Puppet boy’s right hand

And if there is anywhere in the world that Lady Luck is called upon most often, it is Las Vegas, Nev.

Van Guse left Borderland for the lights, and puppets, of Sin City last year — and has been loving every minute of it.

“I’m very lucky right now. I have the funnest job in the world,” he adds.

Van Guse is the vice president of operations for Puppet Boy Entertainment, a company that manages entertainer Terry Fator.

Fator is best known as the 2007 winner of America’s Got Talent. His show includes comedy, ventriloquism, singing, and impressions. He has a standing show five nights a week at the Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

The entertainer, and his “cast of a thousand,” is known for taking voices of celebrities and incorporating them into his routines. During America’s Got Talent, Fator sang such songs as Etta James’ “At Last” and Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places” to wow the judges and get America’s vote. For each performance, he chose a different puppet. A popular spot was his turtle puppet taking on the character of Kermit the Frog singing “What a Wonderful World,” along with Fator in a deeper, Louis Armstrong impression joining in the song.

“Terry is fantastic to work with. He is just a wonderful, wonderful man,” Van Guse said.

Van Guse and his fiance Mary Lepper moved from International Falls to the west last summer. After a few months spent commuting to Las Vegas from Seattle, the pair moved to the desert metropolis.

“It’s been a whirlwind, moving just as fast as you can,” Van Guse said. “It’s pretty intense, just a lot of fun.”

Van Guse was connected to the performer through Fator’s brother, Jep Fator, who Van Guse is friendly with. Van Guse said he watched Terry Fator’s career from a distance, and it was not until 2009 that he asked Jep Fator if his brother needed help.

It turns out the rising star did need some help, and Van Guse was hired.

“My ultimate goal is for Terry to come in and do the show and not do anything else,” Van Guse said.

Although he has seen a fair number of Fator’s performances — and said he thoroughly enjoys the show — if he is in the Terry Fator Theater at the Mirage, he is typically backstage, working.

The former Falls resident works with the staff at the Mirage, does marketing, schedules public appearances and interviews, and keeps his eyes on what is best for the entertainer.

Van Guse also reviews business contracts, as he was a financial advisor for Edward Jones Financial in International Falls.

“Everything you do in life is a stepping stone for what you are going to do next,” Van Guse explains, adding that he has had several careers, including project management, that have come to benefit him in his current position. “There are a lot of pieces to the puzzle that I use now.”

Van Guse is among a group of about 20 people who work on Fator’s show, including assistants, lighting and stage crew, and a band.

Van Guse moved to International Falls in 1997. Lepper was born and raised in International Falls, and many of her family members are still in Borderland.

Although they have not completely acclimated to their new life, Van Guse said that they are settling in well. He noted that it was a big change moving to a big city.

Among the biggest differences:

• “You don’t have to wear heavy Carhartt coats, so that’s a good thing.”

• Walking the dogs when they live on the 21st floor of a condo building is a bit more of a challenge than opening the back door.

• “Trust is something they (Las Vegans) gave up a long time ago.”

• They are missing the personal touches, such as knowing shop-keepers and many of the locals in town. “We miss the friendly, small-town environment.”

However, Van Guse explained that he still supports the Falls economy — he still buys clothes from Mason’s on Main and coffee from Two Guy’s.

Another thing Van Guse and Lepper are importing from International Falls: The people.

They said they have had guests from International Falls in Vegas, and at the same time have run into other Falls residents on the street. About 30 Falls residents, that they know of, have come to Vegas to see the show within the last six months.

Surely, Falls residents are not outnumbering Elvis impersonators or quickie wedding chapels in that city, but the couple have had a fair number of visitors from northern Minnesota, including lots of friends and family.

“I think they want to see the town and not the people (us),” Van Guse jokes.

And Vegas also draws a few celebrities.

Another person that Van Guse was excited to see was tennis great Andre Agassi. He was also able to watch the final table at the World Poker Tour.

“You find out people are just people; they’re just great,” he said.

Those are just a few of the high-profile situations that he has been involved in since arriving in his new location, including working for a celebrity himself.

“You wonder sometimes: ‘How did I get here?’” he said, still excited about the changes the past year has brought.