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Messages - HEY Balloon Lady

#1
WOW!  Great photos!

Thanks for all the work you are putting into this, Graham!
I love being able to see what is happening so far, far, away!

~J
#2
Great write up Graham!  
I very much enjoyed Diamond Jam this year, even though it seemed so much smaller than past conventions. I actually felt like I was on vacation.  I came away with some really good ideas, and some designs I know I will get a lot of use out of (especially that woven heart).

It was great to hang out with both Tonya and Graham.

And Graham, you DO make a lovely Princess!

~Jeanine
#3
Picture Gallery / Re: Gecko
November 04, 2008, 08:23:42 PM
I really like your Gecko Daniel!  I like your color choice, too.

My Gecko can be found on my 2008 Class Notes CD, Jeanine's Stuff Volume 6.  I taught it at Twist & Shout 2008, and the Golden Gate Clown Happening 2008.  (Though I think I also showed it at the 2007 Diamond Jam, when I found I had a few extra minutes).

Enjoy!  He is a popular one once you make one, everyone wants one!
#4
Quote from: "Daniel M"Do you find many people insist on having something made from a certain colour & pull balloons out of your busking bag saying 'I want this colour'?
   If yes then which colours do you find are the most popular & the ones you have to carry the most of?


I try to give people the choice of either the design, or the color, but rarely both.  This doesn't always work, and many children want to pick out their own colors.  On occasion, I will have children try to pull out their own colors, however, I am very protective of my balloons and usually place myself between my balloons and the crowd.  I very rarely carry a busking bag to parties and events, and I stopped using an apron many years ago.  I use a small, wheeled cart with my balloons packed into it, so nothing, except a waist pouch is hanging off my body.  My back is much happier these days, and children tend to stay out of my balloons better.

As for colors, I tend to use a lot of Lime Green, Blush and Mocha Brown, as well as Black and White, and then all the pinks.  

Lime green because I do not always give a color choice, and green is my favorite, so I use a lot of it.  :)   The Blush and browns, because I make a lot of fairies and princesses.  Black , however, is probably the color I go through the fastest.  It is always the first color to run out.  I always buy extra bags of black.
#5
Quote from: "Graham Lee"Jeanine, the moonlight special is good, made me  :lol:

Can I also thank you for taking the time to answer the questions for the forum members, hope to see you at Twist & Shout next year :D

Graham Lee


I enjoyed answering your questions Graham.  I will definitely be at Twist & Shout next, possibly with with my children even.
#6
Quote from: "Professor T Wist"Who would you most like to make a balloon model for and why? what would you make them?

I would like to make a balloon for the meanest, grumpiest person in the world (whoever that might be). I would make them the "Moonlight Special,"  because that is sure to cause a giggle, and lighten anyone's mood.

See here for "Moonlight Special"
http://www.balloonhq.com/photos/db/comp ... p?id=32402
 
#7
Quote from: "Danny the Idiot"Are you hopping over the pond to Belgium for The Millenium Jam this year?

Unfortunately, no.
My budget won't allow it just yet, and I have a full schedule through the end of the year.

I do hope to make it to a Millenium Jam one day though.  I have never been outside of North America.
#8
Quote from: "Graham Lee"Jeanine here are the last few questions unless anyone else on the forum would like to ask you anything else?

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

Well, I don't get out much, so I haven't really come across any famous people.  The only celebrity I have encountered locally is football hall of fame's Ronnie Lott (San Francisco 49er - American Football, NFL).  I ran into him and his family a few times while working in a restaurant, then I was hired to do balloons at his youngest daughter's birthday party several years ago.


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

It is not unusual for me to fall into a slump and lose enthusiasm, but I generally snap out it when I go to a jam, or hang out with my ballooney friends, or have a really good gig where I can enjoy surprising people, and making the totally unexpected.

26, What inspires or is your thought process in coming up with a new design

I try not to think too much.  I just start twisting with no real idea in mind and see what comes out. I might be aiming for a bunny, and it might come out a chicken. I rarely make things the same way twice.  In fact, if you've seen a design on one of my CDs, then you've seen me teach the same design in a class, THEN you see me make the same design in a jam room, chances are VERY good that you will have seen the same design, made three different ways.  My motto:  "There's no rules" (in regards to art and balloons).  Want to know a secret?  On my bracelet CD, Volume 2.5, all but maybe two or three designs, were made up AS I was putting the CD together.  I whipped them out in an afternoon, and just photographed their step by steps, AS I was inventing them.  At least two of them I have never made since, and I have had a handful of people tell me those are designs they make a lot.  THAT makes me giggles (see question 28).

27, Who would you like to work with dead or alive?

Well, I can't think of anyone I WOULDN'T want to work with.  I love working gigs with other balloon artists (preferably ones that are alive). No matter what their skill level is, I always learn something.  I think it is even better than jamming.  Their are also many that I would just like to WATCH work.  I'd love to see Patrick, Patricia B., Debbie Stevens, and Fabrizio work an event.

28, What makes you laugh?
I can usually find humor in almost anything, but best of all I love talking to kids that have a lot to say.  They say the funniest things sometimes.  Recently I had a small boy of about 6 or 7, tell me about his grandfather, and how he's looking for a new girlfriend, and how the last girlfriend smelled funny.  I'm still laughing just thinking about it.  

#9
Quote from: "Graham Lee"A few more questions;

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

I really like the road I am on.  Every year I get a little bit busier.  This year I have been booking a couple friends into several gigs I've not been available for.  Right now I only have one, maybe two people that I will send out in my place, to represent me, and my company. I didn't really want to get into the "agent" thing, but I can only be in one place at a time, so I am thinking I may need to get another one or two twisters trained to my liking.

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

As a single, self employed mom, my main goal is making sure my kids are fed and my bills are paid.  Of course I want to enjoy myself in the process, and not feel like I am working. I want my clients to be entertained, and I want my balloon creations or face paintings to be the best they've ever seen (in their neighborhood that day, or in their life, whichever   :) )

21, What are your balloon goals for the future?

I want to keep doing what I am doing.  I also would like to do some more decor like work, but NOT arches and columns.  I would like to do more delivery pieces and centerpiece type work.  I really like the work Beating has been posting over on BHQ.  I would like to try my hand at some pieces like that; incorporating more rounds, alongside non rounds.  I also have been contemplating playing around with some of the balloon dress ideas; I just need to practice my weaving, and cultivate some patience.

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

If I could start all over and change things, I think I would start sooner, and go back and attend all the balloon events I missed.

23, How would you like the future of balloon modelling to develop?
I really don't know.  I tend to not look too far ahead.  I am more of a here and now kind of person, but I am certain there are amazing surprises ahead, and I want to continue to be surprised by them and with any luck, maybe I will have a few surprises of my own.
#10
Quote from: "Graham Lee"Jeanine, Here are a few more questions

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

It really depends on what month it is.  Over the summer, it was mostly corporate picnics and such, with a few birthday parties here and there.  Right now, it is mostly birthday parties, with a few corporate picnics here and there.  Coming up in the next few weeks, I have a wedding, a college homecoming game, and some school festivals.  I generally have a good variety of gig types coming in.

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

My favorite would be a birthday party with 12 or fewer  children.  This is a very rare occurrence these days.  Lately most parties have 20-30 kids.  They are getting crazy. I like to be able to make fun detailed designs.  I did have a really fun event a couple months back.  It was an awards dinner for Girl Scout leaders.  There were no children, and about 70-80 people present.  There were eight tables, and I had one hour to visit each table, and make a center piece sculpture for each. I planned ahead and packed only the balloons I would need for these eight sculptures plus a small weight for each. I made eight different, large pieces. I tucked into each sculpture, a tiny envelope with a number between 1-100. The person at the table that guessed the closest to the number got to take the sculpture home.

14, What irritates you most at a gig?

I am most irritated when clients tell me there will be 20 kids, and 45 show up, especially if they expect me to do both balloons and face painting.  I also find it irritating when an adult will come to the front of the line and ask for a particular balloon, and then tell me they will come back for it, and then they keep checking back to see if I've made it yet.  (Of course I never make it, unless they stand and wait their turn... they usually catch on after a few trips back and forth).

15, How do you book yourself?

I'm not sure I understand this question.  When I book an event, I send the client a service agreement, an event questionnaire, and I require a deposit to hold the date and time. They have three days to get their deposit in, otherwise the date is opened up to the next to inquire.  Most of my work comes from word of mouth and repeat clients, and I have a lot of people finding me through BalloonHQ, I also work with several different entertainment companies.  Aside from my BalloonHQ portfolio and web site, I don't pay for any advertising. I have placed myself in several, no cost, online directories, and classified ads and I leave post card sized business cards everywhere I go.

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

I don't make very many large sized sculptures, as miniatures, and 160s are my favorites.  The largest, and most balloons I've ever used, would have been at BalloonTown USA, 2007.  I was invited to be a guest artist, and my featured piece was a pond scene, in the fantasy forest/garden.  I created a pond about 6-8 feet wide with a giant frog leaping out, lilies, fish, and ducks.  It was my first experience with weaving Link-O-Loons, and everything had to be balloon. No Markers.  It was entered into the Betallatex Twister Contest and won third prize.  It was a nice surprise as I didn't know it had been entered.

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

I was thrilled to be awarded a Dewey Award, for Balloon Excellence/Rising Star 2006. It sits on my mantel; I am very proud of it.  Also, just being asked to teach at conventions, is a nice accomplishment.  I have taught at five conventions over the last three years, it still amazes me to see full class rooms.  It is a great feeling when people want to learn from you.

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

First of all, you have to love what you do, in order to be successful. My advice is to practice a lot, collect learning material (books, DVDs, etc.) find locals to jam, and network with, and go to as many conventions as you can. Try to develop your own style. Read and contribute to all the online forums that are available.  There is a lot of great information tucked into all the nooks and crannies.
#11
Quote from: "Graham Lee"Jeanine, could you give people a run down of what is on your CD's incase people are interested in buying them & where to order them from;


Jeanine's Stuff, Volume 1, Volume 2 , Volume 2.5, Volume 3, Volume 4, and Volume 5, and Volume 6, are currently available individually, or in any combination together.

These are step by step photo instructions with text. The instructions are available on CD, and are in pdf.doc format, they can be printed out to make into books, complete with cover, and table of contents, or simply viewed on your computer.

Volume 1 - Simple, but Impressive, Restaurant and Party Favorites

Includes instructions for the Hound Dog, Poodle, Bulldog, Chihuahua, Princess, Princess Wand, Baby Sea Turtle, Baby Brontosaurus, and Camel. 46 Pages total, 10 pdf documents.

Volume 2 - Hula Girls, Fairies, and Frogs, and stuff.....

Includes instructions for the Hula Girl, Hula Girl Hat, Fairy, Fairy Hat, A single 160 Frog, a single 260 Frog, a Heart Bodied Frog, a Round Bodied Frog and a Monkey. 51 pages total, 10 pdf documents.

Volume 2.5 – The Bracelet Volume

There are 14 designs, plus a couple pages of ideas. Designs include a frog, mouse, worm, koala, fish, turtle, monkey, octopus, skunk, starfish, chicken, penguin, seal, and butterfly. 84 pages total, 17 pdf documents.

Volume 3 - "Down By and Under the Sea"

This is a collection of sea critters.  There are fish and seals and crabs.  There is a walrus and a lobster, and a whole lot more.  Over 100 pages in this volumes

Volume 4- "Four the Birds"

This is a collection of birds.  Chickens, rooster, turkey, peacock, hummingbird, flamingo, ostrich, owl, eagle and more.

Volume 5- "Merry Twistmas and Other POPular Occasions"

Holiday designs starting with Christmas and ending with Ground Hog's Day.  Reindeer, Santa, Angels, a turkey, witch, spider, skeleton, and much more.   19 designs and 117 pages.

Volume 6-  "2008 Class Notes"
These are designs I taught at conventions in 2008.  These are geared toward beginner to intermediate twisters.  Lots of simple yet impressive stuff.  A few good line work designs here.  There are some bonus designs from Vols 3 and 4, as I taught some of this stuff at these conventions as well.

All these CD are available through my web store:
http://www.ToadlyCoolGifts.com

The shipping is currently not calculating for international orders, but I am currently covering the difference on all international sales.
#12
6, What's your favourite age to entertain?

I love working with kids of all ages, but my very favorite are teens to adults.  They have more patience, and their requests are more challenging, and I believe they appreciate the artistic aspect more than young children do.  The little kids just want a balloon, quickly.

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

Hmmmm...... I really don't have an act.  I present myself as an artist, be it balloons or face painting. I tell my prospective clients that "I am more of an artist, than an entertainer, but most everyone finds my art very entertaining."

When working with a younger crowd (3-6 years old), I like to sit them on the floor in front of me, and play guessing games, with what I am making to get them involved and interacting.  I starting doing this when I was hired to come to a pre-kindergarten class.  I was expecting to be doing walk around, or line work while other activities were going on, but as soon as I walked in, the teacher announced, "OK, every one take their seats, the balloon lady is going to do her show now!" I threw in some animal trivia, some guessing games and riddles, and faked my way through a "show."


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

I love making birds.  I like to invent my own species and give them funny names.

9, What is the most asked for model?

That would depend on what the very first thing I make at an event is.  Whatever that first thing is, tends to be the most asked for.  I do think that dogs are probably the most asked for overall, and monkeys on trees.

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

I actually enjoy doing line work. I will make very simple things, but I try to make everything I do have 3 colors. I will put a one balloon dog, on a paw print round (that is just two balloons, but it has 3 colors).  Or I will add details, usually eyes, with scraps.  I make a lot of flowers, frog wands, lady bugs on flowers, motorcycles, mostly one and two balloon creations, with some added details.

11, Who is your market aimed at?

I market mainly to children's parties and family friendly events, but lately I have been doing more adult parties too (NOT "adult parties," but parties for adults, and no children on site) These are really fun.
#13
Quote from: "Danny the Idiot"just off the top of my head, creatures that are on branches: Jaguar, Camelion,  Bush Baby, Koala, Monkey, woodpecker... I'm sure there are more! I've gone for the arm as a branch theme!!!

Hope that challenges you!!!

best wishes
Danny

I like those ideas, Danny!
Thanks!
#14
Hi Danny,

I have not yet done instructions for my Arm Buddies, however, many of the basic designs, heads, etc. are already available on my CDs.  
The turtle and the dinosaur are on Volume 1, the walrus and octopus on Volume 3.  Pretty much any of my designs can be turned into an Arm Buddy, just by  making the front legs/arms into a loop.

I am currently brain storming ideas for an upcoming, Volume 7.
So any suggestions are welcome.  

You can take a look at all my available Volumes in my webstore
http://www.ToadlyCoolGifts.com
#15
Hi Everyone!  Thanks for having me!!


1, What road led you into balloon modelling?

I have always been very artsy and crafty.  When my son was small, we would have elaborate birthday parties.  I saw a community class offered for Balloon Animals, and I thought is sounded so silly, I had to try it, and maybe pick up a new skill for my son's birthday parties.  

2, when did you get started with balloons?

In 1996, a friend gave me a balloon art kit that someone had given her.  I played with it a bit, but couldn't do much without everything popping.  The kit went into a closet, and sat there until 1997, after I'd finished the first balloon class at the community center.

3, What's your best twisting experience?

I think I have too many best experiences.  My first balloon convention was a life changing experience.  That was Balloonarama 2004.  That is when I first met Patricia Bunnell and Ralph Dewey and Fabrizio, and soooo many others.  I felt like I had found my family in the balloon community.  

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

I can't think of anything bad that has ever really happened.  I was late for a gig ONCE, I was stuck in traffic, in an unfamiliar area, while on the way to do a gig for Brian Asman.  I was almost 45 minutes late, and I felt terrible about it, but the client didn't even notice, and the party was great.  Now, if I am going to an area I am unfamiliar with, I plan ahead and try to arrive in the area one hour before start time, then I find a nice place to sit and read.

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

I just think it's fun. I always wanted to be an artist....this isn't exactly what I had in mind, but it works for me.  I like playing with kids, they say the funniest things sometimes.