Archive for Current Issue Highlights

Buying Outside the Box

February 10, 2013 No Comments

For the February/March issue each year, we bring you the Who’s Who Buyer’s Guide. The listing is a chance to get familiarized with all of the top vendors in the industry, and highlights the companies that are advertisers in the issue with all of their contact information. This year’s edition has been streamlined, and we ...

Read more...
Avoiding a Staffing Merry Go Round <br/>Best Practices for Hiring and Training at Carnivals and Fairs

Avoiding a Staffing Merry Go Round
Best Practices for Hiring and Training at Carnivals and Fairs

January 4, 2013 No Comments

For over a century, traveling fairs and carnivals have toured America, entertaining communities of all sizes with the combination of lavish shows, great food, fun games and thrilling rides. There’s nothing quite like the excitement and adventure of working outdoors with one of America’s premier traveling carnivals. These jobs offer steady pay, great bonding opportunities ...

Read more...

January 2013

January 3, 2013 No Comments

Read more...

From Classics to Concoctions
The Food Picture at Fairs and Festivals

January 3, 2013 No Comments

When it comes to concession food trends at fairs and festivals, crowds seem to love classic favorites, but they also like to try the latest and greatest culinary concoctions. Although people like to try everything from fried Kool-Aid to anything on a stick, fair managers say people are creatures of habit. “French fries, corn dogs, ...

Read more...

The Midway’s Hottest Games
How Carnivals Keep Guests Playing

January 3, 2013 No Comments

The traveling entertainment is always striving to offer the most popular rides, concessions and games, but when it comes to games, it turns out carnival-goers are more interested in familiar, tried-and-true tests of skills on the midway as opposed to new creations. Dart throws, water games, speed pitches, duck, frog and fish ponds and basketball ...

Read more...

Traveling a New Year

January 3, 2013 No Comments

For the first issue of TAP each year, our contributing writers take the pulse of the traveling amusement industry. For 2013, we offer expanded coverage of this interesting and enduring segment of the business. In our special Carnivals feature section, you will find articles about hiring and training best practices, the hottest carnival and midway ...

Read more...

Keeping the Scares Safe
Practical Advice from Haunt Owners

January 3, 2013 No Comments

If comedy is said to be serious business you can bet that scaring the socks off of people is, too – especially when it comes to also ensuring their safety. Haunted attractions only operate for a handful of weeks each year, but the potential for injury — dark, often cramped spaces filled with bizarre artifacts, ...

Read more...

Where Durability Meets Fun
Care and Purchasing Tips for Inflatable Rides

January 3, 2013 No Comments

The boundaries of inflatable ride designs are limited only by imagination. Still, when purchasing a  unit, durability is a primary concern. Finding rides made of the best quality material, and then caring for the unit meticulously,  is a sure formula to extend the life of your purchase. Nixa Party Station, based in Nixa, Mo., specializes ...

Read more...
Building Business on the Fly <br/>How Mobile Zip Lines Keep Guests Entertained

Building Business on the Fly
How Mobile Zip Lines Keep Guests Entertained

January 3, 2013 No Comments

Amusement and entertainment companies are always in search of the next big thing that will attract customers. One of the new successes to hit the market in the past two years is the mobile zip line. “Our zip line has increased our business by 25 percent,” said Deb Millward, who owns Vertical Edge Entertainment in ...

Read more...

An Investment in New Scares: The Year Ends on a High Note for Haunted Attractions

November 1, 2012 No Comments

Is gore “out” and startle “in” at haunted attractions, or are both still very much the trend? It depends whom you ask, but one thing is certain: introducing different elements and features annually is a “must” if operators are to maximize the appeal of their venues. So, too, is maintaining year-round contact with customers through ...

Read more...
Page 3 of 18«12345»10...Last »

Sponsors

    Mahoning Valley Mfg.

    A complete line of Imperial strollers, wagons and safari utility vehicles.

    S&S Worldwide

    Large Park amusement rides.

    Price Chopper, Inc. Wristbands

    Admission, financial equipment and wristbands.

    Fast Corp Vending

    Frozen food vending machines

    Kay Park Recreations Corp.

    Picnic tables, grills, park benches, planters, trash containers and more.

    SnowMasters

    Evaporative snow systems.

    Gold Medal Products Co.

    Concession equipment, foods and beverages, popcorn, pretzels and snack foods.

    Center Edge Software

    Facility Management Software Solutions

    Chestnut Identity Apparel

    Uniform supply, embroidered apparel and flag manufacturing.

    Tarobots

    Boxerjocks robotic boxing amusement ride game attraction.

    Belson Manufacturing Co.

    Park and recreation outdoor furniture and equipment.

    Martin Professionals

    A lighting supplier of choice for the entertainment industry.

    Sippers By Design

    Design and manufacture of specialty custom-shaped drink containers.

    Playsmart

    Patented soft play design, soft playgrounds.

    Gould Manufacturing, Ltd.

    Concession trailers and Antique, Jeep and Grand Prix auto rides.

    Comstock - Castle Stove

    Commercial cooking equipment.

    Quik N' Crispy (QNC)

    Quik n’ Crispy greaseless fryer.

    Adventure Glass

    Unique paddleboats.

    Richie's Italian Ice

    Italian Ice Kiosks and Carts

    Money Tree - ATM

    ATM machines.

    Gerber Manufacturing, Ltd.

    Outdoor furniture, benches, picnic tables and grills.

    Wisdom Industries, Ltd.

    Amusement ride manufacturer, new and used rides.

    Art Attack

    Theming, miniature golf, parade floats, 3D props, air-brushed murals, signage and art panels.

    R&R Creative Amusement Design

    Designers of unique themed parks, attractions and environments for the entertainment business.

    Spectrum Sports

    Climbing walls, ropes courses, go-karts and more.

    Nieco Corp

    Nieco automatic broilers.

    Midway Concepts (Circus Tops)

    Premier designers of stainless steel food service equipment.

    Rio Syrup

    Over 250 flavors, syrups and concentrates for shaved ice, sno cones, shushes, food colors. Now featuring Hawaiian Flower Cups.

    Berk Paper & Supply

    Concession supplies.

    GloCones

    Flashing cotton candy cones.

    Perfect Fry

    Innovative and simple-to-operate countertop deep fryer Perfect Fryers.

    Northeast Insurance (NIC)

    Insurance programs.

    Knight Equipment

    Drive cables for ferris wheels, Tilt-A-Whirls, Rock-O-Planes and many others.

    Penny Press

    Penny souvenir machine, great for parks, FECs, bowling and skating centers, museums and tourist attractions.

    Subway

    Fresh food and sandwich options.

    Precision Dynamics (PDC)

    Wristbands with no hidden costs, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Wristband System.

    See Coast Manufacturing Co., Inc.

    Coin-operated binoculars and telescopes.

    Rides-4-U, INC.

    New and used rides, kiddie, family, major and thrill.

    Broaster Co., The

    Food programs and food service equipment.

    Lil Orbits Inc.

    Food equipment, donut machines and vendor carts.

    Stoelting
    OpenAire
    Spectrum Sports
    Cannonball Blaster
    CCI
    Funovation
    Empex Water Toys
    FunProInsurance