Arizona Rick, 26th March/1st April

Started by Graham Lee, March 18, 2012, 10:39:11 PM

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Graham Lee

Arizona Rick has stepped forward to answer the questions for us next week, Rick's portfolio details are, http://arizonarick.balloonhq.com/
"Lets Improve Our Art"
Balloon Excellence 2012 Award Winner
For Services to the Balloon Community.
https://www.balloonartwholesale.co.uk
http://www.sempertexballoons.co.uk

FuDD

#1
How exciting!! A home town boy!! Well Home state anyway. Love it!!!

Arizona Rick

#2
1, What road led you into balloon modelling?

I often tell people that it is a long sad story that involves 9 kids an old Cadillac and Texas. I happened to be in McAllen Texas some 20 years ago when my wife at the time decided she need to go elsewhere to "grow".
 
Just so happens I met a lady who was the mother of a "LOT" of kids and her husband had decided the same thing!
 
It was a great romance and we eventually worked out all the logistics and got together. I was one of those guys who was "skilled at all trades but master of none" so I got work where & when I could. Her father died and left her an old Cadillac.
 
We put a bunch of kids in that car and headed for El Paso. Eventually we went to Albuquerque and then Phoenix.
 
While trying to survive we found out people would give us money for one balloon poodles. I got a beginners book from the library and practiced for 2 weeks. My wife worked it out with a Wal-mart for us to set up a table in front of their store.
 
We were so excited. After about 10 hours I had $84.00! Mostly in dimes & quarters! It was great! We were saved!!
 
For the record, I had 4 kids from my first marriage and then I married sweet Deby who was already the mother of 12. We have 29 grandkids between us.


2, when did you get started with balloons?

I was just a kid at the time, it was right after my 43rd birthday. I've been doing it for 17 years.

3, What's your best twisting experience?
 
The one experince that made me break down and bawl like a baby happened a number of years ago.
 
I was in front of a Cinnabon store in a mall food court. Three adults came up with a sweet rambunctious 6 year old girl. They wanted her to have a balloon animal. She was the most outgoing and bubbly kid I have ever met. She told me in a loud voice for all to hear "My name is SNOW! Don't you forget it!"
 
Snow was blind.
 
I stood behind her and reached around so her hands fit inside of mine. We twisted a ladybug together.
 
She was so happy! Made me cry. When I looked up about 50 people in the food court were watching and half of them were crying too!
 
I'll never forget that child!

Lisa Chester

#3
Quote from: "Arizona Rick"3, What's your best twisting experience?
 
The one experince that made me break down and bawl like a baby happened a number of years ago.
 
I was in front of a Cinnabon store in a mall food court. Three adults came up with a sweet rambunctious 6 year old girl. They wanted her to have a balloon animal. She was the most outgoing and bubbly kid I have ever met. She told me in a loud voice for all to hear "My name is SNOW! Don't you forget it!"
 
Snow was blind.
 
I stood behind her and reached around so her hands fit inside of mine. We twisted a ladybug together.
 
She was so happy! Made me cry. When I looked up about 50 people in the food court were watching and half of them were crying too!
 
I'll never forget that child!
Wow!  That's fantastic!

Arizona Rick

#4
4, What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you during a ballooning/entertaining session?

The "worst"? I guess when I was line twisting for a childcare business at a Halloween event they were hosting. A real brute ugly loud redneck kept sending his 3 year old son over to try to kick me in the shins while I was busy with other children. I had to stop everything and confront the situation and loudly asked for security to intervene. There were off duty patrolmen nearby for just such occurances and they had a conversation with the man. Left me in a bad state of mind though.

5, What do you most enjoy about twisting & why?

The children and anyone who has a childish happy heart. It's just fun fun fun.

6, What's your favourite age to entertain?

Probably between 4 and 104. Depends on their attitude.

7, Do you have the same act but vary the presentation for all ages or do you have set acts for different ages?

I have been telling the same jokes for so very long. They vary a little from age to age. Parent jokes for kids and visa versa. Dating jokes for teens. (i.e. Do you know your 7 B's? Books Before Boys Because Boys Bring Babies!)

8, What's your favourite thing to make at the moment?

All of the masks from David Brenion's dvd "Masks"

9, What is the most asked for model?

Spiderman, Lil Mermaid, Alien & Ballerina

10, What do you tend to do more of if stuck in the 'balloon production line' model?

All of the same fancy things that I would do in a restaurant until time gets short. Then it's swords & flowers for the last half hour.

11, Who is your market aimed at?

Families.

12, What kind of work do you do mostly - parties? Corporate? Etc

I am at three different restaurants every week. I do between 3 and 6 birthday parties every weekend. I perform a school show most every Wednesday afternoon. During June & July I perform 40 to 60 shows in libraries.

13, What is your favourite/ideal gig to do?

Library shows with a really large and rowdy crowd.

14, What irritates you most at a gig?

Parents who have no idea what their kid is doing, where the kid is, or how disruptive the kid is being.

15, How do you book yourself?

I am Arizona Rick The Magical Balloon Making Cowboy

16, What's the biggest thing you've ever made?

The Masks mentioned above and the big stuff from Caldwell's Mad Hats & Wild Wearables

17, What has been your proudest achievement in our wonderful world of twisted latex?

That I have been able to do twisting, which I love, and it has provided a good life for my family.

18, What advice would you give to someone starting out, or wanting to increase their business?

Be honest, be kind. Practice Practice Practice.

19, What road in latex do you see yourself taking in the future

Better marketing. More participation in the competitions at the big jams like T&S. Continue learning as much as I can. Helping Larry Moss create a real on-line Who's Who of the balloon world.

20, What is your personal goal when you set off to work? Is it money or to entertain etc?

When I set off to work the money has already been decided upon which just leaves me to do the best I can.....which generates more people being interested....which generates more money.

21, What are your balloon goals for the future?

To be remembered with respect.

22, If you could start all over again, would you change anything?

I have regrets but no. I would not change anything. Regrets teach you things too.

23, How would you like the future of balloon modelling to develop?

I like the idea that a person can be a magician, or a clown or a twister....or all three! I'd like to see more people enter the feild.

24, Who's the most famous person you have made a balloon creation for?

25, How do you keep the enthusiasm going & what still excites you about our great world of latex

Learning new things and being told that others can see growth in me.

26, What inspires or is your thought process in coming up with a new design

How can I get the money from my wife to buy a new Caldwell or Brenion dvd?

27, Who would you like to work with dead or alive?

Both the Caldwells, both the Benions, Robbie Furman

28, What makes you laugh?

Everything. I like to laugh. I laugh a lot. I laugh at myself alot! Myself needs laughed at alot.