Just curious . . . who does balloon decor on this site? Is balloon decor your primary business? Or like me, is it a another side to your already estabilished business? Or is it maybe just a hobby?

For me, it's something different to my 23 years of 'normal magic shows and balloon twisting', something to give me more variety. Trouble is . . . . . I didn't expect to get so hooked on it so fast. Every time I get a 'biggish' decor job, I'm like a kid looking forward to christmas.  :roll:   Made plenty of money already this year from decor, but it's all gone back into the business to bulid up the stock. Hopefully next year I'll start seeing more profits and have to buy less stock.

Well as you well know I am dabbling too!  At present it is just another limb to my fledgling business (only been going 3 years in Feb) so as not to go under in the current economic climate.  Unfortunately, time has not allowed me to build up as quickly as I usually prefer but I am enjoying décor immensely.  My plan is to build the décor up to be my main business and then have twisting and face painting as my sidelines to fit around the décor.  This is mainly because I hate the idea of working for someone else ever again and unless I can build up my business to bring in a better income than I could earn in an office job or down the local supermarket I will have to get a boring job    :shock:    :cry:

Hi Guys, similar to both of you really.
I see adding decor (which I decided to learn in January) as a natural progression to face painting and balloon modelling. We already have great skills in being twisters so we are one step ahead of some already.
Incorporating round designs into our work just makes sense.
From the jobs I have done, I do not see that the profits are huge, and the physical amount of work required is alot but I too have really enjoyed the challenge of something new and I was looking for ways to expanding my business beyond weekend work for when the kids are at school. The drawback is the amount of investment in equipment and balloons that you need to start the business but you build these up as and when you make profits elsewhere and can afford it. 2 balloon shops near me have closed this year so that has helped me out when it came to buying stock at a good price but it shows that running a shop has huge expense attached to it, expecially in current conditions.
I see NABBAS have announced their conference in October next year and I fancy that for sure.
Like Yvonne, I want to make a go at this as a proper job and work for myself and it is going the right direction which is very pleasing indeed. I have already done 2 big decor-twisting events which was fantastic,  as you get to release lots of creative energy in selling an idea to a client and seeing it through from the start to the finish.
I just love balloons.

i too am in the same position as the rest of you. i am currently trying to promote and advertise the decor side of things but its hard down these neck of the woods.
i think my next approach will be to attend some wedding fayres to try to get some work that way as i have tried yellow pages and thompson local with no work what so ever.
i also am looking at doing decor full time with the entertaining as second job but it will be hard to garantee the same income as my current job.

Be Warned!!! Decor takes over your business!! Its a monster YOU create......

We have only been in decor for 13 years! and look what we have achieved - it takes us places we would not even consider.

We find decor compliments the childrens entertaining - when one is busier the other is quieter..

December can be tricky but most want foil decor so you can inflate the night before and deliver on the way to party bookings.

We work through the night at supermarkets creating 'Theatre' (thats what they call it) and when a Bride discusses decor she loves the fact she can book you to entertain her younger guests too and then you get feedback on your work - which is so rewarding as most of the time when you are doing it you may be the only person in the room admiring what you are doing.

From a balloon dog to round balloons to entering and winning industry competitions that took us to USA  balloon convention in Disneyland Anahiem (got to say balloons took a second place whilst there) to now passing on our skills as teachers.... when we made our first dog in 1990 if you had told me I was going to make my living from inflating balloon of all sizes I would have laughed at you... And Yes Greame you know we also STILL get excited when going to a bigger booking, but thats what makes the business... If you get excited so does your customer!!

Good luck to all just starting and developing .. if you achieve what we have, you will totally understand what I am saying...

Look forward to reading and taking part in this part of the forum

Pam
xx

Reading your post Pam has given me even more of a buzz. If I can achieve just half of what you guys have in the next 13 years I'll be chuffed to bits.

This is something after TMJ I would like to get into but I'm already busy with shows so can't see how I can add this into what I already do, Billy how do you do it?

It's giving me a chance to be more 'picky' in the show bookings I take Dave. At the moment, I'm having more fun with the decor, something different to what I've done for the past 20 odd years.

Dave - we told you.

Put your prices UP.

there is no telling some people.....

 :roll:

Danny

lol i have danny

I started working for a family member when I was still in school. I would fly up to her house during the summer to work with her.That is how I got into working with balloons. Once I got started doing decor I was hooked. Now I do decor, and twisting. I have a lot to learn on the twisting end, but then again do we ever stop learning.

Billy, I would say that if you enjoy it, and have a chance to turn a profit go for it. No matter if you are twisting or decorating, there is just something great about working with balloons!!!!!!!!!!!  :mrgreen:

Just my 2 cents worth
Dan