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This is Work - At the Fair

  


Fall is in full swing now and all across my region, there are so many harvest fairs and carnivals. I look forward to my local fair each year and I am not alone. So many people have fond memories of time at the fair, with rides, games, special events, music, and you cannot forget the food. Most of the food is over the top big, fried, or sweet. So many people following diets pack up the routine for a day and go for it. Everyone who attends is looking for a good time.

In my town, the annual fair has a carnival with rides and games. This carnival put on by a carnival of people who come to the town, set up their rides, and games, operate them, and when the fair is over, they pack up and move on to the next town. When I walk through the carnival, I see people. Not just the children enjoying merry go arounds and Ferris wheels, but the workers. I see these workers as the forgotten faces of the carnivals. Their job is to ensure everyone has fun and stays safe on the rides or playing the games.

When I search for more about these workers, I find O*Net online calling them Amusement Attendants, Ride Operators, or Recreation Workers. The more I think about these job titles, the more I realize these jobs are everywhere. There are many large amusement parks that are either seasonal, depending on the weather of the area, or in some places year-round. Some people may be employed by a company requiring costume dress as a large cartoon character and others may not.

Entertainment as a whole is a large business. As people, we will pay to have fun, go places with our families for vacations, or even just a day out. We are seeking to escape from our day to day with a little joy, some fun, and maybe a deep fried or sweet treat. We want to dress as princesses, pose with giant mice, and be scared on the biggest rollercoasters in the world. This means amusements will continue to be a big business.

At my day at the fair, I did not see the Ride Operators or Amusement Attendants lucky enough to go to the same place each day they go to work. The Ride Operators were traveling staff and so I must give some appreciation to the folks working these attractions, as each new day they will have, a new city, and a new carnival.  I am not clear these workers were lucky enough to have a steady paycheck each week or benefit package. I appreciate those working to keep the carnival lights on at the fair in so many towns across the country. #thisiswork

~Karen Cirincione

Email: kcirincione@gmail.com        

Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/karenjcirincione

Twitter: @kcirincione 


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