Carnival Games and Inflatables

Jolly Well · #1 (**permalink**) 12-05-2007, 09:38 AM

Anyone here offer inflatable moonwalks and games at their business? How about carnival games?

I've been looking through various web stores that offer either/or - and have considered buying and/or making a stock of my own.

The wooden variety of carnival games, don't look bad - kind of early genre carny looking - and they'd be easy to build, decorate, and operate. My guess is that you could build enough to satisfy the needs of a corporate picnic or school function for a few hundred bucks. (plinko, bean bag toss, fishbowl, etc)

Inflatables obviously, would need to be purchased. The injury risk potential has me somewhat hesitant to get into these however. Not to mention the big price tag on them.

Wowza · #2 (**permalink**) 12-05-2007, 10:18 AM

I helped my Dad build an "Over - Under" type game for a church Bazaar one year. It was basically a box with an opening on top, a diagonal piece to tumble the dice, and an opening in the front. Large dice were used and the customers guessed either under 7, 7 or over 7. Aside from the box and dice, we used sheets of vinyl and spray-painted stenciled betting spots in place. Worked well and was really cheap to build.

Hopper · #3 (**permalink**) 12-05-2007, 11:45 PM

RE Home built carnival games

I work frequently with a company that has all those things...Plinko, Ring Toss, 9 hole mini putt etc etc. They built most of it themselves.

About the only thing I can add is that keeping this stuff looking nice is a job in and of itself...it can be harder than actually building them. You have to have the means of carting them around without them getting banged up, that means having a pickup or a van, and lots of moving pads to put between them. All it takes is one good scratch or gouge to make the whole thing look mickey-mouse, so you have to take care of them.

The inflatables can be a good source of income, as long as you bear in mind that there are a lot of rules your insurance company will have you follow. (Not to mention they're not easy to store...even rolled up they can be huge) You will need to hire an attendant. You'll have to keep them clean, which might mean saying that facepainted kids arent allowed on it. Inflatables are hugely popular, but they need to be taken seriously.

I personally have always shied away from this stuff, but if you have the time, space and inclination, all these things can make you some money.

Finito · #4 (**permalink**) 12-06-2007, 12:25 PM

I worked for an amusement company that specialized in this sort of thing. I agree with the last poster about the disadvantages to inflatables - insurance and certification is a huge hassle. Here in MA you actually have to get licensed to opperate as though you were running an actual mechanical carnival ride! Not only that, but the [insurance] money involved makes it a "get big, or get out" kind of industry... kinda like mobile petting zoos are. The carnival games though are great - some of ours came from whiz bang! through Gold Metal, others we made ourselves. Constant maintanence on the home made stuff - LOTS of red paint!! Hahahaha.

Fitzwilly · #5 (**permalink**) 12-06-2007, 12:59 PM

How are the Gold Medal products Finito? I love their popcorn and cotton candy machines and supplies. The quality and service are excellent. I have seen the pictures but I couldn't tell how they come accross to the general public.

Finito · #6 (**permalink**) 12-07-2007, 07:33 AM

Whiz bang's stuff looks like it very well could've been put together by fisher price. Tough molded plastic everything - the legs have gotten sturdier in recent years. I always thought the stuff looked kinda chinzy for what you pay, but we never had any complaints from the kids - we always set them up in the carnival game booths gold metal puts out - and overall the games are pretty rugged. I think having them in the booths really did a lot to justify what we charged. Personally, I preferred our home made stuff in those carnival game booths - if only because it looked more substantial and because we had a heck of a lot of great stuff like bottle toss and milk cans! The crazy wire was always a huge hit - FYI, you can find plans for one on makezine.com - as were the double shot basketball hoops, can't recall who put them out and they wouldn't be appropriate if all you had to haul them in was a small van, but the kids LOVED them. They're similiar to something you could find at a sporting goods store - side by side hoops with an electronic clock and digital score keeping system with lights and sound!

Hopper · #7 (**permalink**) 12-07-2007, 12:37 PM

Finito...what did you say the name of that website was? If I type in make.com I just get a generic directory page.

Finito · #8 (**permalink**) 12-07-2007, 01:06 PM

Sorry about that. Makezine.com - I edited the above entry to reflect this. They've got all manner of wonderful DIY projects!

Specifically, try:
http://home.insightbb.com/~tssipher/photos/index.htm

vslg1 · #9 (**permalink**) 12-09-2007, 08:55 PM

This is exactly what I do...

Inflatables, interactive equipment, dunk tanks, concessions, carnival games, party activities (spin art, sand art, candy art, jewelry art) entertainment, clown, DJs, karaoke, costumed characters, caricature artists, balloon twisters, face painters...party room...etc...etc...etc...

Insurance is a b*t*h...and the labor is intensive...it looks easy to just pop 'em out of a van...wheel them to a backyard...set 'em up and go...but the first day you have to roll up wet one (from rain)...call me and let me know how much you'll sell me the used one for...lol (you'll have to call right away cause if they sit too long, you'll have mold and mildew issues...) storage is a beast because they take up alot of space...you do need a place to air them out (while inflated) if it does rain...and a place to clean them (rain or not)...

As far as carnival games go...they just always seem to look better when they're not homemade...and your customers will want the look...There are various places for games...

gold medal tub games are pretty good...as are www.hufferamusements.com They also have some pretty amazing table games...

There are others...if you just do a general search for carnival games on the net

I've been at it for some years now...so I've got the staff to help me out...but ask away if you have any questions...and feel free to check out my site...it'll show you the stuff I've got...

www.ChicagoPartyPlace.com

Hopper · #10 (**permalink**) 12-10-2007, 01:00 AM

Wow man...I looked over your website. Thats a pretty impressive array of stuff. The question that jumps out at me is "how big is your warehouse?"