Halloween is a great time for balloon entertainers to work on some really cool designs. These are just a couple of the simple designs I do around Halloween.
To often there is very little time to make a big balloon sculpture at an event, unless you’re in advance. These I made for a restaurant.
Latex balloons come from rubber trees. Latex is collected by cutting the tree’s bark, then catching the latex in a cup. Latex harvesting doesn’t hurt the tree!
Latex balloons are Earth-friendly! Rubber trees grow in rain forests. Latex harvesting discourages deforestation because latex-producing trees are left intact. A tree can produce latex for up to 40 years!There are balloon entertainers and then there are artist who use balloons to create art. Here’s a perfect example of a German Artist how used round balloons as a tool to create art
Balloon don’t last forever!
Easy cleanup
This past year has been a battle between the balloon industry and Senator Jack Scott who implement California Bill SB 1499 which bans the sales of Mylar balloons. After many months of heated discussions, email campaigns, and protests– the SB 1499 pass through the California assembly to be rejected by Governor Schwarzenagger.
Governor Schwarzenagger vetoed Senate Bill 1499 that would have increased fines and impose new requirements on anyone who sells helium filled foil (Mylar) balloons in the state.
However, the current requirements on the sale of helium filled balloons remain in effect.
Despite Governor Schwarzenagger’s veto of Senate Bill 1499, the Balloon Council will be promoting Smart Balloon Practices in California and elsewhere. The goal will is to better educating retailers and others as to how to properly handle Mylar balloons products, and work within the industry to reducing the number of balloon-related incidents in California and elsewhere.
Halloween is one of my favorite holidays and as a balloon entertainer it allows for many creative ideas. Over the past several years I have converted my website and balloon forum to match the holiday’s and do to family responsibilities I have had less and less time to accomplish this.
However, that has changed and I decided that I was going to convert the balloon forum and the Dale’s blog to a Halloween theme. Since this is my 100th post in my blog I thought I would make it special by designing a Halloween theme for WordPress (WP).
I, like most WordPress bloggers first scoured the Internet looking for a WP Halloween theme. I only found a couple with two columns, but I was looking for one. This wouldn’t do. So, never creating a WP theme I search again for information on how to create a WP theme. Now, I know from my years as a programmer that very few, if anybody starts from scratch. Just too much to create-we all start with a basic code and design from there.
The theme I was using is xMark theme which I like and thought I would start there. It took me a little time to figure out what was actually happing in the theme-mostly it was trying to figure out where the styles tag was used and what did it effect. Once I figured out the basic it was just a matter of getting the graphics complete.
So here it is my first real modified theme. I have to give the xMark group a big thank you for designing a very good theme. I’ve compressed the files so if others would like to try it go ahead-try it at your own risk. If it doesn’t work, oh well.
Here is the compressed file.
So what do you think of my two days of work? Was it worth it?
Since starting my blog I have been reading more and more blogs. What surprises me is how many bloggers talk about entertainers, but never mention the entertainer’s name? They write how great the entertainment was, how the kids enjoyed themselves, and will complain about the long line they waited in, but very rarely, and I mean rarely, do they give the name of the entertainer.
As an balloon entertainer it bothers me not knowing who they are talking about. I can only assume that either the individual writing the blog felt the entertainer was an insignificant character and adding their name wasn’t enhancing their story. Which puzzles me more, because it they are praising the entertainer why not mention them by name. Wouldn’t it show praise to that entertainer?
The other conclusion is the entertainer failed to provide their name clearly at time the performance. If this is the case the author would not be to blame, but the fault lies with the entertainer. If that’s the case, then here are some tips to help customers remember your name while entertaining.
Do you have another idea on how you can get your name known to an audience? Did I overlook something…? I always welcome readers input.
Addi Somekh is truly a creative artist when it comes to balloon twisting. Addi most popular work was a portfolio of balloon hat worn by people all over the world. He is an artist who is constantly looking to create art with balloons. Here’s another cool video by Addi.
Like most professional entertainers, I think about how to improve my show/entertainment skills 24 hours a day—and after a while you just have to stop what you’re doing and go relax and play. I had a short list of thing to do that day like cut the lawn, fertilize, check my email and as the day progressed I felt less and less motivated to do anything. At that moment I realized it was time to go fishing.
I grabbed my pole and headed down the street to the local pond 5-minutes from my house. While walking to the pond I was still thinking about my blog, and what article I needed to submit to newsletters when I released that I’m still thinking about work. As an entertainer I stride to work short hours for high pay. Many times I achieve that, but too often I spend that extra time conspiring how to get more work. I’m not like I’m a construction worker, once I go home the job is over, but as an entrepreneur I’m constantly thinking about work.
While walking to the fishing hole, I started to whistle the theme for the Andy Griffith show. I figured since I’m walking to the fishing pond might as well get into character. Thinking about it now, that’s something an entertainer would do. Instantly break into a character.
It was a beautiful 76 degree day, the sun was out and I had the whole pond to myself. I started to sit back and relax when my cell phone range. Instinctively I reached for the phone, not releasing a) I’m there to relax and b) I’m trying to real in a fishing lour, standing next to a pond and I have a good chance of dropping my cell phone into the pond. The call was from a client who was canceling an event due to lack of attendees. Nuts, a 3 hour job gone—that wasn’t relaxing.
As I cast my lour into the pond looking to land the largest smallmouth bass in history, I received two more calls and again I answered them and while talking all I kept imagining was accidentally dropping my cell phone into the pond. Needless to say I did have some fun, but if you’re going to go fishing and your trying to relax, don’t bring your cell phone.
As entertainers we need to take a time out and refuel our energy to continue improving our skills and taking time out to relax and enjoy your hard work every now-and-then. This will make an entertainer stronger and wiser. So stop what you’re doing, dig out your fishing pole and go fishing for the big one, but make sure you leave your cell phone at home.
“Carter the Gypsies are in town put that down or I’m going to sell you to the Gypsies.” Carter ignored me and went on his merry way playing contently. To my dismay he was insisting on hitting the dog Mabel, our 7-year old English Springer Spaniel, in the head with his toy penguin making it squeaky each time he hit Mabel. Mabel lay motionless as she stared at Carter’s breakfast plate lying on the floor in front of her. She waited frozen in time and space with anticipation and delight for that a silver dollar pancake that was sitting directly in front of her; or it was Carter’s repetitive whacking a toy to her head has made her comatose. Either way, Carter wasn’t listening.
My wife Michelle chimed in with “How do you know that the Gypsies are in town?”
“I’m on the email list” I told her.
“They have email, but where do the live?”
“They’re Gypsies, they travel the world buying kids and I’m thinking of putting Carter on the list.”
“But, how do they send their emails, if they’re traveling the world?”
“Gypsies have laptops. They steal open Internet connections to send out their newsletter and I’m on the list–when they’re passing through a city they notify all on the list.”
“Oh”, said Michelle, “I see now.”
I’m not a Gypsy and I don’t buy kids, but I do entertain kids and have a newsletter.
Please be careful mouth inflating balloons - pressure does build.
If you have to, buy a balloon pump.
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