A quick bit of advice please

Started by raineshoe, January 21, 2010, 06:50:51 PM

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raineshoe

I have completed some basic courses in balloon decor and have the potential of a first job.  The columns for the balloon job are not a problem, however, there is a very large arch involved.  This will be in a shopping centre so I was thinking air filled balloons on a frame well secured would be the best option as it also needs to last quite a while.  Is this the best way to go forward or has anyone any other ideas or suggestions please.

Pam Pearce

#1
If it needs to last then I would agree with you. Air filled on a frame is the best way to go.

Dont forget to make sure they know its YOUR frame work and go back and collet it. Even charge a deposit then they wont Bin it or decide to have a go themselves

Pam

Neil

#2
Hi Raineshoe

It kind of depends what sort of arch the customer is looking for - if it's a 'string-of-pearl' arch then it would really have to be hi-floated helium filled balloons.

If it is a 4 or 5 balloon cluster arch then I'd definitely say that air filled clusters 'tied' around a frame would be the way to go.  There's some opinion that Nitrogen balloons last longer than air filled, and give a firmer balloon but I've never used Nitrogen so this is something I can't comment on but might be worth looking in to.  

On the assumption that the arch is to be floor standing, you'd need to use something like heavy duty base plates (probably with additional weights) to secure the frame to, and as the shopping centre floor will be a smooth, tiled (or similar) finish,  you'd need to think about how to secure the base plates to the floor.  You mentioned that it's a very large arch - very wide, very tall, or both? - as you will probably (almost certainly) need more rigging and securing than just the base plates depending on the size.  Think also about the material you'll use for the frame, as (again if it's huge) this could ramp your cost up if you're using 1/4" aluminium round bar, for example.

Without knowing the remit of the job, it's difficult to say what I'd do, but I hope this is of some help.  :)   Good luck with it!

--Neil
"I don\'t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." - Bill Cosby

Pam Pearce

#3
I agree with Neil

Pam
xx

Graham Lee

#4
Yes so do I, mind you I have no clue to what your all talking about, what are these round balloons?
Do they sell them in the UK.
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Neil

#5
:D  :D  :D

Graham's missing out on SO much, Pam, isn't he?   :D

--Neil
"I don\'t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." - Bill Cosby

YvonneH

#6
How long is quite a while?  I ask because I have seen large arches made using those new foil diamond shapes from Qualatex too.  Someone I know has even put velcro in the pieces to reuse them but that is obviously for a standard size arch.
Yx
<a href=\"mailto:yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk\">yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk</a>
http://www.loonyballoony.co.uk

raineshoe

#7
Thank you people.  Its a spiral cluster type arch, although I'm gonna quote them for a string of pearls too as easier to update when required, although would need more frequent changing.  The weights are not a problem as I've got some weight lifting weights which are ideal on the base plates.  They are massive weights not just the hand held ones.  There is more of a problem with securing the thing as the shopping centre ceiling is very high - put it this way you need a scaffold tower to reach the roof in the part where this will be ie the glass roof pokes out of the top of the multi-storey car park at around the third level.  However, I am sure this is not an insurmountable problem as I think I can persuade them to have it near one of the pillars in which case I can attach line to secure it to this.      

Also the client books me regularly for face painting, temporary tatts, balloon modelling so not a problem with getting my stands back as worked with them for 4 years now for all major events that take place in the centre, so we know each other well, and have to say as shopping centres go the staff there are some of the best I've worked with.  Couldn't be more helpful.

Yvonne - quite a while is max 3-4 weeks, which I realise that the balloons will not be perfect for the full 3-4 weeks, but I want to have to do as little as possible fiddling once the main stuff is set up ie minimise my costs, without jepordising the display for the client.

I would imagine the 1/4" aluminium would be sufficient, I presume like if I was putting the clusters on dacron line I keep the aluminium straight until the balloons are on then bend it?  

I must admit I was thinking that my first opportunity would be a small wedding or christening thing, not something in a shopping centre  :lol:

Thank you so much for your advice its at least tells me I'm  on the right tracks so I must have learnt something on the courses.

Pam Pearce

#8
Dont give them the option of a SOP they will go for it on cost and you will spend so much on maintaining even if you use 16" balloons.

If you go that route use 36" foil stars, on a line  as a SOP and joined together, they will last 3-4 weeks and if you leave the valve area open can easily be topped up. - Very impressive - for height attach tolatex columns - if no pics on our website there are someon our face book.

Depending on budgets available - have you seen the Anagram 4 foil balloons already joined together with a hole in the middle - they are towards the rear of the catalogue. You will be surprised how long they last and how impressive they look. And the cost is not much more than a foil balloon

I have some air filled which where displayed on a frame some years back for a corporate client( must be 3 or 4 years now!!) We kept them to see how long they would last ( as you do if you have the room)

These days those that are left are sitting on columns at the unit and quite often get a dust and go out to assist a charity event looking for decor with very little or no budget - and still look good

Worth a look and a thought

When it comes to securing have a look at the Magmover system ( think it chaged names to Click click) from Qualatex as long as you have steel it works well.

Pam
xx

Pam Pearce

#9
Take no notice of him Neil - Dont let him fool you - he knows exactly what we are talking about -  he did his NABAS Level 1 with us - just chooses not to get involved with 'ROUND' balloons.

But then when we started in Decor in 1996 as twisters already the 'round' balloon people did not accept long skinny balloons as a requirement - Oh how times change... some of us have been "decor-twisting" for a long time...  or would that be Twisted-Decor as we twisted first

Pam
xx

YvonneH

#10
Pam I suspect twisted decor is more accurate a description  ;)
Yx
<a href=\"mailto:yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk\">yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk</a>
http://www.loonyballoony.co.uk

raineshoe

#11
Quote from: "Pam Pearce"Dont give them the option of a SOP they will go for it on cost and you will spend so much on maintaining even if you use 16" balloons.

Pam
xx

I have noted this and won't give them the option then.  This is definitely experience talking!!  I've moved forward a little on it as having had some advice from you guys and also from a lady whose course I attended I think I am well on the right track.  

I really do appreciate all the help, comments etc its boosted my confidence no end.  Its probably the same as the first time you go face painting or balloon modelling you are nervous and once started are okay.  At least in at the deep end I've got to do it and it will give me bags of confidence afterwards provided I get it all right.