Nels Ross - Performer, Speaker, Oddball
Nels Ross is a professional performer, speaker, and oddball. As CEO of In Jest, Inc., he works solo and with others to provide uplifting shows, keynotes, and more in the United States, Canada, and abroad (see injest.com). When he is not traveling and inspiring people to "live, laugh, love, and learn," Nels lives in Buffalo, NY with his wife and five kids.*
His full name is Nels Ross Cremean, but he uses Ross for his stage name. "It's easier for people to pronounce and remember," he says, "Plus it confuses creditors and crazy relatives who keep trying to find me."
The seeds were planted for a life of foolishness when Nels went to his first performing arts workshops at eight years old. During the next decade, he studied physical comedy, juggling, acting, and other arts, applying his talents everywhere from street festivals to theatrical productions.
Since those early days, Nels has studied theater at the University at Buffalo, completed degrees in mathematics and education, toured with a non-profit circus, trained with instructors from Ringling Brothers and Cirque du Soleil, written for Juggle magazine, taught performing arts courses and workshops, and provided shows and presentations for all kinds of groups and events.
Working mostly by word of mouth and referrals, Nels has been performing and speaking professionally since 1992 and full time since 1996. "I've been blessed," he relates, "Somehow I manage to spread joy, pay my bills, and feed my kids at least once a week." He also manages to bless others by giving, and by doing reduced fee and volunteer work.†
Nels continues to defy gravity wherever he goes. "Sure, I guess you could say I do that with my juggling," he explains, "but my greater purpose is to defy undue graveness or 'terminal seriousness' and to help people find more joy in life."
