"Carny" Work

[Debater Slayer]

I have lately been interested in the fairly unique, seemingly exhausting lifestyle that being a "carny" entails. From being perpetually on the road to pulling all-nighters in order to set up and take apart the various carnival attractions, the whole job sounds extremely demanding and distinct.

For those unfamiliar with the term, as I was up until a few years ago, this is what it stands for:

Carny, also spelled carnie, is an informal term used in North America for a traveling carnival employee, and the language they use, particularly when the employee operates a game ("joint"), food stand ("grab", "popper" or "floss wagon"), or ride ("ride jock") at a carnival. The term "showie" is used synonymously in Australia.[1]

Carny - Wikipedia

Has anyone here experienced life as a "carny" or known someone who has? If so, what was it like? What were the best and worst aspects of it?

 

[Quagmire]

Where to start?

 

[Debater Slayer]

Where to start?

Good question. Maybe what your first few weeks at the job were like! I'd also love to hear about other facets of the job, of course, such as how life on the road was and how the sleeping schedule was. I realize that might require a long post, though, so share or not at your own leisure.

 

[Wu Wei]

I have lately been interested in the fairly unique, seemingly exhausting lifestyle that being a "carny" entails. From being perpetually on the road to pulling all-nighters in order to set up and take apart the various carnival attractions, the whole job sounds extremely demanding and distinct.

For those unfamiliar with the term, as I was up until a few years ago, this is what it stands for:



Carny - Wikipedia

Has anyone here experienced life as a "carny" or known someone who has? If so, what was it like? What were the best and worst aspects of it?

I don't know much, I had a cousin who did it for 1 year, all I know was she only did it for that 1 year and never went back nor did she have any desire to do that again.

sorry I could not give you more info

 

[JustGeorge]

When I was a kid, I had a friend who's father did this.

I didn't know much about it at the time; I was very young. Dad would just be gone for awhile... Being older, and understanding more, I feel it was a very destructive lifestyle. It was hard on her herself, her mother, and sister, as he was gone more than he was around. I also believe, through things that would be whispered between adults, it was a scene overrun with drugs, and I have no reason to believe he wasn't a part of that(though once he quit that career, he finally cleaned up and they built a decent life).

 

[dybmh]

Where to start?

Stories about Carny romance on the road, of course

 

[Debater Slayer]

I don't know much, I had a cousin who did it for 1 year, all I know was she only did it for that 1 year and never went back nor did she have any desire to do that again.

sorry I could not give you more info

Thanks anyway! Any and all info is appreciated.

 

[Debater Slayer]

When I was a kid, I had a friend who's father did this.

I didn't know much about it at the time; I was very young. Dad would just be gone for awhile... Being older, and understanding more, I feel it was a very destructive lifestyle. It was hard on her herself, her mother, and sister, as he was gone more than he was around. I also believe, through things that would be whispered between adults, it was a scene overrun with drugs, and I have no reason to believe he wasn't a part of that(though once he quit that career, he finally cleaned up and they built a decent life).

I have read about the drug issues, which doesn't surprise me considering the demanding nature of the job. Still, I wouldn't assume all carnies did drugs by default.

It's good to know that your friend's dad built a better life after! Do you know what he did for a living after leaving that job?

 

[JustGeorge]

I have read about the drug issues, which doesn't surprise me considering the demanding nature of the job. Still, I wouldn't assume all carnies did drugs by default.

It's good to know that your friend's dad built a better life after! Do you know what he did for a living after leaving that job?

No, of course they're not all drug addicts. It would just not be an ideal path for someone who's prone to fall victim to such things, though, in my opinion.

I can't remember what he did after; they moved away shortly after he became more present. They were about four hours from me at that point, and I remember staying with them during the summer... he had a great sense of humor, and made a hell of a burrito. I loved his father, too, who looked like Santa Claus(and let you believe he was).

 

[Shadow Wolf]

It's something I thought I might like to do for a year, but no more because I've just been curious about that lifestyle and want just a good look in. For someone with such a family friendly front, from all I've heard it's anything but behind the scenes.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I have lately been interested in the fairly unique, seemingly exhausting lifestyle that being a "carny" entails. From being perpetually on the road to pulling all-nighters in order to set up and take apart the various carnival attractions, the whole job sounds extremely demanding and distinct.

For those unfamiliar with the term, as I was up until a few years ago, this is what it stands for:



Carny - Wikipedia

Has anyone here experienced life as a "carny" or known someone who has? If so, what was it like? What were the best and worst aspects of it?

My cousin was a carny. Did it seasonally for decades and he seemed to enjoy it.

 

[Heyo]

I have lately been interested in the fairly unique, seemingly exhausting lifestyle that being a "carny" entails. From being perpetually on the road to pulling all-nighters in order to set up and take apart the various carnival attractions, the whole job sounds extremely demanding and distinct.

For those unfamiliar with the term, as I was up until a few years ago, this is what it stands for:



Carny - Wikipedia

Has anyone here experienced life as a "carny" or known someone who has? If so, what was it like? What were the best and worst aspects of it?

The closest I've come to that is with medieval markets. Setting it up, working the entrance, tearing it down, driving the truck, putting things back in storage. But that's only for one event, sometimes two if they are on following weekends.

 

[exchemist]

I have lately been interested in the fairly unique, seemingly exhausting lifestyle that being a "carny" entails. From being perpetually on the road to pulling all-nighters in order to set up and take apart the various carnival attractions, the whole job sounds extremely demanding and distinct.

For those unfamiliar with the term, as I was up until a few years ago, this is what it stands for:



Carny - Wikipedia

Has anyone here experienced life as a "carny" or known someone who has? If so, what was it like? What were the best and worst aspects of it?

Ask Mark Carney, perhaps?

Mark Carney - Wikipedia

 

[Revoltingest]

Where to start?

With....
"Gooble gobble..."

 

[Audie]

I have lately been interested in the fairly unique, seemingly exhausting lifestyle that being a "carny" entails. From being perpetually on the road to pulling all-nighters in order to set up and take apart the various carnival attractions, the whole job sounds extremely demanding and distinct.

For those unfamiliar with the term, as I was up until a few years ago, this is what it stands for:



Carny - Wikipedia

Has anyone here experienced life as a "carny" or known someone who has? If so, what was it like? What were the best and worst aspects of it?

From book I remember the line-
" A woman with the hard and knowing eyes of a carny.."

 

[Quagmire]

lol! Right now I'm watching final destination 3. That's the one where a bunch of people are killed in various gruesome ways at a carnival.

(In real life that almost never happened)

 

[Debater Slayer]

lol! Right now I'm watching final destination 3. That's the one where a bunch of people are killed in various gruesome ways at a carnival.

(In real life that almost never happened)

Have you watched the fourth season of American Horror Story? It was called Freak Show. I mostly found it so much more depressing than scary or gruesome, and it was also quite thought-provoking. As the title suggests, it centers around a "freak show" with various outcast carnival workers in the '50s.

 

[Quagmire]

Have you watched the fourth season of American Horror Story?

That's That's my favorite season.

It was called Freak Show.
I mostly found it so much more depressing than scary or gruesome, and it was also quite thought-provoking. As the title suggests, it centers around a "freak show" with various outcast carnival workers in the '50s.

I thought it did a good job of capturing the small-town-on-wheels atmosphere of the carnival.

"outcast carnival workers" is kind of redundant.

Most of us were societal misfits of some sort.

 

[Debater Slayer]

That's That's my favorite season.

I loved Jessica Lange's acting in that one. The way she maintained a German accent while singing Life on Mars was incredible, despite the anachronism of that song's being performed in the '50s.

I thought it did a good job of capturing the small-town-on-wheels atmosphere of the carnival.

"outcast carnival workers" is kind of redundant.

Most of us were societal misfits of some sort.

You're making me even more curious to know more about working as a carny.

 

[JustGeorge]

You're making me even more curious to know more about working as a carny.

Are you considering it for yourself?