A Carnie Life

[@thatvampirelorraine]

I am watching this in 2024 and I think it's great!

[@SusieSynth]

I miss the carnivals from the 80s. They played heavy metal on the rides and Michael Jackson and the prizes were cool. Remember the mirrored pictures? Good old days.

[@Davidjon1946]

Hell yeah the mirrors with the cardboard framing I remember like Van Halen 1984 album cover ones. Or Twisted Sister or the Golden Ring Toss that would have the $10 bills or the handcuffs. And then that design Booth where you could get like a custom made bubble jet ink onto like a pennant banner type material? You know what I'm talkin about probably

[@real_Pinoy]

Carnies live on the road from city to city

[@foahsdarb]

I was thinking that last week when I took my son to the fair. Ride the lighting on the tilt a whirl back in the day. 😆

[@kingjupiter5795]

I miss hearing eminem

[@ChristopherB.1976]

Fuck yeah! I still have a mirror picture of a skunk that's says"lil stinker" anyone else?

[@danielj4]

We need more of this come 2025 Carney’s are the best

[@alanroberts7916]

a carnie has many hats to wear. a mechanic. a sales person. a clown. buisnessmen (and women). construction. etc...!!! it takes a special kind of person with a high tolerance level who basically loves people.

[@monachericevollbracht7604]

It worked With a carnival for a year in the 90’s, its very hard work, the pay is low, but the traveling was nice and seeing the excitement on the faces of all of the kids and people each night was great, and as someone stated below that carnies all have body odor, that isn’t true of everyone, I was clean everyday, it’s the respect you have for yourself.

[@joycew1560]

Mona Cherice Galliardt ty

[@ooocarniegirlooo]

Loved hearing and seeing the happy families all the time ❣️🤗☮️🎠🎉

[@stevengriffith436]

I worked and traveled with a carnival in mn when I was 16 early 90s. Worked a game on percentage made about 400 a week. It was a rough life but now I'm a trucker.

[@connerpipa3787]

8 years of beeing a carnie ridejock. lots of lifting what sucks but runing it is fun

[@ooocarniegirlooo]

🤗❤️☮️🎠🎉

[@lilmuscledude2003]

When I was younger and worked the carnival, we played two fairs a week during the months of July and August. So that meant we had over night jumps to make. We played a Monday thru Wednesday fair, tore down, got in the trucks and moved the show to the next spot, got some sleep then set up to open Thursday evening for a Thursday thru Sunday fair. The idea for that was to play enough fairs in hopes to make enough money to carry us through the winter. Yes, we were very tired and some were very grumpy because of little sleep. I might add that the lot man didn't have a tape measure to lay out the lot with. He did it by stepping it off and locating the rides and joints. Now days many of the rides are trailer mounted making it easier and quicker to set up and tear down. Today's midways are not flashed like they used to be. They use vinyl stickers to make the ride look flashy. We painted the flash on by hand but that's become a lost art now too. Most show owners don't know this. When Bruce Sellner was alive he made the paint color available to all show owners. He made his "Sellner Blue" color available at all NAPA stores so they could always paint the "Tilt-A-Whirl" factory colors. I still have an original flyer from Sellner that had all the old clowns, stripes and designs that Sellner used on the Tilt. My plan was to scan them into the computer so they could be used again on the Tilt-A-Whirls again. Drug use? We didn't use drugs and there are probably more drug abusers in the communities than there is on the show. Carnies are always under the most scrutiny because of the stereo type they received way back before we were even born. Background checks and random drug testing takes place on the carnival too. Alcohol? We weren't allowed to have a beer or a drink until AFTER the show closed with NO exceptions! I wish I could tell you more but I have to go.

[@BigEvan96]

More!

[@ooocarniegirlooo]

Circus jumps were the craziest! ❤️☮️🎠🎉

[@lilmuscledude2003]

@@ooocarniegirlooo We didn't call them Circus jumps because we were a Carnival. Therefore we called them over nighters because there is a difference between a Carnival and a Circus!

[@lilmuscledude2003]

@@BigEvan96 What more do you want to know!

[@ooocarniegirlooo]

@@lilmuscledude2003 are you kidding me a circus jump means when you have a short period between jumps and a lot of work to do it's a figure of speech - carnie talk on my show. Geez DUDE!

[@renechavez914]

It looks like a fun job except for the pay. I have always been impressed with the with the set up and tear down of the rides.

[@ooocarniegirlooo]

Don't really have any expenses tho.. just food, laundry and gas if you have a car ❤️☮️🎠🎉

[@afizzle9535]

Set up tear down is where u earn ur paycheck 🥴

[@zachradocaj3531]

Life on the road is tough, it takes a very special type of person to do this the majority of society can't do what carnies do. For anywhere from typically 7-9 months you bust your ass. You get no days off, little time off, little sleep, and and are always working. Not to mention you are either going from motel to motel or staying in a bunkhouse which is a very tight space with very little privacy, I have also sleeped under my ride or in my game when I didn't have a bunkhouse and in the old days that's how everyone did it. Very little fuck ups can lead to you getting your ass beat by your boss or crew. Everyone hates carnies, marks think you are a looser drug addict, everyone judges you when you leave the lot. The pay sucks just about everything else sucks but it gets in your blood and after a while your crew becomes your family and the Midway becomes your home. It's not a job its a way of life and I would still be out there but I moved on in life to make a better life for my future kid and am now working construction. With it for it never against it

[@ooocarniegirlooo]

I miss it alot 😭🌈🎠🎉

[@AnnaD25]

Yep, crazy ball and glass pitch had sleeping bags in it...💕

[@monachericevollbracht7604]

There are good people and bad in every walk of life

[@jvolgelstein6278]

Ty

[@williamhunt2819]

Their is a passenger who rides my bus and he is an old Carnie guy. His parents were Carnie folks to and they had him on the road. He is a really nice wonderful guy.

[@JamesSalie]

I spent all of the 70s 80s and 90s traveling with American carnivals.

[@llongdong]

I worked wit a carnival in the 19 and 80s. I slept up under the Carousel at nighttime. Had me a little TV up under there. Plenty of liquor and women too. Hit wuz better din dis place I got now. Wuz there for 17 years.

[@ctrl8337]

I bet you didn't have any quality poontang under that carousel though.

[@Terry-nx8kg]

​@@ctrl8337It all feels the same in the dark though, don't it?

[@mikeymike7233]

​@@Terry-nx8kg beauty is only a light switch away! ;)

[@aaronking7326]

I worked calling in the Bingo joint....It was fun, the pay wasn't Great, And the hours were long....I met alot of people.....Id do it again

[@redchojnowski7159]

I thought about becoming a traveling carnival worker when I was younger. But I'm 40 now, and I'm afraid I'm too old. That for the teenagers and twentysomethings.

[@user-ue8vp6fy8y]

You should go for it man

[@jonahtristan1062]

I'm a showman (I do games) all of my crew is older than 40. one is 65! you're not too old. if you were to do it, you'd be surprised what you can be capable of.

[@David-j7c6w]

I’m 56 and still do it , I have a college degree. I drive a truck and set up rides and meet some interesting people.

[@sjtom57]

The pay pretty much sucks unless you're foreman of a major ride or own a ride or joint, but it sure gets in your blood.

[@001GenLee]

yes it does! ( n your blood ) ive worked on a few shows..

[@wildandwackywade]

it's worth it

[@Addyboyflips]

Obviously you don’t know very much about the carnival business

[@ooocarniegirlooo]

Started out in kiddie land - was a ticket seller , just don't know if I coulda done it being a ridejock.. 💔🤗☮️🎠

[@toxictoons1374]

This reminds me of my oil drilling rig , tear down and tear up every city to city.

[@ooocarniegirlooo]

I miss midnightht madness, I miss the sound of sleeping in a running semi and the sound of the ring o fire, generators, laughters😭🎠🌈🎉

[@ambervalk5343]

Me too!

[@ooocarniegirlooo]

@@ambervalk5343I used to sleep like a baby lol

[@georgiablueangel9607]

when I was younger I wanted to work in a carnival

[@MsJinkerson]

I operated an Octopus years ago

[@alanroberts7916]

we were kids in the burbs of Chicago and as we got close to getting on the OCTOPUS i told my friend jimmy " i hope we dont get number 7!" "why? asked jim" cause something bad happened in that one." the carnie then said " the same thing that has happened in all the other ones!!!"

[@davidjensen7880]

I am sadned by new laws that are taking the ride operator jobs to seasonal alein workers it makes it no fun anymore they are not friendly they are zombies now with a vest and a hard hat

[@samvimes9510]

When I grow up I wanna be a carny

[@willbaack9146]

+Richard Cardone Guess it takes one to know one. Bet you can't name another profession yeah profession where the employees work so hard to make the pittance they earn. And Sam Vimes, you don't want to be a carnie I promise. IE not Y fyi.

[@djs2356]

what is the 'carnie code' ??????

[@matthewrice1379]

Watching this make me miss it

[@GodbreadGilfredBiago]

I do not want to sit through this two minute intro

[@mbry4141]

I don't want to sit trough this.

[@ooocarniegirlooo]

Haha I thought it was a slideshow ??

[@mickmarty2082]

Perfectly stated...almost as tho they DIDNT want ANYONE to c this!

[@thatvampirelorraine]

In UK your called showman

[@smokingjoe9864]

Lillydale news? I am from the east side. White bear and larpentuer

[@jonthomas708]

Ive been with it for 4 years almost 5 years.

[@RCardone82]

.

[@jonthomas708]

its pretty hard in the carnival

[@001GenLee]

congrats! i helped tear down a fav ride of mine n 09, the Chance Sky Diver.

[@williamsmith4198]

Jon Thomas why?? whats difficult a out it?? how much do you make a day????

[@boisebadboy93]

Out of curiosity, what are you doing now? I'd like to hear your story

[@DAVEandGiGi]

Does it mean something bad when a carnie had two different color shoes. Does it have to do with child trafficking or abuse.

[@christinewightman5948]

It just means they got dressed in the dark.

[@drown_n]

?????????

[@mikeymike7233]

They could be color blind

[@jameswhitfield2523]

who is hireing for next season? im ready to go back to to the carny life but want to make better mo0ney! ive worked with Johnny reed,murphy bros, and geran rides out of Georgia ,

[@willbaack9146]

+James Whitfield www.mattscarnivalwarehouse.com

[@ericrupert4]

Will Baack do you hire ppl from pa

[@aaqilian5.085]

Did he ever make it back to the carnie life 🤔

[@mason8852]

Every carnie I experienced just yells and try’s to make fun of me when I don’t play the game that is rigged

[@MEKON17]

nice vid but why does it cut short?

[@dirtcheapfarmer1855]

Nice to see some new start up companies.

[@dixieboy5689]

When I grow up I want to be a Carnie.

[@dixieboy5689]

@Donnell Okafor >> It looks like a fun job. Plus I love corn dogs. Carnies get free corndogs for lunch. Thats why I want to be a carny.

[@mikeymike7233]

Stay in school kid.

[@elleryparsons5766]

I helped tear down All I did it wasn’t Easy you had a choice you had it or you didn’t it Wasn’t for me.

[@ooocarniegirlooo]

Thank you 😊❤️☮️🎠🎉

[@DAVEandGiGi]

Ur life seems interesting to me.

[@AllanJohnson-cs3gp]

Hey you don't know something woodway no on koel Bird shows here you gave a quarter surcharge and you give that guy with the ponytail head and the children were involved

[@lonewilf7938]

Is the money really worth it though. What do you guys make a week between three and five hundred would be my guess. You have to live rough. Your out in the heat all day. It's hard heavy work. If you like to travel there are smarter ways to do it. Why not work for a company that will pay for your hotel rooms instead of living in old trailers. There are jobs in telecommunications that will pay per diem on top of your pay. And there is plenty of room for advancement. And you can travel all year instead of just for a season and then have to find more work when you return home.

[@xx99strrxx]

they stated pretty clearly it wasnt about the money

[@christinewightman5948]

Try more like 200 a week.

[@Terry-nx8kg]

​@@christinewightman5948Jeez that is rough...

[@amyjojinkerson6745]

we never use the word carnie we use the word showperson

[@werewasyo]

nomads

[@frostyjim2633]

Kings among men

[@jameswhitfield2523]

i need phone numbers and salary range.

[@willbaack9146]

+James Whitfield Matt's carnival warehouse. Check the classifieds.

[@001GenLee]

most shows r hiring. they want a hard worker though.

[@geodezix]

If you ever smell something like Marlboros mixed with BO, then you're downwind from a carnie.

[@MsJinkerson]

I was a show person and take the word carny as an insult

[@davidjensen7880]

Its ride operater

[@smokingjoe9864]

@@davidjensen7880 throttle jockey

[@smokingjoe9864]

A showman is different. A showman worked the oddities tent where there was a show. A jointy is what you are.

[@ctrl8337]

Do have any side hustles working at the carnival? Like, after hours type stuff for the other workers?

[@Terry-nx8kg]

​@@ctrl8337Face painting after dark.

[@georger.rmartinhat9366]

One time the carni cheat me of the stuffed animal ...how in the fuck ...plz show me thir secret

[@annwilkiemeyer7655]

A Circus Is Not a carnival

[@bradygriffin5080]

what a weird video

[@xx99strrxx]

i thought it was a good watch though

[@joestout2959]

It’s a way of life I won’t experience, fascinating.

[@thisguy1807]

what a weird comment

[@PvtPabst]

!!! Our {home} will be destroyed if we do not Resist this "New normal" now!

[@madiharper9219]

Watching this because I met a hot carnie from South Africa at the fair and got his number LOL

[@ScottOctober]

lmao

[@ladistar]

Lmao for real

[@boisebadboy93]

And whatever happened with him? Interested to hear the story lol

[@Terry-nx8kg]

​@@boisebadboy93I'd like to know too! Maybe he did face painting after hours as a side hustle!

[@DeanMichaelDorman]

protip: fill lighting

[@fast03vette4me]

Commercial canned carnie carnitas can`t compare... to freshly made carnie carnitas. Make sure a real Carnie cooks the carnie carnitas.

[@douglasthompson9482]

what a waste of time....sorry bunch.

[@Terry-nx8kg]

I don't know why, but this comment made me laugh pretty hard.

[@joshuawood362]

i miss my hometown of 1000 ppl carnival out in the middle of the sticks. The place had a stench of losers, thieves, criminals, vagrants, rip-offs and dirtballs

[@ctrl8337]

Do any of the female carnies sell poontang to the other workers after hours?

[@aaqilian5.085]

Asking the important questions.