Clownstock - A Gathering

[stitches]

I went to Clownstock in Northampton. A lot of fun. Mostly Balloons and Face Painting Classes but I also took in a Comedy Magic class, Dollar Store class, Marketing, etc.

I originally thought I'd improve my ballooning skills but now I realize that I need to improve the way I entertain while I'm ballooning. Many of the teachers can twist without looking - this allows them to watch their line, tell jokes, tell stories, etc.

How do you entertain while you twist?

[OkiDoki]

I use childrensongs about the animals that I make. Especially with younger kids that can be great.
I use jokes and oneliners about what I make. You can find quiet a lot of them for instance on balloonhq.com
I have little knowlegde chats about the animals I make. For instance why does a giraffe have such a long neck?
I talk along with what I make. For instance what I like about horses are his lips with which eat the sugar out of your hand. So here you go I start with making the lips of the horse. Bla..bla continu etc.
I often make the twisting be even more a torture to the balloon and me than it already is. Especially 6pedal flowers, tuliptwist, hooktwist are great for this.
I sometimes let the children count with me when I need a "bracelet" of for example 7 small twists.
I'm always allert on my surrounding searching for thing I can react on. I always keep my eyes open for striking or less striking things.
Children love it when you compliment them about there nice bracelet
or the attention you give there cuddly toy.
I also often just have a little chat with them about for instance the name of their cats while making them a ballooncat.

[Fitzwilly]

Oki, I would love to see you in action some time. You sound like a true entertainer. Thank you for contributing to this and other discussions.

[OkiDoki]

Thanks Fitzwilly. The same counts the other way around.