Do they live in extended stay hotels or on the fairgrounds in motor home or tents? Do the fairs provide the housing or do performers have to provide everything themselves? Is it any different for the more famous performers?
How are things that require permanent addresses handled such as taxes, banking, having a consistent doctor, and receiving mail? What is the home life of a traveling performer and what amenities do they have?
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In my experience with them (there’s some overlap in the traveling/hitchhiking community) renfair people camp on site, live in trailers or their cars. Some have neither and camp outside and piggyback rides off other workers on the circuit.
As far as I know, performers provide everything themselves; at least the ones I knew did.
I’m pretty sure the average carnie is likely getting paid under the table; if they have a bank account they probably use cash more; they don’t receive mail on the circuit, correspondence is digital. I’m not sure about home lifestyle because the ~4 people I hung out with were full time traveling and homeless otherwise. The amenities for them were: truck stop showers, food bank food, and no health insurance. They also drank heavily with their pay, so I’m not sure how a nonalcoholic carnie compares.
There’s a reason why carnies have the stereotype that they do. If you want to disappear and still make money while on the run, it’s probably not a bad gig.
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