Balloon Chat
Uncategorized Boards => Interview a "Balloon Chat" Member => Topic started by: Graham Lee on July 22, 2008, 09:28:42 PM
John has kindly agreed to answer any questions you may have off him, it's a good chance for all of us to get to know each other better & to see what makes us all tick.
John have you a website or portfolio page we can plug for you?
As yet I don't have a website or portfolio page anywhere, I will try and sort one out and when I do I will let you know
Eyes down & look in :D Here come the first lot of questions;
1, What road led you into balloon modelling?
2, when did you get started with balloons?
3, What's your best twisting experience?
4, What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you during a ballooning/entertaining session?
5, What do you most enjoy about twisting & why?
6, What's your favourite age to entertain?
Have you a webpage yet? It could generate you some work for little cost ;)
Hi Prof,
could you introduce yourself with a little bit of a background?
cheers
Danny
edit - just read the first few questions! perhaps that will cover it!
1, What road led you into balloon modelling?
A little over 18 months ago we went down to the towns xmas lights on event and on our way home my daughters were made balloon models and apparently I made a comment on how it would be fun to have a go.
So for xmas my wife gave me a basic starter kit which I managed quite well, there was a deal so she had bought me 2 kits, at home I got some more balloons from a local shop and 5 days later made some models for our nieces and nephew and daughters at our nieces birthday.
It seemed to grow from there.
2, when did you get started with balloons?
See above
3, What's your best twisting experience?
I went into my daughters playgroup, each session had a parent, it was B for balloon week and I made balloons for them, it was great fun and very rewarding seeing the smiles.
4, What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you during a ballooning/entertaining session?
As yet nothing terrible but I am sure that in time I will have a few less than fun times, although I hope not many and I am sure they will be offset by the good times :D
5, What do you most enjoy about twisting & why?
I like learning a new model and having it appreciated, I also find it relaxing when I come home from a stressy day and most of all I enjoy the pleasure on peoples faces that I can produce when I make something.
6, What's your favourite age to entertain?
I like all ages at this point but I am still a novice, ask me again in a while
Have you a webpage yet? It could generate you some work for little cost ;)
I am working on getting something set up at the moment.
Hi Prof,
could you introduce yourself with a little bit of a background?
cheers
Danny
edit - just read the first few questions! perhaps that will cover it
I hope the above covered this Danny, if not let me know :D
7, Do you have the same act but vary the presentation for all ages or do you have set acts for different ages?
8, What's your favourite thing to make at the moment?
9, What is the most asked for model?
10, What do you tend to do more of if stuck in the 'balloon production line' model?
11, Who is your market aimed at?
12, What kind of work do you do mostly - parties? Corporate? Etc
Prof,
Seeing as how you are a realtive newbie but maybe a little further down the path than a few of us other novices, some questions from that perspective...
- At what point did you think, hey I'm actually quite good at this?
- What's the best piece of balloon twisting equipment you have bought?
- What was your set up for your very first 'proper' gig & how many models did you do?
- Do you think twisting could ever become your main job?
(& if so how do you picture the transition?)
Thanks,
Martin.
7, Do you have the same act but vary the presentation for all ages or do you have set acts for different ages?
I don't have an act but I am thinking of trying to do something along the lines of telling childrens stories with the aid of balloon models.
8, What's your favourite thing to make at the moment?
It changes day to day, I do like the one balloon motorbike and I like the monkey in a tree too so I would say they are my favourites at the moment.
9, What is the most asked for model?
Sword and dog as ever at the few events I have done and at home bears and balls.
10, What do you tend to do more of if stuck in the 'balloon production line' model?
I haven't been in this position yet but I do try and lead folk into what I would like to make them if I can and that I hope stops this happening
11, Who is your market aimed at?
Anyone who wants me, so far I have found all ages seem to enjoy seeing models made so as yet I haven't got an 'age group'
12, What kind of work do you do mostly - parties? Corporate? Etc
So far I have done a couple of parties, some fetes and a demo at a playgroup and an evening of attempting to teach cub scouts how to make a dog followed by making models as requested. I do have a couple parties to do in the next month or so and maybe some other events, am open to all offers :D :D
Prof,
Seeing as how you are a realtive newbie but maybe a little further down the path than a few of us other novices, some questions from that perspective...
- At what point did you think, hey I'm actually quite good at this?
Good question ......................... answer I don't know, it was more my family and friends saying I was god and I should be doing it at parties etc than me saying , damn i'm good. But then I don't always think of myself as that good at other things and I know in truth I am.
- What's the best piece of balloon twisting equipment you have bought?
I have been lucky and bought a balloon apron and a giant balloon pump for my birthday last year by my in-laws and my parents resectively, the apron is great for organising the balloons and having them to hand, it also gets a "look at all those balloons" comments and displays the colours well, the pump blows them up in one go and is a very good 'did you see that' item.
- What was your set up for your very first 'proper' gig & how many models did you do?
My set up was a basic double action pump and an apron made from two peg aprons sown together, i'm not sure how many models I made, somewhere in the region of 20 I guess pluss a couple of premades that I took along.
- Do you think twisting could ever become your main job?
(& if so how do you picture the transition?)
Not at the moment but you never know, they do say never say never :D
Thanks,
Martin.
13, What is your favourite/ideal gig to do?
14, What irritates you most at a gig?
15, How do you book yourself?
16, What's the biggest thing you've ever made?
17, What has been your proudest achievement in our wonderful world of twisted latex?
18, What advice would you give to someone starting out, or wanting to increase their business?
Graham Lee
13, What is your favourite/ideal gig to do?
Any gig :D I am still trying different types of events and am happy to have a go at any, so as with other questions it is a time will tell answer
14, What irritates you most at a gig?
Rudeness and arrogance, as they do anyway.
15, How do you book yourself?
Currently word of mouth really, but I am aiming to get a website sorted then see what happens.
16, What's the biggest thing you've ever made?
I made a scarecrow for a village fete, they have a theme and this years was olympics or sports people, I mad a full sized Olympic torch bearer
17, What has been your proudest achievement in our wonderful world of twisted latex?
Hearing my daughters friends say how good her Dad was to make balloons for them and seeing her very proud look :oops:
18, What advice would you give to someone starting out, or wanting to increase their business?
I am too new at this to answer that I think.
19, What road in latex do you see yourself taking in the future
20, What is your personal goal when you set off to work? Is it money or to entertain etc?
21, What are your balloon goals for the future?
22, If you could start all over again, would you change anything?
23, How would you like the future of balloon modelling to develop?
24, Who's the most famous person you have made a balloon creation for?
19, What road in latex do you see yourself taking in the future.
A twisted one he he he boom boom
I am not sure, I am off down the latex road and am keen to see where it will lead, if it continues as it has started then it will be fun and I will get to meet many nice and interesting people.
20, What is your personal goal when you set off to work? Is it money or to entertain etc?
When I go to work I go to do my job to the best of my ability and earn money. When I do balloons I hope that I entertain, I know I enjoy it, if I can make some money doing that then excellent :D
21, What are your balloon goals for the future?
They are the same as my sporting goals and really I guess my life goals, to always look to improve and be the best I can be.
22, If you could start all over again, would you change anything?
Apart from discover this great art earlier in my life I don't think I would change much.
23, How would you like the future of balloon modelling to develop?
I am not sure, I need to develop more to really answer this, but initially my reaction would be to become better appreciated.
24, Who's the most famous person you have made a balloon creation for?
My brother in law is an author and he has had a few balloons, in fact I am making him some on Sunday for his birthday. The most important person I have made balloons for would be my wife.
Any other questions, balloon related or otherwise ???????
John, Here are the last few questions unless others have any more for you?
25, How do you keep the enthusiasm going & what still excites you about our great world of latex
26, What inspires or is your thought process in coming up with a new design
27, Who would you like to work with dead or alive?
28, What makes you laugh?
Are you coming to the Millenium Jam in Belgium this november?
Do you go to Graham's Care and Share days?
What balloons do you use? Qualatex or Sempertex or a mix?
Whats your favourite colour?
What balloon related Xmas present would you like? (Santa might be reading this!)
Danny :)
Hi Danny, thanks for the questions
Are you coming to the Millenium Jam in Belgium this november?
No I am not, many reasons but time off and money would be the main ones, it is something I would like to go to in the future.
Do you go to Graham's Care and Share days?
Yes I have done, I went to the January one and also the Sabina lecture. Both days were brilliant and I would strongly advise everyone to go, I am looking forward to te next ones I can get too.
What balloons do you use? Qualatex or Sempertex or a mix?
I started with Q balloons then after the care and share days have had sempertex. I now have a mix of them. I think I will continue with a mix but mainly carry sempertex, I like them and the supply is top rate :lol:
Whats your favourite colour?
Tough one, I think purple, don't ask me why though :D
What balloon related Xmas present would you like? (Santa might be reading this!)
Free balloons for a year, as many as I need, then I could really go to town and learn loads and do loads, as much as was possible.
Thanks for the questions, it was interesting answering them and I hope interesting reading the answers.
I think I may go through these questions some months down the line and see if any of my views have changed as I am pretty new to this and haven't had a great deal of experience.
John, Thanks for taking the time to answer the questions :D
It's surprising how things can change in just a few months, I find it interesting reading the interviews & the how did you get started section as everyone has different views on things & we all seem to have gotten into twisting by different means.
Graham Lee