Hopes high with curtains rising

British impressionist Jonathan Clark explains it as well as anyone can, I guess.

"You can't gamble unless you put some money down," he says. "That's what this town is all about. In most cases you pay to play."

Clark's new show at the Riviera is one of eight new shows coming on line. Most of them starring people you've never heard of. In a city where the dominant player, Cirque du Soleil, is discounting like crazy to sell tickets.

What are these people thinking? Let's ponder that a bit.

Among these new arrivals, Clark's show is comparably big-time. He's at the Riviera, one of the most familiar casino names in Vegas history. Even if it's a bit landlocked these days, new management is working to turn the old place around.

Two new afternoon shows at the Rio -- impressionist Bethany Owen and "The Two Kings" tributes to Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson -- can pin hopes on a prestigious address. Quality hotel, sizable room count. Never mind that they're not in the actual showroom, but a converted former restaurant next to it. Gotta start somewhere.

The Rio is much easier to find than the Clarion, formerly the Greek Isles, formerly the Debbie Reynolds. There too, magician Tommy Wind isn't going into the big theater, but the small one that used to be Debbie's museum screening room.

The Clarion is near the Royal Resort Vegas, which just opened the Royal House showroom and four shows. The man in charge is Joe Sanfelippo, and because he also runs the chain of Bonkerz comedy clubs, he has a good sense of humor about being arguably the lowest man on the Vegas totem pole.

"It's not something I'm going to make a killing on, just something I like," he says of the former banquet room that seats 100. "It's got limitations, but it's a good room for someone to start in."

Sanfelippo says Las Vegas magician Seth Grabel, or self-help comedian Brad Tassell, would probably pay at least $1,000 per night's rent in a more established theater. "In a little room like this they spend $1,000 per week" for billboards on the backs of trucks and coupon ads, as long as they don't mind working for the money they make at the door.

"It's kind of like you're test-marketing yourself. And if it doesn't work, he's not going to be broke when it's over with."

But Sanfelippo gets to the larger, more universal truth about entertainers when he says, "I think people believe in themselves." There is a history of upward mobility for the fortunate few who can sell their act to a larger property.

"I think people believe that they can be that guy."

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.