Hello All

As a newly joined member, I am as yet unsure about the why's and wherefores of the Guild. I would like something which states that I am indeed a paid up member and I have thought about the posibility of having a Polo shirt with the logo embriodered on. Does anybody know if this is permissible please.

Thanks

Hi David, We did start to get a logo together. Rob got the ball rolling and then I got a few people to add to it but it got a little muddy shall we say with what people thought should be on the logo and what the idea of the club stood for etc. There is a thread here somewhere, off to look for it.

I think this is the main thread, the-balloon-artistes-guild-logo-t6850.html?hilit=bag logo

Can someone confirm for me that those of us not currently TBAG members can attend the Leeds STAR Lecture day in March and will membership run from April for 2014/15?

Hi Andy, yes anyone can attend any of the days, club members and non club members. We always have a day rate and also an early bird special price as well.

The club membership does run from 1st April 2014 till the end of March 2015 but as yet we are not sure if the club will continue. For the past three years the club has not been braking even, I did think we would have a few more members now we are into the third year and nearly at the end of year three. We might have to cut our cloth accordingly and maybe just have the 6 main days, the three star lecture two day events in Leeds, Birmingham and Sutton. I also thought the club would be run more as a club as well with everyone helping out a little more. 10 days for £120 plus 3 DVD's, it must be the bargain of the year but still some just turn up, enjoy and walk away without helping here and there. Maybe I ask too much?
I will also add there are 3/4 club members who also go beyond and help all the time, so thank you to them.

Well if the club does continue into the 2014/15 year then I will certainly be an extra member. I haven't been to any of the days, much to my regret, but I think there must be a lot of people missing a trick on here, 10 days plus DVDs for the princely sum of £120 is a great deal, even more so with the monthly instalments.

If I can do anything to help keep the club going please let me know.

Quote from: "andyc277"If I can do anything to help keep the club going please let me know.

Could you russell up 65 paying members    That would be nice.

I have about that many imaginary friends but they only pay imaginary money!

I went down to see Lord G on Tuesday and he will be working on the editing of the Brian Asman star lecture. Hoping to get this out mid Jan...............Maybe.

I suggested to Graham on a PM that an associate membership might appeal to the masses to increase numbers, I was thinking along the lines of a lower price that wouldn't include the DVDs from the Star Days and/or a discount on the Care & Share days.  Graham kindly educated me on the value for money that the BAG gives a member. £120 for 10 days training along with sharing ideas, experiences and abilities, plus the Star Lecture Days, plus the DVDs of the Star Lectures. Qualatex do their own training, £80-£95 for a single day.  I don't claim to be a maths genius but even I can see that huge void between the 2.

I am currently not a member of the Balloon Artistes Guild, thanks there goes to work and working away for over 6 months of this year, however I fully intend to be a member at the beginning of the next membership year, April 2014 onwards.

Graham has already described on this thread the challenges that the guild is facing regarding finances due to a less than ideal number of members. I feel it would be a great loss to those who have been / currently are members and those of us new to the industry to lose such a valuable asset.  I would ask you all to think of how many model ideas, tips, tricks and pieces of advice you have received from being part of this site. Now imagine how many different things you would pick up from talking to people face to face and watching professional twisters doing their thing live, not to mention meeting others who are in exactly the same position as you.  All this has the potential to disappear due to a lack of membership along with what I can only imagine to be a phenomenal amount of blood sweat and tears on the part of Graham.  

I would ask you all to join the guild again next year, encourage other to join and develop your own abilities and continue to grow this fascinating industry. If nothing else keep this guild going so we can all continue to feed off the genius and efforts of Graham and co.

How about the exact opposite type of membership from what andyc277 suggested? -- something that would just include the DVDs for the Star Lecture Days for those of us from the U.S. who could never make it to a Share & Care Day (although they sound great!).

I was just updating the list of members and forgot to mention that Susie Hillman also joined the club at the Brian Asman day and we also have a new member Mari Farrell.
This is the full list..............I Think!!!!!

Graham Lee
Thelma Levett
Shirley Ray
Roger Daws
Lord Geoffrey
Pam & Paul Pearce
Darren (Nippy99)
Diana Dews
Kevin Steadman
Steven Dagsland
Ade Bamigbade
Danny Schlesinger
Robert Eagling
Robert Driscoll (magirob)
Sonia Payne
Joyce Sugden
Paul Isbell
Andy Squire
Steve Benton
Adie Hurley
Trudi Patient
Tom Nowrie
Julie Trafford
Emma Mitchell-Dale
Royston South
Olivia Post
Lisa Chester
Tony Balloonman
Jason Murphy
Barbara Roll
Amanda Smith
Pete Watts
Julie Hayward
David Crofts
Dave Hickory
Colin Tulley
Nici & Jay
Dan (KJ)
Christine Belcher
David Tan
Stuart Davies
Mari Farrell
David Craner
Susie Hillman
Tess Cartwright

I make that 47 members including the joint memberships, I will be emailing all club members tonight about the balloon artistes guild for 2014/15.

And just to remind all monthly subscribers, your final payment is due this month!

And the question is..................what happens now to BAG?

Thanks Darren for sorting the monthly payment plan out, cheers.