Balloon sculpture question...

[Wowza]

If you're looking for a floor pump, the Filbert pump gets my vote. Light weight, colorful and inflates a 260 in one stroke.

[Finito]

I absolutely love my Filbert Pump, for those long gigs I wouldn't be without it.... but if you're just starting out and looking for a lot of bang-for-the-buck, you can't go wrong with the dual-action purple pump!

[Bodiddly]

For now anyway I think I will go with the small double action pump tell I learn to do balloons.

[Bonkers #361]

Here is some food for thought. Get you a Qualatex Hand pump you can get one anywhere from $8-$12 depending on where you go. I did not learn this and I was balloon twisting at a company party and I snaped what I had right in half about 20 balloons into the party. Thank god I was not to far from a Party Store I had a friend run and pick me up 2 more pumps at $4.95 each and again I broke both of those before the party was over. Lesson to learn you get what you pay for. If you want to get started fast my alley used bicycle hand pumps from wall mart with the inflator tool for like rafts and stuff. when I was in clown school . But a double action pump is allot faster

[Scruffy]

I have one of these: MacPump The mini mac lite. It was 89.00 and I actually like it better than the Filbert. I agree with bonkers, Get the Qualatex purple pump. The cheap ones really are CHEAP!!!

[Giggles the Clown]

Hear! Hear! I lose what I have accomplished by practicing the more complex (well, not TOO complex) sculptures, which are not too easy for my smaller hands to manipulate in the first place BECAUSE I never get to do them at functions -- everyone wants doggies and swords, once in a while a kitty or tiger or flower, or hat, which I can do. And, of course, with time limitations, it is almost always impossible to do anything other than the above -- believe me, if I have 25 kids in line and mom is getting ready to serve the cake, I am gonna turn 'em out fast -- doggies and swords, doggies and swords....well, you get the picture. A balloon artist I am not, but the kids don't seem to care. Giggles

[Bonkers #361]

For some reason the kids always want the easy stuff. I did my first church function and that is all they asked for I begged this little girl to let me make her a flower but No she wanted a dog. As I got time I started making my multiple balloon stuff and they flocked to me again with her first in line I had to tease her for a couple minitues I told ohhhh nooo remember you wanted a dog NEXT then I told her you dont want a flower you want a heart with doves after we chatted for a couple more seconds I told her trust me and she wants me at her Birthday Party (I did not know at the time but I know her mom and Grandpa owns most of the town he is a Commercial developer) and what she wants is what she gets so I have a bithday party to go to now. LOL Everyone keep twisting those knots.

[Fitzwilly]

Just because they say they want a dog or a sword or a flower does not mean that you have to make the most basic version that six mothers from the PTA learned last year for the school fun fair. I have more fun when a parent tries to "help" a child make up their mind and suggests a dog. I have a fairly simple three balloon dog that looks like either Pluto or Blue that just blows the parents away. I have three or four swords to liven things up, and when I am having fun I will tell the child "I'm sorry only pirate captains are allowed to have a pirate sword. Are you a Pirate Captain? You are? But you don't have your pirate captain hat on. You have to have a Pirate Captian Hat before you can have your sword." Now I made a production out of it. The kid feels special and I did two very simple things. Plus it made it more interesting for me.

[Bonkers #361]

Thanks Fitz! I never thought about that. I bet I did 50 swords or more even the Children's pastor wanted one. I'm supposed to get with him in the future to show him what I know. I want him to meet Frank but our pastor stays really busy

[Squiggles]

We had a man named Balloon Bob come to our clown alley once and he recommended Qualtex balloons but he also said something no one would of ever thought of...the bags of balloons that come in multicolors is because they are the overruns and the end of the batches, therefore they are mixed colors, so he always buys his in the same colors in the bag and buys different bags to get all the colors.