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Magic_streak Regular user Singapore 196 Posts |
You can check out this site for a start, it offers instructions to make your first few balloon sculptures. http://www.multihobbies.com/balloons/
By the way, do you guys blow up the balloons or use a handpump. I've seen some professional ballonists use an electric pump slung on his side. Those pump up the ballons real fast! Have fun sculpting balloons rowdy, good luck! |
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Emazdad Inner circle Plymouth UK 1954 Posts |
The question of how do you stop is a good one, and it's one reason I don't make the balloons at the end of the show, One of the questions I ask when the booker phones is approximatly how many kids are going to be at the party, If there is going to be over 25 I make a lot before I go, then do the rest at the party during the break.
For none birthday parties balloons for all the kids is an extra package they pay for. When They book me for a 1-hour show I tell them the helpers will get balloons ask them how many kids they're expecting I offer them a longer package where I do a show and then the I do balloon modelling, I also point out that if there is loads of kids I can't promise they'll all get one. A good selling point for fetes etc is to tell the booker that when you do the balloon modelling a good idea is for you to ask for donations, all the money goes back to the booker which off sets the fee they're paying you. This also stops the greedy people coming back time and again. A booker last year was well chuffed when she paid me my £75 for 2-hours balloon modelling (I did it a bit cheaper as it was for something I support)and I handed her £50 back in donations, it mean I'd only cost them £25, They booked me again for this years fete (at full cost). When I do this have a sealed tin so I can't give change and say it's a minimum 50p a model, if they want a bigger model I say the more you put in the more you get, quite often people just drop in a quid when I tell them the money is going to the cause not me. When it comes time to finish if there is still quite a few kids still waiting I announce that I'm coming to the end as I have another show to do and indicate 3-4 kids who will get the last few balloons. It's never easy to say no more but it has to be done. I always do about 5-minutes longer than I'm booked anyway so the bookers can't moan.
Yours Funfully
Clive "Emazdad" Hemsley www.emazdad.com "Magic is a secret, without the secret there is no magic" Remember there are only 3 types of people in the world, those that can count and those that can't. |
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p.b.jones Inner circle Milford Haven. Pembrokeshire wales U.K. 2642 Posts |
HI,
working fetes, streets ect. I have a sign which hangs around the last child in lines neck which says that I have to finnish and this is the last person It also says that if you have not got a numbered card you will not get a balloon. just before I want to finnish I give each child in line a plastic credit card with a number up to 30 (Mark leveridge number pack) and put the sign on the last person. I have found this very succesfull. Phillip |
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Emazdad Inner circle Plymouth UK 1954 Posts |
That's a good I dea Phil, My mate Coz hands out tickets all the time, he hands out 20 then when they're all done he hands out 20 more, if you havn't got a ticket you don't get a balloon. It means that partents don't hang about fruitlessly waiting as When their kids have a ticket they know they havn't long to wait.
Yours Funfully
Clive "Emazdad" Hemsley www.emazdad.com "Magic is a secret, without the secret there is no magic" Remember there are only 3 types of people in the world, those that can count and those that can't. |
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keeblem Inner circle Essex, UK 1167 Posts |
Lots of great advice and information given above, so I won't repeat it all again. Just to let you know, you don't have to know lots of complicated models. I always make loads of swords before I go to a party, and quite often that's all anybody really wants. As your skills improve you can slowly add new models and hats to your repetoire.
Mark |
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DreamBig Regular user 144 Posts |
I like the ideas on how to stop the balloon madness. Thanks guys.
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Scott Ocheltree Veteran user 364 Posts |
Dennis, Andy, Clive, Phillip, Frank, and others:
Thank you for all of the great, practical advice you have shared on this topic (and many others as well!). This is something I have been considering doing as well, and the things you have shared from your experience are very valuable. It is the posters like you guys that keep me addicted to The Magic Café! |
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Emazdad Inner circle Plymouth UK 1954 Posts |
Cheers Doug
Yours Funfully
Clive "Emazdad" Hemsley www.emazdad.com "Magic is a secret, without the secret there is no magic" Remember there are only 3 types of people in the world, those that can count and those that can't. |
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Sir T Special user 535 Posts |
I will only add, that if you do balloons for kid's parties, read the product liability and have insurance. If you give a balloon to a child under the age of 7, you will have violated the product liability and this will of course void your insurance and leave you high and dry should a child choke on a balloon.
I also recommend pet tags/name tags for the balloons, with a choking warning on the back side. I love ballooning and do it often, but I live in a sue happy state, be warned. Side note; Would anyone recommend running to a magic shop, buying a few tricks and then booking a party? If your answer is no, then why do people say, "well you do not have to be really good at balloon animals"? It is my view if you are calling yourself a professional and getting paid, then you should at least be knowledgeable enough in the art or arts you are charging for. I stated out as a balloon twister, spent years working at it and then added magic to my list of skills, again working for years to be good at it, should one not devote time to ones art? Just me, Kevin |
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Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
Phil writes: "I have a sign which hangs around the last child in line's neck which says that I have to finish and this is the last person."
I use a very similar method, in which the last person holds a sign saying that he or she is "the last person" to get a balloon. That defines where the line ends, THAT the line ends, and -- most importantly and subtlely -- makes someone other than me the "heavy" when it comes to turning people away. (Needless to say, that last person gets an extra-special balloon for helping out. Frankly, it always amazes me how willing people are to take on the role of "bad guy" and end the balloon line; I guess they are happy because they just made it under the wire!) |
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p.b.jones Inner circle Milford Haven. Pembrokeshire wales U.K. 2642 Posts |
Hi Peter,
In my opinion/experience though the sign alone is not enough without the cards. It is too easy for people to push in line while I am distracted making the balloons and entertaining Philip |
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japanjazzy Regular user Crestview, Florida 139 Posts |
I also use the sign to end the line when I need to leave. Yes sometimes people like to cut in but like Peter says he isn't the heavy and the other person can help limit the cutting. I on the other hand try to make sure I give the sign to a parent that is in line with a child. That way it allows an adult to take the heat and not a fellow child. I have had a few problems but for the most part it works. Stopping is the worst part of the job. I have most of my problems from the parents that keep asking can you please make just one more for my kid. I have even had parents curse at me because I had to leave. They are such good role models for their kids.
Michael |
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Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
As for the sign, I keep it close enough to me in the line so that I pretty much know who's in the line.
If someone "appears" who wasn't there when the sign was handed out, then I know they cut in. Michael is right: Parents are the hardest ones to handle when you end the line; how many times have we heard a variation of "oh, just one more, please!"? |
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magicgeorge Inner circle Belfast 4299 Posts |
I'm a big fan of balloons.( I do the fancy scary ones Den was talking about lol). I have found more and more ways to work them into my magic show. In fact now I've come up with so many magic routines using balloons that I can now do a 45 minute show with just a bag of balloons...but I don't since I love my usual tricks too much. As has been said, even if you just know a few designs they're a very good give-away and a nice new thing to learn. I started by doing a few dogs, teddies and giraffes after my main show.Now I treat a balloon sculpture like you would a trick. Look for the patter, jokes and interaction you can do with them.
George P.S.here's more scary fancy ones... http://www.magicgeorge.co.uk/balloon |
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Jewls Veteran user Michigan-USA 360 Posts |
Yes,That George he can make balloons for sure!!!
You might find it easier to watch the end of your line if you bring it back beside you and make a balloons circle instead.
Jewls
www.Jewlstheclown.com |
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