HI Grommet - see you at Mad Hatters tea party

Pam

In Sempertex Terms its a bit like Link-o-loons Graham, but made from a plastic material rather than latex

Pam
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also Mandy have you considered with the smaller foils you could use them and add them to a twisted creation, no rules say you can only use latex

Pam
xx

(Does this constitute saving paper two replies on one page??)

Have an answer for this one - Static could have easily been the problem, it has happened to us too I know how ambarassing it feels

Pam

Intereseted to know what name did you go within the end Yvonne?

Kindest Regards

Pam

doesn't Graham have some for sale at his Care and share Days?

Pam

One we did a few years back, based on the idea of David Grist using a seat in the centre so it could be used for photos: Not all twisted as some of it was framework and 5" clusters: We had to create a replica of a bike that was made by Harley  to the owners specifications for them to travel the route 66 on, the bike had been shipped back to the states before the party took place so as to be ready when they arrived: So after many photos and views we built it: As I have not learned how to upload photos yet have put the link to the webiste photo instead: (you may have to cut and paste it if it has not worked as a link.

//http://www.balloonsandtunes.co.uk/gallery/balloonmotorbikes/111_HARELY_DAVIDSON_CRUISER_PARADOY_THE_BIKE_HAD_BEEN_SHIPPED_TO_USA

Pam
xx

have you contacted your house contents policy - you may find if it is only a very small hobby you can get some cover added to it and probably instantly as you have the policy with them already

Pam

We are members Professor, what do you want to know?  but for our entertainment we are also members of Equity

Pam

From another Scouser (but this one lives in the Midlands) .... Like others have said we get paid by the hour these days rather than charge per balloon: If its a charity event they can usually get a sponsor to pay my bill, I will invoice them.

I have seen out and about twisters with Menu's of different models different prices which to me seems a good idea as to how many balloons in each model: much like the face painters list of faces have a model list with prices after all you spend more time and balloons on a twisted hat for example than a sword. some even have a fold up list that fits in their pocket with drawings and everything - think Tom Myers or someone int eh states sold these at one time cant remember.

Back in the dark ages and wilds of time when we where learning the art Like (20 years ago) we used to charge £1 a balloon at car bots and fetes etc (but things like swords etc I always made 2 one for child one for Dad/Mum - spare for when it popped) and gave a 30 second gaurantee (Michael Decker rules!!) sorry joke, I always have fixed broken models if I am still there I am just a softy like that

But things dont seem to have moved on..... and the art is 1/ more popular and 2/ far more creative than it was then... £1.50 is a lot to say when asked  £2 rolls of the tongue a lot easier ( and you could always offer discount for more than one child in a family or smaller models like one balloon dogs and swords which take seconds to make)

Pam

I am with Graham and think the balloon factory is good (you need balloon in the name for it to be picked up by search engines fastest) also you have to take into account how you answer the phone you obviously will advertise the same number for both sides of your business and need to be able to answer it to both lots of customers: If you have to go for 2 different names at least you can answer the phone "Hello your through to the factory" or why not go down the road of a complete change and call the whole business the Face and balloon factory - it covers both in one line. Thats how we got the name Balloons and Tunes - we have been entertaining for over 25 years (40 for Paul Djing but dont tell him) we had names for both sides of the company and did not know what the caller was after till we answered the phone and only changed the name of the company 8 years ago most people dont remember what we used to be called and these days everyone seems to be called Balloonatics so I am glad we did it.

As for an alter ego - the last thing you would call Me is a girly girl too; but neither am I the shy, quiet type (a lot of face painters are I know) and my advice is to be yourself and let your own personality shine through - after all you have to be slightly Mmmmmaaaaddd to want to go and tell people you are going to Entertained by me
today or wear a costume and approach strangers.  

I find if I am mix and mingling the (Sorry if you get offended) men in the crowd will feed me enough lines to keep me going... (like why dont you blow it up by mouth? Its for talking with dont you always tell us, or 'What and be Quiet quick get my husband surely he needs to see this'.  or You blow up a lots of balloons! yes the other name for my company is Blow jobs 'r' us, we are the best in town have you not heard (depends who is around with this line), just a couple but there are many many more they come out with) with the kids have fun with their clothes (boys always wear pink regardless of what colour it is, the more macho the more pink) and the names on them must be theirs, then theres the old favourites with names - Olivia (never Lives here, "I live here") David must be beckham as Victoria etc etc. try spelling their names backwards do you know Megan is Nag em - most families answer and she does!

We went down the route of having 'Clown' style clothing made with balloon material (not the easiest to find) added as the patch pockets to show we are balloon entertainers and not clowns. A waistcoat hides the many lumps and bumps we get as we get older

Believe me you will create you own alter ego/character, no one can do it for you. You probably already have  one and just not realised it yet

Pam

LOL: Thanks Graham love the spelling mistake; it made the comment.

Always wondered why he had not come forward when we had the story published locally.  Now I know

Pam

As balloons are not on the National Curiculum Yet - it seems everyone who got into balloons has a story to tell as to how they got started.

Since 1967 (another story) Paul has work part time entertaining as a mobile DJ for both adults and children. In 1990 after being made redundant for the 2nd time he decided that he did not want ot be in the position again where someone decided if he could work or not and that as everyone told him he should be an entertainer full time, why not.

Not long after, one Sunday morning with no other work on that day I noticed that in Birmingham they where holding a market at Holiday Wharf, which is right in the heart of the canals of Birmingham (another love).  I suggested we visit (now girls you know what the usual mens reactions to these suggestions are, it happened) He was not impressed, but we went.  When we got there it was raining quite heavily and there where not many stalls, but in the corner of the courtyard was a stall selling juggling & magic stuff and they guy working the stall had a balloon flower hat on his head.  Paul was drawn to the stall and said to the seller 'Not interested in the rest of your stuff but impress me with the balloons and I will buy sosme from you and a book'  I was bemused to say the least never in my life having seen a balloon lilke these long things on the guys head.  Balloons to me where round.  The man spent half an hour with us showing us various twists and models and duly sold us 'All wind and Twists' adn a bag of 260's (no pumps in them days) we found an old cardboard balloon pump I used to struggle with to inflate the balloons.  That was it we where hooked!!!  

Paul travelled back and forth to Birmingham on different Sundays showing the guy what he could create and getting more tuition and balloons.  We did balloons where ever we could.  Then after not going for a while he went one Sunday to find the stall not there; he asked other stall holders, no one had heard of the stall. He thought they may be just being cautious as to who he was so went and asked the market superintendant to again being told no one had ever been on the market as he had described.  so we had to find somewhere else to buy our balloons which we did.  As balloons have taken over our lives and now its the full time income for both of us, we have had the story of how we started in Birmingham newspapers, radio and even local news trying to find the guy who started us off in balloons just to say Thank You for allowing us to have so much fun, but he has never come forward.  """Spooky"""

I tell everyone we meet these days you never know who you will meet and change your life - It happened to us.

In 1996 at a Wedding Disco helium filled balloon turned up of all shapes and sizes and where attached to the tables with Brown parcel tape and I made a comment to Paul 'the wholsaler we use to buy your modelling balloons from sells those round balloons I bet we could do better than this'  and another balloon story began

Pam

I am loving the butterfly wings from Laura, the kids look amazing in them. Especially if its the birthday child and they have them with the big hat - they are just coverd with balloons.  Must try to take a picture of one and show it ( with parental permission of course)

Pam

Keep getting emails from Graham and thought it was about time I joined and said Hello!  Anyone who is part of the Care and Share days wiht Graham will know me as the Midlands Sec ( I live In Tamworth!)

What can I say about us - Paul (the other half) and I do balloons as a full time business for the last 18+ years called Balloons and Tunes in Tamworth.

We are full time  "Childrens" Entertainment (who says their is an age limt!) with Balloon modelling and Face painting as well as taking the disco and some 'fun' magic to lots of young peoples parties(the 'Tunes' in the company - never ask us to sing! you certainly would not do it twice!)

We also do a lot of Balloon Decor work for both parties and events and are Certified Balloon Artists and are currently training to be Nabas approved teachers.

What else do we do?  We build Big Balloon Sculptures; have won a few competitions and have a lot of fun being us.

looking forward to sharing and developing our art along with everyone else who has joined this forum

Pam