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Messages - tkd27

#1
It's been a while since I've visited Balloon Chat, but I decided to drop in and see what's new, so hello all! I think this "How Did You Start Balloon Twisting" section is new since I was last here, so I figure I'll share my story. First, let me say that these days, I perform myself as Magician Matt Matthews and also run a party agency, The Party Troupe, for face painters, balloon twisters, and more.

I've been in to magic my whole life. My father used to buy me magic tricks off an Adams spinner rack from a local hobby shop when I was a kid and I remember watch Penn and Teller TV specials back in the 90s. I loved Pen and Teller because they so often revealed how the trick was done. And for me, that was what I found so exciting - learning how the magic was done.

But magic was always just a hobby. I never really had the guts to perform it for real people. I did a couple of birthday parties - my nieces, done for free, and my mom's co worker that I did for $50 - but never really did it professionally. Then, about seven years ago, I was a new dad and money was tight. My wife and I were both working full time jobs, but we weren't making ends meet. My wife was just at the end of her rope and said she didn't know how we were going to do it financially.

So I said, "well, I guess I can try to start doing magic shows on the weekend." And so I started trying to learn, for real, how you entertain kids. On that journey, the idea of doing balloon twisting cropped up a few times. I had always read on the Magic Cafe that balloons were a great upsell, and I also came across a few balloon routines that could be done during a magic show. So, my ADHD kicked in and, even though I was supposed to be learning how to do magic shows, I started learning the all new hobby of balloon twisting.

What happened was, balloon twisting solved my big "magic show" problem. Remember how I mentioned how I never had the guts to perform magic shows? Well, balloon twisting doesn't really take guts the way magic does. So I quickly transitioned myself to a balloon twister first and foremost. I ended up using a magic show as an upsell on balloon twisting, and with magic being the secondary thing, it took a lot of the pressure off of that. The way I saw it, if I bombed as a magician I would finish with the balloons and I'd kill it. But of course, doing magic so much (it was an easy upsell) led to me getting really good at that, and now I'm back to being a magician first and foremost (there's just better money in that than balloon twisting, unfortunately).

I still do balloon twisting all the time - most parents will add balloon twisting on to their magic show - but I keep it to more simple balloons these days. Still better than dogs and swords, but things like simple aliens, cats using a heart for the face, etc.

And that's my story of how I started.
#2
Balloon Chit Chat / Re: superhero's
May 08, 2014, 06:57:37 PM
LOVE the Hulk :)  So awesome. I REALLY need to get Brenion's videos. Is the head based on his mask concept?
#3
Picture Gallery / Re: Doc McSuffins??
September 29, 2013, 12:36:22 PM
In thirty years my daughter will be on some forum asking, "who are these new cartoon characters??? Whatever happened to the classics like Doc McStuffins..."

 :D  :D  :D  :D  :D
#4
FWIW, there's a magician named James Munton who put out a DVD called "How to Teach a Birthday Magic Class" (or something like that). It shows how James does a one hour magic class for "older" kids (eight and up), instead of a regular magic show. Every trick in the DVD is ideal for something like what your doing (well, some may not be super flashy-visual), and the DVD shows James in an actual birthday class, teaching the kids (it's start to finish, with the entire party filmed, except for that last bit which he says was borrowed from another magician who didn't release him to use it). If you're looking for the exact "how to" on teaching tricks to kids, this is it. As a magician, it's one of the best purchases I've made. In fact, I now offer three packages to parents: balloon twisting, a magic show and a magic workshop (almost 100% based on his DVD).

Your mileage may vary, of course.

Good luck,

Matt
#5
Picture Gallery / Re: Spiderman/Superman
June 18, 2013, 02:56:37 PM
That body would work for Batman. I really hate the printed heads, though. For Spider-Man or Hulk, it's not a problem to draw the face on. Batman is a LOT harder, mainly because of the ears... I liked Cody William's Batman head, but it's not really fast. I also really like Mark Byrne's Batman that you posted in the massive Twist and Shout thread. I don't know how that's done, so I can't say how quick it is or isn't.

I guess if speed is the name of the game, the printed heads work, but I really hate them. I don't think they are representative of an actual head in the same way that something like the Alien or Monkey prints are, ya' know? It's like the difference between an image of a head printed on a round balloon, versus the image of eyes, nose and a mouth printed on a round balloon.
#6
Picture Gallery / Re: Spiderman/Superman
June 18, 2013, 12:35:08 PM
Spider-Man is one of the simpler-looking superheros. He really doesn't need to be overthought too much. He was conceived to look like an everyman kinda guy, so if you build him up to comicbook like muscle proportions you actually lose the characterization there. That Twistina design is really nice. Michael Floyd's simple design also nails the characterization, IMO.

I do think some of those designs would work really well for a Superman, however (even though the colors are a little off for him). In that case, exaggerating the muscles and body tone can work :)
#7
I think he's looking for something like this:

https://www.google.com/search?q=iron+ma ... 29&bih=861

I agree, it's going to be tough...
#8
Picture Gallery / Re: Dylan's Yoda
May 24, 2013, 04:16:53 PM
Dylan makes some of the most amazing balloon sculptures I've ever seen. That said, I like your Yoda more.
#10
Picture Gallery / Re: Minnie and Mickey centrepieces
April 11, 2013, 07:48:13 PM
Quote from: "FuDD"I LOVE Disney Land!! And Disney Character's so much hahah more than my kids. One of my things to do in life list is visit every Disney run attraction/Hotel/Place.

All that said hahaha I love these guys someone is going to be very happy!!

side note: Love seeing your seamstress skills ^.-

I intially read that as you loving Disney characters more than you love your kids... hah!
#11
Balloon Tutorial & Help / Re: My YouTube Tutorials
April 09, 2013, 01:08:11 PM
Quote from: "mrbomasballoons"I'm glad everyone likes my videos. That is great encouragement.

Red Robin is a chain, but does not have a contract with Balloon Distractions or anyone else. The general manager and marketing manager at each location have a little bit of autonomy, but not a lot. That means I had to take the job for tips only, because they couldn't get approval from corporate to pay me an hourly wage. Before I got the gig, I ate there about once a month, so they kind of knew me as a regular. There is a statue of the Red Robin in the middle of the dining room. One night while eating there, my wife issued me the challenge of making the character. So I went home that evening and made him. Then I took the sculpture to the restaurant and asked to speak with the marketing manager. She wasn't in, so I dropped it off along with my card and told them I was interested in working in their restaurant. I had a message on my voicemail by the time I got home.


Cool, thanks for sharing :)
#12
Balloon Tutorial & Help / Re: My YouTube Tutorials
April 07, 2013, 05:17:32 PM
Thanks for sharing - I've seen some before, but there are some I missed, so I'll check those out.

It's a little off topic, but I saw in one tutorial that you work for the Big Red Bird Restaurant. I've heard of magicians working for the same company, so it seems they might be a friendly employer. I would love to hear how you landed that gig if you'd be willing to share it :) I have a few of those restaurant around here and I'd love to get a restaurant job.

Thanks again for the tutorials!
#13
Picture Gallery / Re: Heroes in a half shell...
April 07, 2013, 12:27:07 PM
Quote from: "serensmum"If you make the yellow really soft you can twist the two lengths together at a couple of points to make the abs rather than draw them - does that make sense?

If not look at rouwster1 on you tube - he does it on his ninja turtle, the rest of it does use a lot of balloon though like you said. I have only used this design for a friends 30th.

Kim

I'll check out that video - you're right about the twists for the belly, I was thinking about that afterward and I think I can do it that way. I'm going to try again in a bit and see if I get it any better :)  Thanks a bunch!
#14
Picture Gallery / Re: Heroes in a half shell...
April 07, 2013, 12:26:09 PM
Quote from: "Graham Lee"It works well, in the real world sometimes less is more, a good one for this is Mark Byrne. Could the arms be a little shorter?
Could you make a basic weapon for him to hold but that would only be if you were not too busy.

Yeah, I like Mark's style for a lot of things. The Batman picture that you posted in the Twist and Shout thread was awesome for that very reason. Most people I've seen really over complicate Batman, but Mark nailed it. I wish I could have seen it up close :) I think a little more is needed for the turtles, though - those shells are bulky. I'd love to see how Mark would design a Ninja Turtle, though, I'm sure it would be interesting.

I'll try shortening the arms a bit - I was sorta going for that Mark Byrne style, lol... but this was just a first attempt. I think I'll try to do it the way I've been going my Spider-Man, which is like this, but with two pinch twists for the hands.

As for weapons for the turtles... I'd like to do something like that, but I don't know how I'd go about it. I think 160s are a must, though, which I don't have right now. It's definitely something to keep in mind, though, so thanks for the input.
#15
Balloon Chit Chat / Re: Top Balloons for Line Work
April 07, 2013, 01:01:59 AM
Thanks for the tips guys. I guess I was just trying to figure out if there's anything sorely missing from my repertoire at this point. I've got a lot of the basic stuff down: a two balloon sword, a monkey in the palm tree, a Spider-Man and Hulk, a Flower... plus the basic dog and bear, etc. The mermaid is a struggle for me, but I think I'll do it anyway. I know how, I just pop it or lose air a lot on the neck :-/

Today I learned Holly Hopper's two balloon dog and her Penguin (though I didn't buy any black or white balloons - what was I thinking? It actually looks REALLY cool with purple and light blue, though). And damn, I'm kicking myself for not buying Alien heads on my last (first) order... ugh. On the next order, those and hearts are a definite, lol.