Balloon Chat
Uncategorized Boards => Topic/Discussion Of The Month => Topic started by: Danny the Idiot on October 01, 2009, 08:03:29 PM
A new month - a new topic....
Balloon models - you can make anything out of balloons (if you know how).
How do you remember all your sculptures that you can do?
(I'm not going to ask lots of questions this month, so as to leave it open for debate and free to answer.)
Your participation is what keeps this forum going. Please join in the discussion.
Thanks
Danny
Hello gang,
Well, i can remember most of my regular stuff no problem at all,there was something i have been working on over the past 12 months since tmj and that is to be able to make all my sculptures blindfolded,this was something Don c told me he does and when u can achieve this it gives you the time to entertain your table or receiver of the balloon without worrying about what ur making! In my opinion its not just about getting a great balloon.(watch stevemartin messing with a 260 on utube so damm funny)
It takes me around 10-20 times to get a sculpture right everytime and then i am lucky i have the ability to remember it after that.
Just my thoughts
Normski
Dr balloonman
http://www.izzywizzyparties.com (http://www.izzywizzyparties.com)
For me the simple answer is that I don't :shock: I have a memory like a goldfish and find it really difficult to remember anything other than the blindingly obvious models that we all get asked for all the time.
The annoying thing is I can do all lots of different models of varying complexity at home but when I get on a job I usually end up being asked for flowers and swords which is really bad since I then forget even quicker the models I have just learnt. The bigger problem for me is when a child asks me what I can make my mind magically erases itself and I can't remember anything ... well near enough. I think for me the only way round it is to focus on one model and make it again and again and again until it is second nature and as soon as I get myself sorted I shall be doing this. If I get asked for something on a job and I don't know how to make it I just wing it really .. they usually turn out rubbish but ocassionally they turn out well. I did this with a goldfish at one job and they became the hit of the party. Later today I am going to master a penguin and a decent giraffe 8-)
Roger has a prompt sheet which is a great idea but when I last used it I had children trying to look at it when it was attached to my belt whilst I was working. Obviously I ended up removing it as the kids just would not listen to me telling them not to (I need to get more firm with them but that is a whole other topic) - mind you in my defense they were a huge group of kids without much adult supervision trying to take over my queue and annoying everyone not just me ;)
If anyone does have any other tips on remembering what you can make and how to make them I would love to hear it.
I'm like Yvonne, memory like a sieve (mum of two anyone?? LOL).
I keep a little sheet in my apron with a list of balloons I can do in case I get asked, there are probably about 60 designs on there I'm comfortable doing on a job.
The funny thing is, because I now do 2/3/4 balloon models instead of simple one balloon models, if I'm asked for something really simple, that's when I tend to forget!
Quote from: "YvonneH"Later today I am going to master a penguin and a decent giraffe.
I've got my penguin down to a tee, but giraffe's are a pain. I can do a really nice one that will take around 10 mins to make, but a good, quick giraffe I haven't found yet, so I end up making the one balloon one and hate it (or I will tell them I can do a simple one balloon one or offer them a much better something else).
Any tips on how to remember would be welcomed :)
Mum of 2 here :D
I have a giraffe that I like that is based on Twistina's but just uses a loop twist for the muzzle/mouth area instead of a heart but the trouble is I keep relearning it before heavy balloon weekends and no kid asks for one and then when I forget to practice it they all want one and I can't remember. I think it is called sod's law.
Lisa I love the idea of a list btw. It is a very quick prompt without pictures that the kids will want to look at.
There is a nice giraffe hat on the model of the month section that is fairly quick to make.
Oh must pop in to have a look as I really need to knuckle down and work on my hats! Mastered a penguin this afternoon though and learnt a little more about CSS whilst at the local indoor play area with the kids ;) Somehow I seem to be having an efficient spell.
In restaurants and events I am totally improvisational in my work.... what ever the crowd asks for. Within Taste & Reason!!!
For my family shows / B-days I use music to cue me into my balloons. I have several tracks of music that relate to the balloons I do.
Short list: Bad to the bone/Bear on Heart, braid, and duck • Smooth/Dolphin, Mermaid • Spiderman? do I really have to say?, Hulk, Leading into Ironman which when finished plays Ozzy's Ironman song (how many children performers use Ozzy Ozborn songs????) Monkey's Theme song (you know the American Beatles) / monkey in Tree and Funky Monkey • George of the Jungle/ Elephant • All Star / Dragon and Star hat• Jaws / Shark leading into Sponge Bob with F.U.N. Song then Sponge Bo Theme song/ Pirate Hat......
Thankyou for this topic. The reason my twisting hasn't moved on in the last year is because I have a shocking memory and I aint a mother of two.
Its good to know its not just me and its all part of the process. Its clear that its a question of practice practice practice to get the muscle memory and the mental memory but its so hard to stimulate yourself to practice when you know you'll forget and all you get asked for are swords and flowers.
It leaves me in the usual dilemma that every one has as you move through the stages of development / career - I'll only get better by doing it but I darn't take on work cos I don't feel good enough and on and on and round it goes.
Or is it only me and maybe a few others and the rest of you just get on with it without worrying?
Cheers
Peter
I haven't got a good memory, I often write the birthday child's name on the inside of my hand to remind me.
I have two small laminated pouches (credit card size) which just have a list of things I make. One has a list of various hats/bracelets and the other has just a list of 'line work' balloons I make.
To be honest, I rarely use them, but every so often, if my mind goes blank, I'll look at is for ideas of maybe something I haven't made for ages.
At the back of my balloon box, I also have some small slips of paper which show photo's of new'ish balloon models I want to practice and some show extra small pictures of a particular part of the model which might have been more complicated to help jog my memory. I normally have a quick sneaky peak while getting a quick drink of juice from the back of my box.
As Yvonne has mentioned I have a aide memoir (I just love that word or should I say words) the trick is to have the small one that I keep for my self and a large one that the children can look at wile they are waiting I do like to over supply, so will tend to have a picture in my aide memoir (there is those words again) that can be built on say put a picture of a plain penguin, and then the add on's will come in to my head eg give him a fishing rod with a fish on. It gives you the chance to keep it to a minimum if you need to.
I must admit the more I do the less I seem to use it. I do like improvising, and I do find the better I get the easier it gets I do keep a couple of photo albums with me that have pics of the things I do not do very often and will go to them if I get stuck. I do find that _I can look at a picture and normally work out how it's done this is good in some ways as f I get a glance of one I have done before I can reproduce it pretty quickly. On the other hand it can stifle my creativity, as I if say I have been asked for a character I have say seen on hear It will be at the front of my mind and have trouble getting past and so lots look like others work.
By the way all the pics on my aide memoir are of models I have made my self they may be of other people's designs but I believe it is important to have made them before the go in my aide memoir. And the way I it is done it is easy to swap them in and out not a good idea to have complicated ones that children may get a peak of at a knockem out gig .
I like how you've done yours Roger, do you laminate the strips to keep them clean and sturdy?
I too have used an "idea list" with about 70 or so figures listed.
At the moment, I'm back to improvising as I would like to get some fresh ideas. Gives me a chance to see what the kids are wanting now ;)
Could I just ask a question that is a little off topic but still kind of ties in. As you will see from my earlier comments I struggle to remember what I can make at a party or event especially when children always seem to ask for a dog/sword/flower. I find this kills my flow and reduces greatly the number of models I can retain in my head if I can't practice them.
So my question is how do you get kids to ask for something other than the usual? Obviously on a very busy job I am grateful for simple requests but at party bookings where I am charging a parent a significant sum I feel I should be giving them a little more value for their money!
Quote from: "YvonneH"So my question is how do you get kids to ask for something other than the usual? Obviously on a very busy job I am grateful for simple requests but at party bookings where I am charging a parent a significant sum I feel I should be giving them a little more value for their money!
Well I am telling them, like, "yes I can make a sword or a dog, but I tell them that how about I do something speciall and if you guess what I make .. I will make you a sword on top of it"... most of the kids like surprises.
Quote from: "YvonneH"So my question is how do you get kids to ask for something other than the usual?
I think it really depends on the mood I'm in. Sometimes I'll let them choose what they want, and other times I'll just make them what I want. Usually with comments like "I'm going to make you something really nice, something to match the huge smile of yours, can you guess what it is?" And then go into 'waffle' mode and just chat to them until it's finished.
If a child say's they just want a dog or something simple like that, and I'm not too busy I'll make a good classy one, but if's it's busy, I'll make their dog but add it to a small green balloon as 'grass' and into a bracelet. Just adding something simple like that with extra balloons can turn a boring one dog creation into something a little more colourful.
I'm sure you've heard this before, but before you start making stuff, tell the kids it gets really boring making the same thing over and over, so you have a rule that you won't make the same thing twice. Or just say, I make alot of different things, let's see how many different things we can make today..most kids will love to challenge you.
Or if you don't like that, have them choose a category: ie, bugs, dinos, sea creatures, flowers, animals, vehicles...whatever. Then you have a lot less to remember. Once they pick a category (and color), you can choose what to make them from there, that way you don't have to make the same thing if you don't want to.
Also, you might try to have 3-4 different variations of very popular items (dogs, swords, cats, or whatever), so if you do get asked for that, you can change it around just a little and it's different.
I too have a list of models that I make. I have a few short list models which I always make and then will try to make new models too. Then rest I have a list of hats, wristables, animals and other designs that I personally like to make.
This list of course will change seasonally and is upgraded when i've done a bout of learning new stuff.
So Anyone Else?? Graham, Thelma? How do more experienced people (who haven't contributed yet) remember all the models you can do?
cheers
danny
When I'm out and about working I probably do about twenty different models but normally always the same twenty so mine are just from memory but I would suggest a memory jogger as I probably have forgotten more models than I actually make. Always take pictures of everything you make and take a few portfolio books out with you when working as not only will this be a memory aid it will also be a shop window for people to view your work while waiting for a model.
My business card is the size of a postcard, and it has 15 different designs on it. I left off the designs that kids ask for (swords, flowers). That way I give my card out more and kids ask for the things on it. Get different cards made up with different designs that way you keep it fresh in your mind.
I've never had a problem remembering. Most things I make are head, ears, neck, front legs, body, rear legs, and a tail. How can you forget?
Years ago I bought Harry Lorayne's memory book ( I forget what it's called) and used it to pass my Chartered Surveyor exams. You can easily remember a list of balloons using his techniques.
Dominic O'Brien uses a different system.
Harry's book is How To Develop a Super Power Memory.
Buy it. It's amazing!
I love that, 'I bought Harry Lorayne's memory book ( I forget what it's called)' you made me smile!!
Thhank you, Ben.
Someone laughed at one of my jokes!
Can I quote you?
I do three things that help me remember balloon creations to make:
1. I will cruise here or BHQ and print out pictures of new models I think are cool. I'll review the pics just before I go in to an event and just TRY to remember to make those 2 or 3 things.
2. I encourage requests, no limits, so I get some cool requests that either remind me of something I haven't made in a while or stretch my creativity. If they ask for a dog, I'll say something like, 'I can make a dog for you, but I can make you something that you might like better. What do you really like or what's your favorite TV show?"
3. I look at what the kids are wearing and based on the pictures on their clothes I'll make a matching balloon (Thanks Patrick for that idea).
I am so glad to hear that most of you have trouble remembering balloon models. I also have the ones I know by heart but others I just can't get in my head even when I practice, practice, and practice. I sometimes try to make a drawing of them showing how to sculpte them and that helps as a visual.
I use a menu board - I've added more magnets since this was taken, but I can add and remove as I like - that way when I'm working an event which is expected to have a long line the event co-ordinator and myself can limit the options to make things go faster, and if I have a brain fart I can look at the picture and usually have no problems finishing the model.
Great idea
And here I thought that I was the only one with this problem! Thank you everyone for your ideas and thoughts. As always, this is such a helpful forum!