By Moses Leos III
Over the course of 20 years, Oklahoma City native and Somerset resident Ray-Ray Duffy has helped the Merriam Midway Shows set up at different spots.
Last week, Duffy was one of many who helped prepare gaming booths and carnival rides for the Hays County Fair, Music and Crawfish Festival at Central Texas Speedway.
While the touring life can be a challenge, for Duffy getting a chance to interact and help people is what he enjoys best.
“I love this,” Duffy said. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t love it.”
Duffy’s path of working in the midway began in high school – he wanted to travel and see the world. At the age of 19, Duffy set out and began helping set up carnival rides in Corpus Christi.
“I wanted to travel the country and see what it was like,” he said. “When I graduated, I got out and enjoyed it.”
It was at that time when Duffy realized how strenuous the job could be.
One of the primary functions of his job is setting up and tearing down carnival equipment. The process, Duffy said, takes anywhere from a total of six to 12 hours. Rides such as a merry-go-round can take up to six hours to install.
The challenge, Duffy said, was figuring out “what piece goes where” when assembling and disassembling the rides. Carnival operators must place equipment into 18-wheel trailers, which ferry the games and rides to their next stop.
“It’s a little bit of hard work, like most jobs, but you get paid to do it. You get paid every two weeks,” Duffy said. “It’s like a regular job, you get a tax return and all of that.”
Traveling with the company is a necessary component for Duffy and other workers. He said the Merriam’s group began in Pleasanton, TX, made its way to Kyle, and will travel to Kerrville and Corpus Christi before heading to Iowa.
Carnival worker and Minnesota native Shags Anderson, who has worked in the industry for eight years, said workers travel with the company and stay in bunkhouses. Each house has three to six rooms in a trailer.
“It can be a little lonely at times, but we make do of it,” Anderson said.
Those who tour with carnival companies can advance to different rides and games, Anderson said.
He said beginning workers start with games involving tossing rings into goblets, or whiffle balls into colored cups.
Workers can then advance to working up to more advanced games. Advancing up the ladder is also evident for those who operate the rides on the midway.
Duffy said showing the company a desire to “work hard” is key for advancement.
But it doesn’t stop the group from providing assistance to co-workers when setting up and tearing down rides.
“For the most part, we help if anyone asks,” Anderson said. “We make sure the show runs smoothly, and if someone needs help, I’ll help out.”
Interacting with customers is a priority for the workers. Often times, they interact with regulars who attend festivals in specific cities.
Talking with the variety of clientele is an enjoyable part of the job for Anderson.
“There are nice people down here in Texas. You have nice people up north, too,” Anderson said. “They’re decent people to deal with. If they’re a little rough on me, sometimes I’ll have to be a little rough on them.”
