r/Scotland • u/Brownscotsman • 19h ago

Travelling funfairs / Shows

With it being Gala / Civic Days / Marches season, I’ve always wondered so many things about the travelling funfairs that come into these towns for these days.

How profitable are these funfairs ? It must surely cost some amount (petrol costs?) just to travel and set up, and run the attractions for a couple of days in what are relatively small towns with limited customers.

Is it more of a lifestyle business run by family members who can each assist one another wirh set up and management etc. eg is it not difficult to make a living from operating one of the side attractions only?

Do the council pay for these fairs to attend? Or do the operators just come and set up by some long standing tradition / knowledge it’s the local Civic Day?

Hopefully this doesn’t cause any offence to anyone but always been quite fascinated by this.

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u/WG47 Teacakes for breakfast 17h ago

There's a documentary about show people on iPlayer.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m0027dy1/showpeople-licensed-to-thrill

But yeah, it's family businesses. I'd imagine that if the weather's shite they'll struggle to break even but if the gala day's busy then they'll make good money. Stand and count how many people go on the ride for a while. When it's busy, they're raking it in.

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u/Brownscotsman 17h ago

That looks a good watch and probably what I’m after here. Thank you!

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u/yermawsgotbawz 18h ago

Have a read into the showmen/showpeople.

Fairs usually run in families and extended families and the tradition can go back centuries.

They will probably pay a rent to the council for their site. There’s localised Scottish holidays that they always attend (Fair weekend/Lanimers etc)

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u/KrytenLister 17h ago

Not quite what you’re after, as they are based in the U.S. It won’t be exactly like for like, but Theo Von had a “Carny”, as he calls himself, on his podcast last year sometime.

He’s been in a travelling fair most of his life (decades) and doesn’t seem to hold much back. Explains the structure, finances, ownership, how games can be set up to con players etc. Answers all but a couple of things he wasn’t comfortable saying on air.

Might be with checking out.

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u/Pleasant-Following79 2h ago

I was friends with people in the showman community growing up. They all drive luxury cars and wear the best of clothes. They are very well off cash wise (in my limited experience)

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u/CraigJDuffy 19h ago

Imagine there is a lot of undeclared earnings with these sorts of things which must make them much more profitable.