Hi Gang,

First of all, hope all you guys that went to the Jam had a good time! Saw Tony Twist's photos and it looked great! Looking forward to the Care and Share even more now and it will be good to meet some of you guys in person.

What I was writting for, was your advise on handling teenagers, you know the type, the Mall Rats. I had my first paid gig in a shopping centre yesterday. I was paid a handsome fee to wander the centre giving away free balloons. Sounded easy, but I was just mobbed everytime I stopped. I can now manage the queue fine, by telling everyone to queue in a line and using my end of queue sign when I was ready to stop or move on.

But one thing that bugged me was the teenagers. Now they are no trouble, but seem to want a balloon and then the gang gets bigger and you spend more time with them and I feel sorry for the parents and little children who now have to wait longer. If I was busking, it won't matter, as it is all money, but as it is free and generaly for "shoppers" not for people just "hanging out", I felt it wasn't fair.

So what are your views on this??? Am I becoming a grumpy old git, should I have consulted the shopping centre and ask for their opinion, or is there a Jedi Mind trick I can play on teenagers to get them out of the queue???

Love to hear your replies...
Regards,
Popsie
 :geek:

i would make teenagers balloons I make every one who wants one. I see your point about the yonger kids but you can say it the other way if all you was doing was them?
But try and make the older kids hats silly the better this will stop some coming to you as they dont want to look like a t**t.

I know what you mean, I jugde it by how many there are. If it's just one or two I'll make them something, if there's lots I just say 'Sorry guys, I'm employed by the centre to give balloons to the younger children'. You'll get some comments like 'I'm only 6 years old' or they'll go on their knees pretending to be small etc., but as long as you're polite and have a laugh with them, they'll leave and let you carry on with the younger ones.

I'm with you on that one. Suss how many there are. However, as Popsie said, they will have mates waiting around the corner.
I will politely ask them to wait whilst I do balloons for the little ones. Failing that, I have been told by the shopping centre that I can olny do them for the little ones or children with a parent. I normally ask the people employing me if I can say this and they are more than happy. I have no problem doing balloons for teenagers, especially if there is only one or two of them, but the bigger gangs tend to get round the corner and all you hear is pops and bangs.

We tell them we only do balloons for peole with adults with them also:  You get them joking he's my dad etc but just have fun with them and they understand. they will find something else to satify their entertainment.  If you do it in fun then you should have no hassle from them (they will be parents one day looking for entertainer services)

Pam

Quote from: "Pam Pearce"We tell them we only do balloons for peole with adults with them also:  You get them joking he's my dad etc but just have fun with them and they understand. they will find something else to satify their entertainment.  If you do it in fun then you should have no hassle from them (they will be parents one day looking for entertainer services)

Pam

I'm with Pam on this. I have learnt from experience that you don't often get duo's of teenagers. You make a balloon each for them, they go away happy only to reappear with 2 of their mates. You make something for them, then 4 more of their mates arrive. Before long parents with young kids can not get anywhere near you and refusing to make anymore for the teenagers causes major whinging, whining and abuse. I prefer not to get into that situation by just sticking to twisting for children with adults.
Twistina

I've not had this situation with twisting yet but frequently get it with the face painting.  When I do free events now and I know I will get a lot of teens hogging the queue I put up my sign that says under 14's only and that all children must be accompanied by an adult.

Obviously a sign wouldn't work for twisting (unless you stick it on your head   ) but if I were to find myself in that situation I would go along the same lines of only for younger kids with parents etc.

i say sorry i only do balloons for children if they have  parents with them

Just thought i'd put in my view.

I've just done 7 hours in 2 different supermarket's for children in need, Raised just over £300)  now i've been telling people its a £1 for a single balloon, and £2 for 2 or 3 balloon model. This keeps the teenager's away, but there were a few that paid.

When im doing it and giving the balloon away free, then there's a queue from when i start to when i finish. But i have never turned teenagers away. They have as much right to a free balloon as anyone.
If theY tell their friends, they have to join the back of the queue. I find that i have to turn people away at the end anyway, so they are the only ones that i upset. But I cant help that.

Cheers Adie

Does it not make you think though Adie when some scroats get a balloon or two from you then all you here is 'pop' when they are out of sight. I think that time could have been spent better on someone who would appreciate it. However, I suppose we can't forget that there are some good guys out there as well at the end of the day.
Krazy Kev

I've been keeping tabs on this particular topic and have enjoyed reading the responses already given.  I agree with 'children must be accompanied by a parent' but this I only apply to children under the age of 12.

My standard line for whom I twist for is "Children from ages 3 to 93".  That means if the teens are willing to stand in line like all the others, then I will twist something for them too.  This also means that if the 65yr old grandmother is willing to wait in line, I will make something for her as well.  I have found that in line situations, there will always be kids that don't get balloons and it doesn't matter whether I twist for the older kids or not.  Some parents either refuse or don't have time to wait in line so their little darling may have a balloon.  

On Tuesday nights I work a restaurant that offers an "all you can eat" dinner.  Every Tuesday night after football practice members of the High School football team come in for dinner and balloon hats.  Not every teen in the group may end up with a hat.  I start with the 'newbies' first and then twist for as many as I have time for.  And I have to admit, it's quite amusing when I approach their table the ones that show up every Tuesday start pointing to the 'newbie' and hollering "He's a newbie! Make him a really cool hat!" or "This is my date. Would you make something nice for her?"  As soon as I start twisting, they start telling the new person things like "You should see the T-rex hat she makes.  It's awesome!!" as another chimes in, "Naw man, the shark hat is way cooler.  You don't know nuthin'." and "How many of you were here the night she gave us all bows and arrows? That was the bomb." ...

Now why am I telling you about my restaurant teens when the topic is about mall twisting or line twisting in general?  It's because of this:  
1)These teens have parents and many of them have younger siblings.  While these teens are cutting up and having a good time at one table, it's very common to find that their parents have also decided to dine at the restaurant just to watch the 'show' or they have brought the younger siblings with them so they can have a balloon like 'the big boys'.  

2)Another thing is these teens have money.  They are spending money at the establishment I'm working in part because I'm there to entertain them.  Teens in many instances have more expendable cash then adults.  They may be notorious for being lousy tippers, but they do spend their money more readily than adults do.  This translates to buying clothes from the mall to dining out with friends.

3)I can't think it's a bad thing to encourage teens to have wholesome fun.  If they are waiting for a balloon, then they are not sitting around dreaming of other ways to entertain themselves that could be less desirable.

In the rare instances when I've had teens destroy something I've made, I put no more significance to it then when the bratty 7yr old does the same thing.  Some people, no matter the age, are un-pleasable.  

Anyway, that's my thoughts on the subject.
Happy twisting,
Bonnie, The Balloon Lady

Interesting stuff.

Many thanks for everyone's feedback and it does seem to be a two sided sword.

Looking back at my own experience, I felt I "should" be twisting for the smaller kids, but as it is quite rightly pointed out, the teenagers also have a right. Not to mention the business aspect which I did not pick up on, that they too will be parents in my town and also my already have family that future work may get generated from.

For me I think it comes down to crowd control again. Keeping a tidy line and watch out for teenagers who get their mates to join in just as they get to the front. I will also ask who is paying me, whether they have a preference and go by their guidelines.

I will let you all know how I get on in the future...

Regards,
Popsie