Help Wanted: Small-town circus seeks ringmaster. Must have a commanding presence. Must be able to cut through the clutter. Must be able to direct diverse groups of people while maintaining a smooth act. Above all, must be able to create a sense of excitement and anticipation.

If you have been paying attention to the most recent confusion over the annual Natchez fireworks show, then you probably would think it not too far of a stretch to compare the Natchez tourism community to a circus.

How the town almost lost this popular Fourth of July event is beyond me. Trying to figure out who agreed to take responsibility for the fundraising and contracting of the fireworks company has left area business owners and town leaders pointing fingers. Maybe it’s not surprising that the whole situation has ended up looking like a bad Laurel and Hardy routine.

The sad thing about this situation is that tourists and residents really don’t care. They just want to hear the loud booms and see the bright streams of fireworks bursting over the Mississippi River. Each year people from Natchez and surrounding areas line the riverfronts on both sides of the river to see this 15-minute spectacle.

Thankfully, a group of business leaders scrambled to save the annual event, scheduling the event for tonight at dusk.

In the process, the situation has spotlighted a need within the tourism community

This small town circus needs a ringmaster — it needs someone who can direct all of the diverse cultural acts in the area into one big show.

In the days before modern audio and lighting equipment, the most important character of the circus was the ringmaster.

Usually the most visible performer, the ringmaster’s job was to direct the attention of the audience to the performance area. While one ring was busy setting up for the trapeze artists or lion tamers, the ringmaster would direct the attention of the audience to the clown act in another ring.

Above all, the ringmaster has to have a commanding presence and a booming voice that can cut through all of the clutter that comes with the various animals, characters and props. He must do this with a penchant for the spectacular — making the show amazing and unforgettable.

A ringmaster is the one position the Natchez tourism circus is missing.

We have the acts — the attractions and the events. Unfortunately, we do not have the one voice that creates that seamless entertainment experience.

We need that one person or one group that can pull it all together.

We need someone to direct and guide the audience — the tourists who come to visit us each year.

And we need someone to pay attention to the entire Natchez experience to make sure that popular events remain popular, that quality attractions are being offered, and that everything happens when it should.

Ideally, this job should fall to an entity such as the Natchez Convention and Visitors Bureau. With the access to marketing resources and tourism tax revenues it is the obvious choice.

The Natchez Visitor Reception Center and the CVB’s new Web site already do an exceptional job providing information.

Yet, being a ringmaster is more than spitting out words. Being a ringmaster is about taking command of the entire experience. It is about execution.

It is about being a leader in the tourism community — something the CVB has yet to be.

Ben Hillyer is the Web editor of The Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3540.