At a time when so many cultural enterprises are failing, we explore with interest and various questions the trajectory of Cirque du Soleil in The balancing act, a biographical work by Daniel Lamarre, president of the company for twenty years. After all, the same rules of governance apply to small companies as to large empires. And the journey of a high-flying artistic giant lights the way for all who marry art and risk-taking business.
But the action takes place on a planetary scale, of course. The publication of the book also seems to be part of a Cirque du Soleil marketing recovery plan. It was first written in English, then translated here and published in France by Michel Lafon. Globalization obliges. Between promotional sleight of hand, several anecdotes and advice offered to all comers. So many roller coasters were climbed and descended by the leaping enterprise. At times of trial, the acrobats fall from higher than the seated people. They also know how to bounce back better.
The book is therefore partly intended for cultural entrepreneurs in search of the keys to success, even after the fall. We can’t blame Daniel Lamarre for encouraging business people in the artistic community to innovate like Cirque du Soleil, to draw on ideas from their team and to offer show designers conceptual freedom faithful to their vision. In the post-pandemic era, fearless companies will arguably dominate the game.
Back to the famous solar brand, born in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984, in the fever under the fire spat by its co-founder Guy Laliberté. The Circus would conquer Las Vegas, Japan and China, unroll the map of the world at its feet. All with the help of virtuoso acrobats, inspired directors, exciting music and magical stage effects, without elephants or lions, a true revival of the genre. Their formula was later to emulate, give birth to its own competitors. Then, how to constantly renew yourself, even at the top?
His productions seemed less original to us for a while. The management intended to set fire to the blue and yellow capitals. Stop! We will have witnessed with amazement the stampede of his shows, paralyzed in 2020 by the COVID-19. The multinational got bogged down, laid off 95% of its staff, came close to bankruptcy, found new promoters, redeployed its hoops. Phew!
Nevertheless! We pronounce the words Cirque du Soleil with a pang of heart. For a long time, the circus flagship has been a source of deep pride for Quebecers. However, since November 2020, when it was taken over by various creditors and partners, the majority shareholders, especially Americans – for the most part firms specializing in the debt market – have been pulling the strings out of the cradle. Neither Guy Laliberté, nor the Caisse de depot, nor the Fonds de solidarité FTQ or other Quebec donors will ultimately have participated in its revival. The head office remains in Montreal, but decisions are made in the stratosphere.
There is no question of this collective mourning in The balancing act. A former administrator does not reveal everything. You have to read between his lines, guess the impact of heartbreaking decisions. When saving a box from the abyss, corners are turned. Radio silence on the accepted concessions.
The work has its complacent sides, half-open wings, half-open doors. It is not a total hagiography: the failures of Zumanity and of RUN. see themselves dissected there. But before the show LOVE, tribute to the Fab Four in Las Vegas, the hottest negotiations of the Cirque with the last Beatles or their heirs remain partly veiled. Few details are given on Yoko Ono’s hassles, more on Paul McCartney’s and Ringo Starr’s support for the project.
Daniel Lamarre wrote his testimony before the arrival of Omicron, which was to curb recovery efforts, ground international flights and close theaters for a while, in Quebec in particular. The star shines again here and there, among others in Orlando for the Disney show Drawn to Life. Indestructible Cirque du Soleil!
Moral of the story: certainly, the same microscopic virus can throw down powerful established firms like the shoots of spring. Still, having contacts, a shining name, a flamboyant past and respected values helps to keep your head above water after shipwrecks. For the rest, there is Mastercard, the jokers will say with irony. But since the time Cirque du Soleil wanted to put their clown nose back on, they have to laugh at their pranks too.