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Perry D Winkle Regular user 173 Posts |
Seriously. The kids see my Filbert pump and they want to play with it. I can't sit it down for 5 seconds without a child running up to play with it.
How do you handle this situation? I know that it's fun, but it's still a fairly expensive piece of equipment. As always I value your feedback and all advice is greatly appreciated. |
coma185 Regular user 128 Posts |
Have you tried a stun gun...LOL!
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Ryan Price Special user winnipeg, MB, Canada 641 Posts |
I get this ALL the time. The kids think its cool and want to help blow up the balloons. In certain settings I allow them to help push it down (they have their hand on it while I push).
I look forward to any insights on this. |
Juliegel Loyal user 294 Posts |
Cover your pump in shards of broken glass bottles. If asked why you would do such a thing around children just explain that you don't want them touching your stuff.
As always, Dylan |
Bad to the Balloon Inner circle Clearwater Florida 2116 Posts |
Shoulder strap??
Mark Byrne
AKA Mark the Balloon Guy As seen on the TODAY SHOW www.balloonguy.net Creator of Bad to the Balloon DVD series Go to my store: http://tinyurl.com/Bad2theBalloon |
MikeHMagic Inner circle 1007 Posts |
I say "Hey, I don't go to your house and touch your toys."
Mike "Gus" Harvatt
"Bullwinkle that trick never works." |
Perry D Winkle Regular user 173 Posts |
Thanks for some ideas. The shoulder strap won't really solve the problem as I would have to constantly pick up and put down the pump.
I think MikeH has the right idea. |
Jay Ward Veteran user Flowery Branch, GA 328 Posts |
This is definitely a problem for me. Sometimes the kids put their head over it to feel the air. I tell them the nozzle is metal and could potentially poke their eye out. They understand that and usually stop. One thing that has worked is carrying a spare $4 qualatex pump-that purple one. The kids can play with it as much as they want. I even had one kid "air condition" me all night with one. It was a huge birthday party, so it was great! These aren't full solutions, because I too have this problem! Love my Filbert!
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Perry D Winkle Regular user 173 Posts |
I discovered something this weekend that seems to work well. If one of the children is tinkering with the pump, knocking it over etc I say, 'Careful bud you don't want to get too close to the filbert pump. Next thing you it will blow your head up THIS BIG!' And I make a large gesture with my arms. The children and parents get a laugh and they clear back a bit.
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Kevinr Inner circle 1854 Posts |
When kids play with my stuff I say:
"UH-OH! someone doesn't want to get a balloon...." The kids look at me and stop toching my stuff. PERIOD! Quick, honest but funny! End of story! |
Wes Holly Special user Cincinnati, OH, USA 644 Posts |
The filbert is usually painted with very bright, kid-friendly colors. Get some spray paint for plastic surfaces and, in the words of the Rolling Stones, "I want it painted black"
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CarlEJones Elite user Dallas, Texas 461 Posts |
I have that problem too. Especially since I have mine loaded with my new balloon bags made for it.
I just say, with a **BIG smile in a clowny voice**, "please don't" and that usually stops 'em. I haven't had kids persist past that but a few times and then I just ramp up the clowny part of "please don't" and it's always worked. They like to pump their balloons. I let them do that in a few places but not all the time. Each kid usually hears something different from me if I don't want them to try and pump it. It's based on a lot of factors. Bags are shown at http://www.topper.us Hope you like them!!! And my new balloon apron and clown handbags are shown too.
THANK YOU for helping us carry on our laughter ministry in hospitals to kids of ALL ages. Our visits are ALWAYS free. We NEED & DEEPLY appreciate your gifts of magic so that we can do what we do. Please PM me with questions or, for a faster reply, in most cases please text or call 214-578-1601
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kmf New user 18 Posts |
I don't let any kids touch it. Once one uses it to help me blow up a balloon then they all want to use it. I tell them not to touch it because if it breaks then I won't be able to blow up any more balloons because I can't blow up all the balloons with my mouth. Then I tell them that I would be so sad if I had to go home because my pump was broken and all the children would be sad because they couldn't get a balloon and then I would probably get into trouble because I couldn't blow up any balloons. I say this story pretty loud so all the other kids around could hear it so I wouldn't have to repeat myself. I purposely draw out my tale of woes with the broken pump. I think some kids don't touch the pump because they heard my story and don't want to hear it again - which means my story worked.
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coma185 Regular user 128 Posts |
I love how you can tell the kid not to touch the pump, the kid grins at you and still keeps touching the pump, so you look up at the parents with a, feel like doing something look and they just stand there like zombies. That's usually when a balloon pops on the pump right in the kid's ear. Ooops!
I usually will tell the kids that they could pinch their finger on the pump and I don't want them to get hurt. 75% of the time that works. |
jlevey Inner circle Montreal, Quebec, Canada 2076 Posts |
Coma185 wrote: "...I usually will tell the kids that they could pinch their finger on the pump and I don't want them to get hurt. 75% of the time that works."
Building upon this suggested tactic, Jonathan wrote: "...Glue a few bloodied (realistic-looking) false fingers (child size of course) to the outer casing of the pump." ...OK, just kidding. One false finger glued to the outside of the pump should do it!
Jonathan
Max & Maxine Entertainment Magicians with a touch of comedy! ___________________________________ www.maxmagician.com www.mindreadershow.com www.monsieurmagic.com |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Ballooning 101 » » Help! They flock to the filbert like a moth to a halogen bulb (1 Likes) |
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