Crowd control techinques for balloon twisting

If the crowd has no history of ballooning, it does not know what to think. You need to get balloons out into the crowd to convince them they want a balloon. It's all very here and now and what's cool. When I first arrive for a carnival or whatever, I immediately put hats on my daughter and all of her friends. I give away at least 10-20 big hats. I tell each of the lucky recipients that if anyone asks where they got it, they should say, "That funny-lookin' guy over there is making them for a C-shell." If you sell 2-3 hats by word of mouth, you've gotten your capital investment back. After that it's gravy.

It's a good idea to make some big hats and give them to kids at the beginning of your day. This will increase your visibility and draw people to you.

If nobody has balloons, it's easier for parents to say no. If it looks like everybody around you has a hat, and the kids see their happy peers wandering hither and thither, happy as peacocks with their elaborate plumage, they'll be more insistent that this is the *one* thing they *really* want today (this will be forgotten immediately, but the parents will relent on another purchase later too, so don't worry).

People tend to want things they see other people with. This is both good and bad. I can never give flowers away until people have seen one, and then I can't make too many. It's the same trick that a lot of carnival games use. They'll have several people walk around with big plush animals to make it look like they're easy to win. It's less sleazy to do this as a twister, since everybody gets their dollar's worth when you make them a balloon.

Even if no one is buying balloons, look "busy." Make an elaborate display to bring people over and keep adding to it. Get some yo-yo balloons and stand there and yo. Have a patter ("Miss, I have just the right color balloon to go with that tank-top" "What's a cubs hat without a bear?"). Make yourself an elaborate pirate costume or a space ranger outfit with your "free" time. Make some elaborate multi-balloon animals like Lorna's incredible creations (if someone wants one, sell an existing one for 5 C-shells or offer them a smaller version for less). Look like you're having fun and making money hand over fist.

If no one comes, you've got to look *happier*. If you lose money, you have to *laugh* because you had a day in the sun having fun doing what you love most. If you keep these thoughts in mind, you'll be irresistible to the crowd.

Most importantly, talk to anyone that wants to talk to you. You can talk while you twist. If you need a break, take it while talking to them. They're your audience, and they want to meet the entertainer. You never know which of those people is going to hire you for something later. The biggest problem with street entertainment is that you don't get breaks. As long as people see you, you're working. You may take a break from twisting for a few minutes, but you're still under the spotlight. In fact, a lot of people came to me and asked how I got started in balloons, how did I learn, etc. They enjoy finding out about what you do. When someone asks how they can get started I direct them to the books by Aaron Hsu-Flanders (for now anyway) since they're easy to come by. This is also a good time to point out that you can be available to do workshops if they know of a group that might be interested and have a space you can work in.

How do street entertainers go from walking an area with scattered people, to suddenly having a crowd? I asked one well known guy, and he said 'No trick to it, just ask them to stand around. Then when you have a dozen or so, ask them to clap and tell them why. When more come, start the show!' God, it makes you feel dumb when it's as simple as that!

[indent]To attract a crowd, I made 6 snails (just spiral 260s, finish with the knot end tied to the previous ring). Then a straight 260 - 4" bubble, 1" pinch twist. Put the end of the long bit into the middle of the spiral. OK what I have now is a tickle detector - ask the kids to tell you if their 'owner' is giggling enough. Inevitably kids and grown ups point them out, and you go at them with this thing that looks like a metal detector. You can also use the pump as an anti-misery jab on the odd one! Then stand the detector up and attach a 260, then another and so on. Get people to hold this 'fence'. There's your crowd. Enjoying themselves, involved, and helping you! Personally I then get a kid, give him a sword and a helmet and ask him to help me control the wild animals (pointing at the crowd, not the balloon animals by mistake). Then its request time and make 'em.