On The Road Day 1, “I is a Carny”

One word of caution, if you’re offended by adult themes and some foul language, please go no further. I’d like to see you do this and never utter a dozen curse words.

Note, this week in the life of being a Carny, started on this past  Sunday evening. However, I am posting here on Thursday night. Because of logistics, old age and very little personal time, I am catching up as I go. I want to thank my wife who is manning the house while I am away seeing America. She is also doing the little things us bloggers need to get done on a routine basis. Such as clicking on other peoples blogs and adding comments and keeping up with marketing like Entrecard and the like. For those of you that never blogged before, more than likely you got here because of the little things we do to get our sites in front of you. With that said I do hope you enjoy this series of  my journey.

I is a Carny. Day One

For any terms you might not be familar with, here is a link to help you; Carnival Glossary. The one thing you can say about being a carny, is that they start very early in the morning. Actually, some days they never sleep. This was the case today, my first. In reality, it started last night when I had to meet up with my new employer. Please know I will not divulge anyones or companies real name. Our exact location has also been changed, as I know you guys are smart peeps and can find out what fairs are being run in certain parts of the country as I write.  “all names have been changed to protect the innocent“.

Sunday:

After packing minimally, just the necessities I was told, seems they have a problem with things disappearing, hmmmm. I had my wife drive with me to the location of their last fair, which was over 2 hours away. You see they would rather not have you bring any transportation it seems, so you get from fair to fair using their vehicles. Those of us who still have a legal drivers license have the great opportunity to drive one of the many trucks that contain all the game, booth and ride paraphernalia from location to location. This also makes it harder for someone to quit, as they will be left in a city without any vehicle.

We finally arrive just as the fair is about to close, usually on a Sunday around 8 pm and sometimes as late as midnight. I kiss and hug my bride, for what seems eerily to me the feeling of a person being incarcerated and in the back of my mind wondering will they be there once I am let out. Of course this was just your normal paranoia that creeps in and my PMA (positive mental attitude) kicks in and I overcome the anxious feeling that swells in the pit of my stomach.  At that moment I realize damn the Valium is at home on the nightstand. Looks like I will be facing this head on.

It is a beautiful pre-fall evening the sun just set and the glow of multi colored lights from every stand and ride beam at me. My thoughts of the smell of cotton candy in the air are quickly replaced by the smell of diesel fuel and lubricant that assaults my senses. I pass by the side of the of the Merry-go-round to the back lot where the trailers are set for the owners and managers of this company. I am here to speak with “Jack” who I was informed will get me set up for what will become my everyday life for the next coming week, months, oh god do I even type years to come.

I knock on the trailer door that is marked office and hear a yell to come on in. Seated at a desk in this 12′ by 60′ trailer is a women who reminds me of Aunt Bea from the Andy Griffith Show, minus the poofed up hair, motherly look and clean house dress, replaced by a cap that is embroidered on the front that states “Hi Loser” and a sweatshirt with what I think were pictures of Pomeranian dogs.

She barks at me to have a seat, Jack will be back shortly, he had to go talk to a fair official. (I find out later in the night he was actually talking to a sheriff who had one of his workers in the back seat, cuffed and ready to be taken away). As I sit waiting I browse a magazine called Amusement Today, a fairly large publication with what seemed to have everything a person in this industry would need to know. From dates of festivals to classified ads selling used Pizza trailers and the like.  I see one for over $300,000 and think to myself how many slices of pizza one must sell to pay that thing off .

Jack:

What seems like 2 hours pass and Jack shows up. An abrupt, upfront, no BS kind of guy, whose hands are like old leather, cracked and shinny from the years of being outside working on rides.  A wad of every imaginable key is hooked onto his belt and he too wears a baseball cap, but his bares no saying, just a white sweat band that circles above the brim. He tells me to follow him to another room in the small trailer where a cardboard box filled with used polyester polo shirts awaits. He tells me to find a couple and that he needs to get a picture of me for my mandatory ID badge. As I rummage through the box the smell alone should have told me to run and fast. I held my breath and thought of my family and found two shirts with the cleanest appearance.

He informs me I have 30 minutes to get  settled in,  shows me to another trailer that reminds me of 15 port-a-potties welded together and shows me to what will be my home away from home. God how did I forget my Valium!!!!!!!!! Jack lets me know that I am to meet him in 30 minutes next to the corn dog trailer where he informs me I can get free coffee if I want. ( More on Jack throughout this series.) I stand in front of the door to my home afraid to unlock it. Gone are all thoughts of family, home and anything remotely affiliated with the normalcy I’ve come to take for granted in my life . All I can hear now is my mind rotating the phrase in my head. What the fuck did you do???????

I open the door to check out where I will be staying. I climb up the two metal mesh stairs and enter my sanctuary. It consists of a single bed, two shelves and what looks like a storage bin. My eyes take in each wall and next to some graffiti I see the one object that brings a smile to my face. An electrical outlet.  I lay down my bag and do what most people do when they first enter a hotel room, namely jump on the bed.  While I was afraid to jump I did sit on the edge, put my head in my hands and rubbed my eyes. What was I expecting, to open them and see myself somewheres else?  Scrawled next to head of the bed in black marker two words were left by the former occupant.  Was this an omen, coincidence or was it to be my new mantra.  It read: Hi Loser, the last thing I will get to see every night before I sleep. How lovely..

I gathered up my new uniform and quickly shoved it over my head, not trying to think where or who had it last. I  needed to get out of this room as quickly as possible. I shoved the only thing of worth, my laptop, under the bed. (Like no one would ever find it there).  I locked the door and headed to the midway to get my first glance of those who I will hopefully get to know.

Karla:

As I walk on the down the midway I notice the lack of fair goers. Maybe because it is Sunday evening, or the economy hasn’t spared this industry either. I tend to look at the few people who are remaining and see a family with two children. They look as though they are there escaping. No discernible smiles or sense of enjoyment. I think to myself how lucky they are because they are together and how easy it is to just get in their car and leave. This is when I make a commitment to myself to never look at my situation and whine about it. The only thing this will do is make my time go annoyingly slow and make me  a victim. Hell I lost a job, the things I cherish most I still can enjoy, well, everything except freedom.

Stopping at the bright yellow and green trailer with waving flags above it, proclaiming Corn Dogs, I look inside to see something I have missed in the last few days, namely, someone smiling.  Her smile was genuine and before I knew it she was in front of me and with a kind inflection in her voice, said. “What can I get for you kiddo” Ha. And for the first time in a long time, a smile appeared across my face as well.  She looked all of 110 pounds soaking wet, short brown hair, with a five o’clock moustache shadow and probably in her 50′s as well. Remember it doesn’t take much for you to influence another human being in a positive way.

“I’ll take a large cup of Joe, light and sweet please”

She quickly poured the cup, as though she could serve anything in the trailer with her eyes shut, and responded:  “That will be $3.50 kiddo”.

Not thinking I reached in my pocket and gave her a $5 bill and said to keep it. Forgetting all about the fact that Jack told me the coffee was free. I grabbed the cup and started to turn when she shouted back “don’t forget your change”, and responded to her “that’s OK it’s all yours for that big smile, kiddo”.

Time for work:

The grounds are abuzz of activity now. The fair is officially closed. Because I am a newbie and I have gray hair, I get to start breaking down easier area’s of the midway. As opposed to climbing to the top of the Ferris Wheel and disassembling it. The time is about quarter past 10 and the colorful lights are replaced by harsh white floods. I spend most of my night loading up trucks with supplies and help closing up some games. In particular, I get to close up one of my favorites I loved when I was a kid, The Water Shooter. That’s the one where everyone sits at the rail and has a water gun and has to point it and fill their container with water and the first one to fill theirs wins a prize.  Needless to say I am wet, dirty and dead tired. I have not remotely thought of my room with my single outlet and laptop hidden away.

I could spend this whole post on the people I have met already, but will save that for another post when it is a slow day. The Carnys have broken down the week to their terms. It is as follows:

Sunday: Breakdown day. The whole crew works well into the early morning taking down everything, packing it up to go on to the next venue. We basically follow the sun or warm weather. After summer has gone in the north all of the fairs and carnivals head to the southern part of the country. Next destination is Kentucky, Yee Haw

Monday: Travel day. Depending on how far of a travel it is and what date the next fair starts, this day is usually spent driving and trying to get in some rest if possible. Some parts of the crew can still be at the old venue, finishing up the break down process.

Tuesday: Opening day. Many fairs and festivals start up on Tuesday. So, before the first ride is taken, or corn dog enjoyed, everything has to be assembled, filled, stocked and inspected. Each town and location in the country has their own state and county inspectors. Whether they are making sure all the bolts are tightened on the bumper cars or making sure the temperature is correct on the frying oil for your Fried Dough.

Wednesday: The lights are on and the excitement is in the air for those who come early to enjoy the fun. This is the official first day of the event and everyone gets settled in for the 5 day run. All the kinks are worked out. Hint: If you plan on putting the kids on the rides, I personally wouldn’t. If there is a problem it is on the first day, let others break their neck first

Thursday through Saturday: Wristband day.These days are always the largest crowd days. These are the days they run the wrist band promotions for rides. You know the pay one price deal and get to ride all day for one price. These are usually the three days all the local drunks come out, especially at night. Why is it that an event geared to children and does not even serve booze, hasso many drunks? More likely for most towns this is the biggest event all year round, so let’s get dressed up in our best shorts, cake on the make up or get your mullet trimmed, brush your two teef and head out to the fair. Also these are the days when all the top entertainent runs. From Air Supply to Shania Twain look-a-likes perform. And of course no fair would not be complete with the two top events, the Miss Dairy Farm contest and yup you got it The Demolition Derby.

It’s going to be a long week.

In closing, I already have enough material, interesting people, and crazy happenings to fill two blogs. I am sure you will want to hear the what happens tomorrow. I personally want to awaken and have dreamt this whole thing up. I can assure you every comment is read and cherished while relaxing in my comfortable digs here on the back lot. I just had a flash back from my younger years, the waifing of smoke in the air is BBQ ribs, but the pungent order of weed, being partaken by the guys who run the kiddie rides.

So until tomorrow, be well and stay dry.

Photo’s courtesy of  Webshots, (not getting a camera stolen as well)

Short URL: http://man-over-board.com/?p=1902

Posted by Glenn on Sep 17 2009 Filed under NEWS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry