Balloon Chat
Uncategorized Boards => Topic/Discussion Of The Month => Topic started by: Danny the Idiot on May 01, 2010, 09:47:17 PM
Hi all this month - something a bit more artistic.
Captain Calamity suggested this; "How about theming your balloon act or balloon models to fit in with popular themes for childrens parties eg Pirates, Wizards, Wonderland, Superheroes etc?"
But I would like to widen the discussion into Theming your balloon sculptures in general and not just for children's parties.
Do you do the same balloons everywhere ? Or do you do special ones dependent on the theme?
If you have to do special ones where do you get the ideas from?
Personally I have done quite a few gigs where there is a theme. Space, food and Xmas (of course!) and recently Nanny McFee 2.
Please discuss!
Best wishes
Danny
:shock:
If it's a general event then I just do a random selection of popular/quick balloons or whatever I'm asked for, but I love it when parties/events are booked with a theme.
One of my favourites recently was a jungle themed party with only 12 kids there, so it was great to do some good faces and bigger and better balloon models. I think the clients like it when you can create balloons around their ideas as well. I always get, 'bet you can't do . . .' and they love it when you can.
I absolutely love Halloween / Easter / Xmas etc.
I always ask the birthday child what they would like for a special balloon too as I like to be challenged!
So for me when it comes to themes - bring it on :D :D
Thanks Daisy Doo!
Anyone else got any thoughts?
What's the weirdest theme you've had to do?
Danny
Hi Danny,
What a coincidence you choosing themes as the subject, as I had to do a themed birthday cake this Saturday just gone.
It was for a football fan, so I made the icing in the team colours, and made a footballer out or 160s
I made the usual pinch twist on the top of the cake a bit bigger, and used it as a football, and was quite pleased with the result.
The first picture is the normal cake I make for a girl, the second football themed
When booking a birthday party one of my first questions is always, "What is the theme?". Then whatever I make for my special balloon is based on that theme. However, when I get to the party I find that about 95% of the guests don't give a rip about what the theme is, they just want what they want. :)
Outdoor events "I" always have themes: hats (preferably) and bracelets. The occasional sword is thrown in to speed up the line if it's line work. The choice of models for these events have a sub category based on why the event was booked to begin with such as major holidays.
Doing weekly restaurant gigs allows me to also have themes each shift if I want - usually based on which holiday is getting near. If no major holiday is near, then my theme for the shift could be based on what new models I'm working on so I can judge 1)whether or not the models are quick enough to make while working, 2) to see if there are any modifications I can make that would allow me to make them faster/better/nicer, 3) whether or not they meet with customer approval (my regulars are quick to offer opinions/suggestions. :lol: ).
So to sum it all up - even though I have yet to have a particularly weird theme, I almost always have themes when working.
Happy twisting,
Bonnie, The Balloon Lady
Themes!!!
Very rarely do we twist in themes. Twisting tends to be random at the majority of our bookings, they ask we supply most of our different themes are in the decor side - our Corporate Clients love to give us the task of creating their black tie event with a 'theme'
We have so far created:-
Stars & moons
Casino
Pirates ( carrabean ones of course)
Pirate ship interactive maze (with swords on exit)
Circus clowns interactive maze
Circus
Dr Who
Star Wars
Space
Indiana Jones
Wizard of Oz
Disney (of course)
James Bond
Zorro ( the hardest to find, and ended up at printers)
Christmas in June
Beach party in December
Sorry the list goes on...
The Strangest har to be 'The Trotters go to Vegas'
only fools and horses theme
This year 'Harry Potter' is the first one in - any ideas???
These events allow you to explore your creativeness,whilst remembering It is a black tie diner dance, only for one day/evening, you only have a limited time to do it AND you want to make a profit on it..
Pam
xx
Quote from: "Bonnie"I find that about 95% of the guests don't give a rip about what the theme is, they just want what they want. :)
Have to agree there! I did a Saint George's day event last week and my remit was to do England themed balloons. ( Sword and Saint George shield, Red Rose, red and white spirals with a red heart or England flag balloon, Dragons etc.) I asked what the oranisers wanted me to do if someone asked for something outside that theme. "That's fine" they said, "if a little girl wants a mermaid or something, do it, but stick mainly to the theme". "Yeh, Right!" I thought. "It will be mermaids all day!" I made the executive decision to make only England themed balloons in the morning so there were plenty about and then did more general requests in the afternoon. Even then, I had to stretch the England theme as I had children insist they had a cat or a dog. I made "England" white cats in red baskets or "England" white dogs on red leads! :lol:
Quote from: "Twistina"Even then, I had to stretch the England theme as I had children insist they had a cat or a dog. I made "England" white cats in red baskets or "England" white dogs on red leads! :lol:
Yeah it usually goes that way - "but I want a flower" - so you make a green and gold one on St Patrick's day, or a purple and black one for Halloween etc ...
:D :D
I think my favourite so far, was working with Jana for the Disney UK release of the Peter Pan DVD. Everything was Peter Pan theme, lots of Tinkerbells and I made a few Peter Pans. We made pirate swords and hooks. I made a couple of large pieces for decor, including the crocodile.
The best bit was that the original models were there for the characters of Wendy and Tinkerbell. What lovely ladies!!! I've got a picture with the "real" Tink - pity I don't know where it is! :oops: I DO have a pic of the croc though :D - RATS! Can't find that either!!!! They're backed up - will look for them later!
I had a job with Julius, where we entertained the children during a debate about a new railway track that was planned to slice through a brand new football field. I made a train and a football player to represent both sides of the argument - I don't know the outcome yet!
Quote from: "Twistina"Quote from: "Bonnie"I had to stretch the England theme as I had children insist they had a cat or a dog. I made "England" white cats in red baskets or "England" white dogs on red leads! :lol:
Me too! The weirdest one was IKEA - EVERYTHING was blue and yellow - made for some GREAT hats!!!!
Anymore thoughts on theming your balloons?
do tell!
Of course my "day job" is Mathematical clowning, so my balloons are all mathematical and I love making "geometric" flowers too :o)
The first pic is Marcus Du Sautoy with his favourite shape (a dodecahedron) and the other two pics are from my 2009 trip to inspire the South African township teachers and learners.
See more pics at:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=1 ... eek?ref=ts (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112404885464265&ref=ts#!/mathsweek?ref=ts)
Themes are a fantastic way to stamp your designs, and stamp the memories of your clients, of how you do what you do well.
But it's a great promotional idea to have your own theme that can be easily incorporated into the clients larger themes. Trademark is likely a better word, but you don't have to choose one theme over another, you can combine yours with theirs.
For example, at an undersea or beach event, I always add my 'trademark' with is a simple dot from a sharpie as a belly button for every design. Even the fish! I can then explain how fish don't auctally have belly buttons, as they are born from eggs, but it's a misconception i am happy to conceive.
The most successfull camapaigns as far as memories go always leave a bit of the sponsor and a bit of the themed request and balloon twisting is perfect for that...
I do like working with a theme I really enjoyed one in particular this was when working for RHS they had a Halloween event and I was asked to try and keep to things that were going on around the Hyde Hall sight on the day. The bit I really liked was the way the children would try and find the thing they wanted. eg a child wanted a cat and managed to find one caved into a pumpkin she even got her mum to take a picture of it to show me. Another wanted a motor bike and and I said is there one any were around the site and he went and found out that there was a scarecrow on a bike (they have lots of unusual scarecrows) so he got his bike, and he even got a scarecrow riding it.
Bubblz
I do love it when subjects like maths etc are shown in a fun way, it is amazing how much children take in with out realising they are learning. I have a very good friend that is a teacher & magician who has used Magic and juggling to help teach maths and science to pupils. I have sat and watched some of his shows and learnt things myself.
little example //http://www.teachers.tv/videos/ks3-ks4-maths-juggling-with-algebra
Roger.
I pretty much only do themed balloons is for the holidays. I've noticed that most of the birthday parties around my area are not necessarily theme based either.
Quote from: "Roger"Bubblz
I do love it when subjects like maths etc are shown in a fun way, it is amazing how much children take in with out realising they are learning. I have a very good friend that is a teacher & magician who has used Magic and juggling to help teach maths and science to pupils. I have sat and watched some of his shows and learnt things myself.
little example //http://www.teachers.tv/videos/ks3-ks4-maths-juggling-with-algebra
Roger.
Thanks for the link Roger. I have seen some unbelievable mathematical juggling - some very highbrow maths juggling too. The more the merrier and juggling is SO entrancing, especially to teenagers!
p.s. I taught someone to juggle in 10 minutes the other day - I was sick!..... It took me FOUR years!!!!! I was also VERY proud of her :o)
Sometimes creating a themed balloon only requires some very simple changes to a balloon design you've been doing for years. You just have to step back and look at it from a different angle.
Put a small white round in the hands of a balloon person and you've got a footballer.
Design a balloon man using red and blue 260's then put a clear 260 in his hand and attach him to a 260 with a loop on the end and you have spiderman hanging from a crane arm.
A simple pirate sword turned upside down could be a space mans lazer gun.
The better you sell it to your audience, the more they will beleive the hype. :D