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paulierc New user 20 Posts |
I have a fair coming up that would like me to do some balloon twisting, and I was wondering the best way of doing this. Is it easier to do walking around, creating a line at a table, or doing like a show were I just make a crowd and keep making different balloons. I did a search for festivals on this forum, and found information about keeping them cool, but not a good way to approach it.
Any suggestions are more then appreciated. |
danfreed Inner circle West Chester PA 1354 Posts |
I've always just found a good shady spot and start, then a line forms the whole day. You might get too busy with a line to walk around. I've seen people do an official stage show with balloons, but then you would focus on the fancy stuff and only make balloons for 4 or 5 kids in the show. One guy said on this forum that instead of a line he gets a circle of people around him and mixes balloons with magic and other stuff. I mix in a little quick magic even if I have a long line to keep everyone entertained and to give me short breaks from ballooning. Also I use lots of physical and verbal humor while ballooning becaue I believe a balloonist should be an entertainer, not just a balloon vending machine.
Dan Freed
AKA The Amazing Spaghetti https://www.magiciandanfreed.com/birthday-party-magician-for-kids http://thecaricatureartist.com http://danieljayfreed.com |
Pokie-Poke Special user Bensalem, PA 883 Posts |
I won't do any thing other than balloon stuff after I start with the balloons. If you pull out a deck of cards to do a trick the next kid in line is going to hate you till he/she gets there balloon. plus the kid who got cut at the end, when it is time to go, that 3 min card trick could have bin his doggie.
I play games, tell jokes, but I don't stop twisting. as far as keeping your balloons cool, for bigger/longer events I will keep a soft sideed rolling cooler with some blue Ice blocks, some gattor aid, power bars, pre sorted balloons, and a basic first aid kit.
www.pokie-poke.com
The Adventure cont... |
Pokie-Poke Special user Bensalem, PA 883 Posts |
A fun game to play if you want to shake things up a bit. I also use it for crowd controle.
I step to the side of the line, and get the kids in the front of the line to turn to face me. making a front row. (and getting them back in a eavn row, so when you go back to the front of the line, it is strait again ) Now tell them to try to guss what you are going to make, don't twist till they start gussing, it is more fun that way, and if some one gusses some thing realy off the wall, that you can make, make it and they win! start twisting, let the people guss, the winner gets the balloon, after 3 winners, have the winners take a bow, go back to the front of the line and go back to work. One of the best parts about this is kids in the back of the line have a chance to get a balloon, and every one is involved, so when they get to you there ready, and you line will move faster.
www.pokie-poke.com
The Adventure cont... |
Leland Inner circle St Louis 1180 Posts |
Kids have a way of finding you. You start to make balloons and they will come. Before you know it you have a 45 min line!
Shows are easier, you don't have to work as hard but not everyone gets a balloon and when kids see balloons they each want their very own.
Life of Magic!
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danfreed Inner circle West Chester PA 1354 Posts |
Pokie,
I'm sure you are really good, but I disagree with you on doing magic. I'm not saying everyone should do magic, but it may be a good option. You just have to use good judgement on when and how much to do it. I did a festival last week and did balloons for 4 hours straight without a break - I could have taken a break but then people would have to wait. So to give my hand and brain quick breaks I did some quick magic. I don't just do a trick for one kid at a time, I do it for several kids in line or everyone. That rewards them for waiting in line, entertains them, shows the client (and the potential clients in line) I can do more than just balloons. It doesn't slow the line much. I don't do a lot of magic, just here and there, and if the line is really long I may not do it at all. The most common trick is when I put a rubber ball in a balloon (which seems like magic). I ask the kid to hold the ball but it disapears and then I pull it out of the ear, etc.
Dan Freed
AKA The Amazing Spaghetti https://www.magiciandanfreed.com/birthday-party-magician-for-kids http://thecaricatureartist.com http://danieljayfreed.com |
paulierc New user 20 Posts |
Well the fair was today and it went great! ran from 11-3, and I did not even realize what the time was until they started packing things up around me. I went in with the idea of strolling around, and performing in different parts but after my first animal, the line formed and did not stop! It was a great experience, and one I learned a lot from.
Leland, I thought maybe you were joking on the 45 minute line, it may not have been that long but I had a line form and it seemed super long from the front. Maybe not 45, but it was defiantly 10+ min. danfreed & pokie, I thought about the idea of doing magic, but I decided against it. Since this was my fist larger twisting event, I decided to just focus on that. I like the idea and especially using it to reward those that had to wait in line. I would also like to send a sincere thank you to everyone else that has contributed on this forum, looking through past threads has been more then valuable. I am defiantly hooked on twisting, and had a few leads come from this event. Paul |
Leland Inner circle St Louis 1180 Posts |
I always find it hard to believe that parents wait in line for a balloon. Im glad that they do, they keep me in business! I know I wouldn't do it! Paul it only gets better from here on!
Life of Magic!
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JC Johns Regular user Annapolis, MD, USA 133 Posts |
Paul - Congrats on your first festival, sounds like it was a success.
Leland - I hear what you are saying, I certainly would not wait more than a couple minutes in a line with my kids to get a balloon. But when I talk to parents/kids that have been waiting in line for 20 or 30 minutes and then apologize for having it take so long, they are almost always in a good mood and say they been having a great time. Many (if not most) people seem to like watching the balloons being made even more than the balloons themselves. J.C. |
The Mighty Fool Inner circle I feel like a big-top tent having 2140 Posts |
It's all true what's been said in here:
Once you start the balloons there is NO going back, so if youre also doing magic, get that done first. It makes shazbot difference WHERE you set up----listen to that whisper in the air: "If you twist it....they will come. And come. And come. And KEEP COMING!!!"
Everybody wants to beleive.....we just help them along.
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Karen Climer Veteran user Orlando, Florida 324 Posts |
I agree with those who said to add magic. It's your line. You control the speed. If people are being entertained, then it's not waiting. Waiting is when you are standing in line feeling bored.
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