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Would you employ someone if they did this?

19 replies

ClowningArounds · 03/03/2025 18:46

I am having a dilemma and I wanted to ask the opinion of those on Mumsnet.
I am mid 30s, in a professional career, married and with a young family. So far, so respectable.
As a teenager, I did a few years of circus skills classes. Recently I have restarted and joined a local troupe which performs at parades, public events, parties etc. It's currently a hobby, but some paid opportunities have come up recently, although I haven't yet taken any of them up. My main activities are juggling, stiltwalking and (some) acrobatics. When we do public events, we tend to get a lot of press/social media attention. I admit that I really enjoy this side of it, and enjoy feeling 'fabulous' which is a contrast to my deskbound day job. I was considering making an Instagram account where I posted pictures and videos of my activities, partly just for my own personal gratification and partly for the potential paid opportunities that might come up.
My doubt lies in the fact that lots of the events we do feature outfits that quite revealing or figure hugging... for example, a colourful leotard over fishnet tights, or a lycra crop top and hotpants. They're not 'racy' per say, but they're definitely more revealing that your average workwear!
My current workplace is very liberal and no-one judges me for having this hobby. I do wonder though, if I were to change jobs, especially to a more traditional/conservative environment, could having this kind of content on social media harm my chances? A friend of mine in the troupe apparently had some negative reactions from her colleagues about it, and this got me wondering.
So especially if you work in a more traditional or conservative workplace, do you think someone could be judged for having these types of photos online? Or am I massively overthinking?

OP posts:
mynameiscalypso · 03/03/2025 18:48

I work in quite a traditional organisation. I don't think anyone would have an issue with it - the only problem is that you'd get people asking you to do circus skills constantly in the office.

treesandsun · 03/03/2025 20:34

I wouldn't want to work somewhere that they had a problem with you doing something completely harmless and fun in your none work time.

murasaki · 03/03/2025 20:37

It's a hobby, wouldn't bother me, I'd be interested in it.

Ueya · 03/03/2025 20:39

It’s nothing outrageous so it wouldn’t bother me, if you’re worried about it though just don’t put your full name on the account/anonymise it a bit.

bellinisurge · 03/03/2025 20:41

Nobody would be bothered. Sounds great

edwinbear · 03/03/2025 20:42

I work in a bank. My team would all want to come and see your next show and make a night of it!

Redshoeblueshoe · 03/03/2025 20:43

I would think you would be hugely popular, sounds fabulous

User0ne · 03/03/2025 20:43

I work in a school and while where I work now wouldn't have a problem with it, I have worked in schools where it would be a deal breaker

Feliciacat · 03/03/2025 20:44

I do think that some ‘sexy’ hobbies like exotic pole and burlesque can count against people in the workplace (by the way, I wholly disagree with this). But circus skills aren’t seen as sexual so that should be ok.

Just wearing revealing clothes isn’t necessarily sexual; it’s usually for safety so that clothes don’t get in the way of stunts. I do cheerleading and the skirts are short for stunting and tumbling safety and aerodynamics.

ItGhoul · 03/03/2025 21:18

Absolutely no employer will be in the slightest bit bothered about this.

FofB · 03/03/2025 21:21

I was at a Dance Competition this weekend and some of the competitors had a very cool, skin tight catsuit type thing; but it looked like a stormy sky (I know I'm describing it badly) as they were doing flips as part of the dance; could you wear something like this? It was tight fitting but legs/body was covered. Arms were uncovered.

All of us in our group were chatting about how cool these bodysuits looked. Might that be a compromise?

DangerMouseAndPenfoldx · 03/03/2025 21:23

I work in “big four” - traditionally very conservative.

They would LOVE this, but it would probably end up defining you, with requests for you to do a “spotlight” in team meetings and to weave it into your bio if doing a pitch.

mynameiscalypso · 03/03/2025 21:23

DangerMouseAndPenfoldx · 03/03/2025 21:23

I work in “big four” - traditionally very conservative.

They would LOVE this, but it would probably end up defining you, with requests for you to do a “spotlight” in team meetings and to weave it into your bio if doing a pitch.

Ha, I'm ex-Big 4 and had exactly the same thought.

B1indEye · 03/03/2025 21:24

ItGhoul · 03/03/2025 21:18

Absolutely no employer will be in the slightest bit bothered about this.

Apart from the ones that the poster two posts above yours knows of

Obviously no one can know what every employer would think, most probably won't mind but always good to be aware that it might be an issue for some

Crazykefir · 03/03/2025 21:27

Sounds like a laugh op, youd be brilliant on team building days.

Ariela · 03/03/2025 22:09

You could have a stage name, and use that for your performance jobs and social media, keeping your work name for the more serious stuff.

ClowningArounds · 03/03/2025 23:26

Thanks for the replies! Good to know that most people's workplaces wouldn't be bothered about this. I've done some work lecturing in universities in the past and might be looking to expand on that side of my work - does anyone have more experience of that kind of environment? I feel like some of the places I've lectured in are very old school and might be disapproving of some of the more revealing photos, but maybe I'm being unfair to them.
I should say that some of the people in the troupe wear far less clothing than me 🙈so compared to them I feel almost prudish, but then my parents saw some photos of me and made disapproving noises of how much skin was on show! I didn't dare send them the photos of the rest of the group!
I think some sort of stage name might be a good idea, have to think of something catchy.

OP posts:
NewMe2024 · 03/03/2025 23:31

mynameiscalypso · 03/03/2025 21:23

Ha, I'm ex-Big 4 and had exactly the same thought.

I work in a similar world and fully agree <massive eye roll>

Idratherbepaddleboarding · 03/03/2025 23:38

I do pole dancing as a hobby and I do have to be careful what I post on FB and instagram but that’s because I work in criminal justice. I use a slightly different version of my name on them (as is recommended anyway) and I don’t post videos, only pictures of cool new moves in Nike Pro etc type shorts and a short vest top, nothing too revealing. I think it’s a shame I can’t share my hobby fully but it’s more for safety than prudishness. I absolutely wouldn’t be allowed to work as a pole dancer and we have to have permission to take on secondary employment.

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