I have been twisting, informally and formally ever since perhaps early 1993 or 1994, and have never once regretted the decision.

However, I am starting to feel some of the effects from having done this for so long as well, and yes, its also just plain aging too.

But is there anything that people can recommend, for being among the older of the twisting community that can suggest steps to
take to aid this?  As much as I love doing balloon twisting, if there are things that should periodically be done that I am not, I would like to know, before I wind up doing something like neurological damage that cant be undone at some point.

The last 2 or so years, I've started to develop tingling in my fingers, whenever I twist too long, or even other things.  Using a computer mouse a certain way, holding items and what not.  I am fairly sure these are signs of carpal tunnel, but I would rather avoid the surgery route if possible.

Some folks I asked locally, suggested the possibility of massage therapy, and accupuncture.

Anyone able to shed light on the merits of that, or any insight at all on how to keep on twisting for a long time to come?  

To be honest, I sort of more fear that I may eventually lose the ability TO twist, over any eventual problems it may give.  Though I would rather find a way to avoid the former and latter if possible.  

Or if it is too late for I to really do too much about it, what of things those who are still more recently come into the twisting lifestyle that can do things now, to avoid what I am looking at, later?

Lets hear your thought please, people.

Shuffles

Hi Shuffles, twisting for long periods of time is not good period, if your twisting for 2 days for 7-8 hours a day, then you should give yourself (hands) time to recover a week or 2 if possible!! In this time do some light hand massage, which can be done by yourself, i have also posted a method you can do, if you do a search you will find it. When twisting try not to strain your fingers, apply a lighter method of twisting, rather than finger busting knots, your hands will thank you for it!!

I have been twisting for years and do get pain also, but since applying this practice, things have been much better, if you find that you cant make a fist for more than 2 minutes, then your hands are crying out for a rest, and rest is the best thing you can do for them, even if you lose out on work, its better than not being able to work at all!!

Hope this helps.

Perhaps I am overdoing it then.

This time of year generally this far north of the border, I have a limited window in which to try and make much as I can.

May, and most of June this year up here was exceptionally wet and windy, so its only been the past two months which I have had any decent weather at all to go twist.  

I to be honest, am not really sure how to go about properly getting business, though I have tried to set up a facebook site (still figuring it out..) I have nominally created a website using wix.com, but for the life of me I cant figure out how to get it to list in any search engine so far, and I am on Kijijji, an advertising service for people to post things they wish to buy, sell, want ads and such.  Including services.

I used to be in the telephone book in the yellow pages, but doing so required my only telephone to be under the category of corporation, and I would have to pay almost 4 times what a residential did, and rarely got bookings from it, so eventually I dropped it.

These days, its largely word of mouth, or people who see me twisting on the halifax waterfront boardwalk, who gets a business card.

Point is, sadly that for all that I can do, once the fall begins interest drops drastically, other than a very few birthday parties, and often nothing till November to early December.  Then like last year, its often January to June with nada.

So, I've part by necessity, part by bad habit been trying to go down when Im not working around the house, every half decent day I can, just so I can padd the bank for when the winter times get lean.

Simply learning some good ways to advertise more effectively so I can spread it out more year around, would solve a lot of trouble.  Which I guess should go without saying.  Unfortunatly I havn't learned the key for how to do so yet.  

I hear tell there is someone on the west coast opposite me, in Calgary, where the population is denser, (and the weather colder sometimes) yet she has about 20 people working for her that she trained, and gets about 15 bookings a day.  

At the age of just about 50, its either 'Learn how to turn this profitable' or else.  Since self employment, for someone who has little practical work experience seems like my best bet.    For too long, I've 'coasted' and just kept to the simple and the quick.  Which works for when there's tonnes of kids.  But its better to be always building ones repoitoire up too.

Just this morning on a whim, since Im going to a party soon, rather than look online at other peoples balloon designs, I just went right to pokemon images, and twisted a rather good looking Snivy, and Cincinno.  

Cant use those for line work of course, unless you have kids patient enough to wait 10-15 minutes or longer each.

Feels good to be getting innovative and creative again, but I have been in danger of over-doing it too, as you say.  Hands need rest.

It is difficult to wind down though, when its pretty much the only time of the year as things stand currently that I can make any practical money at all.

I also need to figure out what rates to be charging.  Improved skills, should warrant superior fees too, if done right and not extortionist.  For a long time I've been charging simply $75 per hour, since thats what another competitor in the same advert site was going for, and it was undercutting my rate of $100.  

So much I could be doing better, had I had the practical knowlege to go along with the inherent talent to twist.  20+ years of possibly doing it wrong.  LOL.  Though this last bit is getting off topic, and deserves a thread of its own.  

Thanks for the input, Kenny!

Oh, quick question:  Anyone going to The Florida SuperJam this January 4th to 7th 2017?  Thats part the reason I've been crunching the clock so much and numbing the fingers a bit.  To try and twist enough from tips and parties to afford to finally go to a decent jam, and really learn how to kick the business up a few levels of skill and profit!

Shuffles

I have attended a couple of Florida super jams and enjoyed myself.
They are a little less formal than some other conventions,
mind you I have fun around latex no matter where I am.

Warm up hands, wrists, fingers before and after twisting.

Drink lots of water.

Try to look at how you twist - are you doing extra moves you don't need?  I know some of the Top Twisters in the US are practicing no unneeded tying so you go straight into a pinch twist and that seals the balloon, for example. I hate models that require breaking off and retying of a balloon so I tend to do models that don't need that.

I hope that helps.

I will be going to T&S in Feb 2017! For me its a better convention with a wide range of classes in twisting, business, performance and morel Plus lots of competitions, jam room and fun with friends.  

Hi Shuffles,
 if you really need to twist at them times of the year, then i would suggest you get your hands massaged regularly, on a weekly basis.. musicians have similar problems to balloon artists and they have great results from regular massages!! Make sure you find a good therapist though.