Sore Fingers

[Pickles]

Pinky:

Good luck with your gig tomorrow. Let us know how it goes, and, most importantly, have a GREAT TIME!

[in Harmony with Jesus]

I think having a stash made up, or at least just a few to give ideas is not a bad idea. Another thing we are gonna do next time is to arrive early & fully pre-inflate a dozen or so that we can use for hat bases, wings, swords, flower stems, that sort of thing. I feel like we wasted so much time at the carnival last weekend inflating hat bases. I had initially inteded to get there early & do that, but we ended up running late... go figure! We still made it before the carnival started, just not as early as I had hoped to be there. We had just finished getting the balloons out when they started letting people in.

[saphireSue]

If it's a large group, I go aheah and pre inflate several my self, the pop up laundry basket make good balloon holders and can be folded away when finished, and can also hold scraps and busted balloons. One thing though take in storage, and temp. Make them up too early and they'll not work well, if it's comfortable were you are, but you're working outside in the extreme heat or cold; temp effects air pressure, and for those situation I don't blow up to many extra because you might not be able to use them.

[bugaboo the clown]

I only use one finger when I tie a balloon. When it gets sore I move on to the next one. I also carry a small bottle of lotion in my bag to help out.

[Fitzwilly]

There are a couple of balloon tying devices available to buy on the web. However... a very basic one that a person can make at home is something like this. In the plumbing department they have 1/2 plastic piping. It doesn't matter if it is PVC or something else as long as it retains it's shape. You only need a piece about 4 or 5 inches long. Choose one end and roughly in the middle of the tube you will want to cut lengthwise into the tube about 3/4 of an inch. It doesn't have to be exact. After that cut decide which arc is smaller. Then from the side of the tube cut down until that small piece of tube comes off. This will leave about 4 inches of round tube with about 3/4 inch of half a tube on one end. With fairly fine sand paper sand all the edges of the tube until smooth. On the opposite end of the tube drill a small hole all the way through the tube. This is to attach a string or a balloon so that you do not loose your new toy. When it is time to tie a balloon simply wrap it around the half pipe, tuck the end inside and roll off the end. Voila!

[Pinky59]

that sounds neat...I'm going to email the directions to my DH and see if he can make me one. After tying balloons for me today, he may want that gizmo. Thanks!

[Oddkins]

Some websites offer balloon tying tools; I myself don't have any experience with them, so I can't say if they are any good. I usually just twist a half inch bubble and let the air out allowing for a little more rubber to tie with.

[Bumbles]

Good Luck with your event. Just remember practice a few types of balloons and get them down . When I started all I could do where dogs and a few of the other simple things, when asked to make something else I would tell the person that I was a Clown in Training. I took a course offered by our clown alley and have picked up a lot of new things to do.

[Pinky59]

I'll have to look for one of those tools and check it out. If I find out anything, I'll let y'all know. Thanks!

[azzy]

There are a couple of balloon tying devices available to buy on the web. However... a very basic one that a person can make at home is something like this

Maybe it's just my head-cold but your instructions are Greek to me! Any pictures?