Emazdad, Clive has very kindly agreed to be the first person to be interviewed on balloon chat for 2009 from Mon 5/11th Jan
Clive is Billy Wiz's right hand man when it comes to his "Make a smile appeal"
more details about Clive can be found here on his website;
http://www.emazdad.co.uk/

First I'd like to thank Graham for giving me the honour of being the 1st interviewee of 2009, I hope my answers aren't too boring.
1, What road led you into balloon modelling?
I took the magic route, magic was a serious hobby and I'd just started to take the 1st step into performing at parties, I was a member of the Plymouth Magic Circle and in between meetings we used to have magic evenings round each others houses. At one of those evenings 2 of the working kids entertainers bought up the idea of Balloons and we had a little teach in and I was hooked

2, when did you get started with balloons?
This question seems similar to the 1st, as the answers much the same, I suppose it was about 1994, I started with just the basic Dog, Sword, Swan and 4 petal flower, over time I grew away from them as my skill improved.

3, What's your best twisting experience?
1997 on Emazdad's world tour (HMS Somersets South Atlantic Deployment) I'd just done a show at an orphanage in Ghana, and decided to give all the kids Balloon models at the end. They'd never seen it before and were fascinated.  2 bits spring to mind, 1, When the staff got the kids to sing to me while I was twisting, 2, As we drove off we passed kids on rusty battered bikes covered in my balloons.

4, What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you during a ballooning/entertaining session?
I've never had a really bad experience while twisting, but I did have a problem with a Mum at a social Club one evening. During my magic show I give balloons to my helpers, at the end of the show she came up asking for one for her kids. I politely informed her I'm not doing balloons for the kids and that I'd finished. She gave it the old "It's only one" line and when I still said no she started ranting and raving about blackening my name, and how she was a member of such and such club and would make sure I never worked there again etc etc. At which point it was taken out my hands by a committee member of the social club who told her to F off out the club as she wasn't a member anyway. (his words not mine).
I wasn't worried about her treats to blacken my name, as the club she mentioned was a Naval Family Centre, where as an Ex-Matelot I was a regular.

5, What do you most enjoy about twisting & why?
I really enjoy the look on peoples faces as they are really amazed what we can do with Balloons. I still get that same look on my face when I see what some of you guys can do.
 I also love the way you can have so much fun on a 1 to 1 basis with the child / Family you're twisting for at that time.

6, What's your favourite age to entertain?
My favourite age group is 6-7 year olds, they've just come out of the shy stage and their sense of humour and personalities are really showing through.

7, Do you have the same act but vary the presentation for all ages or do you have set acts for different ages?
I believe in quality not quantity so I do the same show whatever the age group, I always look for stuff that works across the board,  what changes is me and the way I perform. For younger kids there's a bit more simple humour and a lot more of a gentle approach, As they get older I'm a bit louder and extrovert, and there is a lot more banter with the kids as they tend to put more stuff my way.

8, what's your favourite thing to make at the moment?
I've a few favourites; my simplest favourite is the basketball hat, mainly because it's quick simple but gets a great reaction from the adults and kids.
My more complicated is Jerome from Jupiter my alien. It always gets a great response and the routine I use when I give him out still makes me giggle and I've been using it for ages.

9, What is the most asked for model?
It depends what they've just seen me make, but I'd say the most popular when twisting is the penguin.  I've only got to make one and everyone wants one.

10, What do you tend to do more of if stuck in the 'balloon production line' model?
I hate being a balloon factory, so if I can I'll try to make at least 2 balloon models, even if it's only giving a belt with the sword, a 6 petal flower, or Jelly babies and simple aliens using the Qualatex smiley & alien heads.
If I'm really rushed I go into Dog, Sword or Ray gun mode.

11, Who is your market aimed at?
I aim my market at Children, aged 4 upwards, (except playgroups where obviously the kids are younger) I do Birthday Parties from 4 to 8 for boys and 4 to 9-10 for girls as long as there are no or very few 9-10 year old boys present. Once Boys go past 8 they seem to turn really silly, and act as if they're auditioning for a series of Jackass.

12, What kind of work do you do mostly - parties? Corporate? Etc
Most of my work is 2-Hour Fun Filled Birthday Parties, however I would like to do more 1-hour Shows, and straight Twisting gags.

13, What is your favourite/ideal gig to do?
I love Schools, there's no control problems, the kids are always up for it and I just have so much fun.

14, What irritates you most at a gig?
Parents and toddlers, Parents who think it's OK to talk during the show, and Parents that think it's OK for their toddler to wander around getting in the way during the show. Often this kid isn't even an invited guest and is just there because Mum stayed at the party.

15, How do you book yourself?
I'm not sure what this question is, is it how do people book me?

16, What's the biggest thing you've ever made?
I don't generally make huge great models, but the biggest thing I do make is a huge flower with 11" Hearts and a bumble bee on it.

17, What has been your proudest achievement in our wonderful world of twisted latex?
Everytime I give a balloon to a special needs kid and their eyes light up and I know I've reached them and made a difference. That's what makes me feel really proud.

18, What advice would you give to someone starting out, or wanting to increase their business?
1st impressions count, Always look your best, always give your best performance no matter what mood you're in, always smile, always be professional in everything you do, Never be Late, Never let anyone down.
Remember your act is your main advert; a show isn't just about the money you're getting paid, but more about the work that you are going to get from that show.

19, What road in latex do you see yourself taking in the future,
I want to work on more of a balloon show, mainly for when I'm working at places like woodlands, my 1st hours balloon modelling is often done in a situation where I'm twisting to a large group, so instead of working my way round the group making the balloons I'd like to be able to Step back and make it more of a performance. It's 75% like that now, but even though I'm chatting and joking away, it's still me twisting as opposed to performing.

20, What is your personal goal when you set off to work? Is it money or to entertain etc?
Years ago it used to be to entertain, now it's my full time job it's more about the money I need to earn to keep my family.

21, What are your balloon goals for the future?
To improve my range of Balloons, I'm good at what I do, but I tend to make the same stuff time and again. However that's more habit as opposed to knowledge, there's lots I know how to make but just never seem to make them.

22, If you could start all over again, would you change anything?
Not really, I'm pretty successful as I am, the only thing I'd maybe change is my Stage name, although it's nice and unique it's not as easily memorable as others like Billy's. He's Billy wiz, I'm the fat bloke with the Lion.

23, How would you like the future of balloon modelling to develop?
This is a hard one, I'd never thought about it, I' will now and try and come up with an answer.

24, Who's the most famous person you have made a balloon creation for?
I've been booked twice for events where Liz is visiting, (you know Liz, lives in London with Phil the Greek) On the 2nd Occasion I gave her a huge 11" Heart flower, which I was told she took away with her at the end, instead of giving it away. I was told she said "Don't put that with the other stuff I'm taking that one home"

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

How do I keep my enthusiasm...... I'm not always enthusiastic, but no matter how bad I feel in the morning, or in the car on the way to a gig, the moment I see the enthusiastic smiles on the kids it's like a shot of adrenalin.
What still excites me about the world of Latex ..... Is this a kinky question?
I still get excited when I see or learn something new, I love the way there are no limits, well there are, buts it's the limits of your imagination.

26, What inspires or is your thought process in coming up with a new design
Most of my own designs started as my version of something I've seen, and then improved on. sometimes it's just to make it look so much better, or the changes come about because I find that the way it's been made isn't the best way for me, and I'll find my own easier way of doing it..
Occassionally though I will get a sudden rush of s**t to the brain and out of nowhere I'll come up with an Idea. I'd love to know where the store is in my head so I could access it more often, but I have to wait, (sometimes ages) for the idea to fall out.

27, Who would you like to work with dead or alive?
I've never thought about it, plus I'm name dyslexic, even the names of people I really like tend to escape me. Plus I'm not the sort of person who idealises celebrities, which makes remembering names hard. Anytime I have met someone famous I've never liked their attitude, they may be famous but they still put their trousers on one leg at a time.

28, What makes you laugh?
Good old fashioned British humour, none of that wishy washy PC stuff for me. I love watching those video programs where people get hurt doing stupid stuff.

Quote from: "Emazdad"22, If you could start all over again, would you change anything?
Not really, I'm pretty successful as I am, the only thing I'd maybe change is my Stage name, although it's nice and unique it's not as easily memorable as others like Billy's. He's Billy wiz, I'm the fat bloke with the Lion.

So what names have gone through your mind that you've thought YESSSSS I should have called myself...........

I think when you entertain Children a name that sounds fun and is easy for them to remember is best, like Tricky Nicky, Silly Sam, Billy Wiz, Wishy Washy, etc.

With my name one problem I have come across once is a Mum thinking that when her kid came home saying I want Emazdad at my party, She thought they meant the Dad of a girl called Emma in the kids class.

I've yet to actually come up with an original one that I liked, I wouldn't want to have a common one, it would have to be unique.

I should have called myself Billy Wiz.    

Graeme, (Billy) and I have discussed me changing my name, but neither of us have ever come up with a good one, or a way of gradually changing it so it doesn't effect my business.

Perhaps we should have a competition to come up with a new name for you for the New Year?
My entry would be "Mazdad The Magnificent"

I vote for 'Magic Maz!'

I don't like mazdad the magnificent it's a bit to corny for me, Magic Maz however is more along the lines of what I'm after.

It has a sort of ring to it. The kids could easily call me Maz and remember it, and as it sounds sort of like Emazdad it would be easy for me to make a transition.

To Start with a few months of going, Hi I'm Emazdad the magician, but you guy's can call me Maz for short, and gradually change to hi I'm Magic Maz.

Keep them coming guys Cheers

Hi Clive a couple of questions for you.
If they were to ban balloons and children's entertainment tomorrow what do you think you would do for a living?

How much stuff do you take to a gig with you e.g. do you have a pa system etc etc?

Hi Maz

Who would you most like to make a balloon model for and why? What would you make them?

Quote from: "Emazdad"Once Boys go past 8 they seem to turn really silly, and act as if they're auditioning for a series of Jackass.

XD So true!

Also, about the naming issue, how about 'Loony Balloonie'?

Hi Emazdad,

What do you want to learn next?

Who do you admire in the twisting world and why?

Whats your favourite colour balloon?

Whats your favourite shape/size balloon?

Do you do magic with balloons?

best wishes
Danny     :shock:

<<If they were to ban balloons and children's entertainment tomorrow what do you think you would do for a living?>>

I don't know, What a nightmare senerio, where am I going to find a job that pays so well and allows me plenty of free time.

 My fall back has always been my HGV License so I'd probably look to that 1st as a way of earning some cash while I looked for something better.

<<Who would you most like to make a balloon model for and why? What would you make them?>>

Dawn french, I think she's great, So Talented & So Funny. She's one of the few female comedians that I actually find funny, and she's quite sexy as well.

When we were bored on watch once during the middle watch, midnight to 4 am we did a top 10 totty survey, the lads weren't impressed with me putting Dawn on the list.

What would I make her? Probably a big basket of Flowers and Hearts, the make her laugh with my rude balloon model.

<<How much stuff do you take to a gig with you e.g. do you have a pa system etc etc?>>

If I'm just twisting, it's just my balloon bag, However if it's a birthday party I take:-

My Magic Box
My Music and Lights Box
Mipro 705 PA System.
Stinky Rats Box
Marmite the lions Box
Bag of Stands for Magic and Music box
Spider Frame Backdrop
Magic Line (A 3m black rubber cable connector from Screwfix Direct, Mine has yellow stripes on the top)
9' x 6' rubber backed Carpet.

If the parties in a house I don't use the backdrop or Carpet, If it's just a magic show with no games I don't take the music box, thats replaced by a speaker stand for my Mipro

The cable protector is great as a magic line, a lot of halls round here banned the use of tape as it marked the floor and this is the perfect alternative. It rolls up quite small and always lays nice and flat.

The carpet is great,
1, on a hard halll floor it gives the kids somewhere more comfortable to sit,
2, it keeps all the kids bunched in a group in front of me, it holds over 25 kids.

When I go into a party I can get in & out with just one trip from the car, Magic box in one hand, doves to rabbit in the other & PA over the shoulder.

Clive,
How many trips does it take you to get into the venue & how long to set up & strike after the show?

Hi Graeme,

It's at least 4 trips to the car, I used to be like you, Magic box, Scaps box stand and PA one trip, but if you want the really professional look you have to be prepared for the extra work. at least in my case they can say, "His show was rubbish, but didn't he look good"      

1st impressions count and when the mum's arrive and see the set up it looks so much better than the suitcase on a chair guys. In there eyes if it looks better I must be better. Even though the other guy may be a better magician.

I can arrive and be set up ready to go in 15 minutes, as long as I've pre-made the show balloons, If I havn't then I'm ready in 30-40 minutes. However I always arrive an hour before start time as I don't like to rush, and it gives me chance to head off any problems like the mum putting the food table where I want to be.

This is a picture before Stinky was introduced and just shows Marmites box on a stand, Marmite now has a new brighter box, and stands on top of Stinky's box



The backdrop looks great on photo's, much better than a pile of chairs or junk that you often end up performing in front of.


What do you want to learn next?

I only bother learning stuff I can actually use comercially, I havn't the brain capacity to bother with stuff I can't use a lot, and I have never found a decent Elephant or Dolphin that I like, and I want to work on a large one with 350's to use as a new bribery and corruption balloon in the show. The remit though is it has to look great and be relativly simpole so if nessacary I can make it at the show when I set up.

At the moment I use Delilah the duck and Jerome from jupiter as my bribery and corruption balloons. These go to the best behaved loudest magic word shouters, or party dancers. The duck is girl orientated, and is given out 1st, The Alien I make while there eating and goes to the best behaved hardest working party dancer. It's boy orientated and aims to get the greed gene to overcome the I'm not going to party dance because it's sissy gene.

Who do you admire in the twisting world and why?

Thats a difficult one as I don't really know any famous guy's by name, as with music I may like one song by a singer, the same with balloons there may be one model I've seen a guy do which I like, and I remember the model not the guy's name. Also I'm name dyslexic, Occassionally I'll forget even my friends names if I don't see them often.

It's what I love about Grahams Balloon days, everyones wearing a name sticker so I don't have to worry about names.

Whats your favourite colour balloon?

I'm part colour blind so I don't see a lot of the different shades, I tend to stick to the proper colours like Red Blue Pink etc. out of those my favourites are royal blue and yellow, basically because to me they are nice and bright.

I don't use the normal blue because to me it looks kind of wishy washy, but's that due to my eyes.

Whats your favourite shape/size balloon?

I use mainly 260's, but I also love the bee bodies and hearts. I used to use a lot of 418's but qualatex stopped making them. I'm now experimenting more with the 350's.

Do you do magic with balloons?

I can do the coin in Balloon, I can Swallow a fully inflated 260, and blow a balloon up from the wrong end, but I don't really do any of those at kids shows, especially swallowing the balloon it may encourage them to try it.. They're reserved for adult social occassions when I'm bored.

If when I'm twisting an adult wants to try and blow one up I then go into the routine of showing them how to do it, which involves telling them that the open end is for proffessionals and beginners have to blow from the other end. It's amazing how many people walk away trying to inflate the balloon from the wrong end.