questions about balloons

[nadie]

Since it seems from my previous topic that my next skill to add is ballooning, I have a couple of questions for those with some experience:

1.- do you really inflate the 260 balloons by mouth? I believe (from trying) that that is a skill on its own and I'll be better off with a pump.

2.- which are the most demanded animals?
3.- which are the most demanded hats?
4.- what other things are most demanded? (I know how to make a sword)

thanks very much
nadie

[Gilbert]

Originally Posted by nadie

1.- do you really inflate the 260 balloons by mouth? I believe (from trying) that that is a skill on its own and I'll be better off with a pump.

I NEVER EVER EVER blow balloons up with my mouth. Pumps are easier and more hygienic.

Originally Posted by nadie

2.- which are the most demanded animals?

I always give a short list which changes depending on their age, gender, the way they look, how I feel etc.

Originally Posted by nadie

3.- which are the most demanded hats?

see above. Always provide a short list - it gives you control

Originally Posted by nadie

4.- what other things are most demanded? (I know how to make a sword)

Personally I don't like making weapons as they often result in over excited children running around play fighting which often becomes serious fighting.

I hope my answers help.

[Jamz]

Even if you can blow them up by mouth please use a pump It is hard enough to tell a kid not to put them in their mouth even harder when they see you do it

Hats are very good to do they are easy they attract attention and you can do just about anything you want with them

Iwould reccomend Captain Visuals Big Book O f Balloons this is the best book for beginers and if you learn whats in the book you can make anything

And you were right about one thing balloons are fun

[mr_buckaroo]

I never blow my balloons up by mouth all for the reasons given above.
as for the animals dogs , bears, swords for the boys , girrafes, horses, parrot and fish are the ones i tend to make the most
and the hats well i just do a hat and they seem happy. I do have one that I do where i put a parrot in a cage that seems to go over real well.

[saphireSue]

Well to add my two cents, most kid will ask for a dog on aleash, a flower, sword, hat, be as creative as you want but a few will go a long way. One thing I'd like to suggest is that you have a policy not to give balloons to children under 3 yrs. as the risk of a child choking on a balloon is possible, this age likes to put things in their mouths, Some parents will fuss about it but most agree and appreciate you looking out for their interest, not to mention you could get sued if anything happend.

[nadie]

thanks again, that's very helpful.
i'll learn the dog, and a few variations (i think the giraff and horse are), maybe a fish and a parrot, and at least one hat. I think that will give the firsts kids i entertain a choice.

and i will not feel lincompetent for using a pump. i've just was having a look at this website:
http://www.balloonhq.com/ and they were advocating using the mouth in one article -not everyone agrees on that-. But they seem professional ballooners or the like, whereas for the clown is not so big an issue.

i'll keep the precautions in mind, cheers
more questions soon

[Scruffy]

Some other easy ones are the swan,butterfly,bee, dinosaur, penguin, here is a link to a couple of my favorite balloon sites.

www.balloonhq.com

www.mbd2.com

www.professorwonder.com/balloon.htm

Something to think about investing in is a good professional pump. the Battery operated ones are great for strolling. they are fairly light weight and can be strapped around your middle.
The big manual ones like those at www.tmyers.com are great because they require no battery . The electric ones generally use a 12 volt battery pack like you find in a cordless electric drill which can be pretty pricey. Usually, they can run anywhere fron 110.00 on ebay to three hundred bucksfor some of them. Also. If you are set up in one place (Like at a carnival or fete).Not having to recharge a battery could easily become a blessing.
That being said. I'm starting to build and electric pump for myself. I'll let you know if it works or not.
Good luck and have fun twisting!
Scruffy

[nadie]

hey, great links, thanks

i'll get myself a manual pump for the time being.
cheerio

[Gilbert]

Hey, you could rig a long tube to one of those battery pumps and hide the nozzle in your sleeve. You could make a big thing of blowing balloons up and having them ping off all over the place etc as you keep failing to blow them up. Then near the end you could secretly start using the pump and blow lots up in a row with the last one still inflating asyour hands move away from your mouth thereby giving the game away!

[Scruffy]

Going back to an earlier post. I've done some checking. I can build an electric balloon pump for about seventy-five bucks.

I'll report back. I picked up the pump on ebay for 10.00 plus shipping.