Carnival & Fair News

Frazier Shows has had a busy season, with their 2018 route just closing mid-November at the Fort McDowell, Ariz. rodeo grounds; and when the 2019 season starts up for the company, they will also begin in their home state of Arizona.

According to owner Bryan Broetsky, “Fortunately, our route starts and ends in the Phoenix Valley, which affords us 6 months around home base each year. Then for the other 6 months we venture to New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska.”

Speaking of home base, Broetsky says his family’s company has no plans for new purchases this year, as their focus is on refurbishing their newly acquired 5 acre headquarters with a 25,000-square-foot warehouse to work on projects

However, in 2018, they added and upgraded a variety of rides and attractions. “This year we got a new 2018 Chester Built funnel cake trailer,” Broetsky says. “We did new LED light packages on the Ring of Fire and Sizzler. We refurbished our Dartron Cliffhanger and our Wisdom 3-abreast carousel.”

And that’s not all. “We also re-themed our Wisdom Starship 2000 with new scenery and LED lights.”

Despite all the upgrades, Broetsky notes “We're proud to say that in the 18 years of my family’s carnival ownership we haven't increased our ticket prices.”

He adds that tickets average $1 a ticket unless bought in bulk, when the cost is even lower. “For wristbands, we run a timed wristband, usually 3 or 4 hours, for around $17.” He asserts “We find that with an all-day wristband for $30 or $35, it tends to be too much money for a family of 5 or 6.”

Broetsky’s family bought Frazier Shows from Cecil Frazier in 2001, and has been expanding and enhancing the carnival ever since. Frazier Shows management has over 35-years of experience in food, games, and rides, and is flexible enough to set up at major state fairs including the Southern New Mexico State Fair and the Navajo Nation Fair, the Teton County Fair in Jackson Hole, Wyo., as well as at smaller events such as church festivals and corporate events.

But when it all began, Broetsky explains, Frazier Shows consisted of just 16 rides. “Now we have 30 rides and have only retained 6 of those original 16 rides. We have exceeded the space of most of our fairs,and occasionally have to leave some rides down due to space constraints,” he says.

In June, the Ute Mountain Rodeo event in Southwest Colorado marked one of the busiest events for Frazier, with ticket sales higher than in previous years, and the rides drawing even more crowds than the rodeo bleachers.

Among the key attractions at Frazier Shows are thrill rides like the high-flying Vertigo and charming kiddie rides such as the Bumble Bees and Dragon Wagon. Other rides include a Chance Century Wheel, Bear Affair, Crystal Lil’s glass house, and the carousel. There’s a giant fun slide popular with all ages, too. But the scream-inducing thrill rides are the very top draw for Frazier Shows. Spectacular rides such as the Freakout always get strong ridership.

When it comes to games, many are set up so that the player wins every time. Classic carnival food is served on the midway, including pizza, candy apples, and cotton candy. The company keeps the midway family-friendly with shaded rest areas, benches, and easy to read and cheerful signage and ticket boxes.

Long term, the carnival is poised to continue as a family-run attraction. Broetsky notes “Most recently my siblings and I have started taking on more day-to-day responsibilities to allow my parents to step back a little and have some more free time.”

He adds “I think what makes us most different from other operators is our close family connection. We are all family-owned and operated, and each family member has a very niche position in the company. I think that sets us apart from other shows that may have just the show owners and a staff that are all employees.” Even staff members that are not related by family ties have been with the carnival long term, and function as a part of the family dynamic.

Steve and Julie Broetsky were hardly newbies when they acquired Frazier Shows; Steve was a former concession manager and lotman with Deggeller Attractions; Julie a third-generation carnival owner who had operated her own food business; their children have grown up in the business, ready to continue the tradition.

When it comes to marketing, Broetsky says “We have tried all different types of marketing and social media strategies. We have found that our most successful one has been Facebook. The average age group of Facebook users is our market audience.” Their research has found that “Twitter and Instagram seem to be a younger demographic; Facebook seems to be that demographic’s parents, which would be the ones with the money and the ones bringing them to the carnival.”

Broetsky is the lead on social media promotions, adding new followers almost daily, and gaining thousands of likes and post engagements on Facebook. Along with drawing attendees, his outreach has also led to increased carnival booking, and a variety of events reaching out to bring the carnival or its rides to their locations.

In short, Frazier Shows has enhanced their marketing outreach, added and updated rides, and now as they approach the new year, are making their new headquarters as stellar as their shows, by enhancing both their office space and their warehouse.