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General Discussion

Anything that does not fit in any other Category or too random for a category

220 discussions

Carnival Discussion

Freewheeling comments about carnies, their lives, their businesses plus rants, raves or jackpots.

147 discussions

Gibsonton - Gibtown

Discussions regarding the IISA, off shoot organizations or the Trade Show in February.

3 discussions

Rants, raves and Jackpots Discussions/topics/threads

Take your blood pressure medicine before reading or posting in this category. Fights and fits go here.

37 discussions

Models and Modeling Discussions/topics/threads

Area for the subject of modeling

1 discussions

Top News of the Day Discussions/topics/threads

It happens every day of the year. Always a new story, a new worry or something really great happens. We'll discuss it here.

39 discussions

Politics Discussions/topics/threads

Politics that affect the industry. Opinions, rants, raves or links to other pages on the internet

123 discussions

Science, Technology, Medical Discussions/topics/threads

The latest finds and fouls, here.

3 discussions

Entertainment Discussions/topics/threads

Movies, Theatre, Television and the celebs.

10 discussions

Humor Discussions/topics/threads

Not just Sunday, but everyday we find humor in everything.

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Ride Companies US & Canada

 

Alabama
C & M SOUTHERN MIDWAYS
DIXIELAND CARNIVAL COMPANY
JAMES GANG AMUSEMENTS
KISSEL ENTERTAINMENT

 Alaska
GOLDEN WHEEL AMUSEMENTS

Arizona
BROWN’S AMUSEMENTS
FRAZIER SHOWS
GREAT NORTHERN CARNIVAL
MIDWAY WEST AMUSEMENTS
RAY CAMMACK SHOWS
SUN VALLEY RIDES

Arkansas
FUNLAND RBS

California
BUTLER AMUSEMENTS
CALIFORNIA CARNIVAL CO.
CANDYLAND AMUSEMENTS
CHRISTIANSEN AMUSEMENTS
CLASSIC AMUSEMENT
DAVIS RIDES & ENTERTAINMENT
HELM AND SONS
JOHNSTON AMUSEMENTS
KASTL AMUSEMENTS
KEMSLEY SHOWS
MIDWAY OF FUN
PAUL MAURER SHOWS
SCHOEPPNER SHOWS
SHAMROCK SHOWS
SWARTWOOD AMUSEMENT CO.
WOLD AMUSEMENTS

Colorado
FUN ZONE AMUSEMENTS
WRIGHT’S AMUSEMENTS

Connecticut
COLEMAN BROTHERS SHOWS
MARENNA AMUSEMENTS
STEWART AMUSEMENT
TUFANO AMUSEMENT

Florida
BELLE CITY AMUSEMENTS
BIG ‘O’ AMUSEMENTS
CAROL STREAM AMUSEMENTS
DEGGELLER ATTRACTIONS
HILDEBRAND RIDES,INC
INTERSTATE AMUSEMENTS OF AMERICA
JCJ AMUSEMENTS
MIGHTY BLUE GRASS SHOWS
MYERS INTERNATIONAL MIDWAYS
PLAYLAND AMUSEMENTS
REITHOFFER SHOWS
STRATES SHOWS
WADE SHOWS

Georgia
FAMILY ATTRACTIONS
GOLD MEDAL SHOWS
JAMES H. DREW EXPOSTION
PEACHTREE RIDES

Hawaii
E.K FERNANDEZ SHOWS

Illinois
ALL AROUND AMUSEMENTS
ALPINE AMUSEMENTS
AMERICAN BANNER AMUSEMENTS
BIG H AMUSEMENTS
C.D.A.C,INC
FAMILY FUN FESTIVALS
FANTASY AMUSEMENTS
J & M AMUSEMENTS
LUEHRS IDEAL RIDES
MIDWEST MIDWAYS
MODERN MIDWAYS
PREMIER WORKS INC.
SWYEAR AMUESMENTS
SKINNERS AMUSEMENTS
SPECTACULTAR MIDWAYS
WILSONS FAIMLY SHOW
WINDY CITY AMUSEMENTS
ZEILER AMUSEMENTS

Indiana
ANDERSON AMUSEMENTS
BRADY’S AMUSEMENTS
BURTON BROTHERS AMUSEMENTS
JESSOP AMUSEMENTS
STERLING CROWN CARNIVAL

Iowa
NEXT GENERATION SHOWS
SUPERIOR EQUIPMENT

Kansas
LEWELLEN AMUSEMENTS

Kentucky
CASEY’S RIDES
GREAT AMERICAN CARNIVAL
GREAT AMERICAN SHOWS

Louisiana
LOWERY CARNIVAL
MITCHELL BROTHERS AMUSEMENTS

Maine
EAST COAST MIDWAYS

Maryland
ROSEDALE ATTRACTIONS
SHERWOOD AMUSEMENTS
SHAW AND SONS AMUSEMENTS

Massachusetts
CASTLE ROCK SHOWS
CUSHING AMUSEMENTS
GILLETTE SHOWS
NORTH AMERICAN AMUSEMENTS

Michigan
ARNOLD AMUSEMENTS
BIG ROCK AMUSEMENTS
ELLIOTT’S AMUSEMENTS
MCDONAGH’S AMUSEMENTS
PLAYWORLD AMUSEMENTS
SCHMIDT AMUSEMENTS
SKERBECK BROTHERS SHOWS
SPECTRUM ENTERTAINMENT

Minnesota
FAMILY FUN SHOWS
GOLD STAR AMUSEMENTS
GOPHER STATE EXPOSITION
J & K AMUSEMENTS
STIPE SHOWS

Mississippi
MISSISSIPPI DELTA SHOWS
NORTH AMERICAN MIDWAY ENTERTAINMENT

Missouri
ALL AMERICAN AMUSEMENT RIDES

Montana
INLAND EMPIRE SHOWS
ROYAL WEST AMUSEMENTS

New Hampshire
FANELLI AMUSEMENTS
FIESTA SHOWS
MILLER AMUSEMENTS

New Jersey
AMUSEMENTS OF AMERICA
CAMPY’S AMUSEMENTS
SKELLY’S AMUSEMENTS

New York
ALL COUNTY AMUSEMENTS
BLUE SKY AMUSEMENTS
C & N AMUSEMENTS
DREAMLAND AMUSEMENTS
FUN FOR EVERYONE SHOWS
HAMMERL AMUSEMENTS
HAWKINS AMUSEMENT RIDES
MAIN EVENT AMUSEMENTS
MIDWAY RIDES OF UTICA
NEWTON SHOWS
ONTARIO AMUSEMENTS
PLAYLAND AMUSEMENTS
WHEELOCK RIDES

North Carolina
BOONE ENTERPRISES
BRINKLEY ENTERTAINMENT
PINNACLE AMUSEMENTS
POWERS GREAT AMERICAN MIDWAY

Ohio
BATES AMUSEMENTS
BATES BROTHERS AMUSEMENTS
CLASSIC MIDWAY
D & D PUTTING AND AMUSEMENTS
D & R SHOWS
DURANT AMUSEMENTS
FUNTIME CARNIVAL
GAMBILL AMUSEMENTS
HAPPY H. ATTRACTION
KISSEL BROTHERS SHOWS
McGINNIS AMUSEMENTS
MIRACLE AMUSEMENTS
MURRAY BROTHERS AMUSEMENTS
OTTERBACHER SHOWS
STERLING FUNDWAYS
TRIPLE TREAT SHOWS

Oklahoma
MURPHY BROTHERS EXPOSITION

Oregon
DAVIS AMUSEMENT CASCADIA
DAVIS SHOWS NORTHWEST
FUNTASTIC SHOWS

Pennsylvania
A.E.B AMUSEMENTS
BARTLEBAUGH AMUSEMENTS
C&L SHOWS
INNERS SHOWS
JIM HOUGHTON ENTERPRISES
JIM THORPE AMUSEMENTS
LAM ENTERPRISES
MAGESTIC MIDWAYS
NONWEILER AMUSEMENTS
OSCAR’S AMUSEMENTS
RUSS AMUSEMENTS
S&S AMUSEMENTS
SUNSHINE SHOWS
SWANK’S STEEL CITY SHOWS
SYNDERS AMUSEMENTS
TONS OF FUN SHOWS

Rhode Island
ROCKWELL AMUSEMENTS

South Carolina
WILL & KRIS AMUSEMENTS

Tennessee
CUMBERLAND VALLEY SHOWS

Texas
ALAMO ATTRACTIONS
ARMSTRONG SHOWS
CARNIVAL AMERICANA
CENTURY 21 SHOWS
CRABTREE AMUSEMENTS
FAMILY SHOWS OF HOUSTON
HEART OF AMERICA SHOWS
LEDEL CARNIVAL MIDWAYS
MERRIAM’S MIDWAY SHOWS
MOORE’S GREATER SHOWS
TALLEY AMUSEMENTS,INC
THOMAS CARNIVAL
TRIPLE T AMUSEMENTS
WAGNER’S CARNIVAL
WOOD ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY

Utah
CITY OF FUN SHOWS

Vermont
AMYLAND AMUSEMENTS

Virginia
BOARDWALK ATTRACTIONS
BUFFALO BROTHERS AMUSEMENTS
COLE SHOWS AMUSEMENT COMPANY

West Virginia
MYERS AMUSEMENTS

Wisconsin
A&P ENTERPRISE SHOW
CALKINS MIDWAYS
EARL’S RIDES
TIP TOP RIDES & ATTRACTIONS
RAINBOW VALLEY RIDES
WENZEL AMAZEMENTES OF WISCONSIN

Canadian

State Fair Directory

Alabama State Fair
October 22-November 4, 2012

Alaska State Fair
August 23 - September 3, 2012

Arkansas State Fair
October 12 - 21, 2012

Arizona State Fair
October 12 - November 4, 2012. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

California State Fair
July 12 - July 29, 2012

Colorado State Fair
August 24 - September 3, 2012

Connecticut Fairs
Multiple Dates

Delaware State Fair
July 19 – 28, 2012

Florida State Fair
February 9 - 20, 2012

Georgia/Carolina State Fair
October, 2012

Idaho State Fair
Eastern: September 1 - 8, 2012 | Western: August 17 - 26, 2012

Illinois State Fair
August 9 - 19, 2012

Indiana State Fair
August 3 – 19, 2012

Iowa State Fair
August 9 - 19, 2012

Kansas State Fair
September 7 - 16, 2012

Kentucky State Fair
August 16 - 26, 2012

Louisiana State Fair
October 25 - November 4, 2012

Maine State Fair
July 27 - August 5, 2012

Maryland State Fair
August 24 - September 3, 2012

Massachusetts State Fair
September 14 – September 30, 2012

Michigan State Fair (Upper Peninsula)
August 13 - 19, 2012

Minnesota State Fair
August 23 - September 3, 2012

Mississippi State Fair
TBA

Missouri State Fair
August 9 - 19, 2012

Montana State Fair
July 27 - August 4, 2012

Nebraska State Fair
August 24 - September 3, 2012

New Hampshire State Fair
August 30 - September 3, 2012

New Jersey State Fair
TBA

New Mexico State Fair
TBA

New York State Fair
August 23 - September 3, 2012

North Carolina State Fair
October 11 - 21, 2012

North Dakota State Fair
July 20 – 28, 2012

Ohio State Fair
July 25 - August 5, 2012

Oklahoma State Fair
September 13 - 23, 2012

Oregon State Fair
August 24 - September 3, 2012

Pennsylvania Fairs
Multiple Dates, 2012

South Carolina State Fair
October 10 - 21, 2012

South Dakota State Fair
August 30 - September 3, 2012

Tennessee State Fair
September 7 - 16, 2012

Texas State Fair
September 28 - October 21, 2012

Utah State Fair
September 6 - 16, 2012

Vermont State Fair
TBA

Virginia State Fair
September 27 - October 7, 2012

Washington State Fair
September 7 - September 23, 2012

West Virginia State Fair
August 10 - 18, 2012

Wisconsin State Fair
August 2 - 14, 2012

Wyoming State Fair
August 11 - 18, 2012

And more....


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Trivia

May 2012 Top Scores

11 players played during the month.

1. MoCarny (98 points, 16 wins)
2. Don (83 points, 4 wins)
3. BOB (76 points, 5 wins)
4. LarryB (42 points, 3 wins)
5. Tom (28 points, 1 wins)
6. peter (10 points, 2 wins)
7. jmmbauer (8 points, 0 wins)
8. Hexaphod (6 points, 0 wins)
9. leschal (6 points, 0 wins)
10. mcm717 (5 points, 0 wins)

How to twitter


To twitter or not to tweet, that's the Question (and the rub)

Business owners in all industries are being relentlessly pressured to “get on Twitter.” Everyone from management gurus to tech advocates discuss Twitter as if it were the “missing link” to success, without which you cannot possibly prosper in the 21st century business world. Yet like most business trends and fads, just tweeting for tweeting’s sake is not the real game-changer. Plenty of businesses have Twitter accounts without a single extra sale or lead to show for it.

What really matters is what, how and when you Tweet. A business-minded overview of Twitter and its potential is offered below:

Why (Some) Businesses Should Tweet

(Brood_wich)

First, let’s clear up a common misconception about Twitter’s value to a business. It’s not about randomly Tweeting whatever comes to mind and hoping that somehow boosts sales. It’s about relationship-building. Unless you sell extremely cheap commodity items (like $2 light bulbs that people can only find in dollar stores), it is likely that consumers are interested in your business, its activities and what it is all about. Even prospects who may not be ready to buy anything yet can sometimes be enticed to follow your company’s Twitter feed and stay in the loop on its current promotions.

 

This is where the true business value of Twitter lies: keeping your prospects and past buyers “warmed up” and interested in what the business is doing. Properly cultivated, a loyal following of Twitter followers can become an invaluable source of leads and sales over time. Instead of running un-targeted commercials or newspaper ads (or even in addition to these techniques), you can immediately reach out to a group of people who want to hear from you.

What Businesses Should Tweet

(Coletivo Mambembe)

As you might imagine, most of your company-related Tweets should be about company matters. This includes:

  • New product launches
  • Recent sales or discounts on current products
  • Whether a hot, in-demand item is about to run out
  • The fast-approaching end of a big sales event
  • Joint promotions with other businesses

However, not all of your Tweets should be about these things. The worst “Twitter crime” a business can commit is making its feed a constant, uninterrupted sales pitch. All but the most die-hard of prospects or customers will soon tire of this and unfollow your account. In order to keep people around and interested, it helps to periodically Tweet about things that have nothing to do with selling your product. This includes:

  • Your company’s opinion about industry trends or events
  • Your company’s reactions to major headline news (don’t overdo this one, though)
  • Words of praise for worthy competitors
  • Critiques of alternative products or services
  • Giveaways or contests

SmallBizTrends concurs, advising “don’t be afraid to throw in the occasional slice-of-life tweets” because it “helps break down that wall between owner and client and offer the stuff that everyone can relate to.”

How To Tweet It

(Phillie Casablanca)

It is also immeasurably important your company’s Twitter feed not be boring. Remember: the idea is not using Twitter as a permanent, web-based ad. It is about giving prospects and customers a reason for tuning in and staying on top of company activities. Thus, it is not just about what you tweet, but also how you tweet that matters. Using a robotic, monotonous voice on Twitter is a guaranteed recipe for being ignored.

Burger King offers an excellent example of how to Tweet the right way. Instead of blandly reciting their current offers with no style or enthusiasm, a recent tweet reads:

“The BK Burger Builder. It’s like that time you built shelves, with less pain and humiliation.”

Don’t assume this means that your business Twitter account must be funny (although it probably wouldn’t hurt.) The takeaway is that you want to develop and consistently use a voice. There should be a distinct look and feel to your tweets that resonates with your followers and keeps them coming back for more. This will necessarily differ by business and by industry, but never forget the importance of tweeting in an interesting way.

Survey Your Prospects & Customers

(D.Begley)

Twitter can also be used as an inexpensive form of guerrilla market research. Once you have a sizable following of at least a few hundred people, consider putting your next tough corporate decision to a vote. Too often, important decisions about price points, customer service policies and new product launches are made in a vacuum, with no customer input. Since customers are the entire reason the business exists it all, it makes sense to get their feedback when feasible.

Luckily, Twitter is tailor-made for this kind of informal market research. The next time you feel the company would benefit from customer opinion, set up an online poll on any of the following topics (and tweet it out):

  • New product launches
  • Hours of operation
  • Color options (on things like clothing or accessories)
  • Anything else that could affect sales or response

Ethically “Clone” The Successful Twitter Strategies of Others

(ShashiBellamkonda)

If any of this seems overwhelming, there’s a quick way to make sense of it all: study the Twitter feeds of other businesses (especially your competitors.) Twitter has been around for a few years now, and while it’s still a hot trend, it is no longer a mysterious activity that only genius business owners understand. Chances are, one or more of your competitors is doing Twitter correctly: recruiting lots of followers, keeping them interested and even using Twitter as a promotional tool.

When in doubt, study these feeds and determine whether you can ethically “clone” their strategies. Don’t blatantly rip something off, of course – instead, try to authentically understand why a given tactic works and use it in a unique way on your own Twitter.

© 2012   Created by Thomas Hoey.

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