Thelma Levett, Date Change 12/18th May

Started by Graham Lee, May 05, 2008, 04:48:44 PM

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Graham Lee

#30
Thelma,

If you want to add more picture's into one post (3 max per post) then underneath the browse button after you've selected the picture you hit the add the file. Hope this helps.

Graham Lee
"Lets Improve Our Art"
Balloon Excellence 2012 Award Winner
For Services to the Balloon Community.
https://www.balloonartwholesale.co.uk
http://www.sempertexballoons.co.uk

Thelma Levett

#31
Thanks Graham.  Its a good job you are asking me things.  I wouldn't have much to tell otherwise.  So to answer the last couple of yoiur questions.  
What is the most asked for model.   Usually if I ask "What would you like?" the answer is "a sword", "a dog", "a giraffe"  I try to explain to people that there is more to balloons than these things but they still have this picture in their heads that balloon modelling = poodles etc.  So if we are talkin g about the first request it is usually one of the above.  However if the venue is right and I am asked for a giraffe I make a really detailed one that stands about 3 ft. high.  Likewise if they ask fo ra dog I have a big variety of dogs I can do. If they ask for a sword they get a sword and shield.  I have to admit that the sword witht the shield is a huge hit.  I do make it plain that I want everyone to think of something different or that if I do more than one dog they will be different dogs.  If I break this rule it is because I am pushed for time in which case all principals go out of the window.  In that casse I get asked for

My Penguin, my snake, the sword and shield, the ghost busters style power pack with lazer gun, (if I am desperate to finish quick they dont have the pack though) my monkey and rabbit are extremely popular too.  It all depends what you have done before.

Thelma Levett

#32
How do I work a line

If its a lot of people I worry it could get a bit boring for them all.  Sometimes you just cant get away from the line situation but sometimes it is possible to change the situation and get rid it completely.  When you see a street performer juggling or whatever you don't see people standing in a line, they stand in a semi circle round the performer, or even in a circle round him/her.  No one expects the performer to do something for them specifically but they realise that someone from the crowd might get roped into doing something.  If I am working in a situation where I know I will get a big queue I dont do a line job.  I do a crowd jab instead.  I notice that when I do tables at weddings it is the adults who really enjoy watching although it is the children who have the balloons.  Bearing that in mind I realise that by having a queue most of the people can't see what you are doing, especially when you are my height.  So there is nothing abiout the wait that is enjoyable for them.  So when I arrive I usually just start making something nice and give it away.  I have asked someone if they would like it and they have waited for it. This brings other people in so by the time I have finished making the first rather nice model there are more people.   At this point I avoid the queue situation.  If there are four people waiting for example I make four models simultaneously.  I don't ask them what they want.  I make a piece of a model and give it to the first child.  Then I gove the first part of another model to another child and so on.  Four models on the go is enough though,  They have n o idea what I am making and if anyone else is there they get  interested too.  So bit by bit the models come into being.  By the time they are finished there are a lot more people there - not in a queue because I made sure to have the first four people in a semi circle in front of me.  The first four people go and I have a good number of people standing in front of me.  If they are not standing in an arc before me a ask them to do so.  This is an important moment because you are telling everyone there that you are not working a line without actually saying so.  Now I do what I did again.  I give four first stage balloons to four children at random.  the rest of the people know they are not getting something but they are interested to see what I am going to make and like to guess ahead.  When the models are finished its all repeated.  You can have a game with them too.  I picked that up from Toby at the Euro Jam.  He has some great ideas for crowd entertaining.  He uses a whistle to great effect and fun.  But he gets the crowd to play games such as statues.  You tell the crowd you will make something for the person who stays still.  You can knock out anyone you want to.  You can let the winner be the person you want to do a balloon for.  It is good to do the odd game if you are there a while because it breaks things up.  Also if you want to take a break you can do so at any time you like.  You finish the four models or the game and balloon and then you just announce you are going for a break but will be back.  No one was queuing, no one was next, no one gets upset,  You will walk away to the sound of applause.  If you have to leave at a certain time you can and you can indulge yourself and make nice things or simple things as you see fit.
Sometimes I do find myself in a line situation because of the sort of event or because I am asked to take money.  If I am taking money for my client or doing a queue I keep my models more simple.  If I am asked to repeat a quick model I will.  But I dont enjoy those sort of jobs.

Krazy Kev

#33
Hmm, Intersesting Thelma.
I think I'll try and give that a go. It's nice to do 'bigger' things and your situation helps exploit it.
It's sods law that if you are working a line and early on you do something to impress the only kid (and mum and dad) you have there, then low and behold they come out of the woodwork wanting that bigger sculpture!
Kev

Thelma Levett

#34
I like your Taz picture Kev.

Graham Lee

#35
Thanks for taking the time to answer the questions Thelma, here are some more;

11, What's the biggest thing you've ever made

12, Who is your market aimed at?

13, How do you book yourself?

14, Are you currently in the "love of the art" or are you profitable?

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

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

Graham Lee
"Lets Improve Our Art"
Balloon Excellence 2012 Award Winner
For Services to the Balloon Community.
https://www.balloonartwholesale.co.uk
http://www.sempertexballoons.co.uk

Graham Lee

#36
Thelma,

You make some very original sculptures but I noticed as yet you dont have a website so where can people see your amazing work.
Have you a DVD or CD coming out with some of your work?

Graham Lee
"Lets Improve Our Art"
Balloon Excellence 2012 Award Winner
For Services to the Balloon Community.
https://www.balloonartwholesale.co.uk
http://www.sempertexballoons.co.uk

Thelma Levett

#37
Not so big

Thelma Levett

#38
I dont tend to do display work,  My work is in situ.  I turn up and do my stuff.  So birthday parties and weddings.  Also community projects.  Occasionally I do balloons round tables.

Thelma Levett

#39
I dont book myself - other people book me!!! :P
Not sure I understand the question.  Do you mean how do I advertise myself or how do I get bookings?
I advertise myself as The best balloon artist in my area and the worst magician.
Most of my work comes from yellow pages and reputation and cards

Thelma Levett

#40
I do it as a living. But some days I dont get to do many balloons.  I do more face painting than balloons and organise parties.  I love it when I get to go full out doing balloons.  I am happy doing them.  I often leave the house at 11am and get home at 7.30pm or later.  I get a shower, have some dinner and then get my balloons out.   I suppose you could call that addiction.  So I do it for love and money.

Thelma Levett

#41
Favourite gig = weddings  - I have fun at wedding, getting the chance play with the balloons.  I like the fact that the adults are digging the balloons even more than the children.  I often finish the wedding gigs by teaching some of the adults to twist something simple and they love it.

Thelma Levett

#42
I have just completer my first cd.  It will be for sale any day and can be delivered over email if preferred or in disc form.  It is called "Two and a Bit"  The models are designed for making in line work or parties.  They use a maximum of two balloons with the odd scrap thrown in for effect. I set myself a challenge to do these models for the magic societies because many magicians say they dont want to use more balloons than that.  But the challenge was to come up with attractive models even though they are quick.  Here is one of the models on my cd.  It takes two 260 balloons and two scraps.

I stopped working on my website to do the balloon cd.  I will get it finished now. I think the address is http://www.smudgyclown.co.uk.  only have the address at the moment and there is nothing on it but soon....

Thelma Levett

#43
Thank you for asking me to be interviewed.

Graham Lee

#44
Thelma

I appreciate you taking the time to answer the questions, so Thank You :D
About your website, could you not just put up temp about 10 pictures of your work with a phone number.
I'm sure this would help to generate you some work while your building the rest of the site.
Let me know when your CD/DVD is ready & I'll send out details to my mailing list for you.

Graham Lee
"Lets Improve Our Art"
Balloon Excellence 2012 Award Winner
For Services to the Balloon Community.
https://www.balloonartwholesale.co.uk
http://www.sempertexballoons.co.uk