Balloon Chat
Uncategorized Boards => Interview a "Balloon Chat" Member => Topic started by: Graham Lee on May 13, 2009, 10:34:48 PM
Master Duffy has volunteered to answer the questions this week for us all. At trhe moment he is in overdrive with the amount of posts and models he's up loading to the site :D
His website details are; http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-Swi.gzs1 ... 5fQ--?cq=1 (http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-Swi.gzs1bqBieCHLdTDEt575fQ--?cq=1)
Master Duffy is going to answer the questions for us this week so if you have any more for him then please fire away, so Master Duffy it's over to you for your answers to the set questions ;)
Hello Balloon World! I am so jazzed about the interview and this Web site chat room. Let me introduce myself. I have been twisting in Los Angeles Ca since 1995. I like to do Line Work and also love to work with disabled kids and adults. The twisters I look up to are Jack Mattson, Don & Laura Caldwell. So lets start the interview. :D
1, What road led you into balloon modeling?
In 1995 I wanted to entertain for my sons first b- day. So I got the book Balloon Sculptures and Balloon Magic. I was good at it and keep gonig from there.
2, when did you get started with balloons?
I started In March 1995 and love it more and more each year.
3, What's your best twisting experience?
I made a balloon for a blind girl. Her dad told me not too because she was blind and that she would not know what it was. Of course I ignored the dad. I asked her if she wanted a Balloon do or cat. She wanted the dog. I told her everything I was doing and had her place her hands on mine so she could feel how I was making it. She was so happy, she just loved it. When I was done I told her you not blind you just see thing differently. The dad then gave me one dollar and the best experience I will never forget.
4, What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you during a ballooning/entertaining session?
I was at a festive from 9am – 9pm. I twisting the whole time and at the end (Last person) I could not even make a balloon mouse. I think I had twisters cramp.
Hello MD, good to be reading your answers.
re. No. 4 - were you twisting solidly for those 12 hours, or did you get some breaks. Seems an awfully long time to me; my fingers/hands would have siezed up long before 9.00 pm.
Dave
Quote from: "daveandrews"Hello MD, good to be reading your answers.
re. No. 4 - were you twisting solidly for those 12 hours, or did you get some breaks. Seems an awfully long time to me; my fingers/hands would have siezed up long before 9.00 pm.
Dave
Yes, I did take breaks throughout the day. It was at a festival in San Pedro Ca :cry:
I made about $500.00 US dollars that day. The Line Just would not stop
I had found if you want to do Festival Line Work and be busy the whole time the festival must have a kids area and music.
5, What do you most enjoy about twisting & why?
It's Table work with Families. I have been working at the same restaurant for 12 years and when you see them grown up it's a wonderful site. One family told me they have pictures of their grandfather with a balloon hat. They told me the happiest times they remember is with me at the restaurant. :D
6, What's your favorite age to entertain?
Well that would be age 2yrs all the way to 99 years.If there 100yrs I may still let them have a balloon. My oldest balloon customer to enterain is 97yrs. :o
7, Do you have the same act but vary the presentation for all ages or do you have set acts for different ages?
I just clown around with everyone. No Show just act funny. :lol:
8, What's your favorite thing to make at the moment?
Defiantly a fish with bubbles, I ask the kid if he or she wants the bubbles in the front on the back. Funny some kids love it it as if the fish is farting.I Will have to post on balloonchat soon.
9, What is the most asked for model?
Spiderman and a Mermaid.
Love the story of the blind girl - we have done excactly the same as youi and totally agree the response form the blind person is amazing and a memory to be proud of and brings a tear to the eye.
I know we all do different things with balloons in our work, and do class myself as quite experienced in it now (we started 1990) but it does upset me when I hear "I am not a dog and sword merchant" I think it should be rephrased to " I am an experienced balloon twister" because to me its what suits at the time and the entertainment value you give, your blind girl would not have 'seen' a more detailed model being made.
Pam
Quote from: "Pam Pearce"Love the story of the blind girl - we have done excactly the same as youi and totally agree the response form the blind person is amazing and a memory to be proud of and brings a tear to the eye.
I know we all do different things with balloons in our work, and do class myself as quite experienced in it now (we started 1990) but it does upset me when I hear "I am not a dog and sword merchant" I think it should be rephrased to " I am an experienced balloon twister" because to me its what suits at the time and the entertainment value you give, your blind girl would not have 'seen' a more detailed model being made.
Pam
I agree. The experience happened about 8 years ago the little girl is probably about 21years old now. I know that if it happens now I would make a more elaborate balloon figure. Thanks for reading and responding.
Hi MD, very interesting reading, keep up the good work.
May I ask you who wuold you most liketo make a balloon model for and why?
What would you make them?
Quote from: "Professor T Wist"Hi MD, very interesting reading, keep up the good work.
May I ask you who wuold you most liketo make a balloon model for and why?
What would you make them?
I would say it would have to be my Boss at Dodger Stadium. I am going to make him a 6' tall Goofy with a Dodger player uniform and hat. I saw one on a Web site.
Note: My Boss "Eddie" is 6' tall also. I will have to post it on Balloonchat.
Quote3, What's your best twisting experience?
I made a balloon for a blind girl. Her dad told me not too because she was blind and that she would not know what it was. Of course I ignored the dad. I asked her if she wanted a Balloon do or cat. She wanted the dog. I told her everything I was doing and had her place her hands on mine so she could feel how I was making it. She was so happy, she just loved it. When I was done I told her you not blind you just see thing differently. The dad then gave me one dollar and the best experience I will never forget.
I have to agree with you on twisitng for special kids.
I have to totally agree with you on this one - I too twisted a balloon for a blind girl.. it was one of the best moments I have experienced - her dad took a photo of the two of us for me - a treasure I will have forever.
Thank you for sharing your stories, and creations.
Quote from: "Master Duffy"Hello Balloon World! I am so jazzed about the interview and this Web site chat room. Let me introduce myself. I have been twisting in Los Angeles Ca since 1995. I like to do Line Work and also love to work with disabled kids and adults. The twisters I look up to are Jack Mattson, Don & Laura Caldwell. So lets start the interview. :D
I don't know if I could post a reply from my own Interview but here it goes anyway.
Why is Jack Mattson, Don & Laura Caldwell your mentors?
Quote from: "Master Duffy"Quote from: "Master Duffy"Hello Balloon World! I am so jazzed about the interview and this Web site chat room. Let me introduce myself. I have been twisting in Los Angeles Ca since 1995. I like to do Line Work and also love to work with disabled kids and adults. The twisters I look up to are Jack Mattson, Don & Laura Caldwell. So lets start the interview. :D
I don't know if I could post a reply from my own Interview but here it goes anyway.
Why is Jack Mattson, Don & Laura Caldwell your mentors?
Jack Mattson, Don & Laura Caldwell are my mentors not only for there talented balloon art. Its because of there willingness and dedication to bring balloon artist in the area together to improve the balloon art world. I believe a balloon artist new or experienced should be around other artist with a high-level energy and talent. As artist when we gather together with other artist we get ideas from each other this helps us improve faster.
10, What do you tend to do more of if stuck in the 'balloon production line' model?
Spiderman and a Mermaid.
11, Who is your market aimed at?
Everyone with money. No. Really mainly family birthday parties
12, What kind of work do you do mostly - parties? Corporate? Etc
Birthdays and festivals. Love the Line Work.
13, What is your favorite/ideal gig to do?
Give me Line work with disabled kids and adults any day.
14, What irritates you most at a gig?
The kid with sticky finger, Parent standing there not telling a word to the kid about pulling on you and getting your stuff. SOOO!! Irritating!!
15, How do you book yourself?
I get all my booking from one restaurant and word of mouth.
16, What's the biggest thing you've ever made?
I made a 6' tall monkey at a park. I attached helium Balloons to if and let it fly away. You Could hear kids say look it's a monkey in the sky.
17, What has been your proudest achievement in our wonderful world of twisted latex?
Well it has to be competing at Twist n Shout 2009. I didn't win, but I was glad that Jack Mattson from Los Angeles Ca. won Mutable competitions.
18, What advice would you give to someone starting out, or wanting to increase their business?
I would tell them to go to Balloon jams and get to know other Twisters in your area. Always improve your portfolio at least every 6 months. Look for restaurant table work to promote yourself, get DVD's and Books that will help with your balloon twisting. If you want to get faster at twisting do some line work. To increase your business always have cards on you. Do public events in the area your want to get more business in.
19, What road in latex do you see yourself taking in the future
I would love to travel the world and make balloons for kids in orphanages and low income.I would like to make a book – DVD of my balloon art. In the book I would also give advice on marketing and ways to improve your business ect.
20, What is your personal goal when you set off to work? Is it money or to entertain etc?
First I pray to God that I will make the kids happy and give me the insight to give the kids advise. Money is nice but I always I look first at the difference I make to the kids life. If it made them happy, and was advice was given? I would have to say entertainment.
Quote from: "Master Duffy"18, What advice would you give to someone starting out, or wanting to increase their business?
I would tell them to go to Balloon jams and get to know other Twisters in your area. Always improve your portfolio at least every 6 months. Look for restaurant table work to promote yourself, get DVD's and Books that will help with your balloon twisting. If you want to get faster at twisting do some line work. To increase your business always have cards on you. Do public events in the area your want to get more business in.
19, What road in latex do you see yourself taking in the future
I would love to travel the world and make balloons for kids in orphanages and low income.I would like to make a book – DVD of my balloon art. In the book I would also give advice on marketing and ways to improve your business ect.
20, What is your personal goal when you set off to work? Is it money or to entertain etc?
First I pray to God that I will make the kids happy and give me the insight to give the kids advise. Money is nice but I always I look first at the difference I make to the kids life. If it made them happy, and was advice was given? I would have to say entertainment.
We are getting close to the end of the answers and it's going to be a long weekend. I am every pleased with the way the interview is going.I am also pleased with my last answer, But you will have to wait just a little longer to read it. Happy reading and responding.
21, What are your balloon goals for the future?
My goals for the future are to go to more balloon conventions and compete and maybe teach a balloon twisting class. I would like to travel the world and twist along the way
22, If you could start all over again, would you change anything?
I would practice more. In the being I thought I was the best and didn't know there were balloon twister better then I. I realized a few years latter that there is way better twisters then I was. I would have gone to balloon jam way sooner.
23, How would you like the future of balloon modeling to develop?
I see the art becoming more competitive. Balloon modeling is developing into a more demanding art when it comes to creativity
24, Who's the most famous person you have made a balloon creation for?
I am not star stuck and I don't know of famous people, so I was told I made a balloon figure for the kids of the lady In the TV show Malcolm in the Medal (the Mother)
25, How do you keep the enthusiasm going & what still excites you about our great world of latex
Well It's the fellowship of it all. When I go to a balloon jam everyone is sharing and giving advise. If the whole world got along like us Twisters we would be in Heaven.
26, What inspires or is your thought process in coming up with a new design
Other artist inspire me. I also get the balloon itch when I create new stuff. I get an image in my head and go from there. I usually start on the face then work on the body.
27, Who would you like to work with dead or alive?
I have jammed with Jack Mattson, Ken Stillmen and Don and Laura Caldwell.
So it was brought to my attention of this guy that was cool to be around and was (is) a great accomplished twister and he started the same year I did in 1995.So I will have to wait till I get to Heaven. God Bless you David Grist.
28, What makes you laugh?
Stupid little kid jokes make me laugh. Ohh !! I should say little kids that tell stupid jokes.
Master Duffy,
Thanks for taking the time & trouble to answer the questions, it's appreciated.
Hope to meet up the next time I'm over in America. Take care :)
Quote from: "Graham Lee"Master Duffy,
Thanks for taking the time & trouble to answer the questions, it's appreciated.
Hope to meet up the next time I'm over in America. Take care :)
Thank you It was fun, looking forward to meeting you. Love your Balloonchat Web site
I think we must have passed in the night as they say as I was at Twist & shout this year in LA.
Quote from: "Graham Lee"I think we must have passed in the night as they say as I was at Twist & shout this year in LA.
So many Twisters to meet in one place I will be looking for you next time. Thanks for everything, are you going to Diamond Jam Las Vegas Ca