I'm at the very end of the unfunny/unentertaining spectrum, so I rely completely on impressing the waiting patrons with the most efficient (time:impressive/quality ratio) balloon sculptures. LEDs, Hairbands, 350s, agates...anything to make it more impressive to a lay audience while still being able to be completed in 5 minutes or less (still not even close to the speeds of some of the balloon pros on this site). Hopefully my banter and subsequent "entertainment" value will improve over time, and I can also continue to shave off seconds in the twisting department.

I find this thread a year after the last post. What a great thread! My new past-time...random searches on Ballooning 101.

Ignore this post... I put it in the wrong topic

I got my first call in a long time that mentioned balloons.

They wanted them as an add on after a program.

In the past I tried to be all things to all potential clients.

These days I am honest, I sent them some videos of my variety show...puppet, magic, music, story heavy..well not heavy but comedy filled.

I told them I could make simple critters.

Though I thought she would have gone with some of the other specialist in ballonons that I sent her, she went with me.

Made about 25 one balloon animals.
There theme colors were purple, so that's all the color I brought.

Made it a bit eaiser than,,,I don't want a pink one, I want a red one.

Poodles and weenie dogs that changed to giraffes seemed to be the most popular.

I pre blew them up and had them ready to twist after the show.

My vote is funny.

I do love fancy balloon lines when I work festivals...

Gives me a set area to work.

Harris
still 2 old to know it all

I too vote for the funny, and here's what I do to avoid the people getting angry at the long wait in line:

Before the gig, I pre-inflate about 300 balloons--some full, some with 3" tails, of various colors, and a number of 'accessories' that is mermaid hair, lion manes, horse manes, 'bobbins' (1/2"-1" bubbles) etc. and have them standing by in the long bag. If the line does start to get too long, I'll switch to using the pre-infs and that speeds things up considerably.

One can be an awesome balloon artist AND be funny and entertaining all at the same time. It's not "wrong" if you just want to be a balloon machine cranking out 1 ballooners for 10 hours...if that's your deal than great! But IMO, you can do BOTH!

I agree that both is better. Funny thing is that twisters can get away with not being funny if their stuff is great. If your stuff isn't great then you have to be funny.
Magicians on the other hand kind of need to be funny these days since kids (and adults, even the stupid ones) are so sophisticated.

I have never encountered that with any of the Magicians that I know or Balloon Artist. ( maybe I'm just surrounded by awesome people. )

Be Fast, Funny, and entertaining!
Jojo,
RC

Sad but true. "Jugglers, clowns, twisters & face-painters get along great, but the LAST thing any magician needs is another magician!"

Penn Jillette