The weather gods have not been particularly kind to Wisconsin this summer thus far, and I’ve had the opportunity to experience a few intense storms this season. When a major storm hits, if the carnival is set up, everyone is expected to jump out of bed and run to the lot to batten down the [...]
Speaking about money or wages is frowned on in the carnie world. To the best of my knowledge, this is because everyone makes a different amount of money. Most people are on salary. The starting salary is $290/week. Those with more responsibilities and privileges make more than that. Some game attendants, however, especially the good [...]
The carnival today is a very different place than it was 50 years ago. Most negative associations with carnivals come from these old days, when games were often rigged and town sheriffs were commonly paid off to keep quiet. Games that were impossible to win, unless the attendant let you, were known as flat stores. [...]
show ho: [shoh ho] noun A female who sleeps around with carnie staff. Typically, this refers to a female carnival employee, but from my understanding, she could also be a patron. If you want to be valued and respected out here, it is very important to not be a show ho. There does not seem [...]
jump day: [juhmp dey] noun Jump day refers to the day of the week that the carnival travels to the next town. This day typically falls on Monday or Tuesday, depending on that particular week’s schedule. Jump days are relatively low key for a traveling carnival, until fair season starts. Before fair season, jump days [...]
tear down: [tair doun] noun The day of the week that the carnival rides and games are taken down and packed into trailers to travel to the next town. Tear down occurs on Sundays, after being open for a short day (usually noon to 5 pm). To tear down 3 stick joints in the carnival [...]
Exactly two weeks ago today, I ran away with a carnival. Mr. Ed’s Magical Midway to be exact. (As an aside, thank you to all of your comments and stories patiently awaiting my spotty internet access!) I would like to start sharing some of my experiences on the road out here, starting with the vernacular. [...]
Today, we have a special guest piece from New York magician and circus arts nut, Hijinx: Magicians have been part of circus tradition since the very first big top appeared. Some of the greatest magicians of the 20th century spent their early years under the big top. The legendary Harry Houdini started in show business [...]
Last Monday in El Salvador , two clowns boarded a public bus and shot a man five times for refusing to give them money. The bus rider died and no one has been arrested. But wait! These were no ordinary clowns. They were allegedly imposters, theives pretending to be clowns. In response, 100 professional clowns [...]
Kinker: [kingk-er] noun The workman’s term for a performer. It originates from the fact that many performers were contortionists and aerialists and “kinked” their bodies, but the word came to refer to all performers including clowns.