Did I just graduate from hobby twister to more?  I did this same gig last year and it was long and hot.  This time it was a bit cooler but I twisted none stop from 9:30 to 4:30 and I am a happy twister.  My hands hurt, my back hurts, I think just about everything hurts but I could not have had a better time.  The lineup was incredible and I couldn't believe that people would wait so long for a balloon.  I ran out of lime green, so alien hitchhikers became dark green, I ran out of purple and almost blue.  Started the day out thinking I was only making the "hitchhiker" with either alien or smiley faces but by the end of the day I had make several other things including swords just to shorten the line.  You have no idea how good bites of cold hot dog taste until you have a day like this.  Last year there were long gaps between kids wanting balloons but not this year!!
I really am just rattling on but wanted to thank everyone on this forum for their support, instruction and everything else that you have given me to make this happen.  Thank you from an old grandma who is having a ball!!!!!!

congratulations and well done!  

Great job, Millie!  You will receive your cap and gown shortly!

 I can feel your excitement from here.

Thanx all!!!!  Yes, I think balloon excitement is very contagious!  

What designs did you do? Did you have a list of what you were twisting? I had a similar busy gig on Friday and I'm not reassessing what designs are on my board (some not popular - some take too long). Be interested in what you made - I did the alien too!

*opps meant 'now reassessing'

Chris, I did not have a list at all and started the day planning only to make the hitchhiker.  I usually just make what I am going to do for the day and then hang them from the tent at this particular venue.  The kids then just pick the style they want and color.  I had purchased two bags of alien heads and two bags of smiley faces and figured that I would be able to take my time making them.  Last year I didn't have line ups for any length of time so I was judging by that experience.  However the festival had been better advertised this year so I was bombarded lol.  The organizers got me a helper so I let him blow up balloons (I was a little worried as he was using my macpump and I didn't want him to break it) but then I taught him to make swords.  First day doing balloons but he did a fairly good sword by the end of the day.  Anyway, we started saying we were making hitchhikers or swords and that didn't make the line much faster - it just seemed to grow more.  Again I changed and started making dogs for the smaller kids and flowers on wrists for some.  If I had requests that were too time consuming, I told the child that I could do it but I left my instructions for that one at home. LOL  They actually believed me!!!
So the bottom line - no menu - just examples hanging from the tent - child chose their own colors
                           - alien hitch hikers most popular, smiley hitch hikers next, then swords, dogs (some on leashes), 160 flowers on wrist, 260 large flowers on stem.

Hope this helps, I know a lot of people use menu's but then if the line is long the child can't see what I'm making that day until they get up close.  I started to panic when I saw the line get so long but then I realized there was nothing I could do except offer quicker options like the sword so I just kept a steady pace to move them along.  I think we all learn by experience and I certainly learned today and enjoyed every second!

Thanks that's interesting.id like to see the hitch hiker design. Il google it.

Ahhh, a hitch hiker is just a balloon hat, simple, il do that on Friday on my next gig. Glad I asked now

Quote from: "Chris_kimber"Ahhh, a hitch hiker is just a balloon hat, simple,

Chris the hitch hiker hat is a classic balloon hat, a true classic, not just a balloon hat  

Well Done Millie! This will sure keep you young! Make sure you wear comfortable shoes..... And give yourself a pat on the back ..... Twisting for that long is not easy.

I would also add "take a break" you come back fresher and just a few minutes away can re-charge your batteries.

I agree about the break thing Graham, but I honestly didn't know how to end the line long enough to do that.  If I wanted to, do you think I should have gone to the last person in line and told them they were the last for me to take a break?  Maybe I should make up a sign and give it to the last person saying that after them I would be taking a break.  Actually I did panic and just wanted to make everyone happy, but you are right about taking a refresher break.  I've read quite a bit on the forums how other people do it but I couldn't think of one thing yesterday.  Total brain fart!!!!!

So glad for you Millie!!!!  You sound extremely happy about it all!!!  Well done to you!!  I have one coming up soon (a fun day for Michelin) and I've never done anything like it yet so your post was very encouraging for me.  Thank you for sharing...you're a great twister!

xx