Mr Tony has kindly agreed to answer the questions for us on the forum this week, so any other questions apart from the set ones then please fire away.
This is Mr Tony's website, http://www.clown4fun.co.uk/

Ok... so here it goes.... It's a long time since I was under fire... but well.. you live once (and still have to pay your taxes  :lol: )

Now pls bear with me (or even poodle or giraff) when it comes to grammar etc, as I still have to Polish my English...  
So here are some questions from Graham. Will hope to go through the rest of them this week...

1, What road led you into balloon modelling?

Years ago, when I was young and idealistic  :lol: I had been involved with volunteering. We were looking for ways to fundraise to do some humanitarian projects and someone copied this idea of making balloons for donations. At first I was rubbish at making balloons, but with practice it came better and better. Mostly I was twisting simple figures with one or two balloon, but it was still fun.  I did learn mostly watching others twisting, plus from some of the books we could get here and there.

After few years, I decided to actually open my own private business as a balloon artist and face painter, cause that is another thing that I enjoy. Actually, when we were coming back to our sponsors with the photos of our funny antics at the orphanages, while giving the donated goods, they would ask me: "Oh, you are doing clowning! Great, how much do you charge for birthday party, or corporate event." etc. I realized that we can "have our cake and eat it" at the same time: helping the needy and then also making funds for those different projects and/or to pay our bills etc.

2, when did you get started with balloons?

I first started with the balloons around 1997.

3, What's your best twisting experience?

One winter, we had in mind to do something special for the orphanage we were helping. We wanted to do a big Christmas party. It was a big orphanage, over 100 children, ages from couple months to around 11yrs old. The idea was kind of crazy: to raise enough funds to give each of the kids ages over 4, a bag with good quality school supplies worth of 10 GBP equivalent. (they have a regular school in this orphanage). For the younger kids  a good quality of eduactional toys. We didn't want to give sweets and any of this kind of garbage.

So anyway, we thought that with the rate we were getting the funds for it, we will raise the money in .... like a decade or so....  :lol:  But of course no one goes to prison for having dreams, do they? Remember, it was in Poland, where people are accustom to helping but it is still not easy to raise that amount.

One day, while I was twisting a small boy came asking for a balloon figure. He's dad gave him some cash, and then asked what we are fundraisng for. When I explained, he said something like this" So for 100 kids, and 10 GBP per kid, that would make around 1000 GBP?". I concurred... and then was in shock when this man gave me his home number and asked to call next week... I thought he was making fun of me and it was me in clown outfit.  :shock:

Well, to make the long story short, we met him, got the funds from him on the day and did fantastic party for the children. We got local TV coming, local press printing a story about it, we got folks from local NATO headquarters come as well and donate a lot of good quality goodies. Some time before the party, the director of the insurance company heard about our plans, and they did arrived with ... an new MPV for the orphanage. That was my best twisting experience and nothing yet beat it up... I still have 'thank you' notes from the kids and newspaper articles from this event.

It all started with JUST one little balloon.... And to make it more funny it was something simple like a dog or giraffe, maybe a sword. But  I learned then, that you can't really underestimate the power of twisting... you never know, what kind of doors your balloon is going to open for you and others.



4, What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you during a ballooning/entertaining session?

I almost broke my thumb while making a bee from round 11''. While squeezing it, the balloon burst and my hands met very, very suddenly.... couldn't make ballons for couple of weeks.

5, What do you most enjoy about twisting & why?

The thing that I do enjoy about twisting is interaction with the public - making them happy with a little bit if "magic" while changing the long latex tube into something that they did asked for.  It's just bringing smile on others faces is worth it.... plus of course making good living from it.

6, What's your favourite age to entertain?

Kids ages 7 to 11

7, Do you have the same act but vary the presentation for all ages or do you have set acts for different ages?

I do the same thing for all age groups at the moment. Most of the time I play by ear and adjust what I do on the party to the circumstances. I do ballooning entertainment and face painting at the moment.

8, What's your favourite thing to make at the moment?

At the moment two hats, with Nemo  - based on Buster Balloon (Don Caldwell) and Crab hat plus  Bucks Bunny with a carrot and Octopus as it is quick and funny looking.

9, What is the most asked for model?
One balloon tiger is the most asked figure I do.

10, What do you tend to do more of if stuck in the 'balloon production line' model?

If I see that everyone is asking for the same thing, I am taking the reins in my hands and telling to the next kid in line. "Well, I heard what you want, but let me surprise you and you are going to like it....". It usually works, so then I create something different and .... usually it becomes another production line.... :lol:

Hi Mr Tony, If you could choose anyone ever who would you most like to make a balloon for and why? What would you make them?

Hi,

I am really enjoying the interview so far.........................

1) Where do u see yourself in 5 years from now?
2)Which artists inspire you?
3)Do u prefer to copy ideas or do u make a lot of original pieces?
4) What do u think makes a great balloon entertainer?

Look fwd to the rest of ur interview

Regards

Normski

http://www.izzywizzyparties.com

What is your favourite one balloon creation and could you post a picture of it.

Quote from: "Clown4Fun"One winter, we had in mind to do something special for the orphanage we were helping. We wanted to do a big Christmas party. It was a big orphanage, over 100 children, ages from couple months to around 11yrs old. The idea was kind of crazy: to raise enough funds to give each of the kids ages over 4, a bag with good quality school supplies worth of 10 GBP equivalent. (they have a regular school in this orphanage). For the younger kids  a good quality of eduactional toys. We didn't want to give sweets and any of this kind of garbage.

So anyway, we thought that with the rate we were getting the funds for it, we will raise the money in .... like a decade or so....  :lol:  But of course no one goes to prison for having dreams, do they? Remember, it was in Poland, where people are accustom to helping but it is still not easy to raise that amount.

One day, while I was twisting a small boy came asking for a balloon figure. He's dad gave him some cash, and then asked what we are fundraisng for. When I explained, he said something like this" So for 100 kids, and 10 GBP per kid, that would make around 1000 GBP?". I concurred... and then was in shock when this man gave me his home number and asked to call next week... I thought he was making fun of me and it was me in clown outfit.  :shock:

Well, to make the long story short, we met him, got the funds from him on the day and did fantastic party for the children. We got local TV coming, local press printing a story about it, we got folks from local NATO headquarters come as well and donate a lot of good quality goodies. Some time before the party, the director of the insurance company heard about our plans, and they did arrived with ... an new MPV for the orphanage. That was my best twisting experience and nothing yet beat it up... I still have 'thank you' notes from the kids and newspaper articles from this event.

It all started with JUST one little balloon.... And to make it more funny it was something simple like a dog or giraffe, maybe a sword. But  I learned then, that you can't really underestimate the power of twisting... you never know, what kind of doors your balloon is going to open for you and others..

This is an amazing story Tony, I take my hat off to you. Well done

Quote from: "Billy Wiz"This is an amazing story Tony, I take my hat off to you. Well done

Thanks...

11, Who is your market aimed at?

At the moment my "market" is aimed at childrens entertaining... Since I am "five thumbs" at the moment when it comes to magic, I offer two things - balloon twisting and face painting. However I am in the future, funds permitting going to venture to the enticing world of magic tricks....

12, What kind of work do you do mostly - parties? Corporate? Etc

Well, we just started in UK in July, and  so far majority of work was during open air events, where most of the time it was kind of assembley line. At the moment, birthday parties do start to slowly trickle in....



13, What is your favourite/ideal gig to do?

What I enjoy at the moment, and feel easy at doing it, is participating in some open air events or in shopping malls, (probably comes from hours on end fundraising in such places), where you have different fun things going on around, and I am just an addtition to the show. Especialy wheh I am paid for the hour. Of course the financial mattter is important, but there is a difference in whether I am paid or not. If I am paid, then I really burn free with the balloons and not holding back in what I want to do.



14, What irritates you most at a gig?

Kids coming over and rummaging through the balloons, when I have them displayed on the table, people asking about the charges for the parties, however recently I started saying "here is my card, pls call, as I do not discuss business while performing". Another thing is when the booker is putting me to twist next to very loud place... like 12 drummers playing african drums... believe, it did happen.  


15, How do you book yourself?


now this is a problem for me at the moment. Cause I am now relying mostly on whether people will have the need to call me. I do give my business cards almost every where I go. I work as a privet hire driver at the moment, and meeting a lot of influential people. In most cases the conversation leads to "how long are you in UK, etc." I then go ahead and say that the privet hire is not the end of my aspiration, and I had started a business here. Almost everybody is surprised to have a shouffer who is also clown/entertainer.  I get a lot of positive comments and congratulations on being inventive.  Got already one well paid booking during the summer from it. Anyway, that how it works in my situation at the moment.

But I have to admit that the frequency of folks calling me for parties is not as satisfactory as I would like it to be.
Also it is "word of mouth" at the moment. Hopefully it will pick up more. I believe also that the more people know about your talent and business the better financially you would be.

When we were living in Poland, we moved to a completely new town. it took us some time to break on the market, but finally we had regular people calling for our service. Also travelling on the Busker Bus (http://www.buskerbus.com) festival was a great help in getting jobs, as afterwards folks would call us from different cities asking if we can come and work for them. Hopefully it will happen here for us here.

Quote from: "Professor T Wist"Hi Mr Tony, If you could choose anyone ever who would you most like to make a balloon for and why? What would you make them?

My mom - if she was still around - the biggest heart for all she did for me while she was with me..


John Ronald Reuel Tolkien -for creating the most amazing world of Middleearth... He is my most favorite fantasy writer of all times. What I would make him? .... a scene with Gandalf taking Bilbo out from Hobbiton on his first journey, or maybe Smaug... I am still undecided  :lol:

KISS band- for just being there and playing some of the greatest tunes I know over the years - what I would make? All of them on stage ...

Quote from: "Normski"Hi,

I am really enjoying the interview so far.........................

1) Where do u see yourself in 5 years from now?

I hope having fruitfull and inspiring career as a twister and entertainer, so I can finally work for myself doing what I like doing and supporting my family from it. So next step is - balloon decor, and magic tricks training.
2)Which artists inspire you?

"Buster Balloon" Don Caldwell. I really like his style of goofing around on the stage. Plus his ideas of balloons are so simple and entartaining. I like Ken Stillmans big figures. Hasn't tried making them yet, but will surely do it.
3)Do u prefer to copy ideas or do u make a lot of original pieces?

You always learn from the best... I like to copy the general idea, but not trying to do the balloons by the letter of the law. I like experimenting and inventing things. Many times kids come over and ask for something that I never did before so I just play along and try to make it work...

4) What do u think makes a great balloon entertainer?

It's not only the ablility to make a great enormous and elaborate sculpture in under minute time, but personality... the way we interact with others,  and also important thing: fogetting about your problems and making others happy .... that is a sign of greatness ... Somebody in mind? yes, I think Krazy Kev is  a great entertainer .... all the best Kev.

Look fwd to the rest of ur interview

Regards

Normski

http://www.izzywizzyparties.com

16, What's the biggest thing you've ever made?

I wasn't into very big sculptures. c'est la vie, as the french say, but i think it was two differnt figures: Pink panther on motorcycle, and another one was birdcage with paradise bird inside.

17, What has been your proudest achievement in our wonderful world of twisted latex?

...look to the answer nr 3...

18, What advice would you give to someone starting out, or wanting to increase their business?

Do not be afraid to make mistakes... and believe you will. but that is how we do learn to do things. I am not talking about poping a balloon while you twist, but big blow outs with booker, forgetting things, saying wrong thing at the wrong time, etc. the list can be long one.

But we learn from it, and just have to go on...

And another thing - spread the word about your business everywhere you go. You never know if that person you give your card to migh open a door to something speciall and lucrative.



19, What road in latex do you see yourself taking in the future

Want to implement decor to my business portfolio.

20, What is your personal goal when you set off to work? Is it money or to entertain etc?

When I entertain, my goal is to have fun with people for whom I am working/performing. Money will follow, and I thinkg the more you tune yourself to your clients, it will be easier for them to part with their cash.

21, What are your balloon goals for the future?

To learn  big sculptures

22, If you could start all over again, would you change anything?


I would definitely invest the funds into better training.




23, How would you like the future of balloon modelling to develop?

I don't really know what to answer to this question... maybe cheaper prices of the balloons?  :lol:


24, Who's the most famous person you have made a balloon creation for?

Unfortunately had no chance to make my balloons for celebrities...


25, How do you keep the enthusiasm going & what still excites you about our great world of latex

One thing that helps me keep the enthusiasm, is financiall side of the trade. The more funds I make via balloons, the better, less of stress when it comes to bills.  
Another thing is seing other performers making fantastic balloons creations and being inspired to do the same.

Mr Tony, thanks for doing the interview on the forum, much appreciated  

That was a brilliant run of answers.
Congratulations and thanks, Mr Tony.

Dave