Don Caldwell, Star Interview 23rd/27th March

Started by Graham Lee, March 10, 2009, 11:23:11 PM

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Buster Balloon

#15
What is your personal goal when you set off to work? Is it money or to entertain etc?

To entertain, and to create special moments and memories for my audience.  I know that if I can do that, the money will always follow.  


What are your balloon goals for the future?

I am in the process of building my small family show, into a full theater show, and creating a line of merchandise to sell after the show.


If you could start all over again, would you change anything?

I would have studied business and marketing much earlier, and I would have pursued performing as a full time career much earlier too.  And that really hot girl who I was just friends with in high school, even though we both really liked each other, but I was too busy being the nice guy and comforting her when the jerks she dated broke her heart, I would totally make out with her.


How would you like the future of balloon modeling to develop?

I would like to see our art taken more seriously by the public and by other artists, and just a little less seriously by us.


Who's the most famous person you have made a balloon creation for?

I made Kermit the Frog for Brian Henson, son of Jim Henson and the head of "Jim Henson Studios".  I also got to twist a Betty Page balloon for Olivia, the world renown pin-up artist, and a Mary Poppins balloon for the wife of one of the Sherman brothers who wrote the music for the film, as well as Winni the Pooh, and many other Disney classics.


How do you keep the enthusiasm going & what still excites you about our great world of latex?

I love the fact that there is always something new to play with.  Balloon twisting and balloon entertainment are both so new in the grand scheme of things, that I cannot imagine them becoming stale or boring anytime soon.  Especially when you look at magic, juggling, theater, painting, and sculpting, all centuries older than our art form, and yet they see new innovations all the time.  It is very exciting.  I really think we are still in our infancy.


What inspires or is your thought process in coming up with a new design?

A)  I see something like a cartoon character or a toy and decide that I HAVE to try to make it out of balloons.

B)  Every time I learn a new technique or find a new kind of balloon or accessory, I play with it, experiment with it to see what it is capable of, and usually discover several new sculptures in the process.  Thelma Levett showed me two new techniques at Millenium Jam las year, and I spent the next 5 hours in the jam room playing with them.


Who would you like to work with dead or alive?

Alive.

What makes you laugh?

People who think they know, or have seen everything, and Sponge Bob.
Don Caldwell aka "Buster Balloon"
Comedy Genius, Balloon Twisting Savant, &
Pre-Sweetened Breakfast Cereal Connoisseur
https://busterballoon.com/

Pascal Grooten

#16
Hi Don,
When are you going to Holland? At what event? So I can travel from Belgium with the speed of light to follow your class..I loved your classes at TMJ 2008. I met a legend! I'm not worthy.. :)

Graham Lee

#17
Quote from: "Buster Balloon"And that really hot girl who I was just friends with in high school, even though we both really liked each other, but I was too busy being the nice guy and comforting her when the jerks she dated broke her heart, I would totally make out with her.

Well there we we're, Danny and I having a coffee in the service station on the way back from the Leeds performance day and reading the above from Don and we both burst out laughing with everyone looking around at us  :D  :lol:
A great quote.
"Lets Improve Our Art"
Balloon Excellence 2012 Award Winner
For Services to the Balloon Community.
https://www.balloonartwholesale.co.uk
http://www.sempertexballoons.co.uk

Buster Balloon

#18
Quote from: "Pam Pearce"Hope fully we will meet up when you are in the UK - I have diaried it.

In the meantime Please keep me smiling and laughing.

Kindest Regards

Pam

That's what I'm here for.
Don Caldwell aka "Buster Balloon"
Comedy Genius, Balloon Twisting Savant, &
Pre-Sweetened Breakfast Cereal Connoisseur
https://busterballoon.com/

justmarie

#19
When you set out to create the characters for Balloon Manor, did you have faces in mind or did you just make them up as you went along?  (They all seem to have their own personalities.)


Do you still practice balloons at home?


Have you ever been attacked while inside a 6' balloon?  ;)


I thought I'd have a million questions for you.  Other than, "May I borrow your creativity for the day...", I'm at a loss.  You are truly my favorite balloon artist.  Thank you for all you've given me and the rest of the balloon world.
Hugs!
Marie

Danny the Idiot

#20
Hi Don,

I have some more questions for you that cannot wait until June.

Can you tell us about the Jeff McBride/balloons and magic classes? Will they be going ahead again?

When will you be writing some articles for BHQ (or even here!!)? - I found them very inspiring.

thanks,
Danny :ugeek:
Danny Schlesinger
Balloon Excellence Award Winner
https://dannytheidiot.com
https://www.CircoRidiculoso.com
Follow me on Twitter at @danny_the_idiot

colin myles

#21
HI Don,Great to see you on Balloonchat, the interview has been very intresting so far.
I would like to ask one question if I may.
 Do you consider yourself to be only a twister, or do you ever do any decor work ????
such as centrpieces for large scale events. ??????????
If you do such work I am sure everyone would LOVE to see the pictures  :twisted:
I look forward to seeing you in May
                                                                         Colin

Graham Lee

#22
Well if Don does do decorating then perhaps we could put another workshop day in the schedule :lol:
"Lets Improve Our Art"
Balloon Excellence 2012 Award Winner
For Services to the Balloon Community.
https://www.balloonartwholesale.co.uk
http://www.sempertexballoons.co.uk

Buster Balloon

#23
Quote from: "colin myles"HI Don,Great to see you on Balloonchat, the interview has been very intresting so far.
I would like to ask one question if I may.
 Do you consider yourself to be only a twister, or do you ever do any decor work ????
such as centrpieces for large scale events. ??????????
If you do such work I am sure everyone would LOVE to see the pictures  :twisted:
I look forward to seeing you in May
                                                                         Colin


NO, NO, NO, NO!  I would never stoop so low as to do DECOR!  (unless I was at Millennium Jam and a certain gorgeous blue eyed blond with a sexy english accent asked in that cooing way of hers that she knows I can't resist, and again at BACI... then I might come around).  But you can't prove it!

By the way, how much would it cost to suppress such photos, if they did theoretically exist?   :oops:

The truth is I personally find decor dreadfully boring to do.  Just like  traditional line work, all of that repetition drives me bonkers.  Even weaving makes me a bit twitchy after a while.
Don Caldwell aka "Buster Balloon"
Comedy Genius, Balloon Twisting Savant, &
Pre-Sweetened Breakfast Cereal Connoisseur
https://busterballoon.com/

lollypopandpatch

#24
Hi Don

Love your work and can't wait to meet you and take your class in May (have all the DVD's so far).

My question is .............. have you ever wanted to make something out of balloons but have not been able to get it right ...... your Achilles heel ???

Sharon a.k.a LollyPop
LollyPop and Patch
http://www.lollypopandpatch.com

Just Twistin\' The Day Away!

Buster Balloon

#25
Quote from: "Parcival"Hi Don,
When are you going to Holland? At what event? So I can travel from Belgium with the speed of light to follow your class..I loved your classes at TMJ 2008. I met a legend! I'm not worthy.. :)


I will be lecturing in Holland on June 1st, but don't have any other details yet.  I will keep you all posted once I know more about the venue and all.
Don Caldwell aka "Buster Balloon"
Comedy Genius, Balloon Twisting Savant, &
Pre-Sweetened Breakfast Cereal Connoisseur
https://busterballoon.com/

Graham Lee

#26
Dennis & Ingrid are organising the workshop in Amsterdam, you could Pm him from the forum or his website is;
http://www.juggling.nl/shop/
"Lets Improve Our Art"
Balloon Excellence 2012 Award Winner
For Services to the Balloon Community.
https://www.balloonartwholesale.co.uk
http://www.sempertexballoons.co.uk

Buster Balloon

#27
Quote from: "lollypopandpatch"Hi Don

Love your work and can't wait to meet you and take your class in May (have all the DVD's so far).

My question is .............. have you ever wanted to make something out of balloons but have not been able to get it right ...... your Achilles heel ???

Sharon a.k.a LollyPop


Not for the last 10 years or so.  One of my early goals as a twister was to be able to make anything that anyone requested, and for a while I actually built my reputation on it.  We would play "Stump The Balloon Guy" and I would offer a dollar to anyone who could.  It broke up the monotony of line twisting, and it made me get really good really fast.
Don Caldwell aka "Buster Balloon"
Comedy Genius, Balloon Twisting Savant, &
Pre-Sweetened Breakfast Cereal Connoisseur
https://busterballoon.com/

Buster Balloon

#28
Quote from: "justmarie"When you set out to create the characters for Balloon Manor, did you have faces in mind or did you just make them up as you went along?  (They all seem to have their own personalities.)


Do you still practice balloons at home?


Have you ever been attacked while inside a 6' balloon?  ;)

Hugs!
Marie

1)  Michelangelo said that he did not tell the stone what to be, but that it told him what it wanted to be.  The balloons do the same thing.  I usually start with very clear idea of what I want, but rather than force the balloon, I look at what it does on its own along the way.  If a technique does not turn out the way I expected I just improvise, and that becomes part of the sculptures personality.  There are no mistakes, just opportunities.  In fact the adorable little squirrel on Mad Hatz Vol. 5, started out as an idea for making bosoms for female sculptures.

2)  Sometimes, but I have to be really inspired.  I tend to get bored, and easily distracted twisting alone.  That is why I find balloon jams so useful.  It is always much more fun to play with others.

3)  Yes I have.  Tell Sydney and The Loganator that I said Hi!  ;)
Don Caldwell aka "Buster Balloon"
Comedy Genius, Balloon Twisting Savant, &
Pre-Sweetened Breakfast Cereal Connoisseur
https://busterballoon.com/

Buster Balloon

#29
Quote from: "Danny the Idiot"Hi Don,

Can you tell us about the Jeff McBride/balloons and magic classes? Will they be going ahead again?

When will you be writing some articles for BHQ (or even here!!)? - I found them very inspiring.

thanks,
Danny :ugeek:


The first rule of Balloon Master Class is that you do not talk about Balloon Master Class.
The second rule of Balloon Master Class is, You Do Not, Talk, About Balloon Master Class.

Actually, studying with Jeff really is a life altering experience.  There are so many little things about performing that we don't think about or take for granted that Jeff is a Master of!  I have never met anyone who knows how to control, and pump up an audience better, and during master class he holds nothing back.  He and the other instructors are completely willing to share their lifetime of knowledge and experience.

The best part is the works in progress.  Students have the chance to perform a piece, and then get constructive feed back on it from the instructors as well as the other students.  And your piece, as well as the feedback, are recorded so you can study it later.  You also learn an amazing amount by watching the other works in progress a listening to the instructors feedback on those.

We have done the Master Class for Balloon Twisters for four years in a row now, normally in January, but 2010 is still up in the air.  Todd and I may take a year off to start new trouble somewhere else  :twisted:


As for the BHQ articles, I really miss writing them, but being married and reinventing myself (the transition from Don Caldwell to Buster Balloon) has taken most all of my free time the last few years.  But there will be some new projects coming soon that will focus more on marketing, branding, and performance like the old columns did.  Stay tuned.
Don Caldwell aka "Buster Balloon"
Comedy Genius, Balloon Twisting Savant, &
Pre-Sweetened Breakfast Cereal Connoisseur
https://busterballoon.com/