Balloon Chat
Uncategorized Boards => Interview a "Balloon Chat" Member => Topic started by: Graham Lee on November 20, 2013, 10:42:31 PM
Colin that multi award winning balloon artiste on balloon chat has kindly offered to answer the questions for us next week, so apart from the standard questions if anyone has others they would like to ask then please fire away. Colin can you add your Facebook and website details here? Thanks.
//http://www.Facebook.com/BongoBalloons
//http://www.BongoBalloons.co.uk
//http://www.Twitter.com/BongoBalloons
1, What road led you into balloon modelling?
The M55 to Blackpool! We had a family day out in Blackpool and we saw someone stood in the shopping centre selling balloon models. We bought a couple for our daughter and I thought I could probably manage to make something like that so bought some balloons and had a go!
After a few months of inactivity, I picked up the balloon pump again and made some models for my daughters 3rd birthday party. The reaction from the other kids and parents was great and convinced me to go for it!
2, when did you get started with balloons?
The Blackpool trip was in August 2012, the Party was February 2013, I started trading properly in April and won my first award in May! (Thanks Graham :-P)
3, What's your best twisting experience?
I can't remember when or where it happened, but seeing a little boy being so excited while I was making his monkey on a tree that he couldn't stand still and was jiggling all over the place!
4, What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you during a ballooning/entertaining session?
I had a short spell where I'd finish a model and be drawing on the artwork, but for some reason still unknown the pen kept popping the balloons!
In Blackpool it could have been Bob Wooding that you saw in the shopping centre?
I've just googled him and I don't think it was.
Maybe it was the Blackpool balloon modeller, the troll :( :o He used to tell us how good he was ;)
5, What do you most enjoy about twisting & why?
I love seeing the reaction to the models. When people are amazed that you can make that out of balloons! I was booked for a party on Sunday at a soft play centre. For the first hour, I didn't see the kids as they were off playing, so I just stood there making whatever I felt like (but making sure I'd have enough models for them all by the end of the party). The number of adults, not there for the party, that were sat around watching me with stunned looks was quite amazing!
6, What's your favourite age to entertain?
As I said for the previous question, I don't currently 'do' entertainment as such. That said, however, while I like making balloons for anyone, my favorite ages are probably the 4-8 year olds that are very excited about their balloons and also those adults that are just as excited!
7, Do you have the same act but vary the presentation for all ages or do you have set acts for different ages?
I don't have an act.
8, What's your favourite thing to make at the moment?
The Chainsaw always gets a great reaction! It also won me my Second award! (Thanks Paul/Graham!)
9, What is the most asked for model?
Probably the monkey on a palm tree, but it is a close run thing with the ladybird/bumblebee bracelet and penguin. I had one booking for a shopping centre birthday where we must have made over 80 penguins in 4 hours!
10, What do you tend to do more of if stuck in the 'balloon production line' model?
It can vary depending on the event. I have spent days where it felt like I only made monkeys and other days where it was penguins!
11, Who is your market aimed at?
Anyone who will pay me!
12, What kind of work do you do mostly - parties? Corporate? Etc
At the moment, we mainly do events. We turn up, set up the gazebo and either sell our models, or give them out depending on what has been organised/paid for.
We have also taken some party bookings and have contacts with potential corporate clients
13, What is your favourite/ideal gig to do?
I love it when we are giving away the models. It is great to be able to let anybody who wants one have one, no matter what age or social/financial situation they may be in. If you can forgive the corny-ness... It's giving away smiles!
14, What irritates you most at a gig?
The Cumbrian weather! I had to drop everything and grab hold of the Gazebo last month!
15, How do you book yourself?
We started by going to a few car boot sales. We didn't do very well at them in terms of sales, but the suggestions and recommendations that came from being at those has led us to all sorts of events. Every time we hand over a balloon, we also give a business card. We find that being seen and the resulting word of mouth is our best publicity.
16, What's the biggest thing you've ever made?
I've made a few 5 foot penguins, and also similar size Santa and Snowman.
17, What has been your proudest achievement in our wonderful world of twisted latex?
The moment when Graham announced I had become an award winner.... :-P
18, What advice would you give to someone starting out, or wanting to increase their business?
Be seen with your balloons. Your product is your best advert.
19, What road in latex do you see yourself taking in the future
More of the same hopefully. I would love to be able to attend more Care n Share Days, Jams and eventually a big convention as I have learned so much from the ones I have managed to get to. Work wise, I have been approached a few times regarding potential Corporate and Team Building bookings which look like they could be a good way forward.
20, What is your personal goal when you set off to work? Is it money or to entertain etc?
For me, it's a bit of both. I am aware that I need to earn money to pay the bills. That said, however, if someone gave me enough money that I never had to work again, I would keep on twisting!
Hi Colin,
I have a couple of questions for you...
Whats your favourite colour balloon?
Whats your favourite size or shaped balloon?
Qualatex, Sempertex or both?
What makes you laugh?
thanks,
Danny
Whats your favourite colour balloon?
I think my favourite might be Wild Berry. I seem to use black the most though (Penguins, Ladybirds, minion feet, spiders)
Whats your favourite size or shaped balloon?
Probably 260s as that is what I use most and seem the most versatile. I'm getting into using 350s and 646s.
Qualatex, Sempertex or both?
Qualatex, but only because that is all I have ever used. I might order a mixed bag of sempertex at some point to try them.
What makes you laugh?
That is one of the set questions so I will not answer it just yet :-p
Quote from: "BongoBalloons"16, What's the biggest thing you've ever made?
I've made a few 5 foot penguins, and also similar size Santa and Snowman.
and here they are: //http://balloonchat.co.uk/post60702.html#p60702
Santa ended up being about 6 foot tall!
Colin,
What model / creation would you love to do but haven't quite got to yet?
What model / creation would you love to do but haven't quite got to yet?
I'd like to do something like a 'sit on/in' motorboke or car.
Thanks for taking the time to answer the questions that have been set, a few of the answers have me sitting here chuckling away to myself but I have a few to ask too.
Who in the balloon world would you ideally like to work with?
If you could improve one aspect of your work next year what would it be?
Who in the balloon world would you ideally like to work with?
This sort of comes up under the set question number 27
If you could improve one aspect of your work next year what would it be?
The ability to just create new designs on the fly. Last night I had a go at a Peter Rabbit which I was really pleased with for a first go. Megan instantly knew who it was which is a good start!
21, What are your balloon goals for the future?
Get better, become more confident in creating new designs and being able to say 'yes I can make that' more of the time.
22, If you could start all over again, would you change anything?
Only that I wish I had started years ago.
23, How would you like the future of balloon modelling to develop?
I don't really know. I'm just about getting to grips with the present!
24, Who's the most famous person you have made a balloon creation for?
I have made a couple of things for people from our local radio station. I guess I can claim I have made things for Graham at the Care n Share days... he's been on the telly you know! :lol:
25, How do you keep the enthusiasm going & what still excites you about our great world of latex
I still consider myself as a newbie twister so there is so much to still learn. I just have to look at what gets posted on balloon chat or what I see at Jams to inspire me to grow.
Busy day tomorrow, so here is the final few now:
26, What inspires or is your thought process in coming up with a new design
When I started, I used other peoples designs. The more I make of them, the more I then find that I tweak them into my own style. I have recently found that I am more confident in having a go at designing my own models from scratch. I am working on expanding this further and would like to eventually be able to 'give back'.
27, Who would you like to work with dead or alive?
I had the pleasure of meeting Antonio and Robbie Furman at the Birmingham Care n Share this year. Graham and Dan Catt have helped both my skills and confidence. I couldn't name any particular 'big name' twister here as I would like to work with any of them!
28, What makes you laugh?
Strangely this is the question that I have found hardest to answer and I can't pick any one thing to put here. In the 'real world' I like various comedy. My daughter often makes me laugh. Last night I ended up randomly watching a compilation of funny clips of cats on YouTube which was good!
Thanks for taking the time to answer the questions Colin and good luck for the future, keep happy.