“What would you name yourself?” You might anticipate this dialogue in a sci-fi film, where a glamorous heroine inquires about an alien’s origin. Surprisingly, this question has been posed numerous times by moms and dads attempting to determine a suitable title for someone skilled in crafting balloon animals.
I define balloon animal makers, folders, twisters, manipulators, and stackers as follows.
A Balloon Artist is an individual skilled in creating sculptures or figures using balloons. Employing different-sized balloons, techniques, and even non-balloon elements like framing, headbands, or lights, a balloon artist crafts unique sculptures. These creations are not constrained by size, the quantity or type of balloons used, or the time invested in their construction. The primary objective is to captivate, awe, or elicit excitement from the audience.
Part of the Balloon Artist’s design process involves reproducing balloon figures, wherein the artist carefully calculates the required materials. By understanding the material necessities and having a prototype, artists can produce and sell multiple copies of the original artwork.
A Balloon Entertainer engages audiences using a spectrum of balloon designs, ranging from simple to intricate. These creations serve as props to entertain individuals or large groups. In my perspective, the subtle distinction between a Balloon Artist and a Balloon Entertainer lies in the presentation. While the artist focuses more on creating art, the entertainer’s primary emphasis is on providing entertainment.
Unlike Line Twisters (below), balloon entertainers thrive in smaller crowds or private events, where one-on-one interactions allow for personalized individual sculptures. These designs typically range from three to five minutes, or they may take the stage to entertain using balloons.
Operating in the public eye, balloon entertainers must have their creations readily available and may need to reproduce them several times. Each iteration might feature slight changes, influenced by the entertainer’s spontaneity, audience reactions, or the need to adapt due to a shortage of supplies. In contrast, a Balloon Artist meticulously plans material requirements, builds several prototypes, and ensures the final design is flawlessly presented to the client.
Update: Because of COVID-19, balloon entertainers are now performing virtually.
Balloon Decorators focus on enhancing the ambiance of an event through creative balloon arrangements. They strategically address dull, open, and uninteresting areas of the room, infusing them with vibrant balloon shapes. Considerations include factors such as color schemes, ceiling height, the flow of the room, and the overall impression the client aims to convey through the balloon decor.
To bring their visions to life, Balloon Decorators either work independently or collaborate with balloon artists, who contribute to building focal points that seamlessly integrate with the room’s decor. A dedicated team assists Balloon Decorators throughout the design, setup, and breakdown phases of the balloon displays. Their role is to operate behind the scenes, ensuring the flawless execution of a visually stunning event. This contrasts with the direct interaction between a balloon entertainer, guests, and clients during a party.
For the general public, the primary divisions in the balloon industry are often simplified into Balloon Artists, Balloon Entertainers, and Balloon Decorators. However, within the industry, individuals often prefer to specialize in subgroups such as Deco-Twisters, Line Twisters, and Twisters.
Deco-Twisters can be viewed as a branch of balloon artists, distinguished by their focus on large-scale balloon sculptures. Unlike traditional balloon artists, Deco-Twisters operate behind the scenes, employing intentionally intricate techniques, making reproduction challenging for the general public. These elaborate sculptures often serve as the focal point of balloon decor. In the realm of deco-twisting, no type of balloon—whether latex, mylar, rounds or oddly shaped—is off-limits.
Line Twisters originate from the realm of balloon entertainers, mastering the art of swiftly reproducing balloon figures within three minutes or less. This emphasis on speed enables Line Twisters to develop motor memory skills, minimizing mental effort during sculpture construction. This efficiency allows the entertainer to focus on captivating the audience, akin to a well-oiled machine reproducing balloon sculptures.
A Line Twister specializes in one-on-one entertainment, ensuring that each child receives a balloon. People patiently stand in line, eagerly waiting for their turn to experience the enchantment of this skilled balloon artist.
Twister – A generic industry term to categorize people who primarily use balloon animal balloons to entertain or create balloon art. A Twister’s skill level can range from beginner to advanced and deals directly with guests one-on-one.
If you are looking for a Balloon Artist, Balloon Entertainer, or Balloon Decorator, the balloon community is tight-knit and will gladly recommend a colleague specializing in your event requirements.
If you’re a balloon entertainer, how do you classify yourself?
Leave me a comment below.
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Thank you for the inspiration and your wonderful thoughts on balloons…
I’m a balloon artist / twister / entertainer……what’s new? But for some unexplained reason, I like balloons, Now I must say, not as a kid would. Being a balloon artist, you are not just cranking out balloons one after the other non stop like a robot. And further more, you are not making x amount of balloons per hour for x amount of dollars. A balloon artist is just that, an artist.And it’s amazing to watch a figure take shape. But a good twister goes beyond just the balloon. He / she also entertains. “You came all the way from New York just to get a balloon from me? I can’t believe it?” I hate to say this, but I feel some balioon twisters make junk. They make a four bubble flower from a green balloon, attach it to a brown balloon, and call it a palm tree.. AWFUL! You’re there to impress everyone. WOW,look what he / she made…..a worm (from just one uninflated brown balloon) The figures you make don’t have to use a lot of balloons, nor do they have to take time to make. A little tiger cub for example. (one balloon) Then draw the eyes, nose, wiskers, and stripes. Delightful and cute. Or how about a sitting dog with big ears and a big nose (3 balloons) You can also make the kid a helicopter pilot. Two balloons for the copter, and one balloon for the head set. Of course you can make those big sculptures as well. The Road Runner using 6 balloons. Or Popeye using 14 balloons.
As you mentioned, the balloon artist uses different shapes and colors of balloons to create different things. I wonder how one becomes a balloon artist. Are there classes or such that help train on how to do this?
Barry, there will always be different levels, as the musicians playing on the street vs. the concert hall trained musicians. Yet each is a musician. Do they bring different skills, yes? Might they be a different skill level, yes? I feel it boils down to the “reason” why somebody is doing anything—money vs. passion. The person who is passionate about their work will always produce better work than those who are not. We both know, just because it’s more expensive doesn’t always mean it better.
Yes, there are conventions that entertainers and the general public can attend to learn about the industry, balloons, and the tools we use. There are about five conventions in the US and small what we call “Balloon Jams” that happen in cities all across the USA.
Really good explanation Dale, thank you!