Ralph Dewey Interview 7/13th April

Started by G L Admin, March 31, 2008, 10:57:26 PM

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G L Admin

Have just confirmed that Ralph has agreed to be our star interviewer for a week,
7th to 13th April.
If you have any questions for him please post and Ralph will log on throughout the week to answer them.

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

cashmagic

#1
Hello Mr Dewey

when did you start twisting? and what made you get in to it?
life is full of twist and turns i just twist it first !!!
http://www.twistandmake.co.uk

Graham Lee

#2
Could I please ask you all to start posting some questions for Ralph as he will be logging on on Monday to hopefully answer them, Thanks.

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

#3
what is the biggest model you ever made?
Do you have any advice for twisters starting out or trying to increase their business?
Have you always used balloons to entertain and educate?
A load of hot air
http://www.davehickory.co.uk

Professor T Wist

#4
Ralph what is your favourite thing to make and what is the most asked for thing for you to make ?

Graham Lee

#5
Ralph,

After all these years balloon modelling how do you keep the enthusiasm going?

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

Petra

#6
Hi Ralph,

we've met in Belgium a couple of weeks ago (I was one of the girls who game in mutch to late!!)
I liked you lecture and was wondering if you improved the little car you designed there.

Can I post a picture of it in the cars topic?

Petra

Billy Bongo

#7
Hi ralph,

Are you a full time baloonist or do you have another job?

Norm

Fuzzy

#8
Hi Ralph

Thanks for sharing at the workshop last month.

Question for you.

You have been bending all day, packing up then member of the public comes up asking for a Balloon.

What do do you do?

Fuzz

Ralph Dewey

#9

Ralph Dewey

#10
It depends upon the situation.  
If I can make them a balloon animal without a new line forming again, I try to do it.  This is especially true if they have a special situation or sob story as to why they need a balloon.  I try to accommodate them if possible.  At quiting time if there are lots of kids hanging around sometimes I have the child and their mum follow me to a location where we are not being in public view.  Then I can make the child a balloon animal.
In cases where I need to be somewhere else, I'm more firm about not making "just one more" balloon.  The best way to finish is to have someone who is in charge announce that I'm finished and that I need to go to my next job.
In my early years, If I was paid to twist until 2PM, for example, I quit on time even if I had kids still in a line.  Sometimes that caused kids to cry, hard feelings and parents complaining to the event organizer.  That was not the way to handle it.  I learned that I needed to leave in a positive way, if possible.
Dewey

Ralph Dewey

#11
Quote from: "cashmagic"Hello Mr Dewey

when did you start twisting? and what made you get in to it?


I started twisting balloons on church busses as an incentive for kids to come to church.  I thought about using magic tricks at first.  However, with kids all around me I knew it would expose the tricks.  Balloon animals were the perfect solution.  I marked the balloons with slogans like, "Hope to it, get saved." on a rabbit or "Don't horse around, accept Jesus." on a horse.
Dewey

Ralph Dewey

#12
Quote from: "Dave"what is the biggest model you ever made?
Do you have any advice for twisters starting out or trying to increase their business?
Have you always used balloons to entertain and educate?


I was a room designer for two of the Balloon Manor events in Rochester, NY.  One of my designs was a Scary-Go-Round.  I had some helpers work on it with me, but they might qualify as the largest model.

My advice is that you attend all of the workshops, jams and conventions that you can.  Also buy all of the DVD's and books that you can.  The more education and exposure to balloon styles and designs, the better you will become.  And as you get better, your talents will be more in demand as well.  And translates into more money for you.

I started twisting about 1975 and pretty much from the beginning I saw the potential for using balloons to teach ideas and lessons.  And I still do.  Probably the most gratifying part of balloon art for me is it being an outlet for expressing my creativity.
Dewey

Ralph Dewey

#13
Quote from: "Professor T Wist"Ralph what is your favourite thing to make and what is the most asked for thing for you to make ?



Over the years, my favourite thing has changed.  One that I still use and like is the swan that lays an egg.  It is quick, easy to make and has a surprise at the end.  Currently I like my Chinese Dragon hat.  It isn't a quick design, but it looks very cool.

It's funny about what gets requested.  What is popular seems to change depending upon the venue.  One time I started making mermaids and for the rest of my gig, mostly I made mermaids.  I soon ran out of the right colours yet they still wanted mermaids.  I tend to like designs that are fairly quick, yet look good.
Dewey

Ralph Dewey

#14
Quote from: "Graham Lee"Ralph,

After all these years balloon modelling how do you keep the enthusiasm going?

Graham Lee


I have to admit that I have periods where I seldom twist balloons.  Then I get inspired by something I see, balloon photos posted on BalloonHQ or models I see at a convention.  Then I start playing with the balloons again.  Every time I attend a workshop or convention, I come home with lots of inspiration and germs of ideas.  Then I have a flurry of several days where I am trying new looks, concepts and techniques.  I keep being motivated by because when I use my creativity, I get rewarded with a new design.  That makes it fun and exciting.  I also have carved out my own path in the balloon community.  For example, I seldom do "line" work anymore.  To me that's too much like being a balloon vending machine.  I have gravitated toward activities where I can be creative.  That helps me keep my passion for balloon art.
Dewey