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Quincy, Ill.--  Ladies and Gentleman...step right up and don't be shy, what you see under this big top circus is more than meets the eye.

Behind the glamour and glitz is a lot of teamwork and family ties. Barbara Byrd and her husband are the owners of Carson and Barnes Circus. Her parents are the founders of the business. Barbara told KHQA this is the only life she's ever known, and now she can pass it on to her children.

"it was an amazing childhood. I have 4 grandchildren and it's great to have them experience the same things I did," said Byrd.

Barbara's two daughters and their husbands are taking on the family business and passing it on to their children.

" It's a wonderful environment to grow up in. It's like a small community that travels together...I know it sounds corny, but it's just apart of my life. It's who I am. It's how I was raised and I love it," said Barbara's daughter Traci Cavallini.

And her children love it too.

"I get to travel across the United States,' said family performer Brandon Cavallini.

"It's really cool to be born into the circus. It's really fun and entertaining," said 13-year-old family performer Franchesca Cavallini.

But the circus is not all fun and games. A lot of hardwork is involved. Performers often have to get up early to travel to the next city. Kids still have to go to school, and sometimes you don't get a lot of sleep. That can be rough, one clown who told us he's wanted to join the circus since he was two-years-old.

" It's a lot of fun, but a lot of work. It's not for everybody," said clown Aarron Rider.

But despite the grueling hours, most performers come from a generation of circus performers who rely on family when times get tough.

"I'm lucky to have my whole family here working with me. It's pretty good to have them here," said performer Jonathan Vazquez.

And while workers may get strange looks for their career choices, they all told say they wouldn't trade what they do for the world.

"This is my life, this is what I like to do," Vazquez said.

" We're just regular ordinary hardworking people that have an unusual occupation," Barbara Byrd said.

The circus now heads to Jacksonville, Beardstown, and Keokuk this week.