I always like going to a spot where the midway is set up in an area that has challenges. For example, a grass lot with some elevation changes (nothing major), and trees. And that pretty much describes the lot that hosts our local 4th of July Celebration. Oh, did I mention that it holds water too? Yeah, the last couple of years it has been quite swampy, just ask Kadoty.
Anyway, from my amateur (f@nboy point of view), you have to have the "spectacular" ride of the midway at the back end. Next, the Wheel, or the tallest ride, has to be positioned so that it can be clearly seen from a distance, and preferably seen from a main highway leading to the site. Family rides can be positioned as to transition the midway from the kiddie rides to the bigger rides.
One thing that I think is equally important is what are you going to do for the games? People will find the food joints, but the games, again in my opinion, can be killed if not located at just the right spot. An example that I see here...for whatever reason, in this town, group participation games such as water race games or roller derby games aren't real heavily played. I don't know that anywhere on the midway is going to make them tons of money, but if you put them in an area of the midway that doesn't get the bulk of the crowd passing by them, they are dead. For that kind of game to have any chance at all here, it needs to be back by the "featured" rides.
We've had back-to-back rides down the middle with games lining the outside of the horseshoe here. And we've also had the last few years, back-to-back games down the middle with rides lining the outside. Both are good, but it really depends of the games/rides mix. Less games means rides on the outside.
I've never been "with it", just been an interested observer of carnivals for more than 50 years.
Johnny's United Shows..."A Family Tradition" and "All for Fun, Fun for All".
The carnival of my youth, which had roots that originated in my hometown.