October 2009 - How do you remember?

Started by Danny the Idiot, October 01, 2009, 08:03:29 PM

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Danny the Idiot

A new month  - a new topic....

Balloon models - you can make anything out of balloons (if you know how).

How do you remember all your sculptures that you can do?



(I'm not going to ask lots of questions this month, so as to leave it open for debate and free to answer.)



Your participation is what keeps this forum going. Please join in the discussion.

Thanks
Danny
Danny Schlesinger
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Normski

#1
Hello gang,

Well, i can remember most of my regular stuff no problem at all,there was something i have been working on over the past 12 months since tmj and that is to be able to make all my sculptures blindfolded,this was something Don c told me he does and when u can achieve this it gives you the time to entertain your table or receiver of the balloon without worrying about what ur making! In my opinion its not just about getting a great balloon.(watch stevemartin messing with a 260 on utube so damm funny)
It takes me around 10-20 times to get a sculpture right everytime and then i am lucky i have the ability to remember it after that.

Just my thoughts

Normski

Dr balloonman
http://www.izzywizzyparties.com

YvonneH

#2
For me the simple answer is that I don't  :shock:   I have a memory like a goldfish and find it really difficult to remember anything other than the blindingly obvious models that we all get asked for all the time.

The annoying thing is I can do all lots of different models of varying complexity at home but when I get on a job I usually end up being asked for flowers and swords which is really bad since I then forget even quicker the models I have just learnt.  The bigger problem for me is when a child asks me what I can make my mind magically erases itself and I can't remember anything ... well near enough.  I think for me the only way round it is to focus on one model and make it again and again and again until it is second nature and as soon as I get myself sorted I shall be doing this.  If I get asked for something on a job and I don't know how to make it I just wing it really .. they usually turn out rubbish but ocassionally they turn out well.  I did this with a goldfish at one job and they became the hit of the party.  Later today I am going to master a penguin and a decent giraffe  8-)

Roger has a prompt sheet which is a great idea but when I last used it I had children trying to look at it when it was attached to my belt whilst I was working.  Obviously I ended up removing it as the kids just would not listen to me telling them not to (I need to get more firm with them but that is a whole other topic) - mind you in my defense they were a huge group of kids without much adult supervision trying to take over my queue and annoying everyone not just me  ;)

If anyone does have any other tips on remembering what you can make and how to make them I would love to hear it.
Yx
<a href=\"mailto:yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk\">yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk</a>
http://www.loonyballoony.co.uk

daisydoos

#3
I'm like Yvonne, memory like a sieve (mum of two anyone?? LOL).

I keep a little sheet in my apron with a list of balloons I can do in case I get asked, there are probably about 60 designs on there I'm comfortable doing on a job.

The funny thing is, because I now do 2/3/4 balloon models instead of simple one balloon models, if I'm asked for something really simple, that's when I tend to forget!

Quote from: "YvonneH"Later today I am going to master a penguin and a decent giraffe.

I've got my penguin down to a tee, but giraffe's are a pain. I can do a really nice one that will take around 10 mins to make, but a good, quick giraffe I haven't found yet, so I end up making the one balloon one and hate it (or I will tell them I can do a simple one balloon one or offer them a much better something else).

Any tips on how to remember would be welcomed  :)

YvonneH

#4
Mum of 2 here  :D

I have a giraffe that I like that is based on Twistina's but just uses a loop twist for the muzzle/mouth area instead of a heart but the trouble is I keep relearning it before heavy balloon weekends and no kid asks for one and then when I forget to practice it they all want one and I can't remember.  I think it is called sod's law.

Lisa I love the idea of a list btw.  It is a very quick prompt without pictures that the kids will want to look at.
Yx
<a href=\"mailto:yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk\">yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk</a>
http://www.loonyballoony.co.uk

Graham Lee

#5
There is a nice giraffe hat on the model of the month section that is fairly quick to make.
"Lets Improve Our Art"
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YvonneH

#6
Oh must pop in to have a look as I really need to knuckle down and work on my hats!  Mastered a penguin this afternoon though and learnt a little more about CSS whilst at the local indoor play area with the kids  ;)  Somehow I seem to be having an efficient spell.
Yx
<a href=\"mailto:yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk\">yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk</a>
http://www.loonyballoony.co.uk

Bad to the Balloon

#7
In restaurants and events I am totally improvisational in my work.... what ever the crowd asks for. Within Taste & Reason!!!

For my family shows / B-days I use music to cue me into my balloons. I have several tracks of music that relate to the balloons I do.

Short list: Bad to the bone/Bear on Heart, braid, and duck • Smooth/Dolphin, Mermaid • Spiderman? do I really have to say?, Hulk, Leading into Ironman which when finished plays Ozzy's Ironman song (how many children performers use Ozzy Ozborn songs????) Monkey's Theme song (you know the American Beatles) / monkey in Tree and Funky Monkey • George of the Jungle/ Elephant • All Star / Dragon and Star hat• Jaws / Shark leading into Sponge Bob with F.U.N. Song then Sponge Bo Theme song/ Pirate Hat......
Mark Byrne
AKA Mark the Balloon Guy
Tampa Bay\'s The"Original" Balloon Guy for over 20 years
"Bad to the Balloon"
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Curley Wurley

#8
Thankyou for this topic. The reason my twisting hasn't moved on in the last year is because I have a shocking memory and I aint a mother of two.

Its good to know its not just me and its all part of the process. Its clear that its a question of practice practice practice to get the muscle memory and the mental memory but its so hard to stimulate yourself to practice when you know you'll forget and all you get asked for are swords and flowers.

It leaves me in the usual dilemma that every one has as you move through the stages of development / career - I'll only get better by doing it but I darn't take on work cos I don't feel good enough and on and on and round it goes.

Or is it only me and maybe a few others and the rest of you just get on with it without worrying?

Cheers

Peter

Billy Wiz

#9
I haven't got a good memory, I often write the birthday child's name on the inside of my hand to remind me.

I have two small laminated pouches (credit card size) which just have a list of things I make. One has a list of various hats/bracelets and the other has just a list of 'line work' balloons I make.

To be honest, I rarely use them, but every so often, if my mind goes blank, I'll look at is for ideas of maybe something I haven't made for ages.

At the back of my balloon box, I also have some small slips of paper which show photo's of new'ish balloon models I want to practice and some show extra small pictures of a particular part of the model which might have been more complicated to help jog my memory. I normally have a quick sneaky peak while getting a quick drink of juice from the back of my box.

Roger

#10
As Yvonne has mentioned I have a aide memoir (I just love that word or should I say words) the trick is to have the small one that I keep for my self and a large one that the children can look at wile they are waiting I do like to over supply, so will tend to have a picture in my aide memoir (there is those words again) that can be built on say put a picture of a plain penguin, and then the add on's will come in to my head eg give him a fishing rod with a fish on. It gives you the chance to keep it to a minimum if you need to.

I must admit the more I do the less I seem to use it. I do like improvising, and I do find the better I get the easier it gets I do keep a couple of photo albums with me that have pics of the things I do not do very often and will go to them if I get stuck. I do find that _I can look at a picture and normally work out how it's done this is good in some ways as f I get a glance of one I have done before I can reproduce it pretty quickly. On the other hand it can stifle my creativity, as I if say I have been asked for a character I have say seen on hear It will be at the front of my mind and have trouble getting past and so lots look like others work.

By the way all the pics on my aide memoir are of models I have made my self they may be of other people's designs but I believe it is important to have made them before the go in my aide memoir. And the way I it is done it is easy to swap them in and out not a good idea to have complicated ones that children may get a peak of at a knockem out gig .
When it comes to the day I arive at the pearly gates I hope to slide in sideways saying to st Peter WOW!!! what a ride.
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Tonya

#11
I like how you've done yours Roger, do you laminate the strips to keep them clean and sturdy?  
I too have used an "idea list" with about 70 or so figures listed.
At the moment, I'm back to improvising as I would like to get some fresh ideas.  Gives me a chance to see what the kids are wanting now  ;)
Have a happy day <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt=\":-)\" title=\"Smile\" />

Tonya

YvonneH

#12
Could I just ask a question that is a little off topic but still kind of ties in.  As you will see from my earlier comments I struggle to remember what I can make at a party or event especially when children always seem to ask for a dog/sword/flower.  I find this kills my flow and reduces greatly the number of models I can retain in my head if I can't practice them.  

So my question is how do you get kids to ask for something other than the usual?  Obviously on a very busy job I am grateful for simple requests but at party bookings where I am charging a parent a significant sum I feel I should be giving them a little more value for their money!
Yx
<a href=\"mailto:yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk\">yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk</a>
http://www.loonyballoony.co.uk

Clown4Fun

#13
Quote from: "YvonneH"So my question is how do you get kids to ask for something other than the usual?  Obviously on a very busy job I am grateful for simple requests but at party bookings where I am charging a parent a significant sum I feel I should be giving them a little more value for their money!

Well I am telling them, like, "yes I can make a sword or a dog, but I tell them that how about I do something speciall and if you guess what I make .. I will make you a sword on top of it"... most of the kids like surprises.
Mr. Tony - balloon twister, face painter --- http://www.clown4fun.co.uk

Billy Wiz

#14
Quote from: "YvonneH"So my question is how do you get kids to ask for something other than the usual?  

I think it really depends on the mood I'm in. Sometimes I'll let them choose what they want, and other times I'll just make them what I want. Usually with comments like "I'm going to make you something really nice, something to match the huge smile of yours, can you guess what it is?" And then go into 'waffle' mode and just chat to them until it's finished.

If a child say's they just want a dog or something simple like that, and I'm not too busy I'll make a good classy one, but if's it's busy, I'll make their dog but add it to a small green balloon as 'grass' and into a bracelet. Just adding something simple like that with extra balloons can turn a boring one dog creation into something a little more colourful.