July 2008

Consider for a moment some homespun memories from your childhood.  Maybe a fond one is about that vacation to the Grand Canyon, your family traveling in an RV with sounds from an eight-track flowing through tinny speakers and the fights you had with your brother over who got shotgun.  Maybe another includes weeks spent on the beach shore, waking to the sounds of gulls and the briny scent of the ocean.  It all depends on your unique family and where you grew up, I suppose.  Perhaps a memory that the majority of us hold involves the county fair and its exhilarating rides, delectable treats, and charged atmosphere including music, raucous friends, and the laughter of unbridled youth.
The fair is an event and a destination, a celebration and an experience.   A visit to the fair leaves an indelible mark on your childhood memories because it touches all of your senses – the sights, the sounds, the tastes, the scents and touches (I’m thinking of the FHA/ag areas).  I know how much my children look forward to the inevitable county fair.  It’s a big treat.  We took them last week and ended up dropping about $100 while being conservative with our expenditures.  Four armbands (I do not partake in the rides, thank you very much.  Yak city.), three ice cream cones, one bag of cotton candy, and one box of popcorn later, the cash my husband had planned to take with him to a hockey tournament the next day was obliterated.  But the kids clearly enjoyed themselves and had behaved well, so it was worth it.
Viewing the fair through adult eyes, though, I’m a little resentful of the carney company.  Not so much for what seems like exorbitant fees, but rather the lackluster quality and gloss of their entire outfit.  I recognize that carney work is by nature suitable for people without roots and possibly incomplete educations.  I won’t pretend that there isn’t a stereotype and that it’s invalid.  But I can’t help but think that with a little more effort and ingenuity, the carney company could increase its appeal to families which would lead to increased revenues.
Ideas for improving the experience and making an emotional connection (magic happen):

• Unify the vendors, ride operators, and other staff through team shirts styled in yesteryear fashion.  Nothing fancy, but a solid color button-front shirt with some embroidery and traditional styling would just “feel” right.
• Bring a sense of “event” by exacting simple hygiene and dress code standards.  There’s a saying about feeling the way you dress; if operators and vendors appear seedy, then they aren’t empowered to be confident, nor are they encouraged to interact with ride-goers in a positive way.
• If operators and vendors aren’t interacting with the crowed, then some of the authentic atmosphere is lost.  There should be a convivial feel to the experience, a sense of magic and awe.  That can be improved by the energy and vibe projected by the operators.
• Bring in the fair master, the charming, persistent, cajoling buy with the straw hat and cane who says things like “Step right up!” and “Win the little lady. . .”

I was disappointed at our fair to find the operators, well, dirty and inattentive, more focused on their text messages and their cigarettes than on delivering joy to fairgoers.  Surely my $100 should have bought me a little charm, a little authenticity.

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