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Topics - Balloonytoons

#1
Balloon Tutorial & Help / Working from Photos
February 24, 2012, 09:12:44 AM
Hi guys,
I just wondered if you guys had any hints and tips for working from a photo.
This is as I have just been asked to do a custom sculpture and have been given a photo of a  mk3 GT Cortina to work from.
#2
I have just had a lovely lady on the phone looking to book someone for a Winter Fair on Saturday 3rd December, unfortunately I am fully booked on that day so she still needs someone to do balloons.

It is for a school in Stratford (London) called St Francis Catholic Primary.
They are looking for someone between the 11am and 4pm, I don't think they need someone for the whole time just in between those times.

I told her that I would post on here so hopefully someone could give her a quote.

Her name is Marylin and her phone number is 07747076472.
#3
Hi everyone,
I am currently doing a project at uni on Diabetes glucose meter usage. If you or anyone you know is a diabetic who uses a glucose meter, would you mind taking a few minutes to complete this survey, it would help me out massively.
The survey is very short and anonymous.

//http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TZWS7DP
#4
Hope you find this interesting.

1, What road led you into balloon modelling?
I started after getting a kit to entertain my son and it escalated from there, I have just written the full story on the how you got started thread.

2, when did you get started with balloons?
I got started about 4 years ago

3, What's your best twisting experience?
I'm not sure I can pick one particular experience. But I have just won a photo shoot in a competition which was for any kind of alternative artist, so hopefully that will be fun.

4, What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you during a ballooning/entertaining session?
I was twisting at a family party when I managed to dislocate my knee, I was right next to the bouncy castle so that had to be put  down and all the kids taken away as a paramedic set my knee back right there and then in the middle of the garden. I was just glad that it was a family do.

5, What do you most enjoy about twisting & why?
I just love the reaction and awe that comes from kids watching a creation being made.

6, What's your favourite age to entertain?
I have mainly worked with young children around the ages of 3-6 years which are loads of fun, but I recently did a workshop for elderly and disabled people which was fantastic and great fun.

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 really have a 'act' as such yet, I just do my stuff and have a bit of banter with the kids, I'm hoping this will develop over time though.

8, What's your favourite thing to make at the moment?
I'm really enjoying trying bigger sculptures at the moment, I have been practising making a pantomime dame's dress for the end of the year which is loads of fun.

9, What is the most asked for model?
I think Ken Stillman's alien is my most asked for model, as soon as one is done then everyone wants is. Although I did do a party where nearly every child wanted a tarantula which was fun.

10, What do you tend to do more of if stuck in the 'balloon production line' model?
I've had a couple of school fetes where the queue was massive the whole time and had to just try and do the quick models, ended up doing lots of swords and flowers.

11, Who is your market aimed at?
Mainly younger children.


12, What kind of work do you do mostly - parties? Corporate? Etc
Mostly kids parties at the moment, but I'm hoping to expand that.


13, What is your favourite/ideal gig to do?
I would love to start doing some more corporate stuff with older audiences.

14, What irritates you most at a gig?
Parents getting their children to push in. I have had it happen plenty of times when doing fetes, the kids will be really well behaved and its often the parents who are rude.

15, How do you book yourself?
Mainly through phone and email from my website.

16, What's the biggest thing you've ever made?
Definitely the panto dress I am making at the moment, as it has to fit a 6ft man and be really elaborate.

17, What has been your proudest achievement in our wonderful world of twisted latex?
Winning a photo shoot for alternative artists, will update you all when it has happened.

18, What advice would you give to someone starting out, or wanting to increase their business?
Watch out it is incredibly addictive.

19, What road in latex do you see yourself taking in the future
Just expanding my business and having fun while doing it.

20, What is your personal goal when you set off to work? Is it money or to entertain etc?
Definitely to entertain, the money is great but I'm just glad to be doing something I enjoy so much.

21, What are your balloon goals for the future?
Developing my skills, building my business to the level where I can support myself hopefully

22, If you could start all over again, would you change anything?
I have only just started and hope I haven't made any drastic errors so far, I only wish I had come across twisting earlier in life.

23, How would you like the future of balloon modelling to develop?
To not just be seen as entertainment for kids but how it can be accessible for all.

24, Who's the most famous person you have made a balloon creation for?
I haven't made any balloons for anyone famous, hope I get to though.

25, How do you keep the enthusiasm going & what still excites you about our great world of latex
Well I get more and more excited by twisting all the time, and I hope that will continue.

26, What inspires or is your thought process in coming up with a new design
I haven't managed to come up with many of my own designs yet but am trying to adapt some others and hopefully that process with grow.

27, Who would you like to work with dead or alive?
Wow that's a big question, I'm not sure really. I admire all the people on here and their work so much any of you lot would be great to work with ;0)

28, What makes you laugh?
I have a bit of a warped sense of humour but generally my son is the person who makes me laugh the most. It amazes me how grown up a four year old can sound and keeps me laughing all the time. And you know what they say if you don't laugh you'll cry.
#5
Hi everyone,

My introduction to twisting came when I got a balloon kit and book bought for me to do for my son. I made the standard dog balloon and promptly forgot all about it.
 
A year or so later the book got pulled out again and this time I really got in to it. I quickly used all the balloons I had and then bought a mixed bag of balloons from ebay and a pump. I had definitely got the bug by then and spent ages watching videos on YouTube learning all the designs that I could. At this time I was only twisting for my son and step daughter who both thought it was pretty amazing but that's where I thought it would end. Until the community centre I volunteer at asked if I would do some balloons at their summer fair.
I was really nervous about this as I didn't see myself as a proper twister but as the community centre does such great work in the area and really needs all the funding it can get, I agreed to help.

After lots of practising and some great words of support from the other volunteers I did the fair and made over £50 for the centre. I also got lots of praise from parents and the reaction from the kids was fantastic. I carried on just doing fairs for the centre and a few parents started to ask me if I do parties, I did a few parties for friends children which went down really well.

By this time I had started university and decided to start Balloonytoons as a proper business as it's something I absolutely love and if I can pay of some of my uni debts before I have to then that's a bonus. I've had some great advice for the East London Small Business Centre who are great and have helped me with everything so far, and have been registered self employed since July 2011.

So far the business is slowly building and I'm absolutely loving it!
(Hope this isn't too boring a read)
#6
Website "Chat" Help / My New Website
September 01, 2011, 07:08:05 PM
Hi everyone, I have just set up my own website.
//http://www.balloonytoons.co.uk/
This is a big achievement for me in more than one way, not only does it really seem to make it real that I have started my own business doing something I love but is also my first ever fully finished and uploaded website that I have designed and created myself.

If it wasn't for working on the original ideas for my site I would have never have came across this forum as it was in my search for images to help me work on the balloon letters for the title that I found it and Graham's letters on the homepage really helped make mine look a lot better.

I must say it was slightly rushed to get my site up and running before I go back to uni and have too much to do to work on it, so I anticipate a few problems but would really appreciate any feedback.
#7
Balloon Chit Chat / Bases
August 28, 2011, 12:57:29 PM
Lately I have been having loads of trouble making my sculptures stable as they are getting bigger and bigger. I have tried thelma's cd base and just can't get the hang if it. I know IRS probably a matter of preference so I thought I'd ask you all what sort of bases you all use the most and why?
#8
Picture Gallery / My First Dress
August 03, 2011, 11:41:53 PM
After a day of nothing going right I finally managed to make this.  This is my first ever dress, pretty basic but better than I thought my first attempt would be. I only used the mixture of greens as I had loads of them, didn't try and do a particular pattern, think that may be the aim next.
My step-daughter Chloe (in the picture) was really pleased with it.
Would love to hear any comments and suggestions.
#9
Picture Gallery / Flowers for Teachers
July 18, 2011, 05:58:16 PM
Hi everyone, this is my first picture post.
This is my son with the Flowers I made to give to his Nursery teachers at the end of year.
[ You are not allowed to view this attachment ] Ollieflowers.jpg[/attachment:19g7v1xo]
#10
Welcome / Hello (again)
July 14, 2011, 07:12:14 AM
Hi everyone,

I'm Sarah and have been twisting for a couple of years for mine and my sons own enjoyment. I have just started twisting professionally, mainly as its something I really enjoy and can do while I'm studying at university.  
I went to the Enfield Care and Share basic day yesterday and had a fantastic time meeting people and having a giggle, I can't wiat to try and come to one of the more advanced ones.
#11
Welcome / Hi Everyone
July 19, 2010, 09:43:53 AM
Hi there my name is Sarah and I've been playing with balloons (to my son's delight) for about a year.
I recently did some for a charity fete and got some interested parents so I thought maybe I should look in to this a bit more.