Krazy Kev has volunteered to answer all your very personal questions to him this week, so fire away any other questions that you may have for him like why are Sunderland the best team in the North East :lol:

How did you know Sunderland are the best team in the North east?
(hope Dillinger is not reading this lol)

Hi all,
As Graham said, please fire some questions at me! (Not too hard though!) On with the set questions for now...

1, What road led you into balloon modelling
This is an easy one – the wife! I got one of those balloon twisting kits in my Xmas stocking a few years ago. This was because both of my daughters birthdays were the beginning of January and I was kindly instructed to make some balloon animals for their up and coming party.

2, when did you get started with balloons?
About 7 years ago. After twisting for my daughters party I didn't touch a balloon for 6 months – don't know why really?

3, What's your best twisting experience?
Has to be last year working on Noel's Xmas Presents. Good PR and plenty of photos!

4, What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you during a ballooning/entertaining session?
I was doing a magic show using the magic marksman prop (you stick a balloon in the ring wait for the magic word then pop it via a little pin which is pushed the up by your finger). There must have been a hell of a lot of static in there because every time I placed the balloon in the ring it popped. This happened about 6 times in the middle of the performance. I finally got one in under inflated. On with the trick – it still didn't work. The balloon was not tight enough for the pin to penetrate it!  I eventually popped it with my fingers....

Hi Kev
can you tell me who's you favorite Newcastle united player you make what color are you favorite black & white balloons lol
Kev whats the 3 best models you like to make

                                   DENNIS

Dennis,
Favourite Newcastle player past would be Peter Beardsly and present Shay given  (oops he's gone now!). So I would say Mark Viduka when fit.
3 balloon models I like making:
Spongebob
Squidward
Princess

5, What do you most enjoy about twisting & why?
Making people smile and laugh. I like meeting people so I guess it helps in our line of work.

6, What's your favourite age to entertain?
5 and 6 yr olds.

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 a couple of props which I switch around depending upon the age group. I have only been doing the magic show for 2 years so don't have a great amount of routines at the moment. I think changing the presentation is important when doing the same kind of tricks to older children. Like lots of fellow magicians out there I have a cupboard full of props gathering dust. (You know the kind Billy Wiz!)

8, What's your favourite thing to make at the moment?
I like making big things and normally get carried away doing them. Spongebob is still a popular balloon to make.

9, What is the most asked for model?
Guess what? – Spongebob!

10, What do you tend to do more of if stuck in the 'balloon production line' model?
350 dogs with a lead, space blasters, ladybirds, flowers

11, Who is your market aimed at?
Everyone but mostly under 10 yr olds if you take magic shows into account

12, What kind of work do you do mostly - parties? Corporate? Etc
I have a nice split between corporate gigs and birthday parties. I also do a few Christenings and weddings (no I'm not a priest!)

13, What is your favourite/ideal gig to do?
When you have more time per person to make more interesting things. Other than that well paid jobs will do nicely.

14, What irritates you most at a gig?
Broken record time! Kids who constantly touch my balloons or props or electrical gear (which I do have out of the way but they still manage to find it!).
Mums who sit watching their kids ruin the show by coming right up to you and stay there. Even when you announce over your pa system for the kid to sit down, please, Mums ignore what is going on.
Being expected to be the baby sitter rather than the entertainer.
Finally, the Grandmas who want to take a balloon home for each of their grandkids – usually around 10 of them!!!!!!!!


15, How do you book yourself?
Need to figure this question out


16, What's the biggest thing you've ever made?
Recently my 4 foot by 6 foot digger for a birthday party.

17, What has been your proudest achievement in our wonderful world of twisted latex?
Well, from the balloon decorating side it's the yearly decking out a venue down at Butlin's Skegness. It takes the wife and I two days but usually it looks nice at the end of it. I love the comments people make.  With a view from the twisting side of things it's great being able to work for yourself. Being able to 'twist' has help me achieve that.

18, What advice would you give to someone starting out, or wanting to increase their business?
Keep looking for new material – don't stand still. Your average balloon modeller, getting paid gigs, is still doing dogs, swords and swans. I'm not say there is anything wrong with that as we all start somewhere but the more you know and do helps sell you better.
Get a website. Before I got mine I struggled to explain to potential clients over the phone what kind of balloons and stuff I do to differentiate form others around. Now I can guide them to it. It's still not got the amount of photos I would like but it's getting there – slowly!

19, What road in latex do you see yourself taking in the future?
To keep on making bigger and better things. I would like to say someday come up with my own ideas for a DVD or CD but my mind does not stretch to those creative people out there that can do it. (Graham, Thelma, Twistina, Tonya etc etc) I'm more of a copier unfortunately.

20, What is your personal goal when you set off to work? Is it money or to entertain etc?
To entertain. Money is great but you get no repeat booking unless you entertain.

Quote from: "Krazy Kev"20, What is your personal goal when you set off to work? Is it money or to entertain etc?
To enetertain. Money is great but you get no repeat booking unless you entertain.

A good thought provoking answer that I think just about hits the nail on the head, so to speak.

Thank-you Graham. I thought no body was reading it!!
Kev

Hay Kev I've read them all just been busy so havn't posted much, great intervew will ask some questions after you have done the list.

Great interview Kev

My questions for you are


Who would you most like to make a balloon model for and why? What would you make them ?

Hi Prof and thanks for the question!
If I was to make it on my daughters behalf it would have to be for Geroge Sampson - the guy who won Britain's got Talent. She's head over heals with him and would do anything to see him. Hopefully the balloon would do it for her! I made a George Sampon balloon of him standing on one hand for her to enter a competition on his website. Didn't win ..

I would have loved to have made crazy balloon hats for the Deal or No deal contestants cause I was nerarly one. I had visions of showing our art to the nation when it would have been my time to beat the banker but sadly it's not to be as I failed at the auditions.

Other than that I would love to make a balloon for the next kid that comes along and appreciates it......

DITTO that both of you!!

Quote from: "Graham Lee"

Quote from: "Krazy Kev"20, What is your personal goal when you set off to work? Is it money or to entertain etc?
To enetertain. Money is great but you get no repeat booking unless you entertain.

A good thought provoking answer that I think just about hits the nail on the head, so to speak.