The world's a stage for performer

You've seen them before, at Elgin's Fourth of July Parade, and several others.

The black gorilla carrying a cage with the yelling man inside. Or the colorful clown who walks on his hands.

Perhaps they made you laugh or freaked you out -- maybe both.

But chances are, you didn't forget them.

These are two of the characters affiliated with Tricky Business Entertainment, which owner Don "Wand" Bothwell operates out the Elgin home he shares with his wife, Gisela, and three of his seven children.

Bothwell, a local magician, and clown -- he plays Tricky the Clown -- says television shows from the days of yore inspired him become an entertainer.

Growing up, the 54-year-old loved children's variety shows, including "The Bozo Show" and "Captain Kangaroo."

But it wasn't until he was a teenager that he discovered his knack for performing.

His mother pushed him to dress as a clown and perform acrobatics at a charity Christmas party before an audience of disabled children.

Their positive reactions to his act convinced him that he should pursue this career path full time.

"They stole my heart," he said. "It was a real beautiful event."

Studying clown and magician books and later videos, Bothwell was self-taught in his craft, learning how to juggle, perform magic tricks and twist balloons into fun shapes, among other things.

His shows and brand of humor are always rated G, he said.

"The language is always clean, there's nothing suggestive at all," he said. "I'm selling entertainment, family entertainment."

As a magician with his daughter Angela, 22, working as his assistant, Bothwell saws her in half, makes her disappear and lifts her into the air.

They also host "Kid Bucks," a contest that takes the format of a game show, in which kids race to complete tasks in costume.

Each kids gets a prize, but the bigger ones are reserved for those who do the best. The top winner stands in a booth and collects "kids bucks," which are exchanged for stuffed animals. The winner also is entered into a raffle to win a new bike.

The show was created by Tim Balster of Balster Magic Productions.

"It's ingenious," Bothwell said. "It's instant stardom for the kids," he said, adding that he loves doing the show.

Bothwell used to host the show at Santa's Village in West Dundee, but took it on the road before the amusement park closed for good. The show has been all over the eastern portion of the United States, including South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia, he said.

Up until this year, they took their show on the road four months out of the year, from June through October.

But now, Bothwell is at a point in his life in which he wants to be spend more time with his family, keeping the bulk of his performances local.

The Elgin native has been a clown since 1971 and every Monday when he's in town, he plays Tricky the Clown at Colonial Cafe on McLean Boulevard -- something he's done for 22 years. As Tricky the Clown, Bothwell does magic tricks and balloon sculpting.

The most popular magic trick involves a red ball he can't get rid of. It appears in his stomach, his mouth and his hands.

"I don't have control over the ball, it has control over me," he said.

As a magician, he has performed at a number of high-profile engagements such as pre-games for the Chicago Bulls and alumni functions for Northwestern University.

"I give them what they want in wonderment and astonishment," he said.

And like a good magician, Bothwell isn't about to reveal his secrets.

"It's just not fair," he said. "I would rob you of that mystery."