Balloon Chat
Uncategorized Boards => The "Star" Interview => Topic started by: G L Admin on March 23, 2008, 09:07:07 PM
I liked the interview idea so much that have decided to start it straight away, so I may as well be the first one up.
Have already been in touch with someone else about being on next.
How long should we run this for each person?
It would be a good way of getting to know each other a lot better.
I'll try to get some well known balloon celebraties to join in so that we can interview them as well.
So fire away what would you like to know?
Graham Lee
Hi Graham how and when did you get started with balloons? and whats the biggest thing you've ever made?
Ever since I've done my magic shows I've twisted which is about 25 years ago. The normal thing sausage dog, swan, etc.
I believe I seriously got into the twisting when I saw Bob Wooding lecture at a magic convention in Eastbourne about 10/12 years ago.
The airplane on my site took over 30 hours to twist and we built a see saw in America with Colin Myles which took both of us over 3 days to build.
Only have picture of this on my own portfolio.
When I find out how to reduce a picture I'll check with Colin & see if we can post it.
Or have a look at smiley balloons which is Colin's website, he may have it on there.
Graham Lee
have you any plans to bring a 2nd dvd out and if so what is going to be on it?
Yes a second DVD has been recorded, just waiting to be edited.
The subject matter is 15 flowers, with a similar feel to the first DVD
of having 5 basic, 5 intermediate and then 5 advanced flowers.
So hopefully catering for everyone.
Must try and get this done pretty quick but as usual I always seem to
take my time over everything.
Graham Lee
What do you most enjoy about twisting and why ?
"What do you most enjoy about twisting"
now that's a good question.
I can definately say what I dont like & that is line work where your just a machine.
But the rest of twisting I love, entertaining, going to the care & share days & meeting so many people with all different ideas.
There are so many colourful & different charictureas around in the balloon world.
I enjoy twisting & entertaining at the same time, so quick & easy
but they also have to look impressive. Less is sometimes more.
Things that people can play with as well, games, toys etc.
The Ralph Dewey transformer would work great to make it as a toy car
with the child standing inside making the car noise while driving around then
whoever has made it can tell them to go faster or the robot monster will get them,
you can then change it to the robot. It would keep me happy, but then I'm easily pleased.
My pet project at the moment is to perform the balloon magic act more for joe public in the so called real world.
Lets show people what can be done with balloons as people still think all you can make are sausage dogs & giraffes.
I still dont think I've answered this one correctly yet but just to say that I'm very passionate about our world of latex.
Graham Lee
Have you always used sempertex? If not when did you start using them and what made you start using them?
Right here we go, apologies to those that already know the story, will try not to bore you to death, but when I get going?
I started the care & share days after my friend David Grist died in Jan 2005.
David & I always talked about how there were things going on in America & Europe for the twisters but nothing in the UK,
we always talked about starting something but never did.
Then in 2005 David died from cancer, so I decided it was time for someone to get off there backside & do something, so I did.
Having started to promote the day I needed a venue & supplies, so approached qualatex about whether they would like to sponsor the day.
They offered to supply a venue & product for people to try till the end of the year with I think about 4/5 days booked for 2005.
The days really took off from day one and as usual off I went in June to TMJ in Belgium where Leo who runs this convention said he had someone that would like to talk with me, that person was Oswald Loewy, otherwise known as Mr Sempertex who owns the company. He had heard about the days & wanted to get involved in some way and would like me to represent Sempertex in the UK, what an offer!
I explained that I had a verbal agreement with qualatex to the end of the year but after that we could see what happens.
I think it was in September/October that qualatex told me they were not interested in sponsoring the days in 2006 so I got in contact with Oswald & asked him to send over some samples, off I went very naively to a three day nurses convention in Scotland where I had to twist for eight hours a day with only Sempertex balloons with me, although I must admit I did have the qualatex balloons in the car as standby just in case.
Well the days went very well, no problems with the balloons; they were excellent and stood up to the test & the qualatex balloons stayed in the car.
The only problem I had at the convention was that someone stole my three portfolio books, amazing can you believe they walked off with all my pictures,
I nearly had to go into therapy over it.
So Sempertex told me what was on offer, I asked them to put it in writing which came within a few days and I signed in November 2005 to promote them for the next three years starting 2006.
Well the funny thing is that a few days after signing, qualatex were back in touch with me saying they had changed there minds and would now like to sponsor the days again, well to say the s-h-i-t hit the fan would be an understatement.
The days I think have gone from strength to strength & the rest is history, so that's about it and how I travelled over to the dark side.
Should I get on my soap box telling you about how good Sempertex balloons are,
I think not because that's for you to find out.
Graham Lee
you say you dont like line work but have you ever done busking with your balloon and if so how did you do
i go busking alot only do 2 hours a time and get around 30 to 40 pound a time
Yes I like busking, but what I do is not traditional busking.
About 2/3 times a year in the school holidays I'll go to my local high street twisting the balloons and charging set fees,
so technically I'm a trader/vendor.
If you let joe public choose what to give you you'd end up with coppers, in my experience.
I usually go for about 4 hours & hope to get 75 but the good thing is that it's a PR exercise
as when I get home people generally ring for a birthday party.
Graham Lee
What advice would you give someone starting out, or someone looking to expand their business?
For someone who is starting out with balloon modelling.
Just go slowly with what you learn and whatever you make, please just make it well.
So that it stays in shape, in proportion & does not untwist.
Then move on to the next model, when people come to the care & share days they
try & take in too much. Dont forget there is always tomorrow.
Expand the buisness.
You cant beat the personal touch, adverts do a job but to actually meet people &
show them what you can do with balloons will speak more than a 1000 words ever can.
Balloons are so tactile, people cant help but want to touch & hold onto them.
They then want to take them home with your phone number & contact details.
Graham Lee
Quote from: "Graham Lee"You cant beat the personal touch, adverts do a job but to actually meet people &
show them what you can do with balloons will speak more than a 1000 words ever can.
Balloons are so tactile, people cant help but want to touch & hold onto them.
They then want to take them home with your phone number & contact details.
Graham Lee
You could start a dating site too Graham.... :D
What is your favourite kind of job to do?
"What is your favourite kind of job to do?"
I like doing a little bit of everything. Life is very good at the moment,
with the, Magic shows, Balloons & making the DVD's, The care & share days,
Promoting Sempertex at magic & juggling conventions with the wholesale balloon site
and going all over the world, well a few countries with the Balloon magic act.
And now my latest venture, attempting to run a balloon forum with no computer skills :o
So I have to say I get a buzz from it all, not just the one thing.
It's also good to see people progressing with there balloon skills
at the Care & Share days
Greaham Lee
I have recently got more into making Balloon hats when working, as I found that the child/adult tended to wear this straight away,rather than me making a dog or swan etc,and 5 minutes later seeing that model on the floor or just left to one side,also they are great for advertising that a "Balloon man/woman" is at the event,what is your view on this?
I love hats.
Mum's cant put them in there bags so no one knows if there is a balloon man/woman about.
And a shop/shopping centre full with people walking around in hats is colourful and
a good talking point, also those who pay the bill can see you've been working.
I think we should have a forum or section just for hats,
Wim where are you :D another idea.
Graham Lee
where did you learn your magic with balloons is there a dvd or books on this or have you come up with it your self if so you sould bring out a dvd on it and balloon games
The balloon magic act is 95% things that I've come up with, which I'm very proud off.
The only thing that is not mine is the cut & restored which I have permission to use.
not wanting to tip anything from the show yet as I have sponsorship to take the act to FISM to compete in the world magical championships next year in China.
Perhaps one day I will make a DVD explaining everything but not for a while.
Graham Lee
do you do many balloon dresses? and how long do they take?
Have made probably about 6/7 dresses myself for varying functions.
Although I did help out with a friend making 35 for a function at "The Cafe Royal"
where all the waitresses had to wear a balloon dress, it did look awmazing all these people walking about in latex.
Will try & post some pictures when I find them.
Graham Lee
Hi Graham, I'm amassing a variety of balloons of all shapes, sizes and colours so any tips for storage and keeping everything neat and tidy?
Also any tips for drawing on the balloons to make them realistic/comical. I'm terrified to draw on the balloons in case I ruin it by making every balloon cock-eyed.
thanks 8-)
When I'm out working I usually take either a B&Q plastic screw box that has 24 small compartments & 2 very large compartments or my busking bag which you can see on the web at http://www.sempertexballoons.co.uk (http://www.sempertexballoons.co.uk)
Did I mention that I also sell them ;)
At home when I work I have all the balloons in three shoe tidy holders (there for hanging shoes in wardrobes) that each have 10 compartments, you can see these at any Care & share day as I always bring them along.
I only do basic eyes & mouth, there is a book out from America called,
faces, faces balloon faces that shows different face techniques or if your coming to the Leeds care & share day Twistina is excellent with the drawing on balloons & can give you some tips.
Another Idea is to chat to a local face painter as they are usually very good when it comes to adding features onto balloons.
Graham Lee
What made you want to get inside a balloon? and how did you learn it
I was looking for a finale for the magic act, then came up with a great finish to the act which involved getting inside the big balloon.
I know four people that get inside the balloon in the UK, although in Europe getting inside the balloon is far more popular.
A friend Andrew helped me out for the first couple of attempts that were fairly successful,
then when rehearsing the act for the competitions my friend Pearse was my safety man, I had to be cut out three times when things went wrong.
If the balloon deflates at the wrong time when your hands are at your side or above your head, I just got trapped.
I didn't have enough strength to get myself out, a six foot balloon has a lot of elasticity & your trying to climb in through a four inch hole.
Please dont try this on your own, always have someone to help as it can be very dangerous.
Sitting inside the balloon looking out is an amazing feeling, which is hard to describe but perhaps like meditating?
A great experience which I enjoy doing, not sure what that says about me but probably, "What a sad......You need to get out more"
Graham Lee
Graham Thank you for this forum it has a great focus on balloons and our art for all levels. as a supplier of sempertex I was wondering if Sempertex publish any magazines like balloon magic? Also what books, DVDs or pdfs would you recommend or has changed the way you twist?
I have in my collection over 125 balloon video's & DVD's, yes I'm that sad.
I also have booklets on balloon modelling going back to the early 50's, if anyone has some of the early books that they no longer require I would be very interested in them, although they may be in my collection already.
I can't say that any one DVD stands out on it's own, I think I've gotten something from all of them. Even the very bad ones you can learn from.
I do like Ken Stillmans superhero DVD as it's a very impressive design.
I do like things that can be made as we say in the real world in front of an audiance,
so quick, easy & Impressive. That would be a good title for a lecture :lol:
Oh hang on, I remember now that is the title of my lecture.
Some people make amazing stuff but it's just not possible to make it while entertaining at the same time, or perhaps I hav'nt found the technique for entertaining while making a ballon sculpture that takes 30 mins to make?
Not sure if Sempertex do a publication, will check but guessing no as I'm sure I would have heard about it by now.
Keep the Questions coming & dont forget we have Ralph next week so please post your questions for Ralph, he will be logging on a few times during the week & will answer a few questions each time.
A non related balloon book that I found fascinating to read was a magic book by Marvyn Roy & Carol who travelled the world for over 40 years with a 10 minute act called "Mr Electric" It was an amazing act, for me they had that wow factor, star quality & charisma.
It would be very dated for todays audience's & with the way technology has moved on but when he walked on stage.... no more is needed to be said.
Well worth a google in my opinion, I'm sure there must be something about them on you tube as well, mind you I've not looked so it might be a wild goose chase.
Graham Lee
//http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gwO0v1aTCg
8-)
Thanks for finding the link Neil, just watched Mr Electric.
To me he just oozed class.
Graham Lee