From pre-med student to . . . carnival owner? Richmond man finds his true calling

By Jason A. Givens

November 17, 2006 | RICHMOND -- Being labeled a "carny" may not be flattering for most people, but one local entrepreneur wears that name with pride. Dave Gordon, a 33-year-old father of four, has been trying to make a living by running his own carnival for about nine years.

At one time Gordon had a business renting paintball equipment. "Business wasn't so hot," he said. He had a local competitor and wanted to find a way to "blow the doors of the competition." Richmond's Black and White Days was coming up, amd he decided it would be a good idea to set up a paintball shooting gallery at the annual festival.

"I couldn't believe it, in a matter of a few days I made $1,000," Gordon said. "From then on I was addicted. It's kind of like a gambler who hits the jackpot their first time."

He said he dabbled in the carnival business for the next few years, doing shows in Preston and at another Black and White Days. He finally acquired enough of his own equipment that he was able to quit his job and go on the road full-time to bigger shows, sometimes for up to nine months.

Life on the road didn't work out so well with his family life. He said in the beginning his wife was supportive but eventually she realized she wanted a more traditional life, with a husband who worked a 9 to 5 job. Gordon came back and tried to settle into a regular routine. But, his love for the carnival wouldn't let him give it up.

He once again has the support of his wife. "She's realized her husband's a carny and always will be," he said.

Gordon has turned his small beginning into 16 attractions, two food booths and four games. In the near future he plans to add five rides, which he described as "hard rides" -- the larger mechanical rides you typically see at carnivals and county fairs. He said the paintball gallery remains his centerpiece.

"My goal from the beginning was to have a full-blown carnival," Gordon said. "This summer I was finally big enough to be considered a carnival." He added that this past summer was his best ever, allowing him to break some of his personal records.

Gordon hasn't always been a carny. At one time he was a pre-med student at USU. He said he put a lot of pressure on himself to maintain his grade-point average. It was difficult because he had to work full-time and help raise two kids. He had a good job as a salesman and didn't need a degree for it, so he dropped out.

He currently works both a full-time and a part-time job. The two jobs allow him to support his family and help finance the growth of his carnival at the same time. He said his goal is to be able to make enough money from the carnival in the summer that he "can kick back and snowboard all winter."

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