Balloon Chat

Uncategorized Boards => Interview a "Balloon Chat" Member => Topic started by: Graham Lee on July 31, 2012, 08:35:37 AM

Title: Snurb (Sara) Interview 6/13th Aug
Post by: Graham Lee on July 31, 2012, 08:35:37 AM
Snurb has kindly agreed to be interviewed next week, I will find out if Sara has a website we can plug for her and a few other details.
If anyone else would like to do the interview then please let us know.
Title: Re: Snurb (Sara) Interview 6/13th Aug
Post by: Snurb on July 31, 2012, 09:50:14 AM
If you'd like to see my work I use Facebook you can find me at www.facebook.com/roundthetwist (http://www.facebook.com/roundthetwist). I'm a little bit nervous so please be gentle!
Title: Re: Snurb (Sara) Interview 6/13th Aug
Post by: Daisy Rainbow on July 31, 2012, 02:07:00 PM
Hi Sara,
You'll be great!  Have followed you on Youtube and FB,  brilliant balloons!  Looking forward to hearing about you, we're all behind you!

xx Daisy Rainbow
Title: Re: Snurb (Sara) Interview 6/13th Aug
Post by: SoniaPayne on July 31, 2012, 03:02:17 PM
Quote from: "Snurb"If you'd like to see my work I use Facebook you can find me at http://www.facebook.com/roundthetwist (http://www.facebook.com/roundthetwist). I'm a little bit nervous so please be gentle!

Hi Sara
Am REALLY looking forward to it.  Don't be nervous we are all routing for you.  Popped by Facebook and you have some awesome balloons on there :)

KR
Sonia x
Title: Re: Snurb (Sara) Interview 6/13th Aug
Post by: Snurb on July 31, 2012, 03:35:21 PM
Thanks for the support and look forward to answering some of your questions too.
Title: Re: Snurb (Sara) Interview 6/13th Aug
Post by: Snurb on August 05, 2012, 08:24:03 PM
Answers prepared, not sure what you'll think of them. Maybe this will inspire some of you to take up the challenge! First set of answers in the morning!
Title: Re: Snurb (Sara) Interview 6/13th Aug
Post by: Snurb on August 06, 2012, 08:05:30 AM
Ok, so here goes.


1, What road led you into balloon modelling?
I blame my DJ friend Paul who, whilst at a particularly child heavy function flung a bag of balloons and a pump at me, gave me a 5 min demo and said entertain the kids!

2, When did you get started with balloons?
I have sort of lost track but guessing it was about 3 years ago.

3, What's your best twisting experience?
Wow that's a tricky one! It has to be when I started experimenting with farmer's markets and I had one little girl who returned each month for about 5 months. Each time she came she asked for a different coloured dinosaur. I tried to get her to be more adventurous in her choice. When I spoke to her parents the explained that she had each one in her bedroom. The little girl would not let her mum throw them away, despite being shrunken. She wanted a dinosaur rainbow.

4, What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you during a ballooning/entertaining session?
As yet I have not had any major disasters (touch wood!) but I have had a couple of events when balloons kept popping.

5, What do you most enjoy about twisting & why?
I love creating new models and pushing my skills. It is all worth it when you try something new for the first time and it is well received. I love seeing the kids running around in David's backpacks!

6, What's your favourite age to entertain?
I know most people say kids and they are great but I love working at functions with grown-ups that watch the kids then pluck up the courage to ask for their own models. It is great watching two 'grown men' playing with a ghost buster's back pack!
Title: Re: Snurb (Sara) Interview 6/13th Aug
Post by: Snurb on August 07, 2012, 07:16:56 AM
Well here goes day 2! If you want to join in or ask anything please do.


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 really have an 'act' as such more of a 'repertoire'  which tends to be the same for all ages. Would love to build an act but I'm not really a performer.

8, What's your favourite thing to make at the moment?
I love costumes and wearables, such as backpacks, horses (unicorns) and motorbikes. Kids (and big kids) just respond so well to them.


9, What is the most asked for model?
The one model that I find I end up doing thousands of once I have done one is Don Caudwell's monkey hat. I now hang on till towards the end to make the first, after running out of mocha brown at one event!

10, What do you tend to do more of if stuck in the 'balloon production line' model?
I don't do much line work as I am out mostly at parties but it is a close call! Girls tend to go for the butterfly bracelet that I picked up from Mr Fudge and the boys go for ray guns. These are quick and effective pieces.

11, Who is your market aimed at?
Mmmm... another tough one, This year I have done lots of Christenings so I'd have to say families.

12, What kind of work do you do mostly - parties? Corporate? Etc
I mostly do parties, I work very closely with my DJ friend who got me started. We found that there was very little life at the start of a party, usually up to the buffet where people who hadn't seen each other for a long time wanted to sit and talk, this usually meant board kids, so we started advertising the balloons. This was a great start and we are even building it into the parties with a Generation Game style of game where they give it a go! Always a giggle!
Title: Re: Snurb (Sara) Interview 6/13th Aug
Post by: Danny the Idiot on August 07, 2012, 10:12:51 AM
Hi Sara/Snurb,

Some great answers so far.

I have a couple of questions for you...

What's your favourite balloon colour?

What is your favourite balloon shape/size?

You said
Quote"Would love to build an act but I'm not really a performer."
What would help you build an act?
And what would help you to become a performer?

thanks and looking forward to all your answers from the set questions and above!

Danny  :)
Title: Re: Snurb (Sara) Interview 6/13th Aug
Post by: Snurb on August 07, 2012, 03:58:05 PM
Thanks for the questions Danny! Here goes:

QuoteI have a couple of questions for you...

What's your favourite balloon colour?

What is your favourite balloon shape/size?

My favourite balloon colour is Goldrenrod. This is different to the brown, pink and purple that I seem to go through the most.

My favourite size is 350. I love to make big high impact models and will often upscale things like a dinosaur or a frog.

QuoteWhat would help you build an act?
And what would help you to become a performer?

This is something I have pondered over. At the moment I tell balloon stories with the kids in costumes. My memory is always a problem and I'm not a natural show person. I'd love to do some of the things that Buster Balloon does. One day I'd love to do the climb inside balloon thing!! Looks great fun!!
Title: Re: Snurb (Sara) Interview 6/13th Aug
Post by: SoniaPayne on August 08, 2012, 08:22:20 PM
Quote from: "Snurb"This was a great start and we are even building it into the parties with a Generation Game style of game where they give it a go! Always a giggle!

Hi there Sara

Have really enjoyed reading your posts and getting a little insight into your world :)  As someone just starting out in balloons its very inspirational.  I have a little question for you though - what is your interpretation of the generation game?  Do you do it with balloons?

Looking forward to finding out more about you.

Thanks in advance
Take care
KR
Sonia x
Title: Re: Snurb (Sara) Interview 6/13th Aug
Post by: Snurb on August 08, 2012, 09:25:45 PM
Thanks Sonia. With the Generation game I make a model such as a rabbit, usually a simple one balloon model and then they copy. They are given the balloon already inflated.

Sorry for the lack of answers today. Having a few problems accessing the site from my compute. Can't answer lots using my phone.
Title: Re: Snurb (Sara) Interview 6/13th Aug
Post by: Snurb on August 08, 2012, 09:34:49 PM
Yay!  A quick reboot and I'm back!! Ok So here goes day 3!

Thank you to those who have posted questions. It is nice to know that you are enjoying reading this. Would be great for some others to give it a go. (It doesn't hurt and answering the questions has been a great evaluation point for me.)

Right here goes....


13, What is your favourite/ideal gig to do?
One with lots of people in a party mood!  I have loved doing the Christenings. People just seem in the right mood!

14, What irritates you most at a gig?
This is an easy one, pushy mums. The sort that say 'My daughter's next!' or 'She MUST have 'x'!' the other one is when the kids insist on playing with the kit and taking balloons out of my apron.  Grr!

15, How do you book yourself?
I 'm not sure how to answer this one. Bookings come in from all over. I don't go looking for work it finds me. I use Facebook and some comes from that and other is word of mouth or people who have seen me work at friends parties.

16, What's the biggest thing you've ever made?
This has to be a fantasy princess, but before that it was a life size scarecrow that was my own design for a local scarecrow trail.

17, What has been your proudest achievement in our wonderful world of twisted latex?
Last year I had made a scuba diver backpack for my son when my eldest son did a dive at the Blue Planet Aquarium. This got so much interest that my son (who was not diving) got a behind the scenes tour and the Blue Planet Aquarium did a press release complete with my business name and pictures.

18, What advice would you give to someone starting out, or wanting to increase their business?
I think the best this for me has been social media., such as Facebook. You need to get other people talking about you. The other thing I would say is challenge yourself. Don't say 'I can't' but say 'I'll try'.
Title: Re: Snurb (Sara) Interview 6/13th Aug
Post by: Graham Lee on August 08, 2012, 10:50:19 PM
Quote from: "Snurb"The other thing I would say is challenge yourself. Don't say 'I can't' but say 'I'll try'.
Excellent  :D
Title: Re: Snurb (Sara) Interview 6/13th Aug
Post by: Lisa Chester on August 09, 2012, 05:32:07 AM
Quote from: "Snurb"Last year I had made a scuba diver backpack for my son when my eldest son did a dive at the Blue Planet Aquarium. This got so much interest that my son (who was not diving) got a behind the scenes tour and the Blue Planet Aquarium did a press release complete with my business name and pictures.
That's fantastic advertising Sara!!!
Title: Re: Snurb (Sara) Interview 6/13th Aug
Post by: Snurb on August 09, 2012, 07:54:31 AM
Quote from: "Lisa Chester"
Quote from: "Snurb"Last year I had made a scuba diver backpack for my son when my eldest son did a dive at the Blue Planet Aquarium. This got so much interest that my son (who was not diving) got a behind the scenes tour and the Blue Planet Aquarium did a press release complete with my business name and pictures.
That's fantastic advertising Sara!!!

 It was great! I still have the clip in my portfolio.
Title: Re: Snurb (Sara) Interview 6/13th Aug
Post by: Snurb on August 09, 2012, 07:57:04 AM
Ok, today's offering.

19, What road in latex do you see yourself taking in the future
I'm a twister at heart but I am venturing into decorations, but twisting and sculptures are my passion.

20, What is your personal goal when you set off to work? Is it money or to entertain etc?
I love showing the art and opening eyes to the world of twisting. If I can make a child smile or come out of their shell, then I'm happy.

21, What are your balloon goals for the future?
Hummm..... I haven't really thought about the future but I'd love to give up my day job and jump into this full time. It would be great to have my own store / gallery. Lol daydreams are great!!


22, If you could start all over again, would you change anything?
Besides starting earlier (before my day job wages pinned me in), nope.
Title: Re: Snurb (Sara) Interview 6/13th Aug
Post by: SoniaPayne on August 09, 2012, 08:35:07 PM
Quote from: "Snurb"Ok, today's offering.

It would be great to have my own store / gallery. Lol daydreams are great!!

Loving this question and answer series (probably because I am a little bit nosey - yes I admit it) No seriously its fantastic to peek into someone else's life

Question:  If you won the lottery today and could open your own store what would it look like to you? Do you have an image in your mind.  What would be the essential elements to it?  Looking forward to hearing about your daydreams

Take care
KR
Sonia x
Title: Re: Snurb (Sara) Interview 6/13th Aug
Post by: Snurb on August 09, 2012, 09:48:35 PM
Great question I have dreamed about this shop for a while now and I have a few cards that I am keeping close to my chest as if it does come to fruition they are very unique.

For those of you who remember Woolworths pick and mix section I'd love a wall full of different balloons, where clients could choose their own balloons to be made into sculptures or to take home. A wall of glass fronted fridges containing sculptures to buy off the shelf. A brew area with cakes and big couches(along the lines of Central Perk, a la Friends). Where I could hold jams and other events and activities, maybe a young twisters club during the holidays, where children can  come and learn to twist. The window will have a theme that can be suggested by customers or can be used to showcase new up and coming artists.

I would like it to become a community focussed area. Where people come back to again and again to meet, learn, share. A place that helps people overcome their fear of balloons!

I'd have some of the ballon greats to open it, such as Ken Stillman, Buster Balloon and others.

Right!!!! I'm off to buy that lottery ticket now!,
Title: Re: Snurb (Sara) Interview 6/13th Aug
Post by: FuDD on August 09, 2012, 10:08:47 PM
Quote from: "Snurb"Great question I have dreamed about this shop for a while now and I have a few cards that I am keeping close to my chest as if it does come to fruition they are very unique.

For those of you who remember Woolworths pick and mix section I'd love a wall full of different balloons, where clients could choose their own balloons to be made into sculptures or to take home. A wall of glass fronted fridges containing sculptures to buy off the shelf. A brew area with cakes and big couches(along the lines of Central Perk, a la Friends). Where I could hold jams and other events and activities, maybe a young twisters club during the holidays, where children can  come and learn to twist. The window will have a theme that can be suggested by customers or can be used to showcase new up and coming artists.

I would like it to become a community focussed area. Where people come back to again and again to meet, learn, share. A place that helps people overcome their fear of balloons!

I'd have some of the ballon greats to open it, such as Ken Stillman, Buster Balloon and others.

Right!!!! I'm off to buy that lottery ticket now!,

Get out of my head Snurb hahaha

Great Q&A

   What specialty shapes ,if any, do you like using more than any others?

    Have you given any thought on doing the CBA/QBN courses for Decor?

    Whats the best Jam/convention experience you would share with us?

Thanks so much!!
Title: Re: Snurb (Sara) Interview 6/13th Aug
Post by: Snurb on August 09, 2012, 10:37:36 PM
QuoteWhat specialty shapes ,if any, do you like using more than any others?

Have you given any thought on doing the CBA/QBN courses for Decor?

Whats the best Jam/convention experience you would share with us?  

Thank you for joining in. I'm glad you are enjoying reading my mad ramblings. Great questions so here goes.

Shapes: at the moment I am loving using hearts. They have do many uses and now I am starting to get the hang of the side wall bubble their uses are growing.

CBA /QBN : I have given it lots of thought and when I find some time I am going to do it but as a bit of a perfectionist I want to be able to give it the time and attention it deserves. I am a teacher and at the moment we have a new Head teacher who has thrown the baby out with the bath water and we are using a whole new curriculum. This means lots of extra work!

Jam: This is a tricky one I have attended a few jams organised by Martin at the Swan these were great and I have met some great people. I remember the first one I went to. Someone had brought along a bag of 646s and the challenge was to make a bear head. If I remember it was because they were going o use them for their daughter's birthday party. Anyway the very first one I picked up I got the air spot on and made it. Boy did I supprise myself!  I have tried to organise on myself but other than me, Martin and Neil we are finding it hard to getpeople in the same place atthesame time.  

My job as ateacher means I can't take term time, week day, holidays, which is when most conventions and care and share days seem to be :(
Title: Re: Snurb (Sara) Interview 6/13th Aug
Post by: Lynnae on August 09, 2012, 10:58:25 PM
Quote from: "Snurb"Great question I have dreamed about this shop for a while now and I have a few cards that I am keeping close to my chest as if it does come to fruition they are very unique.

For those of you who remember Woolworths pick and mix section I'd love a wall full of different balloons, where clients could choose their own balloons to be made into sculptures or to take home. A wall of glass fronted fridges containing sculptures to buy off the shelf. A brew area with cakes and big couches(along the lines of Central Perk, a la Friends). Where I could hold jams and other events and activities, maybe a young twisters club during the holidays, where children can  come and learn to twist. The window will have a theme that can be suggested by customers or can be used to showcase new up and coming artists.

I would like it to become a community focussed area. Where people come back to again and again to meet, learn, share. A place that helps people overcome their fear of balloons!

I'd have some of the ballon greats to open it, such as Ken Stillman, Buster Balloon and others.

What fun, unique ideas!  I love it!  I'd want to work with you!  Can I be your first assistant?  :)  I'm loving your posts!
Title: Re: Snurb (Sara) Interview 6/13th Aug
Post by: Snurb on August 09, 2012, 11:10:50 PM
Can I pay you in balloons? If so you're in!
Title: Re: Snurb (Sara) Interview 6/13th Aug
Post by: Lynnae on August 09, 2012, 11:22:02 PM
Absolutely!  However, be warned, you'll just be feeding my addiction...which may or may not be a good thing.  :)
Title: Re: Snurb (Sara) Interview 6/13th Aug
Post by: Snurb on August 10, 2012, 07:54:06 AM
Well here is the final day of Graham's questions!


23, How would you like the future of balloon modelling to develop?
I hope that our children stop seeing balloon models as being dogs, swords and flowers. There is so much more that can be done. I know that as helium becomes in shorter supply people are going to want exciting things for tables... We're ready willing and able!!

24, Who's the most famous person you have made a balloon creation for?
I wish I could say someone but as yet nobody. 

25, How do you keep the enthusiasm going & what still excites you about our great world of latex ?
 This site keeps me going I hope to be as good as some of the experienced twisters here. I love the way that new creations are coming out all the times. I see people's designs and go 'Why didn't I think of that?'. Maybe one day I'll come up with a design that others say the same thing about.

26, What inspires or is your thought process in coming up with a new design
I love the challenge of being asked for gift pieces when I have the time to sit and ponder. I find planning hard but get pictures and just start. The models just seem to construct themselves. If I practice then the actual piece never looks as good.

27, Who would you like to work with dead or alive?
Wow! Ok....... David Brenion has been a big inspiration recently. So my best jam ever would have to involve David Brenion, Don Caudwell, Ken Stillman , Twistina and Jonathan Fudge.

28, What makes you laugh?
When children are trying to guess what you are making and are so far of target.


Thank you for dropping by and joining in. I have loved answering Graham's questions and the ones that you have dropped in. I'd love to answer any others that you have so post away!!
Title: Re: Snurb (Sara) Interview 6/13th Aug
Post by: Graham Lee on August 13, 2012, 06:04:14 PM
Sara many thanks for taking the time and trouble to answer the questions last week, it was appreciated and nice to have this section back again after a long lay off.

Would any others like to volunteer to do the questions?