Mark Byrne Interview 21/27th April

Started by Graham Lee, April 06, 2008, 04:14:33 PM

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Danny the Idiot

#45
Hi Mark, thanks for answer the questions so far...

here are some more!

I decided to stop performing for kids parties a couple of years ago - I drew my line.
Where do you draw your line for performing? Is there one? Who won't you perform to?

and on the other side...What's your ideal dream gig?

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

Are you coming to TMJ 2008? (Did I ask you that already?).

What's your favourite beer?  ;)

Danny
Danny Schlesinger
Balloon Excellence Award Winner
https://dannytheidiot.com
https://www.CircoRidiculoso.com
Follow me on Twitter at @danny_the_idiot

Graham Lee

#46
Mark,

You'd never have got away with this quote on balloonHQ
Quote from: "Bad to the Balloon"the benefits suck but that is what wives are for :o
[/quote]
But then again us Europeans do have a sense of humour :lol:

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

Bad to the Balloon

#47
Quote from: "Dave"How has things changed in the entertainment world out there with this recession?

If you were entertaining at a 6yr old girls party what would you make the birthday child?

Would you make balloon's for the under 3s?

I really don't like false media bravado. Recession, Depression, congress-ion, impression. It is all hoop dee do. The economy flexes and bend on a regular basis. I find it happens every 5-8 years.

Now you want to talk devastating times .... 911. that was a shift!!! Lost all but 2 days worth of restaurants, nobody going out to eat, parties were on hold.

-------------
I would make the kid the same thing I make every other kid ... a birthday hat. I make a cake with candles. If it is a repeat performance they may ask for something special.

-------------
I make 3 and under balloons all the time. I really don't believe the myth of children choking on balloons. Specifically there are no incidents of a modeling balloon incident as a medical record. If a parent is really worried about their child they wouldn't have hot dogs in the house.

My fav is the fish on the fishing pole. You get the right kid it is 20 minutes of material.

BTW I really don't want to hear my cousins brothers friends baby die from a balloon. I want to see actual reports of the incident and what product it happened with. I actually have the CPS 60 page document of all balloon related deaths. Funny how there is only large rounds and balloon like toys in the report. Biggest offender .... plastic bubbles gel and mylars.
Mark Byrne
AKA Mark the Balloon Guy
Tampa Bay\'s The"Original" Balloon Guy for over 20 years
"Bad to the Balloon"
http://www.balloonguy.net
http://www.youtube.com/theballoonguy
http://www.myspace.com/markballoonguy

Bad to the Balloon

#48
Quote from: "Danny the Idiot"I decided to stop performing for kids parties a couple of years ago - I drew my line.
Where do you draw your line for performing? Is there one? Who won't you perform to?

I don't have a line it is more of a squiggle. My pricing usually scares off the ignorant and stupid people. If the price is higher it is a lot easier to deal with brats. Did a "Religious group" the other day. Never heard of this group before. I am not going to name them because I am sure I will offend someone. Any way what a bunch of brats!! With adults there!! I would look at the adult and they would do nothing about it. One guy after the show said "you have remarkable patients" I said "I can be nice to anyone for an hour and a fee" we laughed.

Quote from: "Danny the Idiot"and on the other side...What's your ideal dream gig?

China trip would be close IF I could bring my family (paid expenses), and double the pay (Okay triple). Closest REAL gig was a 4 day cruise to Bahamas with the family on a private cruise ship (yes I got paid).

Quote from: "Danny the Idiot"Who's the most famous person you have made a balloon creation for?

 I have met over the years : Bruce Willis, Jay Leno, Carrottop, Soupy Sales, Jim Bruer, General Norman Swartzkoff,  and many more I have forgotten. Did not balloons for any of them.

I have made balloons for Hulk Hogan, Jose Cansaco (Baseball Player), Macho Man Randy Savage, Molly Ringwald, Lead Singer for Cheaptrick and his family, Frank Gorshan (Batman's the Riddler), I think Stephen King (damn he really looked like him), several congressman and senators, Three or four mayors, and I know I am missing some oh wows I'll ask my wife later and get back to you on it.

Quote from: "Danny the Idiot"Are you coming to TMJ 2008? (Did I ask you that already?).

What's your favourite beer?  ;)

Danny

I would love to come!!! Who is paying??? Kidding .... but not really. I would really like to be sponsored to go. I am trying to raise some capitol to re-do my business plan. Teaching and world travel is a big part of it. I have been asked to lecture in France, England, Scotland, and Italy. I have lectures on Balloons, Marketing, Magic and balloon magic.

Cold ones...... sorry can't drink it like you blokes.
Mark Byrne
AKA Mark the Balloon Guy
Tampa Bay\'s The"Original" Balloon Guy for over 20 years
"Bad to the Balloon"
http://www.balloonguy.net
http://www.youtube.com/theballoonguy
http://www.myspace.com/markballoonguy

Bad to the Balloon

#49
Quote from: "Graham Lee"Mark,

You'd never have got away with this quote on balloonHQ
Quote from: "Bad to the Balloon"the benefits suck but that is what wives are for :o
But then again us Europeans do have a sense of humour :lol:

Graham Lee[/quote]

Clarification the wife is for the benefits not ....

BTW I kinda want to heard how your conversation with my Uncle Chen went. I'll tell you what I heard after you tell your side!
Mark Byrne
AKA Mark the Balloon Guy
Tampa Bay\'s The"Original" Balloon Guy for over 20 years
"Bad to the Balloon"
http://www.balloonguy.net
http://www.youtube.com/theballoonguy
http://www.myspace.com/markballoonguy

Graham Lee

#50
Quote from: "Bad to the Balloon"[BTW I kinda want to heard how your conversation with my Uncle Chen went. I'll tell you what I heard after you tell your side!

Well as I remember it's not much of a story really.
After doing a showcase in Torquay about six months ago for about 350 agents I was on the way out of the venue loading the car ready to go and someone asked if I was the balloon man, I said yes. Then he started to tell me that his best friend had a son that had gone to America & was twisting, at this point I think I butted in and said your name & he was very surprised that I knew of you. I carried on saying how good you were with DVD's out etc & that I had them & used some of your work.
I said to tell you that I said hello and went.
So nothing that exciting, so what did you hear!!!!!!!!

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

Dave

#51
I would love to hear your favorite joke? :D

if you couldn't do balloon's/magic what would you do?
A load of hot air
http://www.davehickory.co.uk

Danny the Idiot

#52
Mark,

What makes you laugh?

What are your balloon goals for the future?

How would you like the future of balloon modeling to develop?

Danny
Danny Schlesinger
Balloon Excellence Award Winner
https://dannytheidiot.com
https://www.CircoRidiculoso.com
Follow me on Twitter at @danny_the_idiot

Bad to the Balloon

#53
Quote from: "Graham Lee"
Quote from: "Bad to the Balloon"[BTW I kinda want to heard how your conversation with my Uncle Chen went. I'll tell you what I heard after you tell your side!

Well as I remember it's not much of a story really.
After doing a showcase in Torquay about six months ago for about 350 agents I was on the way out of the venue loading the car ready to go and someone asked if I was the balloon man, I said yes. Then he started to tell me that his best friend had a son that had gone to America & was twisting, at this point I think I butted in and said your name & he was very surprised that I knew of you. I carried on saying how good you were with DVD's out etc & that I had them & used some of your work.
I said to tell you that I said hello and went.
So nothing that exciting, so what did you hear!!!!!!!!

Graham Lee

I heard it two ways: one was my Dad the other my Uncle Chen. I just saw him today he is here on holiday and I asked him without my Dad around. Actually he tells it just like you said. My Dad's well ....just a bit inflated to say the least.

Thank you for the kind words from across the pond.
Mark Byrne
AKA Mark the Balloon Guy
Tampa Bay\'s The"Original" Balloon Guy for over 20 years
"Bad to the Balloon"
http://www.balloonguy.net
http://www.youtube.com/theballoonguy
http://www.myspace.com/markballoonguy

Bad to the Balloon

#54
Quote from: "Dave"I would love to hear your favorite joke? :D

if you couldn't do balloon's/magic what would you do?

When I make a mermaid and I get to the bikini top part I twirl it in my fingers and say: "Mermaids gone Wild!" Hmmm it might be an American thing.

Wow what would I be doing... probably working in a bar and doing oil paintings on weekend at Art shows. Or I would be in Iraq.
Mark Byrne
AKA Mark the Balloon Guy
Tampa Bay\'s The"Original" Balloon Guy for over 20 years
"Bad to the Balloon"
http://www.balloonguy.net
http://www.youtube.com/theballoonguy
http://www.myspace.com/markballoonguy

Graham Lee

#55
Quote from: "Bad to the Balloon"My Dad's well ....just a bit inflated to say the least.
So Mark, How did your dad tell it?

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

Bad to the Balloon

#56
Quote from: "Danny the Idiot"Mark,

What makes you laugh?

Large bald men with leaky pens!!!!

Quote from: "Danny the Idiot"What are your balloon goals for the future?

My balloon goals are to double my current income. Did 25% better than last year. Teach more. Sell lots. Create ... create ..create..

My Business goal are different, I want to open a chain of magic theme restaurants.

Quote from: "Danny the Idiot"How would you like the future of balloon modeling to develop?

Danny

I would like to see people get paid, I would like to see people who do it better get paid more. Funny you never see a guy doing stick figures gobbling up all the gigs from the caricature artist.

I like the group projects and conventions it is a very eclectic energy. very few egos, most problems or perceived snuffs are based on miscommunication and not negativity. As a whole we all stay together.

believe it or not I would like to see balloon become more mainstream, that way people can recognize talent when they see it. My friend Todd Nuefeld will be on the David Letterman show tonight, watch it if you can.

the opportunity is out there, look how much impact was created with the shanghai fashion show pictures. My daughter school librarian came over to tell me about it and I said yes I was the monkey there in the middle.

what upsets me is the copycat syndrome. why can't people thing of something else to make themselves special? I started doing hats light years before anyone else in my area, now everyone does them. You got to find the thing that makes you special, and do it.
Mark Byrne
AKA Mark the Balloon Guy
Tampa Bay\'s The"Original" Balloon Guy for over 20 years
"Bad to the Balloon"
http://www.balloonguy.net
http://www.youtube.com/theballoonguy
http://www.myspace.com/markballoonguy

Bad to the Balloon

#57
Quote from: "Graham Lee"
Quote from: "Bad to the Balloon"My Dad's well ....just a bit inflated to say the least.
So Mark, How did your dad tell it?

Graham Lee

Dad has always had a flare for the dramatic, and facts don't matter. He told me Chen say a guy doing my balloon stuff in England and asked him if he created those figures or did he learn them. (you) said there all my creations (Which could be taken many ways depending on pause and inflection) Chen then said oh cause I have friends son in Florida .....

Then you said this one is one of Mark's creations and I have all his DVDs.... yada yada

I am not upset in the least and like I said, Dad will do anything to make a story sound better. I am kina glad Chen came into town the same time this Chat was set up. Kismet?

Oh yeah Chen also said that we were in China together but different cities. Did we run into each out in Old Shanghai Shopping area?
Mark Byrne
AKA Mark the Balloon Guy
Tampa Bay\'s The"Original" Balloon Guy for over 20 years
"Bad to the Balloon"
http://www.balloonguy.net
http://www.youtube.com/theballoonguy
http://www.myspace.com/markballoonguy

Professor T Wist

#58
What is the worst thing that has happened to you during a ballooning session ?

Bad to the Balloon

#59
Quote from: "Professor T Wist"What is the worst thing that has happened to you during a ballooning session ?

Quite a few things, worst for me or for the audience?

Audience:
• 50th Anniversary Party and the husband had a heart attack.   :roll:
• Picked up a little girl to move her (she had no underwear and a dress).  :o
• Hit a ceiling fan with a balloon and black rain came down. :oops:
• Had balloons land in food, Drinks, hit people in the eye, etc ... :twisted:

Me:
• Punched in the knonkers by a 4 year old. :shock:
• Snapped in the eye while blowing a balloon. Eye was tearing so bad yet I kept working. :cry:
• Had people say really rude and disgusting things in front of children. :x
• Had some one complain about me making a joke about evolution  :roll:
     (little too christian right for me)
• Brian Asman spilt a beer in my magic case  ;)
• Almost got into a fight with a Redneck because my line was done and he decided I am going to stay. BTW I left with out incident and DID NOT make balloons for the jerks.
• Similar situation different guy. He didn't think I was nice to his girl. Kid kept walking up and standing in my twisting space ask several for her to step back and to get into line, asked where the parents were didn't respond. On the last time, I said hey you really need to stand back or your going to get hit with my balloons. Guy started shouting. Funny thing the crowd, turned on the guy and told him to watch his kid.
Mark Byrne
AKA Mark the Balloon Guy
Tampa Bay\'s The"Original" Balloon Guy for over 20 years
"Bad to the Balloon"
http://www.balloonguy.net
http://www.youtube.com/theballoonguy
http://www.myspace.com/markballoonguy