Hi all,
Me and my partner are thinking about getting into balloon decor to add to my wedding package, and was wondering if anyone has any information on courses, or starting off, I know qualatex do them, but not sure what they offer..
Any beginner help would be appreciated!

I know the ikea up lighters are good for the bases, but need to learn how to make them hahahhaa


Thanks!

Jordan

Hi Jordan,

I can highly recomend contacting Pam & Paul Pearce (on Balloon Chat as well!). They do the Nabas course for beginners, I learnt loads with them. Well worth it for starting you off.

A word of warning though, like twisting, it's REALLY addictive.

and can cost you a hell of a lot more too!  For a list of all the Qualatex ones go to //http://www.qualatexevent.com and for NABAS approved courses then visit //http://www.nabas.co.uk.

My geography is rubbish but Pam and Paul are in Tamworth so if you are able to get to them for training it would be well worth it as Pam (I've not spoken to Paul so can't vouch for him   ) really knows her stuff and has been really good to me.

Thanks for the compliments folks, just sent jordan a pm saying email me and I will send him details.

I am the one who works the computers, believe me Paul is technical one: I could not even begin to design the sculptures and things he does and if its technical questions like Graemes arch etc I ask him before I reply. Team work works every time..

Jordan you are welcome to pick my brains and we run Nabas courses on days and times to suit you! As working entertainers we prefer weekdays, you probably do too!

The other big thing about all students that take a course with us, is we are there at the end of the phone or email for any questions regardless of how silly you think it is!! Believe me we have asked some ourselves at times. As a fulltime working balloon and entertainment company have come across most pitfalls.

Just sorting a new website for the training using vistaprint //http://www.balloonschool.co.uk - for some reason its not gettign picked up by search engines at the moment regardless of how many times I put it forward!! I have sent them an email, but may be moving it somewhere else if it does not happen soon.

Pam
xx

Thanks for the info everyone, pam you have Email  

Are these expensive courses???

J

Not when you take into account the amount of time, information and back up you recieve to be honest.

Pam
xx

Cheers for the info pam, I will be in touch when funds allow    i'm excited about it all!

I have been thinking long and hard how to add decor to what I do and after going to the spring fair and seeing Qualatex stand I would like to some small pieces to what I do, for the moment I don't want to do arches and stuff like that just table decor and sculptures.
Is there courses for this? or any form of  learning material?

Pam seems to be in the know for all this sort of stuff, i'm sure she'll be along to advise.

Jordan

There can be a course for anything!!

But to be honest even if you do just want to add centrepieces all who have taken them will agree the skills you learn in the nabas level 1 of the Qualatex or Anagram fundamentals courses give you the ability to create the centrepieces and sculptures. You just add your imagination to it.

Qualatex do retail days where they just teach latest product/season designs of centrepieces etc, but you have to have completed a basics course first to understand how to put it all together.

Who knows your customers may ask for other things - or you may want to offer more.. like twisting its very addictive to do more and more and more..

By completing and passing your basics you also can then go on to join NABAS - the balloon association which gives you your PLI insurance for being on someone elses property doing your decor ( and any staff too). You entertaining insurance may give you full cover, worthwhile asking your current policy.

Pam
xx

Another option is the QBN disc's.  You buy 3 DVD's for about £125 (not looked since the new catalogue came out) and you get 3 DVD's - Balloon Basics, Balloon Décor and Balloon Bouquets and deliveries.

I found these invaluable and I have a permanent reference now too.  Although the Décor one may not sound of interest it is worth a watch because the more you know the more you can do and the more tricks up your sleeve.

Surely you would not have understood the QBN without doing your basics on a training day with others Yvonne?

Not that I would want to discourage anyone but I have always considered the QBN discs as 2nd or even 3rd level of decor training and great rescouse material - but have always advocated a basics course first whether Nabas, Qualatex or Anagram.

Pam
xx

I just wanted to say to everyone that I attended NABAS 2 with Paul and Pam last week and had a fab time.  It may cost abit to attend, but I am quite confident, that what you put in you get back pretty quickly with more bookings as your skill increases.

Thanks to Paul and Pam for all their hard work last week. I really learned alot and your are both excellent company too.

Cheers,
Ali.

I have got together with 2 ladies who would like to join me in balloon decor, now for the course what's the difference between the three above?
Pam I think you have already sent me details before but I wasn't ready then, I'll pm you my email please could you send them again?
I'm thinking off doing both Qualatex and Nabas or at least go to one and send the others to the other?
At the moment I'm more likely to go with you Pam as you have been really helpful on this forum.

In all honesty if it wasn't for the fact that Qualatex is practically on my door step I probably would have gone for the NABAS one.  Although having said that I may still do NABAS but once I can justify intermediate training.  

I do like the Qualatex training but from what I gather there is a lot more demo than doing than you would get if you did a course with Pam.

I should also point out that doing the Qualatex fundamentals does not gain you any part of the QBN but it does qualify you for the insurance aspect of NABAS membership and it is cheaper.  The good thing is if the 2 ladies you have said about are going to be working for you the NABAS insurance covers you for up to 5 employees automatically.

The QBN is a series of DVD's and on-line theory tests that you take and then the CBA you have to do an exam to obtain.  You do not need to buy 3 sets of discs though as if they are all under the same company you can buy 1 set of discs and then purchase 2 more sets of codes to be able to sit the exams at a greatly reduced price!