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Hi
That’s January been and gone time to come out of hibernation for Graham’s star interview.
All done enjoy.....
1, What road led you into balloon modelling?
Was looking for a career change so took a year out after getting bored doing disco.
Went on any course that I could find, puppets, magic, balloons, etc ended up on Boo Boo’s the Clown (Ashby de la Zouch) and saw my future.
Balloons were just a part of plan.
2, when did you get started with balloons?
10th July 1996
3, What’s your best twisting experience?
Getting a Blind man to make a balloon dog for his grand child.
4, What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you during a ballooning/entertaining session?
Being told by a suit at Ipswich show ground I cannot use balloons because they will frighten the horses but they allowed McDonalds to give balloons away.
5, What do you most enjoy about twisting & why?
The joy on kids faces and the money
6, What's your favourite age to entertain?
1-5s
7, Do you have the same act but vary the presentation for all ages or do you have set acts for different ages?
I have the same act which is modified slightly for each show.
Example:
Magic painting: Mary the Fairy for birthday parties, Santa for Christmas, Fireman Sam for Safety show.
Musical touch: Birthday is Ooo Ahh, Safety Show Fireman Sam theme, Christmas is Rudolf red nose reindeer (only works when you touch the red nose on the balloon Rudolph)
8, What’s your favourite thing to make at the moment?
One balloon dogs.
These are an up sell so bring in extra money on the day.
9, What is the most asked for model?
Dog.
That’s all parents/kids seem to know.
10, What do you tend to do more of if stuck in the 'balloon production line' model?
I do not do line work any more. Just do not have the patience for the adult plonkers.
What I do is set up a display relevant to the time of year Ie: General/Easter/Christmas/ Halloween.
There are 2 items per price £1/£2/£3, that way they have a choice for price and Model.
Its great listening to the parent’s persuading their child to have a £1 model when all the child wants is a £3.
11, Who is your market aimed at?
Kids…. then Mums with kids…. followed by the women thrown in the deep end by their boss to organise a kids event. I love these as I can really help them out and excel for their boss.
12, What kind of work do you do mostly - parties? Corporate? Etc
Birthday parties, Schools then Companies
13, What is your favourite/ideal gig to do?
A young bunch that are shy/nervous at the beginning then seeing them slowly slide off their mums lap so they can get involved with the Fun.
14, What irritates you most at a gig?
Mums that plonk the baby sister/brother on the birthday child’s lap (how is the BD child going to shine & be the star of the show at THEIR birthday party whilst looking after the baby brother/sister).
Rude parents that talk during the show.
People that stand behind me to takes picture or the video guy that gets right up close whilst nearly sticking the video up my nose.
15, How do you book yourself?
Internet
I used to have the opinion that parents would not book without talking to the entertainer first. Not so within 5 days of my automatic side going live I was proved wrong.
I drive all traffic to my web site, there is no phone number in my yellow pages add, all calls that go to voice mail get a text directing them the my website.
When someone phones I fill the form in my self whilst listening/talking to the prospect, then finish the call with all the details of packages & prices are in your email box now…They love the it.
My voice mail, backdrop, puzzle cards, countdown posters, voice overs all send them to my website
16, What’s the biggest thing you’ve ever made?
8 Foot Octopus.
Had a period when I thought it would be good to make some 4/5ft high stuff for the birthday child and helpers. Watched as one parent tried to cram 2 (joint party) into an over filled car and thought not a good idea.
Also gave one to a child and the parent said “How am I going to get that home on a Bike?”
17, What has been your proudest achievement in our wonderful world of twisted latex?
Did a balloon workshop for special needs group before I had fished handing out the balloons a Downs syndrome girl had made the perfect dog. (was told she had never been near a balloon before).
18, What advice would you give to someone starting out, or wanting to increase their business?
Learn the Business side of Show Business, you can have the greatest show around but if you cannot sell it your stuffed.
Don’t think you know it all, you can always learn.
I’m always going on Business Link courses to find that little extra idea I have missed.
I have never met another entertainer at one of these courses, I wonder why.
I see other entertainer that are brilliant but charge so little because they do not have the business skills.
19, What road in latex do you see yourself taking in the future
Looking at using 360s, wondering if they will have edge on the 260 dog.
I just love the large dog Graham has on this forum.
I would love to make a 260 balloon for the child then give them option of have that or the larger one. I can see the impact it could make.
20, What is your personal goal when you set off to work? Is it money or to entertain etc?
To make it a FUN event for the KIDs and make the birthday Child shine.
It is very important to me that I get to communicate with the shyest & loudest child and put those that want to in the lime light.
I did a party yesterday where there were 2 kids boy & girl standing at the back looking lost. None of the parents thought to talk to them.
On talking to them the boy was happy to go chase the bubbles but the girl just did not want to know. I got a small chair to sit on to talk the girl (brings me up/down to her level) then let her have it as I was going to start the show.
During the show I gave her a silk to hold, when I asked for it back she happily brought it up to me. After giving her a big round of applause she sat down on the floor with all the other kids. Success…This is the buzz I get.
There are loads of kids out there that do not get the attention they deserve.
Regards the money my fees are very high so the money aspect is already taken care of before hand so I ca concentrate on the party.
21, What are your balloon goals for the future?
Can’t really say I have any apart from the large dog idea.
22, If you could start all over again, would you change anything?
Yes start it 20 years earlier.
23, How would you like the future of balloon modelling to develop?
I find it very interesting those multi weaved items you all do so well.
They are taking balloon bending into a far better field, so keep doing them.
24, Who's the most famous person you have made a balloon creation for?
The last birthday child…. I don’t do famous we are all equal.
Have you every watched entertainers clamouring around the stars for their pictures to be taken whilst ignoring the kids they are there to enetertain? It makes my blood boil.
25, How do you keep the enthusiasm going & what still excites you about our great world of latex
We all get the low times when we ask ourselves why? You get the ##it gig, the traffic is against you or the body aces so much you think you cannot go on.
Then the magical moment happens you see a sparkle in a child’s eye, you get a big hug or says “I love you silly banana” and you just know you cannot leave it alone.
To me this is better than Sex, Drugs & Rock N Roll
26, What inspires or is your thought process in coming up with a new design
I don’t create new stuff, I buy DVD’s or attend balloon bending sessions. I practically like the all night impromptu ones.
27, Who would you like to work with dead or alive?
Kids.......preferably Live ones
28, What makes you laugh?
You budget is how much?.....Silly situations.
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http://www.mrfuzzy.co.uk/
http://www.tiptopbirthdayparties.co.uk/
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