What jobs did you do before twisting and any art related?

Started by Popsie, March 08, 2009, 09:20:31 PM

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Popsie

I know twisters are now saying that twisting has become an art form, but did anyone have any other art related jobs in a former life?

When i was at school, I always wanted to be an artist, but got rejected from Art College for not having a big enough portfolio. So I became a draughtsman, mainly working for architects. During the last recession of the early ninties, I was out of work and so bummed around doing a number of art related work. I was a tattooist and worked for Jock of Kings Cross, I painted murals and paint effects in houses and even got involved with English folk art, painting the traditional roses that you see on the old canal boats.

It was when the draughting worked moved to computers that I became interested in web design, then had a part time business screen printing and air brushing clothing.

However, balloons have so far been the most enjoyable, and business terms (remember I am part time) there are no overheads, just a stock of balloons.

So what is your background and do you consider yourself an artist?
Popsie the Balloon Guy
http://www.theballoonguy.co.uk

YvonneH

Well in my life before children I was training to become a solicitor  :shock:  I got my degree (2:1 LLB (Hons)) and started the post grad course (LPC) I needed to qualify but dropped out to get married.  I then started doing ILEX (Legal Executive) completed it and lost all enthusiasm for it.  

So when my daughter was about 1 I saw a face painting course advertised and thought it sounded fun and perhaps I could do that for Rachel's parties when she got a little older.

Well for someone that was rubbish at art at school I soon took to face painting and quickly started my own business once my Son was born.  Then trying to get over my fear of popping balloons and wanting to expand my business I stumbled onto balloons.

Have to say I am so much happier now than I ever was working in an office with loads of stuffed shirts!
Yx
<a href=\"mailto:yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk\">yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk</a>
http://www.loonyballoony.co.uk

Smiggle

I'm a legal advisor by day for the transport industry which can be a bit dry.

My job involves quite a bit of public speaking too and my performance experience comes in useful there although the subjects are usually quite serious I always put a little humour in to my presentation which seems to work because I usually get good feedback.

Art / Arts wise I do paint - although I'm not brilliant - I'll put  a couple of pictures up later. I've also acted in a few things including pantomime which is huge fun, I do a radio show every week and I love to write, I've done a few scripts for sketches and some short stories.

I love the ballooning because you get to perform a little whilst you produce something that amazes and puts a smile on peoples faces, balloons are highly portable and comparatively low cost too.

I love doing magic for similar reasons, I'm not a sleight of hand merchant - I'm far too clumsy for that so I do some simple card stuff and mental magic, I did some on a cruise ship both at our dinner table and on a passenger talent night and got really good reactions so I wouldn't mind pushing that out a little more than I currently do
C\'mon Let\'s twist again...

fairby

I was a Police Officer for 11 years then Benefit Fraud Inspector then got into social housing (Anti Social Behaviour and all that) Did a degree in Neighbourhood Management/ Housing Studies and am Corporate member of Chartered Institute of Housing.

Me and MrsFairby on graduation day 2007
The good thing is though I get to do alot of twisting at work as they are always having events for one thing or another, open days, and as we have alot of sheltered schemes i go in and do a bit for 'the old dears' and as such am building up confidence and knowledge to twist more.
I have always done a little bit of magic but Art wise Im ok (I have an 'O' level in it!!!)

glendaoneill

I started doing a bit of face painting and balloons for my kids parties too. (I have 3 under 6).
I had given up work to look after my son but then the other two came along quite quickly!  :lol:
I have a 2.1 degree in biochemistry and was working for a manufacturing company who make medical diagnostic kits.  It wasn't very exciting so I didn't mind leaving.
I don't have an artistic background but I was ok at art in school but never took it further as I was going down the science route.
I LOVE doing this now.  Much better job satisfaction! I'm steadily improving my face painting and my twisting, thanks to you guys here! :D

Glenda
Glenda
Now lives in a twisted world

Tonya

I've never done anything art related prior to now, except the required basic art classes when I was in school.
Actually, before my daughter was born, I was a gravel hauler (drove end dump & belly dump tractor trailers).  When my daughter was born, I stayed at home for awhile, then got a job at a convenience store, and took her to work with me.  When she started school, I volunteered in her classrooms each year, which led to my becoming the school Librarian.  I did that for a couple of years, but it took up too much of my time, so I quit and started working part-time as a school bus monitor on a preschool bus.  I've always liked working with kids, and always liked doing craft projects.  
It wasn't my intention at the time, but learning how to do balloons was a great combination of both for me, now this is all I do.
Have a happy day <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt=\":-)\" title=\"Smile\" />

Tonya

Krazy Kev

I used to work in the Logistics dept in the automotive industry making safety restraints. I travelled around Europe helping sister plants with their stock turnovers etc. Gained a diploma in BPICS (now MIOM). Family life meant it was too much of a strain being away too often so took redundancy to spend more time at home. With the magic and twisting job now it fits in perfectly well. I also got an 'O' level in art at school.
Kev

cashmagic

when i left school I wanted to be a clown but my dad told me stop being silly so I was a painter with him then was a guard working nights then I was in the job center for a bit the went and did alarms and cctv then was a bailiff for NTL then was the balloon twister and now going to be a bingo caller
life is full of twist and turns i just twist it first !!!
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Krazy Kev

I was going to be a clown but then decided against it - it was funny hours!!!!!

Bad to the Balloon

Cowboy
Bartender
Hired Gun
Graphic Artist
Industrial Printer

Only two jobs that paid good was bartender and killing people. The bar tending is lousy hours
Mark Byrne
AKA Mark the Balloon Guy
Tampa Bay\'s The"Original" Balloon Guy for over 20 years
"Bad to the Balloon"
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Tony Twist

Quote from: "cashmagic"when i left school I wanted to be a clown but my dad told me stop being silly so I was a painter with him then was a guard working nights then I was in the job center for a bit the went and did alarms and cctv then was a bailiff for NTL then was the balloon twister and now going to be a bingo caller

you got your wish ....
Regards
Tony Twist

Simply Shonna

I started cleaning houses when I was 12 years old.   I got a job as a dishwasher in a nursing home when I was 15.  When I turned 16 I started working at a Roller Skating rink in the snack bar.  I left home at 16 and tried working for a circus.   My parents made me go back to school.  Then at 17 I was a drug dealer for awhile and got put in a drug re-hab.   When I got out, I started working in a bar(although I was under-age to do that)as a waitress.   I also worked at as waitress at a Pizza Parlor.  
Around that same time I discovered balloons and started my own business doing decor and balloon deliveries.   People kept asking me to do strip-o-grams, so I started doing bikini grams at 17 years old too.

When I turned 22, my husband challenged me to try to hold a "real job" for a year.   I took a job at a bank and got promoted 3 times in a year.  I did various things there with customer service and 10-Key operating.   I also got pregnant with Dustin and quit as soon as my year was up.  

I ran my delivery business and did some decor along with being a clown, balloon twister and check artist the whole time I worked at the bank.  Oh, and I did children's magic shows.

I went back to work as a children's entertainer when Dustin was 2 days old.  I was mouth inflating back then, and after that day, I decided I wanted a pump!!!!!

After Alayna was born in 1991, I actually was kind-of bored with balloons and kids parties.   In 1992 some of my other friends who worked at different talent agencies thought I should become a stripper. So when I was 25 and Alayna was 6 months old, I started dancing at private parties.   The money was incredible.   I hated it though, and my husband didn't like me doing it.   (That is probably why I did do it for 6 months, just to piss him off! LOL)

Sometime in 1992 I worked at Hooters for about 2 months as a waitress.   I didn't like it at all.

In 1992 I moved to Germany.   When we got there, Rob told me he didn't want me to work at all.   He wanted me to stay home and be a mommy.  I decided I would, and it was the best thing in the world for me.   I basicly only did balloons/magic/face painting  as a hobby and for the kids in orphanges occasionally.

In 1996 Dustin told his teacher I did magic and could do a show for his class.  Before I knew it, the school had decided I would do a show for the school.  I started doing educational magic shows for the next few years.  

I finally started doing balloons as my main job in 2005 after my husband quit his job and I had no choice but to do something to support the family.  (Dancing was no longer an option!LOL)

I am very happy doing balloons, but I want to start doing more magic again.   Boy, I just gave you all a lot of personal information!LOL

Simply Shonna

Graham Lee

Quote from: "Simply Shonna"I did various things there with customer service and 10-Key operating.   I also got pregnant with Dustin and quit as soon as my year was up.  

Boy, I just gave you all a lot of personal information!LOL

Simply Shonna

Shonna,
Blimey that bank took customer satisfaction to a new level :D  :lol:  :lol:
You did give away a lot of personal info but it did make for an interesting read, and you can get up off the couch now if you like :lol:
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Popsie

Quote from: "Bad to the Balloon"Cowboy
Bartender
Hired Gun
Graphic Artist
Industrial Printer

Only two jobs that paid good was bartender and killing people. The bar tending is lousy hours

This is the most interesting CV so far, hehehe only in America!!!
Popsie the Balloon Guy
http://www.theballoonguy.co.uk

Popsie

Thanks everyone for sharing, like Graham said, it has been very interesting and never knew how varied your backgrounds would be. Again, it is nice to see so many of you from different backgrounds all coming together in the world of balloons.
Popsie the Balloon Guy
http://www.theballoonguy.co.uk