Balloon Chat
Uncategorized Boards => Events. Balloon, Magic, Etc => Topic started by: Graham Lee on February 26, 2017, 02:19:35 PM
They announced the dates for Twist & Shout 2018, for the past couple of years I have
been unable to attend due to a date clash with the Blackpool Magic Convention.
Well for next year they have exactly the same conventions dates 17th/21st so
there I was thinking oh dear yet another year when I'm unable to attend.
It took me a few minutes to realise that Blackpool is on In Feb and for the first time I can
remember Twist & Shout will be in January so it looks like Vegas here I come............baby ;-)
Great!
If anyone wanted to come along on the Vegas trip next year I will add the details as we get them,
registration is $325 on the super early bird which is up till 22nd July. So if the pound surges
against the dollar that would be the time to book.
http://www.planetreg.com/E11511434021689 (http://www.planetreg.com/E11511434021689)
I have just registered for twist and shout, going out with Olivia and possibly Danny.
If anyone would like to join us we are off on Saturday 13th Jan and I'm flying home on the 22nd Jan.
Once I have booked flights I will let you know.
I've booked my flight, it's all happening.
Registered for Twist and shout, tick.
Hotel reservation sorted, tick.
Purchase flight ticket, thought booked.
Did you know you are unable to buy a plane ticket unless you have a valid passport.
So a quick dash to the post office for them to double check it and approve the pictures
and the application for new passport has been sent off.
They are holding my ticket for two weeks so all should be OK...........fingers crossed.
Jay Hubbard from Twist And Shout Balloon convention said on the FB group....
"....I also wanted to give the rest of you all a heads up, That the Early bird registration price of $375 is still in effect, and will be till 11/23/17.
After that the price goes up to $425. I will be out of the office from Mid November till the end of the year, and will be back beginning of January."
//https://www.balloonconvention.com/
Its a great convention - in January 2018 it will be in Las Vegas!!!! 8-)
Sitting at the airport after having breakfast with Danny and Olivia.
Just waiting to board, Vegas here we come, he he.
Quote from: "Graham Lee"Sitting at the airport after having breakfast with Danny and Olivia.
Just waiting to board, Vegas here we come, he he.
Have a great trip :D
Had a nice couple of days sightseeing, went to see a show menopause, then onto
the pinball museum and then onto the neon museum. Janet showed us around
and was fab and then took us to a fab OKs style pub that was amazing.
see ya soon!
All back safe and sound from Twist and Shout.
I will start posting pictures tomorrow after catching up on some sleep.
I usually post from the event but decided to sit about chatting and catching
up with people I only see every now and again. I also made it a challenge to
go up and introduce myself to quite a few people I have never met before.
I found this so much fun that I will actually suggest it to Patty that they put
something into the welcome pack that you have to say hello to 5 new
people you have never met before and write there names down
and perhaps have a draw for a free T-shirt or something similar.
It's just a thought.
Here we go with the pictures then, the first few are a little touristy
as we arrived a few days early to visit a few places.
Notice the lovely view of the 24 air conditioning units that we could see from our room.
The room was pretty basic, Olivia who we went with was upgraded and
had a very nice room compared to ours.
The view from next to our hotel down to the big wheel.
We had a laugh in this shop with the hand gels and other things about.
Vegas fun.
Mike Tyson was in town on the same day.
Typical Vegas, an entrance to a restaurant had all these baths on the way in.
A walk along the strip.
I gambled $1 while in Vegas, it took a good 10 mins of not having a clue what
I was doing on the machine before I lost the money so was fun.
I thought the machine was going to be 21 which I have a vague idea how to play
but it was some sort of poker game so I was completely lost.
We then walked down to circus circus to see the chicken game and the show.
There was an excellent clown on and he had some nice funny moments in a 10 minute spot.
Danny on the chicken game, he did win.
I had a go and lost :(
Lets hope there is no fire.
We went to see the show Absinthe with Danny and Olivia, it was Fab!
BUT!!! I had a drunk lady in front of me and the whole time during the show she just talked.
Non stop, we asked 4/5 times to watch the show and the abuse I got and the others around
us. We even got management over and they would not eject her.
It really did spoil the evening and occasion for me.
We got cheap seats as we picked all the single seats and sat in different places in the tent.
It is a show I would recommend but please be wary of the compares, they are very adult.
More from the show, all the acts were short and sweet but superb.
Top quality acts from all over the world.
Have I mentioned the acts were great!
Janet showed us about on Monday, we started off at the container park
down by Freemont Street.
Janet with her new headgear and showing us where she was thrown out
when they had a local jam. It was a long story but funny at the time.
One of the highlights for me was the Pinball museum,
we had about an hour here and I did try to make it back
on the morning of the day we flew home.
I had to set off for the airport at 12.15 so Victor and
I met for breakfast at 9.30 but alas the museum did
not open till 11 so we would have been very short on time.
Never mind I will put it down to visit next time, that is if there
is a next time. Plus going to the secret garden, we missed out
on visiting there as well this time around.
Janet and Olivia got up and on stage at the end of the menopause the musical.
Janet's friend was in the cast and it was a very funny show.
We then went on a tour of the neon museum, this has many of the old Vegas
signs restored and working. It was very interesting hearing about the history of Vegas.
This was my favourite neon sign, until I was told it was just the usual exit sign :(
They even had a retro balloon modelling kit.
And inside the box, even stickers.
Some of the larger signs.
More from the neon museum.
I took a few pictures here.
Not sure the support for the large man was in the best of positions?
Still ore neon's.
The last from the neon museum, thanks to Janet for being our taxi, much appreciated.
Janet then took us to this little bar down Freemont Street way, it was Fab.
I know it still looks like the neon museum but this was the front of the bar and the shop next door.
The sign for the shop next door was funny,
If anyone lives nearby then please try the bar out as it is slightly different.
Olivia rather excited to see Mac King.
The Bride, I thought this picture was rather sad. I was having a coffee
at Starbucks and the bride to be was texting and not looking too happy.
I wonder what the story was? In Vegas everyone has a story?
I'm not sure what hotel this display was in, if I was to guess then the Bellagio but that is a guess.
The glass art was fantastic, the pictures do not do it justice.
The fountains at the Bellagio.
Here we go then with the start of the pictures, Dominic and I compared Pikachu.
I had a play at the sausage dog for my three minute competition entry.
The slap band man.
I then tried the larger sausage dog for the twelve minute competition.
Bella and Claire, two old friends from way back, it was nice catching up.
Décor in the hallway before the convention started.
This is Steve, we met at a T&S a little while back.
You could not wish to meet a nicer person.
Still before the official opening.
More from the pre-convention.
This picture is for Donna, she wanted to know about my after shave etc.
The official opening and then Todd, Guido and Andrea announced a new balloon
organisation that they are just about to launch.
Then it was onto the competitions, the first one was the three minute.
So the next 20 or so designs were all made in under 3 minutes.
All made within three minutes.
Still the competition.
The hippo was placed but I will need to check my notes.
It would be nice of the competition entries could be displayed a little nicer.
Not sure what the answer would be though.
My dog popped at the very last minute :( But it was fun to enter.
The light sabre from Scott was the winner, amazing what some people can twist in 3 minutes.
Close up of the handle.
We then went into the 12 minute competition.
12 minute competition.
The lama was placed but will have to check notes to see where.
The ship was placed and I do not have to look at my notes.
This won the twelve minute competition.
Can you guess my entry for the twelve minute?
I actually had enough time to make my three minute entry again.
And this time it did not pop.
Victor made a design of Brian Getz, it was a pretty good likeness.
The vacuum cleaner was also placed in the competition, can you guess?
Yes I will need to look at my notes to see if it was 2nd or 3rd.
Joanne taking a picture of the sausage dog.
Some people were relaxing watching the competitions.
The 15 minute hairband competition.
Hairbands.
More Hairbands.
The first picture is of Christena who inspired me to make the Tiffany lamp.
This is the link if you would like to view it.
lamp-t11229.html (http://balloonchat.co.uk/lamp-t11229.html)
The mermaid was the winner,
I will write all the winners and the runners up once we get to the gala night pictures.
There were a couple of hairband entries that I think you needed to ask
the competitors the thought process about their entries.
This all made for a more fun time.
I did not get around to asking Scott about his hairband entry.
But I like the fact he looks at balloon art differently to many others.
Photo bombed by Jeremy Johnston,
Mr Jacks who we met a few weeks back at the Hamburg jam.
There is a funny story to this bike, it was a fun 10/15 minutes.
Ooops, Mr Jacks is in this post, not the last one.
What can one say, Robbie was the man about town.
Carolynn Hayman did a master class on the elephant build.
Some of the competition pieces being built in the jam room.
The wall was built to separate the jam room from the competition building area
and made for a place to hang designs up during the week.
A few examples on the wall.
The photographic set up in the jam room.
Can you see the bike I made,
it's slightly on a smaller scale to the one same built in his masterclass.
A few pictures from the pyjama party.
More from around the room.
More from the wall.
Still on the wall.
The competition area. Did you notice the vegemite (Marmite) jar?
The newly weds.
More from the wall.
Still on the wall.
Carrying on the pictures after being locked out the forum for a few days.
This is where my love affair started with my new balloon bag.
Dianne was in a class with her new bag and it was everything I wanted.
Bigger wheels and further apart.....................the story will continue.
The look on Janet's face..........................priceless!
The fire and marsh mellow workshop.
Steve is a real diamond, a lovely guy to chat with and sit and twist the time away.
These were the lights for the firefly jar.
Olivia concentrating on the workshop.
a
The celebration class, Easter, Christmas etc.
The gloves were interesting, each finger had a light attached.
In the dealer hall, the new rod idea, you might need to google it to see the effects.
Pip had a full class.
From Carolynn's workshop.
In the duck billed platypus class we were given the list for bubble sizes.
Seemed like a good idea to me.
I liked the water effect on the underside of the frame,
simple but very effective.
The said duck billed platypus workshop.
Then it was a nip into Pip's workshop.
More from Pip's workshop.
Still from Pip.
The green dogs were for Deborah Fellman, there is a separate thread about this,
green-dogs-for-debs-t11234.html (http://balloonchat.co.uk/green-dogs-for-debs-t11234.html)
Christopher Lyle made the hulk costume.
Then back into the jam room.
Around the jam room.
Sometimes you see a style and just know who has made it.
In case you are unsure these are Matt Falloon.
Designs from the wall.
I would take a guess and say all of these were made by the same person.
I think they were from Japan and entered the stage and costume competitions.
Upside Spider-Man.
Sam's workshop and me playing in the jam room with a dino type thing.
Shower time in Sam's workshop.
Mr Jacks with his Koala.
The koala was looking at me, asking me to take his picture.
Well that is what it seemed like to me.
Daniel saving the seats.
This was a very special moment for myself, it's nice when someone remembers what you
were eating the last time I attended a twist and shout and they bought me a bag for this time.
Thank you, I was touched.
The fashion show, not as many pictures as I usually take as once the event
was over I think a lot of the people took the dress's/costumes down the strip.
They have before stood in front of the Twist & Shout banner so we could take
more pictures.
The first dress from Melissa who I did not recognise although we have met
on numerous occasions and even worked together opened up and worked
a little like a costume change.
I'm just trying to remember which dress I voted for.
The lady with the bead dog which she kindly gave to me is in a lovely way
a complete fruit case and full on. This is one reason of many that I love
the balloon world, there are so many varied people in the business.
It was then onto the costume part of the show.
More from the costume competition.
The king with no clothes, made me smile.
It was a fun evening.
A few people stayed around so we could get some extra pictures.
In front of the Vegas sign.
I liked the look of darth vader and the way the cloak flowed.
It was an interesting concept.
Then it was the start of the late night class at 11pm.
Not sure I'm a lover of workshops this late.
I think Sam had a late night class on wearables.
And balloons from around the convention.
There were a few class's on marketing that I looked in to
get a picture but did not sit and stay.
Geo's as shorts.
Some of the competition pieces being built in the jam room.
Some branding and then Patricia and I were playing with the netting.
More of the branding.
Balloon HQ were getting some lovely pictures.
I don't think I'm half way through the pictures yet.
It will be a while before they are all up on the forum.
A drone was flying Sam's wearable plane around the jam room.
Some of the competition pieces being made in the jam room.
Someone getting ready for their stage performance, I cant say who it is, he he.
Joanne and her koala learnt from a workshop.
Then it was a few of the competition pieces.
Then back into Carolynn's class.
The way Andrea connected the top flower petals to the actual main flower was very interesting.
This is Scott, a very nice chap and fab twister.
It was here there and everywhere to get some pictures.
More from the costume class, I did like the eagle.
Trying to decide where to sit at the gala evening.
It was then into Kelly Cheatle workshop which was very interesting.
Kelly explaining design/structure etc.
That eagle again.
This was a packed workshop with Lindsey Foster.
Janet in scary mode, to be honest I'm not sure Janet has a scary mode.
Some variations on the cat.
Then back into the jam room.
It was nice to finally meet Carolynn and to twist a little, the same with Christena,
here displaying her doggy leggings.
A 646 sausage dog, never made it this size before.
There was a McDonalds next to the hotel and the coffee was half the price of
the Starbucks at the hotel. So this one day I treated myself to a big mac.
The shakes are so different to the ones in the UK.
The dress's the morning after,
the blue dress had paint inside the balloons to get the desired look.
Around the jam room.
Then it was onto the show in the evening with quite a few acts.
Krystal and Matt compered,
if you have not seen Krystal's twisting song then please look it up...it's brilliant.
Steve Jones explaining the rules.
There were 3 or 4 people singing and ballooning in the show,
plus a hoola hoop act.
Then two double acts,
the older couple had some nice puns in the show from what I can remember.
The act from Japan had an electronic bunny that did a few things.
Does not come over with just pictures.
I think there were 16/17 acts, some I understood and some passed me by.
Then it was interval time.
Some people are very childish but it made me laugh.
Danny and I got a mention in one of the acts.
Miss Olivia with her excellent well thought out act.
It was one of the hits of the night.
Then there was a parody of a lot of twisters from Martin Lemire.
There was Matt Falloon and Christopher Lyle impressions.
Then it was on with the second half of the show.
With some Australian food testing between acts.
The shadow act was an interesting concept.
This act was themed on back to the future.
Then it was an Elvis tribute from Betallic.
Some of the acts waited around after so people could get some pictures.
That was nice and appreciated.
The rabbit twirled in quite a few directions, that is why it was difficult to photograph.
A nice picture of Sean.
Then it was into the competition room.
The mixer was an idea from Scott Tripp and the way the mixer was working
was very un-usual but effective. Obviously this does not come across in a picture.
Some of the competition pieces had been entered into the costume competition
the night before, so a good use of time and design.
:)
It's Vegas baby, he he.
Then it was onto the in-inflated section of the competition.
I think these should all be viewed at eye level as you really did
have to kneel down to see all the finer details of the pieces.
The minion looked totally different from viewing close up to distance.
I think there was a premium distance to see it at it's best.
The last of the in-inflated.
I think these are from the small category.
Still small.
Some might be in the medium now.
There are still many more pictures to post.
Still in the competition room.
I will mention the Guitar on the next post down.
Art affects us all differently, for me the high light of the convention was this guitar.
It paths the journey of a young twister, possibly the start of who knows.
Life's journey has many twists and turns (he he).
But I was pleased to be there to see this sculpture in person.
Some more close ups to read.
I should have taken the pictures in order as it told a story.
I thought I took a picture of Zephy, off to look again.
Some designs used in the show the night before.
The lovely Donna, at a twist and Shout in St Louis Donna took Danny,
Daniel and I out for the day. It was a fab day and locked into the memory banks.
Thanks Donna xx
More from around the jam room.
The artwork on the skull is stunning.
Victor and Martin playing about.
Martin shaved his head for a sequence in his balloon show the night before.
After the head shave.
I loved the weaving, it rocks my boat.
More fun people to be around at the convention.
Adding to the heart, more fun people to be around, well person.
More balloons, who would have thought that at a balloon convention.
More from around the event.
Sam Cremeens workshop.
Then it was into the wearable class.
Pip and her puppet, Claire taking no prisoners with her gun, he he.
I had a play about with the shark at the convention.
I liked the construction of the feet/claws.
From the jam room.
More from the jam room.
Still so many more pictures to post.
A nice little tiger from around the jam room.
The last post above was my 22,500th post, so a few then? He he.
Mr Fudd working away.
From the jam room.
A tattoo.
Victor and two of his Poppy Troll's
This was the start of my mini lamp obsession,
thanks Christena.
Here it is again, lamp time.
It was then onto the competition winners.
More of the winners.
More winners announced.
Still the competition winners. I did not get a picture on the screen for the winner.
It was Jackie with her chrome mermaid.
It was difficult to see the cabaret acts as they did not have spot lights in the room.
The new Betallic range of colours, Carolynn Hayman picking up an award.
More winners, although everyone who attends a convention is a winner.
This was for the dress competition and I did not get a screen picture
of second from Melissa which was the dress that transformed.
More winners.
Having fun at the gala night. The costume competition winners.
Jeremy, Syan and Glenn.
Willie with his new act, a very creative mind xx.
More of the winners announced.
And the three winners, Scott, Eric and Jeremy.
More from the winners,
The large sculpture winners.
The Gristy award was given to Guido Verhoef, unfortunately he was not in the
room at the time so Connie and I were called up to do the guiness toast and
we were a little like Mr & Mrs Awkward. They asked me to say a few words about
David and sometimes your mind just goes blank and all the stories you had
together just slip your mind. Then once back in your seat they come
flooding back and you wished you had mentioned 2 or 3 of them earlier.
That is just the way it is sometimes, but I still have the memories of David and I.
The announcement for the venue for Twist & Shout 2019.
Guido receiving his "Gristy" award.
One of my favourite people, the lovely Dianne Cross, my new balloon bag I bought
from Dianne so every time I go to work I think of her, she is lovely.
Top Twister for 2018 was Eric Weinstein.
Plus the stage show winners.
All the winners and the little group who made it over from the UK.
The very moving Broken pump award that is treasured by all who have been fortunate to win.
My Guinness from the toast to David Grist xx.
Games night, I stayed up till gone 1am but then had to call it a night.
Balloon modelling behind your back and a very nice little portable balloon case.
I did enter the one balloon model competition with my very special to me hippo.
More from the evening fun after the gala dinner.
This section was make a miniature design.
Then it was the broken pump award.
You had to make a design while just using one type of balloon.
From the broken pump competition.
Still the comp.
The first picture is a little like after the Lord Mayors show and the party is over.
And the winner was after many years of trying, David Brenion.
Some amazing ink work.
Sitting and jamming with Helen on the Sunday morning.
That was an enjoyable hour or so.
We were planning on going to the Scott Tripp workshop but got sitting and chatting with Helen.
We went on the big wheel with Olivia and Dianne.
Right at the top.
The last morning before the flight home, I was planning on going back to the Pinball
museum with Victor but it did not open till 11am and we had to get our shuttle
to the airport at mid day so just went for a walk along the strip instead.
I loved the lines on this building, it was built as though falling down.
The sign got my attention.
I stopped at the shop for some frozen yogurt desert.
I loved the shoes, these would be fab to build out of balloons.
The very last picture from my Twist and Shout adventure from 2018.
Ine gave the shuttle driver her balloon to keep.
Thanks Graham for taking so many pictures and taking the time to share them on here. It's wonderful to be able to see all the fun adventures, for those of us that were not able to be there. You're awesome! :-)
Here is the list of the winners from this years convention.
Thanks to Patty for posting this onto the Twist and Shout facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TSBalloonConvention/
Twist & Shout 2018 Winners complete list:
In-Inflated Artistic Competition
3rd Judy Johnson
2nd Laurie Straus
1st Vicky Kimble
Small Artistic Sculpture
3rd Scott Tripp
2nd Jeremy Johnson
1st Eric Weinstein
Medium Artistic
3rd Teruaki Ito
2nd Emi Jingu
1st Eric Weinstein
Large Artistic Sculpture
3rd Sean Rogers
2nd Jason Secoda
1st Mark Verge
Balloon Dress Competition
3rd place Kristal Yee
2nd place Melissa Vinson
1st place Emi Jingu
People's Choice Melissa Vinson
Balloon Costume Competition
3rd place Jeremy Johnson
2nd place Syan
1st place Glen LaVallee
People's Choice Glen LaVallee
Stage Entertainment Competition
3rd Syan
2nd Pablo Munoz Garcia
1st May
People's Choice May
Top Twister Eric Weinstein
3- Minute Competition
3rd place Darren Saari
2nd place Michelle Ferron
1st place Scott Nichols
12- Minute Competition
3rd place Darren Saari
2nd place Stephanie Morace
1st place Domenic Hunter
Hairband Competition
3rd place Stephanie Morace
2nd place Matt Falloon
1st place Jackie Ochitwa
Broken Pump Award David Brenion
Betallic Inspire Award Carolynn Hayman
Helen posted this onto facebook yesterday and said it was OK to post here.
Made me smile, look at us both hiding in the first picture.
Helen is lovely XXxx