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Topics - Popsie

#1
Balloon Chit Chat / Poor Lady!
March 22, 2009, 06:48:09 PM
At my first gig, there was some face painters and I asked the lady to make me up as a clown. She had Coulrophobia, but managed to do a good job!

But check this poor lady out...

//http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2nK_qmvJ7A

Regards,
Popsie
#2
Balloon Chit Chat / Stiff Little Fingers!
March 16, 2009, 06:55:34 PM
Hey Guys,

I was twisting again last Saturday, 11am - 4pm and at about 3pm some guy asks me to do him a monkey. Now I do the simple one balloon monkey, nothing special, but for some damn reason, I popped about 10 balloons trying to make one. I had done a few before hand, but I think my hands were getting so tired (they had gone through the stiff finger stage) and I think I was either being too rough or too tired to concentrate. This of course made me look a right fool. The guy was cool about it, joking he was gonna call animal rights, as I killed so many monkeys. In the end I gave up and told him he was getting an Alien instead. Ten minutes later, someone else asked for a monkey and I did it first time, no pops!

Does this kinda thing happen to everyone?
#3
I know twisters are now saying that twisting has become an art form, but did anyone have any other art related jobs in a former life?

When i was at school, I always wanted to be an artist, but got rejected from Art College for not having a big enough portfolio. So I became a draughtsman, mainly working for architects. During the last recession of the early ninties, I was out of work and so bummed around doing a number of art related work. I was a tattooist and worked for Jock of Kings Cross, I painted murals and paint effects in houses and even got involved with English folk art, painting the traditional roses that you see on the old canal boats.

It was when the draughting worked moved to computers that I became interested in web design, then had a part time business screen printing and air brushing clothing.

However, balloons have so far been the most enjoyable, and business terms (remember I am part time) there are no overheads, just a stock of balloons.

So what is your background and do you consider yourself an artist?
#4
Balloon Chit Chat / Software
March 07, 2009, 09:16:56 AM
Don't know if this subject has been covered before, but here it goes anyway...

What is your favourite software for creating your;

Website

Flyers & Promotions


I use Dreamweaver and Fireworks for webpages and Photoshop to do my balloon photos and flyers (a bit pricey, but had then from one of my past jobs).

I know some of you guys have got some good sites that you have done yourselves, so just interested in what other tools are out there.
#5
I first got interested in balloon twisting several years ago when I was waiting for my wife shopping in Peacock Street, Windsor! I was waiting outside the shops with my daughter (typical bloke - can't stand shopping) and we we're watching a twister who was dressed as a wizard and never spoke but mimed (does anyone know who this guy is?). I was amazed at how the crowd all stood round and discussed between themselves what was it that the twister was gonna make next. Then the gasp and applause when he finished and made something nobody expected. At this point, I thought it looked cool and the amount of cash he was making looked even cooler!

But I always thought I could never do that!

Until July last year. My sister bought an old pack of balloons for my daughter's birthday party. I read the instructions and managed to make a few shapes out of those balloons that didn't pop. So I thought that was fun, so I got some more balloons from ebay, some tutorials from YouTube and then found this great forum.

In this short amount of time, I have met a few of you guys at Graham's great care and share day in Brum (I even did a shopping centre gig with him in High Wycombe!). I work full time at Heathrow Airport and only twist at the weekend, but it is something I enjoy and got so much to learn, but the best bit is always the smiles when you hand somebody a balloon! - Now that's magic!
#6
Balloon Chit Chat / Teenagers
November 09, 2008, 08:59:57 AM
Hi Gang,

First of all, hope all you guys that went to the Jam had a good time! Saw Tony Twist's photos and it looked great! Looking forward to the Care and Share even more now and it will be good to meet some of you guys in person.

What I was writting for, was your advise on handling teenagers, you know the type, the Mall Rats. I had my first paid gig in a shopping centre yesterday. I was paid a handsome fee to wander the centre giving away free balloons. Sounded easy, but I was just mobbed everytime I stopped. I can now manage the queue fine, by telling everyone to queue in a line and using my end of queue sign when I was ready to stop or move on.

But one thing that bugged me was the teenagers. Now they are no trouble, but seem to want a balloon and then the gang gets bigger and you spend more time with them and I feel sorry for the parents and little children who now have to wait longer. If I was busking, it won't matter, as it is all money, but as it is free and generaly for "shoppers" not for people just "hanging out", I felt it wasn't fair.

So what are your views on this??? Am I becoming a grumpy old git, should I have consulted the shopping centre and ask for their opinion, or is there a Jedi Mind trick I can play on teenagers to get them out of the queue???

Love to hear your replies...
Regards,
Popsie
 :geek:
#7
Balloon Chit Chat / Local Council Discrimination!
October 14, 2008, 10:17:37 AM
This is a follow up of what happened to Tony Twist and myself, after busking in Uxbridge town centre.

After twisting for two hours we got asked to leave from another balloon trader. To keep the peace we did as he asked, yet he still threaterned to complain to the council, as he paid for a licence to trade, yet we as buskers had not.

Tony decided to phone Hillingdon council to fully understand "our" rights. He asked the lady involved and asked if we are allowed to busk in Uxbridge town centre. She said YES, we have no problem with buskers! Tony said he was pleased, as we were balloon busking on Saturday and was asked to leave. She then changed her tune. She explained that she had a complaint from the other balloon guy and what we were doing was NOT busking. Tony argued the fact that we were not selling balloons, but entertaining the crowd and we ask for tips, but she refused to accept this as busking, saying buskers are only musicians and that we are not allowed to balloon in her county!

Is this balloon discrimination or what?!?

Any thoughts or comments?

If she bans us, will it be an illegal offense if we go against her will (not suggesting I will, just interested as a fact)?

Kind regards,
Popsie the fugative clown illegal balloon blowing guy!
#8
Balloon Chit Chat / Twisting Tag Team @ Uxbridge
October 11, 2008, 04:08:00 PM
Went busking today with Tony Twist. I had a new setup, using an old tool box and a bit of MDF painted with blackboard paint, Tony had his mega bags of balloons and we hit Uxbridge town centre for 12pm. All went well for two hours. I was doing my simple designs and Tony was wowing the crowd with his awesome creations, including a wearable 5' duck!

Then I get a tap on my shoulder. The guy selling metallics at the other end of the high street asked if I had a licence. I told him that we were busking and I did not need one. So he said he was going to complain to the council. Tony and I looked at each other and decided that it was best to shut up shop, as we did not find out the local requirements and we did not want to upset anyone.

The result was £50 for two hours split 50/50...  :geek:

Had a mind block on what models I can do! I think it was because I was watching Tony in the corner of my eye. Appreciate all your help Tony!
#9
Hi Guys,

I am a newbie and been training like hell, filled my house up with practice balloons and was dying to try my new hobby out on the public. So I decided to go to a park in Marlow, Bucks and set up by the Thames and catch the sunday strollers. As soon as I got up on Sunday, the nerves kicked in. Now in my past, I have been a kick boxer, given presentations to upper management for companies such as BT, I even had a market stall in Wembely where I painted t-shirts live for customers, none of these were as nerve racking as going out busking!

Well my first suprise was that Marlow was having their carnival, so that was a good thing. I walked around and decided to setup outside of the stalls and slowly moved into where the crowd was.

This is how I was prepared;

- 3 x 100 bag of 260Qs
- my sharpie
- my clowns wig & red nose (totally bottled it and they stayed in my bag)
- a hand written sign that said "Free balloons, I work for tips"
- a bottle of water
- 2 x £1 coins I put in my hat, by the sign, next to my feet

I made a few balloon hats, dogs and flowers and gave them out free, of which two people gave me a tip. Then the intrest grew, then the crowd and BANG it was non stop for 5 hours!

What I was not prepared for!;
- Up until now, I was making a few models at a time, I did not expect to suffer RSI from 5 hours of non stop twisting! This was HARD WORK!
- What I thought would be popular design, isn't what the kids find popular, and kids still do like the simplest of designs (suits me better)
- I had read about crowd control, putting it in practice is another thing.
- Patter, again need more practice, as twisting, remembering designs and keeping eye contact with the customer, was differcult.
- Doing a complicated design and getting 20p tip! (have to take the bad with the good)
- Balloons for free, is all the kids read and many didn't understand the tips bit, this was my fault and better signage and wordings I think would help this matter.

Summary
It was a long hard day, but loved it! For my first ever attempt I earned £47.00 for 5 hours and learnt lessons that was priceless. I now have the confidence to grow my act and also approach businesses, knowing that my skills can entertain. The feedback from mothers was great too, asking if I do parties.  If anyone is thinking of busking, I would say just do it!
#10
Does anyone have a good resource for learning to draw better faces (books or websites)? I thought I was an "ok" artist, until I started drawing faces onto my models and it looks like a spider drew them!!!

I know Mdm Twister does some awesome faces and the expressions really bring the model to life.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Popsie.
#11
Picture Gallery / Skull Masks
September 07, 2008, 10:17:21 AM
#12
Welcome / Hi, it's Popsie from Bucks, UK
September 04, 2008, 10:02:30 PM
Hi all, newbie in town only been twisting for a month and a half and I'm hooked. Looking to twist part time for parties and events and so far getting to grips with memorising the moves, twists and proportions etc. having lots of fun learning, and my kids love all the new models I've been making.

Kind regards,
Popsie