The 6 day 2 day convention

by Bob Follmer

A chance remark to Larry Moss one day was like starting out on a trip on the Yellow Brick Road.... I never knew where it might all lead to, yet the destination was quite surprising. Three of us (Larry Moss, Aaron Isaacs, and myself, [Bob Follmer]) left the Rochester, NY area on Thursday with the return home on the following Tuesday.

After the usual “getting lost in Boston” routine, we finally arrived at the Marriott Peabody about 4pm. No sooner had Larry entered the lobby than he was greeted by many people that knew him. From that moment onward, the convention started.

We checked into our rooms, got the stuff unloaded from the cart, and proceeded to the lobby and various conference rooms. In the bar area, the balloon twisters/artists had already been at work for the past two days and were still going strong. Wow! What an amazing display of talent. What caught my eye was a motorcycle already placed on the rack above the bar. The table was loaded with creatures of all sorts, and people were smiling, laughing and renewing friendships. What a sight that was. The openness and sharing of knowledge was going full blast, and it was great to see. I was hooked from that moment onward.

I was introduced to the Sorrell’s and many others that I was to come to know as the convention went on. I spent some time taking pictures and talking with many of you.

Dinner Thursday was at the Bugaboo Steak House where we had an area already set aside for us. I believe that there were over a hundred having a great time. I had the pleasure of sitting next to Tim Vlamis of the Pioneer Rubber Company. Having been in the business longer than he, I was able to share with him some of the history of Pioneer and tell him of stories of the earlier history of the company he did not know. I likewise had some questions for him. He brought me up-to-date from his involvement in the company. What a night that turned out to be.

Friday was the official start of the convention shortly after noon. I worked my way around the dealer rooms, attended a lecture, and quietly talked with many attendees. I was constantly amazed at the creations so many people made. I never heard of a jam room, but I was sure to find out later that evening. I never saw so many balloons in one place in my life! Smorgasbord for sure!

The Friday evening show was one that I was particularly focused on and interested in. I wanted to see how the balloon entertainers did their stuff as compared to what I used to do so many, many years ago. The routines, while working within certain time constraints, were well thought out, well choreographed, and were very well presented. Where some went the full seven minutes, another went 90 seconds for her routine and knocked ‘em dead. Yes, the entertainment art form is in very good hands. Creativity, application, and execution were well represented in that show. Naturally, me being me, I wound up serving the birthday cake that Balloon HQ had so generously provided along with the ice-cream. I am still licking my fingers from that stuff. Mmmmmmm...good!!!

Saturday... more of the same...balloons everywhere, Classes, classes, classes.... Over the two days there were ton’s of classes. Classes for the beginner, classes for the entrepreneur, classes for presentation skills, classes for the business side of things...classes, classes, classes. There was something there for everyone regardless of skill, talent, or creative abilities.

Along came the opening of the competition exhibits late that afternoon. Golly, gee... I would be able to vote for those that I thought were among the best in the show. I was right on two out of three in my scoring. Yeah! :)

A wonderful dinner in the banquet hall. And finally, I was on! I really did not know what I was going to say, or how I was going to say it, but it all came out well. The talk I gave was very well received, and the discussions and questions from that continued until the day I left. Thank you so very much. I know the reception for what I had to say was not meant only for me, but for the many, many balloon twisters that went before, and along side, and after myself. It was a most touching moment, believe me. I had a disease called lump in the throat.

Sunday saw me attending the worship service...nice to have a worship service among my peers which was also very meaningful. From my work as a hospital chaplain, it was nice to be fed for a change.

The remaining time of that day was spent with a very dear magic friend, Ed Eckl, who also lives in Peabody. Dinner at the Victoria Station and a trip to the Witches Museum in Salem made that day complete, along with time with Ed at his home for a few hours. I have known Ed since the mid 50's back home and this was another winner day. Back to the hotel and another dinner out at another restaurant. About 100 or so were gobbling the food all up. I could not handle another dinner so I had dessert, and made Royal a rabbit out of some balloons!

Monday saw a bunch of us going into Boston, lunch at the Oyster Bar, trips through Quincy Market, and an ability to spend some time at Hank Lee’s Magic Factory. The outside trip to there was COLD! I mean COLD. Many thanks to Todd, our warm tour guide. He had a unique presentation as we went along pointing out where and how the buskers worked around the area. Back to the hotel, and out again for dinner in Salem.

Tuesday brought me back to Rochester, tired, excited, and in a very thoughtful mood. Thanks, Larry... you were right.... I was amazed.

To briefly sum up what I saw.... I saw a very definite shift emphasis in how twisting/entertaining is done today. I also see some other things. Briefly, they are these three things: (1) The entertainment form is changed. It is now a “story” type of presentation. For it to succeed more than it now is, we balloon twisters will have to entertain through story telling using balloons and possibly other type of tools such as magic/juggling/vent. (2.) We will have to be able to come into a home with a complete entertainment package. No more a singular type of act, but a complete program, if you will, from the time we enter a home until the moment we leave. (3.) We will become more dependent on working through a specialized entertainment type agency. One that will handle the contracts and a myriad of details that only they can do well. It will cost us too much time to handle all the nitty gritty ourselves and we will get lost in the horrendous pile of paperwork. Will it be worth it? I believe so. Twist on and enjoy! :)

Bob Follmer
The Pied Piper of Balloons, 1950's style :)