Ray Wold is no stranger to the streets, where he made an important discovery while performing. He was able to attract the most attention for the public when he would juggle fire.
"You learn a lot on the street," he said.
His affinity for fire landed him a job in Vegas. If you've seen "O," the Cirque du Soleil show at the Bellagio Hotel, then you will know Wold as the man who catches on fire while reading the newspaper. He's also been on the David Letterman Show, juggling fire, an act that's far more impish than the scarier stunt in "O."
But Wold refuses to put all of his eggs in one basket.
The lessons he learned on the streets has taken him all over the world as a circus performer. At 19, he went to the famed and notoriously tough Ringling Brothers Clown College. The college is free, but if you're asked to stay with them, you work for low pay and commit to year with the circus, all the while learning from some of world's most famous clowns like Bill Irwin, Lou Jacobs and Frosty Little.
"It's called paying your dues. It's a great training ground," he said. "Ringling Brothers wanted me to do a Man of Fire act, but we couldn't come together on a price. It's a very dangerous thing."
So Wold moved. He was working in Monte Carlo Circus Festival and Sporting Club in 1998 when Cirque du Soleil approached him about appearing in the new show they were mounting at the Bellagio Hotel. He had is reservations because he didn't know how he would fit in with them.
"I'm this little tramp of a clown who sets himself on fire, and they're so artsy," he said. "But it worked out well."
Originally from Eagan South Dakota, Wold was born in a town with 110 people. "There were 10 in my family, so when we left, we took almost 10 percent of the population," he laughed. They moved to San Diego where Wold started performing on the streets in hopes of earning his keep through tips.
When Wold came to Vegas, he was ready to give up his vagabond existence. He bought a home, a monkey and a dog. He wanted to have something to fall back on when the time comes for his contract at "O" to end.
"I hope to be with Cirque for a long time," Wold said "But when that comes to a close--because all shows must come to an end in show business--I want to be prepared and stay in Las Vegas." He's been with the show since it premiered six years ago and just signed on for another year.
An Amazing Clown Goes into Business
Wold wanted to create a lasting business incorporating his love of clowning, which would also spare aspiring clowns a lot of the potential suffering of working the streets. A year and a half ago, he established Amazing Clowns, a production company and school for Las Vegas clowns.
Leslie McKinney, a magician/ventriloquist handles sales and marketing for Amazing Clowns. He explained, "When you're a street performer, if you don't get tips that day you don't eat. Ray started Amazing Clowns because there's really a need for this."
"There are a lot of great clowns who come to Vegas and they end up not working in the business," Wold said. "It's kind of like a little family of clowns who get together to help each other and teach each other. The ultimate goal is to work and continue to do what you love to do and make your living at it."
Amazing Clowns books jugglers, characters, magicians, clowns and just about every specialty act imaginable for everything from birthday parties to corporate events to malls to Bar Mitzvahs, according to McKinney.
McKinney met Wold through Carlton Beck, a famous Vegas magician who was popular in the 1970s. Wold wanted someone to come in the office and run the shop, so McKinney took the job.
Amazing Clowns also has a retail store that's a private magic shop. The store sells everything from inexpensive magic tricks, juggling clubs, and whoopee cushions to stage illusions worth thousands of dollars.
An Informal Clown College
They have a clown college that meets every Tuesday, teaching all forms of clowning.
"Ray is really good with juggling, clowning, and make-up," McKinney said. "He's is one of the greatest teachers and he's got the patience of Jobe."
McKinney, who still periodically leaves Vegas to work magic and ventriloquism on cruise ships, teaches his skills. (He's built magic props for David Copperfield and Lance Burton, too.)
So far all of classes have been free.
"The problem with clowning and children's entertainment is that it's like chiropractors: some are very good and some are very bad," McKinney said.
That is why they encourage beginners or less experienced clowns to take classes with them before they send them to work parties. Even with his years of expertise, Wold isn't above learning something new, either.
"Someone called a few months ago wanting a Woody from 'Toy Story,' which we don't do," McKinney said. "But Ray spent the money to get the costume and learn the character and it's been booked twice. He still hasn't made back what it cost him--he works for the love of the craft, and that's the tough thing to find. A lot of people bow out of clowning when they see how much work it is."
"If I do a performance and only one child shows," Wold said. "I will do it because I'm committed to it."
On the Map
Word of mouth has helped bolster Amazing Clowns. They also do a lot of civic minded events, like performances for Juvenile Diabetes and Opportunity Village. And they will send performers to a variety of functions, like shows at the local malls and Tyson Food Industry's corporate events.
They have about a dozen people on their roster that they regularly send out on gigs. They have various specialties: some are characters, some are clowns. Some are experienced professionals who work on the Strip and are only sent out on bigger jobs, but all are paid.
"We take anywhere from 10 to 20 percent commission," McKinney said. "The performer makes the booking cost, less the commission."
They also have a huge database of people that they call upon from time to time for various jobs.
"We have a huge corral of people, like the world's smallest Elvis impersonator and a 500 pound drag queen. We accept promotional materials for actors, clowns, models, and specialty acts all the time. In the final analysis, you're gonna get called when we need you."
A particularly unique call recently came from a bride, who found the company on the Web, and requested an African American Little person, Sponge Bob and a clown for her wedding at the Paris Wedding chapel.
With his experience working with fire, Ray is called on quite often for movies, too. "We get calls for TV and Film. There's more and more film and TV stuff coming to Las Vegas," McKinney said.
But this is why they want all interested talent to submit their materials. They will be put into a database and a time is likely to come when they will be needed, whether it's for their appearance or talents.
Clowns, both aspiring and experienced, actors, specialty acts and characters should send their picture, resume and promotional materials to Amazing Clowns, 4755 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89121.
Wold said, "I want the best clowning around. It's a great little company. We're very proud of it."
For more info, go to www.amazingclowns.net
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