FEATURE Social Media takes by Andrew Schoendienst


soul who would rather be in the 70s with Hub Luehrs, Andy Anderson, Tom Powell and Jack Lindle having a cocktail


As I am one to think that I am an old


Promote Your Business And Your Children’s Involvement Our Future


One of the scariest subjects in the Carnival Industry right


and not having a cell phone, I am tasked with putting together a blurb and including the subject of social media this month. As I thought about this subject, there are only two things that are non-divisive that we can all agree on about. It’s a positive for our Industry’s bottom line, and we all appreciate seeing each other’s children and families grow on the road.


The Best Tool 


of interactions among people in which they create, share, and/ or exchange information and ideas in virtual 


reach a global audience was Myspace, which was released August 1, 2003. Then Facebook came around and introduced photo albums and a new way for people to raise the dopamine levels in their brain, the almighty “like button.” Facebook is a social network phenomenon that has become


an integral part of people’s lives around the world. As of 2021, more than 68 percent of American citizens and 2.8 billion people worldwide had become active Facebook users. This is the amount of people that can be reached via one social media platform. This mass, our potential audience, is all looking for new content to divulge in and share with their “friends,” or people they just met or heard of that they want to consider a “friend.” The fact is: social media has quickly become the largest driver of advertising for our industry. That is the same kind of advertising we have always relied on which is, of course, “word-of-mouth” advertising. It’s vital for Carnivals, Fairs and Events to work together to control the narrative for our businesses and to drive up sales.


and move into a bunkhouse for a few years. Trustee Andy Deggeller had good roommates in the bunkhouse at one time as well from what I understand. I had to face the harsh reality of the fact that that piece of paper, my degree, didn’t come with a down payment for anything. Whether the children of our Industry go on to other careers or stay in Showbusiness their whole life, they all learn more than anyone can in an organized classroom working out on the Midway. How do I connect this to social media, do you ask? There


are personal posts that everybody appreciates, and that’s of families working together on a Midway. Included are a few from some families on the road.


Editor’s Note: Andrew will be contributing to ShowTime with interesting Industry articles and keeping us informed in the goings-on during the year. Watch for Andrew’s column in the upcoming issues of this magazine.


now, besides our labor situation, is the lack of youth in our Industry. Due to the combination of the uncertain future and the fact that skillsets we learn on the road lead us to having the ability to do anything we want, the numbers of children staying in the Carnival Industry seems to be dropping. Most of you reading this article, however, are probably like me. I fell in love as a child, and you can’t run me out of this business. I was able to go to pools, the movies, hang out with different friends at different spots, but most of all, I fell in love with working on the road as most of us did without even knowing it at the time. It quickly segued to me taking on more work as I aged with more opportunity. I was probably the only graduate of the University of Missouri’s Journalism program to earn a degree


Thomas Atkins, 11, of Luehrs’ Ideal Rides, a  in the Classic Café. He has become a main grill man and helps move the Magic Maze this Summer.


Tyler Noerper, 12, of Sonshine Amusements,  new Gautier Break-a-Bottle game in Belle, Missouri. Tyler’s family has been working with the Fair there for over 50 years.


Alivia Grace Noerper, 14, of Sonshine  who was running the Popper and helping in  has been going to the Fair there for over 50 years.


William Atkins, 9, of Luehrs’ Ideal Rides,  generation Showman, getting an elephant ear prepared for a customer at the Classic Bakery. William bounces between working the “busy” window at a food stand and his own drink cart that he opens at different locations.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32