Hi im new to the clowning world like everyone else on this forum and i have a quick question.

What size balloons should i buy to start learning to make animals?

What i mean by this is what is the normal street size that most clowns use these days?

I have looked on different web pages and i see different sizes such as:

260Q's - Traditional Assortment
Qualatex classic pencil balloons, 2" wide and 60" long. Traditional color assortment

160Q's - Traditional Assortment
Qualatex skinny pencil balloons, 1" wide and 60" long. Traditional color assortment

350Q's - Traditional Assortment
Qualatex Airship type balloons, 3" wide and 50" long. Traditional color assortment,

which one would be the best to start out on? I know that the more advanced you are the more differnt sizes of balloons you can experient on but which balloon size is best for the beginner to make balloons with?

I like the 160 for most things, if you can add bumble bee balloons, they help to make quite a few animals and are easy to work with, I also like the heart balloons, tie 4 together makes pretty flower petals. :D

Most beginner and intermediate balloon critters are made from 260'. I also carry bee bodies(3210's) and apples (3210's in ruby red). You can do most critters with these.

BTW, I saw on a web site someone figured out veggie tales balloons. Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber, Junior Asparagus, THEY LOOKED GREAT! Has anyone else seen these? I remember that Bob is made from a heart shaped balloon , but can't remeber any others.

That sounds great for church events!! I'm on a ballooning email list. I'll try to find out who might be able to tell me where to get the Veggie Tales balloon stuff!!!
Jubilee

There a book "Balloon Gospel Routines #3", that has a lot of neet ideas. ie Jonah and the whale , that we've used some, I believe It's Dewey Gospel Balloon books.

BTW, I saw on a web site someone figured out veggie tales balloons. Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber, Junior Asparagus, THEY LOOKED GREAT! Has anyone else seen these?

Yes I have but I can't remember where I saw them. Unfortunately it was before my other computer died so I don't have the link saved.

Instructions for veggie tale balloons can be found on Professor Wonder ,com
Hope this helps
Jamz

Instructions for veggie tale balloons can be found on Professor Wonder ,com
Hope this helps
Jamz

Thanks Jamz!!

Thanks, Jamz. That's what my list told me too. I'm going to check it out!
Jubilee

That's where I saw it! Thanks Jamz :D

When first starting out I would recommend the 260 balloons and also Captain Visuals Big Book Of Balloons
This is a great book for begginers and shows somme very impressive balloons :D
Ialso recommend some kind of pump You may be able to blow them up by mouth but after a few kids it could get harder

Amen on the pump Jamz.

I used to be able to do them by mouth. 20 years ago I did a gross of them by mouth in the course of about an hour. I was also sixteen and STUPID!

I'd love one of those electric pumps that you wear. Eventually I'll get one for doing walk arounds and such. I been told though that if you are going to stand and do a ton that the big PVC type ones are the best for that.

I still blow up without a pump. And I'm a smoker.

cianuro can already hear the hissing. NEVER in front of the children though! :arrow: :arrow: :arrow:

I'm quite capable of inflating the 260 animal twist balloons by mouth.
It's fun to inflate all these balloons and then had one to my firemen
friends (think macho!) and watch them struggle to try to get one
inflated.

I used to do balloons for the kids at our Fire Department open houses,
but that meant that's ALL I did -- all day long.

I am trying to get away from the balloons because of the choking hazard.
Since I am a "Life and Fire Safety" clown, I feel I need to have a safe image.

The best brand of balloon I've found is Qualatex -- good quality and a large
assortment of colors. There are a number of suppliers via the web.

Ashes

guess it depndz if yer into shapely women or not

yak-yak-yak-yak

droppin in fer a visit. very cool