Damian Syred, 28, Geelong, Vic
Wandering into the big top, I felt like I'd entered a magical world. 'Roll up! Roll up!' the ringmaster chanted as my parents, Cheryl and Murray, led me and my brothers, Jarrad, nine, and Braydan, six, to our seats.
I was 12 and I'd been excited ever since I heard Circus Royale was coming to my home town of Rockingham, WA. I'd always been fascinated by the circus and now I was seeing it for real.
I barely moved a muscle throughout the performance. The animals, the costumes, the jugglers and the trapeze artists had me spellbound.
'What did you think?' Mum asked afterwards.
'I think I want to own my own circus one day,' I beamed.
'Really?' she laughed.
When I heard Circus Royale was returning to town when I was 14, I couldn't wait. This time I landed a job selling the circus show bags.
'I'm going to be part of the circus,' I jumped for joy.
I was bursting with excitement when I arrived for my first day. The owners, Manuela and Frank Gasser, gave me a warm welcome and introduced me to the team, including ringmaster Roxanne and solo trapeze artist Sonya.
The next two weeks were fantastic. As well as organising the show bags, I helped out with odd jobs like feeding and grooming the animals. I was upset when it was time for the show to leave town. I'd forged a real bond with the team.
'I can leave school and come with you,' I begged Manuela.
'No, you must finish school because an education is important,' she said sternly.
After that I visited my circus family whenever I could as they travelled around WA. One day when I visited them in Mandra, I even told Manuela about my dreams for the future.
'I want to buy this circus off you one day,' I said.
'We can give you a job but this circus has been in our family for 38 years,' she said. 'We'll hand it down to our sons and they'll hand it to theirs. A circus is like an heirloom.'
I felt like my dreams had been crushed. Nevertheless, I knew Manuela would give me a job one day so put it out of my mind and finished high school. When I told Manuela I was ready to hit the road she convinced me to get a career first. So I completed a business-management course and started working at a bank.
Surprisingly I quite enjoyed it and moved up the ranks to become business-development officer by the time I was 20.
Working from 9am until 5pm in a suit and tie was a far cry from my circus dreams but I was earning a good wage and working with great people.
One day I was taking some cash from the back safe at work when I heard people screaming. I looked through a window to see my colleague Kim lying on the floor.
Oh no, we're being robbed, I realised as I made my way to the manager's office. She asked me to follow the thief out and lock the doors behind him.
The man was dressed in black and holding what appeared to be a gun. As soon as he was outside I locked the door and he turned and our eyes locked. Coming face to face with a criminal, I couldn't help but wonder if this was what I wanted from life. Am I happy here? I asked myself. And inevitably my mind wandered back to the circus. 
Damian and the amazing man-in-a-bottle Miguel
I called some friends at Circus Royale who told me about a tour-manager's position with Weber Brothers Circus in New Zealand. The role involved running the business side of things, which was perfect given my background, and the owners were keen to take me on.
My boss at the bank was shocked. 'You're going to join the circus?' she gasped.
As soon as I started my new job, I knew I loved it. Living on the road, the performers became like family.
My job kept me on my toes. I ran the office, organised the payroll and liaised with local councils. It was the next best thing to owning a circus and I still hoped one day I might be part of the show.
I'd been with Weber Brothers for almost three years when I got a call from Manuela.
'Frank and I are thinking of retiring,' she explained. 'I've offered the circus to our four sons but none of them want to take it on. Are you still interested in buying it?'
I couldn't believe it. Manuela was offering me the chance to live my lifelong dream. And not just any circus but my favourite circus of all time - Circus Royale. I was ecstatic! 'Consider it sold,' I beamed.
As I finished up with the Weber Brothers and organised a loan, I couldn't believe my luck.
My family and friends thought I was crazy.
'It's what you always wanted to do,' Mum laughed. 'I just never thought it would happen.'
When I turned up for my first day at work in February 2007, I was pleased to find some of the performers were still there from my work-experience days, including ringmaster Roxanne.
In late 2008 Roxanne decided to retire after 20 great years. I wondered who could possibly fill her shoes. Could I be the ringmaster? I wondered.
When I suggested it to the team, they were so encouraging.
'Go for it,' they cheered.
Today, I'm 28 and ringmaster of my very own Circus Royale. I'm also the youngest circus owner in Australia and possibly the whole world.
The job has its challenges but it's great to be living my dream. My life's a circus and I wouldn't have it any other way!
Fancy throwing in the 9-to-5 slug and joining a circus? We have a few pointers on how to get started - click here.
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