I was wondering the other day how fast people twist who do so for a living. i reckon about 3 or four minutes for a standard three balloon model such as the penguin. Longer if they need inflating and tying.
Perhaps I am way off the pace or perhaps this could be a new balloon challenge.
Let me know how fast you make the penguin.

Hi Stuart,

I tried the balloon penguin challenge, and working at a brisk pace, made it in 2mins 26 secs. That was including inflating with a mac pump, tying, and the artwork.  

I must admit though I do make the penguin an awful lot !!!

If you are under pressure, a tip that makes the penguin faster is to blow the yellow up to how much you need for the beak and feet, and then get the beak up to the end like you do a poodle tail. Then twist the beak into position, run the uninflated part of the balloon down through the body, and then twist in the feet.

That way you don.t have to break and tie the beak and feet separately. I hope this makes sense  :shock:  I separated the body in the second pic so you could see

That's a great tip, Kevin!  Thanks!

That is a great tip and would certainly cut down the time.

Another tip (if not already done) is to duplet the white and blue balloons saving on knot tying and connecting them later.

Charles Dolbel
Corporate Circus Arts Entertainer

I am working all week at a pre school children's festival and I will have a go at it today.
I don't normally make this penguin but will see what happens.

May get the children to time me with help from mum.

Great tip Kevin, will revolutionise my penguin factory

Ok had fun with this today getting the children to time me with help from there mums fastest was 1 min 30 secs slowest  1 min 54 secs

I think I can get it down a bit with practice. I use a filbert to inflate.

Wow....that is fast !!!!!

bet it was great fun with the kids and Mums. Have a great week and hope the sun keeps shining for you      

PS I can't take credit for the tip with the beak and feet in one....It's just one of those things you pick up, I'm not sure who from though.

Wow    some seriously quick times here.
Loving the tips to speed it up. Will give it a try at the weekend and time myself.
Watch this space! :?

Apart from going for a Guinness world record why do the balloons have to be made fast?
I had to make some penguins tonight for someone so thought I'd put them here, the coffee cup was so that they could gauge size of each model.

We do love a challenge Graham  
I guess I was trying to gauge how long I should be taking per customer, particularly if a line forms.
Still going to time myself this weekend though  :twisted:

Quote from: "Areyouhappydad"We do love a challenge Graham  

OK then at the next care & share day we will do a speed twisting contest, shall we use the penguin that is on show?

Sounds good Graham ( can't figure out the copying bits others wrote, will get around to figuring that out this summer)
I reckon people would be up for that.

When I am doing line work I don't care how long people wait I am worth waiting for I always say if you want a fast balloon I can make you a roadrunner the only time I speed up is when I need the loo lol