Taylor & Sons Looks For Big Year; Has Diverse Route in 3 States, D.C.

Taylor & Sons Inc., in its 30th season, had an excellent run May 27-30 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium, for the Boumi Shrine Temple.

Tommy Hanneford's Circus also performed in a tent throughout the run. "Weather was perfect," said Michael Clifton "Clif" Taylor, who runs the show.

It was started by his parents, Charles and Leah May, who are still very active in the business. "I rely on a lot of people, especially family," said Taylor. His wife, Sue Anne; brother, Cleve; and sister, Ann Gross, and her husband, Carl, are very involved in the show.

"Dad, who is now 67, comes out a lot, and some days he can out work me," said Clif. He and Sue Anne have two children, Elizabeth, who is 9, and Michael, 4.

Taylor's sister handles the office. Paul Bury is concessions manager. Sue Shreves has two popcorn wagons. Larry Pierce is safety and transportation supervisor; Steve Owen, ride superintendent; and Gene Grubb, assistant ride supervisor. Regular concessionaires are booked through Bury. Taylor's brother and sister have the balance.

The carnival travels in the states of Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania for the first time this season, and the District of Columbia, with the majority of spots in Maryland. Seven are in Delaware. As of now, the only date in the Keystone State is York, in July. "I'm still working on details for that one," he said.

Taylor & Sons has 20 rides. Food and games are booked through Bury. A new Sellner Berry-Go-Round was added at the end of last year, and a Majestic Scooter was recently purchased and delivered on May 1. "We're very happy with both pieces," said Taylor.

The first spot of the season for the third straight year was an unusual one-day booking of a merry-go-round in January at the Saudi Arabia Embassy in Washington, D.C. It's for one of their holidays.

"In the wintertime, it's nice to pick up something like that. We got it through Bernie Cox of Virginia who does a lot of rentals in the D.C. area. They needed a big piece of equipment and we had it."

After that, the season was officially kicked off March 24 in Salisbury, Md., at a downtown parking lot, for the city. "It was actually terrible. It was rainy and cold for the entire five days. Then we headed north into Delaware.

"From our second week out until now, we have been right on track. Things have been running real smooth, and this has turned out to be one of the best springs we ever had."

The first spot in Delaware was for a fire department carnival in Millsboro. Next was a new engagement for the show, Kent Island, near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, for the Little League. "Then we went into a Catholic church feast called the Baltimore City Feast.

"After that, we went back to Delaware to Seaford for another firemen's fair. We left there May 8 and have since been to Chestertown, Md., for another volunteer firemen's fair, and back to Salisbury for the Salisbury Festival.

"They had large attendance and plenty of name entertainment, though not the real big names. They brought in the Budweiser mobile beer testing school, and that drew a lot of people," said Taylor.

DOUBLING

The show generally splits into two units the second week in June and stays that way for eight weeks. Unit No. 1 keeps 14-15 rides, while the second unit has up to seven pieces, "and we swap equipment back and forth, as needed." The No. 1 Unit will be in Greensboro, Md., over July 4, with the second unit in Easton, Md., said Taylor.

The first of three fairs on the route is Talbot County, also in Easton, Md., July 8-10. The others are Kent County 4-H Fair on the Eastern Shore, in Tolchester, Md., in mid July, and Queen Anne's County, Centreville, Md., early August.

On the average, the carnival runs two pay-one-price wristband promotions a week, charging $10 for four hours. Single tickets sell for $1.50, with one or two needed for each ride. Books of 12 sell for $15.

"We use advance sales three times a year, all at Catholic school bookings. We're not heavy into that," said Taylor.

Concerning inspections, Taylor said the show is inspected every time it sets up in Maryland. "There is no charge, but we believe the high percentage of 7% that we pay in amusement tax has to go somewhere, and makes up for that.

"The Maryland inspection program is excellent. I find we rely on a lot of communication with everybody involved. The manufacturers are now a lot more helpful with recommendations. That makes all our jobs easier."

HELP

The show's longest jump is approximately 125 miles, and the shortest is nine miles. "We have two bunkhouses and our help situation, believe it or not, has been good. We're very fortunate to have a high return with some guys. We try to take care of them as much as we can, and the bunkhouses help.

"We have six CDL drivers and we only have three tractor trailers. We do lease two trucks. We have a guy who hauls trash during the week who comes in on weekends and helps us move. We're fortunate with drivers."

The biggest problem is worker's compensation. "I hear from my sister's mouth it is definitely very high." Insurance is with Haas and Wilkerson and tickets are purchased from National Ticket.

Taylor has a strict dress code policy, with short hair and uniforms required. "Grooming is important."

The route is full of celebrations and festivals. Among them are the Del Marva Chicken Festival, the Del standing for Delaware, Mar for Maryland and Va for Virginia. That takes place where the three states connect on the Eastern Shore peninsula. It moves around each year, according to Taylor.

Other special events include the Cypress Festival, Pocomoke City, Md., and National Hard Crab Derby & Fair, Crisfield, Md., set this year for Sept. 3-5. The season ends at the Apple Scrapple Festival in Bridgeville, Del., the third week in October.

Taylor said all indications point to a good year, "providing the weather stays like it has been. It has been relatively dry this year. Last year our spring was very wet, but from the first of summer, it was nice and we had a pretty fair year."