Whenever work gets stressful, Jason Gibson's co-workers come to him.

"I think the whole thing with the military was helping me grow up," said Gibson, who is the production manager for the Ringing Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which will be coming to Augusta at the end of next month. "Signing for a $30 million missile system when you are 18 yearsold makes you go 'wow,' and it really makes you grow up."

Gibson spent four years in the Army and served on a patriot missile crew during Desert Storm. He has been with the circus for 12 years and believes those four years of military service helped him with his ability to maintain a sense of calm when stress surrounds his co-workers. And in the circus, it can be very stressful.

"It helps me to this day. I can stay calm and cool in any situation," he said.

Gibson said a circus performance is the result of team work. He learned the importance of the concept while in the military.

"We are all one big team," he said. "There's no such thing as a one-man show."

Gibson is not a performer, but he's the one behind the scenes, dressed in black, carrying the clipboard to ensure everything goes as planned during the show.

"It doesn't get boring because it's never the same show. I have to watch every detail. I'm constantly tweaking and fixing things," said Gibson.

Seeing the end product and how it is received by the audience gives him the greatest joy.

"I love watching the faces on the kids," he said.

His best opportunity to see their reactions is one hour before the show in the all-access preshow.

Circus-goers can come down to the circus floor, get performers' autographs, try to juggle and see some things they won't see during the show, he said.

"It's a lot of fun," he said.

And there's no additional charge for the preshow.

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will be at Augusta's James Brown Arena at 7 p.m., March 26 and 27, 3 and 7 p.m., March 28 and 1:30 p.m. March 29. Military receive a $7 discount.

For more information, visit www.jamesbrownarena.com.