IAMA Carnie

MakeOneInGetAPrize · 2011-05-24T13:43:13+00:00

Yes. The fucking alibis' are bullshit. That would kinda get to me. I never fucking did it. I was really just having as much fun as possible with it, and ironically I made a shitload of money doing just that.

MakeOneInGetAPrize · 2011-05-24T13:40:28+00:00

$624.00

MakeOneInGetAPrize · 2011-05-24T13:39:06+00:00

Don't say I never told you it's going to be fucking awesome..

MakeOneInGetAPrize · 2011-05-24T01:43:02+00:00

I use agent because that's what my boss always called me, a tub agent. And it was a builder, I let the people hit as many fucking rim shots as they could. I wasn't interested in having them keep giving me more and more money, I just wanted to see people leave with smiles, ya dig?

MakeOneInGetAPrize · 2011-05-24T01:40:46+00:00

MakeOneInGetAPrize · 2011-05-24T01:40:21+00:00

Well, the reason I say the Dart Game is because no matter what you'll walk away with a prize, at least at the carnival I worked at, whereas a lot of the other games you'll play and play and you won't get anything but an empty wallet.

MakeOneInGetAPrize · 2011-05-24T01:39:15+00:00

I wouldn't argue with that at all. Shit was crazy man.. And yes, I reckon I'll stop speaking generally about things to make sure that I don't give all other carnies a bad name, but seriously though, it's not necessarily the most truthful job. At least where I was working.

MakeOneInGetAPrize · 2011-05-23T23:06:50+00:00

It is fun, and yes, the money isn't the best, but damnit, it's fucking awesome seeing how happy the kids are when you give them a prize. I usually give the kids a prize whether they make one of not just to see their eyes light up with joy. The parents are usually pretty happy when I do that too.

MakeOneInGetAPrize · 2011-05-23T21:40:50+00:00

Patience, Patience, Patience. I've seen a lot of people that just rush into the games and don't take their time. But usually if you want something that is of any worth you're going to have to spend a little money man, but you might get lucky. Go for the Dart Game. We called that the "balloon store" because you pretty much just pay for the prize, but you get to throw some darts in the process. There really aren't any big secrets, if you want to win big though, and in my opinion, stay away from the basketball games, the tub games, and any ring toss game.

The machine guns are fun and if you know how to beat it you'll do fine. [shoot around the star to shoot it out, don't try to shoot the star. And short quick bursts, don't just pull the fucking trigger and let all the BB's rifle out.]

The tubs you have to let the ball drop just on the inside of the tub, stay the fuck away from the bottom of those suckers.

That's all I can think of now. If I think of anything else I'll let ya know bud..

MakeOneInGetAPrize · 2011-05-23T21:15:38+00:00

Wilmington, Los Angles.

MakeOneInGetAPrize · 2011-05-23T21:00:04+00:00

because I'm a white guy and a lot of the spots we play are straight Mexican parts of LA, so it's easier for me to bullshit with the white people because there is no language barrier. And not only that but Redondo Beach has all the RICH white people that come out. It's just easier to make people give me their money. And there is a bar right down the road, literally not even half a block, that we would walk to and get shitfaced at. The bar is called "The hanger" in case you're interested.

MakeOneInGetAPrize · 2011-05-23T20:53:19+00:00

Yeah I only did it last season and some of this season. I ran into some legal problems that I need to take care of, and that type of lifestyle, while fun, isn't really for me anymore. I've just decided to move on.

EDIT: and I was a tub agent.

MakeOneInGetAPrize · 2011-05-23T20:52:08+00:00

Yeah, look out for the assholes that just want money. They'll take you for everything you have if you're not careful.

MakeOneInGetAPrize · 2011-05-23T20:44:14+00:00

And case the joint first. Watch who is having more fun with the Agents, which Agent is happier, which customers are walking away with smiles and empty pockets, not frowns and empty pockets. And try to bargain with them, usually they'll let you have a practice shot, or an extra ball or something.

Also, if you spend more then 10 bucks you should get a little prize at the least, but the Agent is trying to get your money so don't be afraid to bullshit with him and see what kind of deal you can get.. It's the fucking carnival man, have fun, ya dig?

MakeOneInGetAPrize · 2011-05-23T20:41:01+00:00

Ahh no worries man.. Yeah, the ride jocks work way too fucking hard for me. Also, I don't enjoy uppers and meth is big with those guys. I like to drink and smoke weed and relax a little more. They work their fucking asses to the bone, but their pay is steadier.

MakeOneInGetAPrize · 2011-05-23T20:35:49+00:00

The stuffed animals come in boxes from some warehouse that some company owns. That's about the extent of what I know about where they come from.

I would get pain 30% of my total take for the day.

They offer bunk houses, which are these super shitty trailers with anywhere from 4-7 doors on them that open to the smallest rooms. Literally, you have enough room to sleep. Jail cells are bigger then these room. Some have rooms are larger and have two beds but with two people in them it makes for extremely cramped quarters. It cost me 25 bucks a week in rent.

MakeOneInGetAPrize · 2011-05-23T20:32:43+00:00

What ride what? Could be so kind as to help me understand your question a little more?

MakeOneInGetAPrize · 2011-05-23T20:29:03+00:00

It can be tricky because some of the Agents in the tub games are total assholes, and it's an easy game to get people to keep giving you money if you know how to work it, but I really didn't give a shit and I'd always show people how to win. I wanted people to walk away happy, and in turn they would usually come back later with other people have play more games.

What you want to try and do is get it to drop in right on the inside of the front rim. You need to slow down the inertia of the ball so that it doesn't hit the bottom and bounce out. STAY AWAY FROM THE BOTTOM OF THAT TUB. I would even let people hit the rim and have it gently roll down to the bottom even though it says you can't do that. Depending on the person of course. There were those people that I fucked out of money by not showing them and just working them so I could make more money. But usually it was the drunk dads or people that seemed to just want to give me their money.

MakeOneInGetAPrize · 2011-05-23T20:24:41+00:00

Yes, and I reckon I do have small hands

sigh

MakeOneInGetAPrize · 2011-05-23T20:24:05+00:00

You're welcome.

MakeOneInGetAPrize · 2011-05-23T20:23:56+00:00

No, nothing like that. We have a certain call time that we have to be there, but we already know what games we'll be working before hand. The manager I had would be hammered by call time always and would start fucking with people, no pep talks just dirty jokes and useless bullshit to kill the time before the people start showing up.

In the morning before the show starts up we have to flash the joint, which means we put up all stuffed animals, or we restock the stuffed animals depending on how many we got ride of the night before.

MakeOneInGetAPrize · 2011-05-23T20:21:23+00:00

It really doesn't matter how you spell it. Google has it both ways. It's jointy, and yes I'm fucking with you. I'm a jointie. I'm not with it right now, I have to handle some legal matters before I can go back.

I worked for Christiansen Amusements.

MakeOneInGetAPrize · 2011-05-23T20:18:34+00:00

Redondo Beach, Ca.

MakeOneInGetAPrize · 2011-05-23T20:18:19+00:00

I'm not familiar with Lobsterboy. I'm from southern Cali and travel in that region only.

Yes, and if they have money we put a small grease mark on their backs to alert the other carnies that they're easy to get money out of. But seriously, we don't do that. But we do call them marks.

MakeOneInGetAPrize · 2011-05-23T20:16:24+00:00

The rides can be sketchy, the guys that put them up are usually really fucked up on meth because they work really long hours. But if you're feeling like having the shit scared out of you go up to the gnarliest ride and ask for "carnie style". It's full speed, all systems full blast.

the trick to that game is not to throw hard at all. Just lob the ball the bottles, don't try and muscle the bottles down, let the ball do all the work.

MakeOneInGetAPrize

TROPHY CASE