The sky darkens and rain comes down in buckets. There I stand before a line of twenty people looking to the sky as the rain comes down. My first reaction is to protect my equipment and flee, but fleeing is not an option. To the right of me is Dave Evans under his hot dog … Read more
During my thirty-plus years of balloon twisting, I have learned some valuable information regarding line twisting. Line twisting is when a balloon entertainer faces the challenge of making as many balloons as possible in a given period while kids stand in line waiting for a balloon. Every balloon entertainer will be placed in this situation, … Read more
$1,000 for a birthday party – sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? A colleague of mine, Andrew Smith, wrote a book explaining his technique for earning $1,000 for a birthday party. I was a skeptic at first. $1,000 dollars for a party! That is, until I was actually paid $1,000 for a birthday … Read more
When I have time, I peruse the Internet looking at pictures and on this on particular evening while waiting for my son to fall asleep, I saw a picture posted by an Asian balloon artist. What caught my eye was the weave in the middle of the flower. It reminds me of a pattern that … Read more
If it has not happened, it will shortly. The list of things children will never know, use, or experience. It’s a part of life as the world and technology change. I remember when a phone was just a phone attached to the wall with a cord. A word processor was a typewriter, and if you … Read more
That moment when someone from the crowd walks on stage with the performer, everything changes, from some memorized script to actual interaction. Total dynamic change. A representative of the audience, from the audience, is on stage. Someone the audience can identify with, sympathize with, cheer for, and often are just happy it’s not them. Everyone … Read more
It was a very nice treat to look on Facebook and see all the people working on the Captain America’s Shield. I was especially happy to see a good friend Gerry Giovinco, AKA Captain Visual, took my basic instructions to another level. I admired Gerry’s work and his view on designing balloon figures. I can … Read more
For over three decades, I have been entertaining people and have never given much thought to the volunteer assigned to help me while I’m entertaining. Yes, it is great to have somebody stand at the end of the line to assist in closing the line, but other than that, I never much thought about it. … Read more
Place your hand in a bucket of water and quickly remove it. The water ripples as you extract your hand, but notice how quickly the water settles down, restoring calm. That’s what it is like when you’re replaced. I was working with a colleague and reminiscing about the Chicago White Sox. We both worked with … Read more
It’s not easy, but it is possible. Gaining a spot on an agent’s website isn’t an easy feat. Over three decades, I’ve learned that securing a place on their prime real estate website requires offering something they truly want or need. Getting on a list is a breeze; every agent maintains one. You’ll know you’re … Read more