
Janice Martin
Right.
00:22:00
Circuspreneur Podcast
And then slowly, slowly everyone's like, yeah, but guess what? Be creative, but only be creative like that person. It's like, that doesn't make any any sense.
00:22:05
Janice Martin
Right. You nailed it. You nailed it.
00:22:09
Circuspreneur Podcast
wait Like how would you have become you?
00:22:11
Janice Martin
Well, I mean,
00:22:12
Circuspreneur Podcast
yeah
00:22:14
Janice Martin
Well, and you you're the same way. I mean, you've created this podcast and you've created a whole, you know, culture around, you know, bringing awareness to what is going on with not only the art, but the people doing the art, too, and the vulnerabilities and that and all of that.
00:22:30
Circuspreneur Podcast
Yeah.
00:22:32
Janice Martin
I mean, like you're you're doing huge things you're you' that affect people's lives in in big ways.
00:22:40
Circuspreneur Podcast
Thank you so much. I really appreciate that, Janice. And, you know, I'm really honored. I wanted this podcast to be a space where we honor artists. We honor the work that you're doing right now because it's not easy to, know, be creative and be a rebel and to put yourself out there. And sometimes even within your own community and your own industry, it can be hard to break through And, you know, if people can't define who you you're busy, you know, doing that yourself. You know, you're doing keynotes. We were discussing, you know, before the podcast that you're going to be giving another talk soon. And, you know, I think it's so valuable in performers speaking and discussing their work. Sometimes people don't hear lot of who we are as a person, as a human being and the dynamics that go into who you are. as just like a personality and in being human and being vulnerable in that way. I think it's really relevant and important. And we're kind of rounding out, I think like the last probably like five or six minutes or so, Janice. And so I'd love to discuss a bit about your presence as a keynote speaker and what motivated you to speak on your experiences because you play so fluidly. I mean, the way that you express yourself, you do so much work, you do your one woman shows And, you know, you're kind of like a jack of all trades and you wear, you know, all of these different hats. But keynote is also, too, whole nother, you know, animal. It's challenging. I've given, you know, quite a few myself and I'm continuing to learn in that space.
00:24:08
Circuspreneur Podcast
But what was also important for you to communicate, you know, your journey and your art form and express it in that way, because not everybody wants to venture into that space. But, yeah, I love that you, you know, don't, yeah, you don't hold yourself or keep yourself from exploring anything that you want to do. And I think that's a very powerful lesson for everybody who feels like people are are trying to say that they're only supposed to do things no matter what it is in one particular way.
00:24:34
Janice Martin
Well, I think it is important to share our stories. And I, from just the, and this is a new venture for me, so I haven't done a lot of keynote speeches, but just the ones that I've done, I've i've always been very surprised that, because I kind of feel like I'm rehashing knowledge that everyone is saying.
00:24:43
Circuspreneur Podcast
yeah You're on your way. Mm-hmm.
00:24:52
Janice Martin
And it's really surprising to me how many people will come up and say, oh, I learned so much, or they're taking notes. And I'm like, you're taking you're taking notes on my speech? Okay. But like,
00:25:02
Circuspreneur Podcast
I love how you're surprised, by the way, that you're surprised that people are taking notes on what you have to say.
00:25:04
Janice Martin
But, right, right.
00:25:07
Circuspreneur Podcast
You you have so much experience.
00:25:09
Janice Martin
But this is the the thing, because when you're inside your head and you're creating, you just forget what that what you know is not what everybody else knows.
00:25:14
Circuspreneur Podcast
Yeah.
00:25:17
Circuspreneur Podcast
Yeah.
00:25:19
Janice Martin
and it's and And the thing for me that I love about doing these is that it does allow me to connect to people in a way that I don't normally.
00:25:19
Circuspreneur Podcast
Right. It's not universal sometimes. Yeah.
00:25:29
Janice Martin
Because There's just this
Inspiration for Performers and Final Words
00:25:31
Janice Martin
kind of wall, like, you know, you you talk to people afterwards, oh, yeah we liked your show. and But but there's not there's not a lot of communication. and And I think also, especially with circus arts and music that's not singing, you are so in in what you're doing that it's not really, it's about it's about the art.
00:25:51
Janice Martin
It's not really a connection. Yeah. I mean, if people connect, you want people to connect to your art.
00:25:54
Circuspreneur Podcast
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:25:56
Janice Martin
But if you're spending your time connected to people on stage, and then you're not doing your thing. And so, i mean, so when you're speaking, you're still speaking about a topic.
00:26:01
Circuspreneur Podcast
me
00:26:05
Janice Martin
But like, it it is really gratifying to talk to people afterwards who come up and they have questions or, you you know, and I mean, motivational speakers have just really touched my life.
00:26:17
Janice Martin
It's probably one of the reasons I i have had the courage to do things outside of the regular traditional spheres. and And, you know, to just have somebody saying, you know, go for it, is it's it's remarkable how lone of a voice that can be.
00:26:25
Circuspreneur Podcast
Thank you.
00:26:35
Janice Martin
If you're surrounding yourself with people you know all the time, they kind of want the same, they want to expect the same things out of you. And it's, I think motivational speaking as it is is really important, actually.
00:26:47
Janice Martin
So i I do find it really gratifying. I wouldn't want to just do that. But in coupled with what I do, it's it's kind of an outlet. And it also reminds me of stuff that I need to be remembering, like discipline, things like that, you know.
00:27:00
Circuspreneur Podcast
Yeah, it's a great reminder. I know. I like how you said that because sometimes we have to, you know, self-soothe and, you know, self-priest ourselves, you know, giving your like your internal sermon to remind yourself of of what you're of what you're doing. I love how you talked about being present and being in the moment also, too. and and And we're also used to doing that, I think. in our art form and trying to carry that into the rest of our, into the rest of our life and then inspiring others, you know, to figure out where they can get, I think that, that holy center from, right. I think that's what is established when you're doing art on the level that you're doing it to, you know, and taking it to such a different level. But I want to thank you so much again, Janice, for being on the Circuspreneur podcast and for sharing, you know, your wonderful story. You know, your very multifaceted story. i think you just have like so many different, you know, parts of your personality and things that you've been willing and brave to take.
00:27:55
Circuspreneur Podcast
I just, again, cannot imagine from going through on all of these things that you've gone through and and living through that. But To close out the podcast, what are some, you know, some inspiring words that you would like to leave listeners with, especially going into this new year, into 2026 as a performer yourself that continues to, I think, just recreate herself. and, you know, and evolve in the ways that you have. But for for performers that maybe also too don't know where they fit in and are trying to, i think, carve out a niche for themselves like you have and the painstaking work that it takes to be able to do that on top of staying relevant and staying prepared and, you know, doing all of the groundwork that you need to do to you know, stay, you know, so excellent.
00:28:41
Circuspreneur Podcast
What would you leave listeners with and forward thinking for who they could be with their art, if they're interested in that or just as, you know, people in their lives?
00:28:52
Janice Martin
Well, I really believe in the discipline of your mentality of focus on the love of your craft and your relationship with that and and focus on you know the effort that you're giving to it. People will like it. Some people won't like it.
00:29:09
Janice Martin
You'll make some auditions. You won't make some auditions. there You know, there's nothing you can really do about that. And you can't keep trying to change yourself into what you think other people want you to be.
00:29:20
Circuspreneur Podcast
Thank you.
00:29:22
Janice Martin
i mean, I know auditions. Yes, there's some criteria that you've got you've got to match. But I mean, I really do believe that put the due diligence in and trust that it will come to the to fruition.
00:29:34
Janice Martin
and don't be freaked out if not everybody loves it right away I mean you know I think I think trying to reinvent yourself simply so you can please different people it it does come back to bite you in the end i think you have to just stay diligent and keep believing in you in what you're doing and if you don't like it then then change but don't don't be intimidated by whether others like it or not you know
00:30:04
Circuspreneur Podcast
Yes, beautiful words. And this is coming again, listeners, from a aerial violinist. So the next time you think people might not understand what you do and who you are remember there was someone playing a violin yeah and doing aerial.
00:30:22
Circuspreneur Podcast
at the same time. So if Janice can communicate that, you can figure out a way to communicate who you are and what you want to do to others.
00:30:25
Janice Martin
Yes.
00:30:32
Circuspreneur Podcast
You know, nothing is nothing is indefinable. You know, so you can't put a price on that value either. You know, it's, it's I think, a very precious precious talent to possess, you know, what you have, Janice, and then also to inspiring others with that talent to go seek that out because, I think you're a very, you're a vision of excellence in everything that you do.
00:30:52
Janice Martin
Thank you.
00:30:53
Circuspreneur Podcast
Absolutely. And listeners, please, you know, go online and and look at Janice's videos. They're just gorgeous. There's one where she is literally rotating while playing the piano in the air.
00:31:06
Circuspreneur Podcast
youll You'll definitely get a kick out of that. And looking forward to seeing more of that, Janice. And thank you so much again. is Circus Preneur Podcast.
00:31:12
Janice Martin
Thank you so much.
00:31:15
Circuspreneur Podcast
Absolutely. This Circuspreneur podcast is also available on stagelink.com, S-T-A-G-E-L-Y-N-C stagelink.com, the groundbreaking new platform for live performing arts that provides unmatched access and connection to this vibrant world of shows and entertainment. If you're a professional in the performing arts, visit stagelink.com slash pro, S-T-A-G-E-L-Y-N-C-P-R-O. Stagelink Pro offers industry professionals higher visibility and networking opportunities and tools to support and enhance their careers.
00:31:42
Circuspreneur Podcast
Until next time, everyone, I'm your host, Sinead Saletto. Thank you so much for tuning in to the Circuspreneur podcast.