by Jack Porcello
"Location, location, location," are the three most important things in business according to all of the motivational "gurus." Being where the customers are when they are willing and able to part with their money for whatever goods or services you can provide is the key to a successful entrepreneurial endeavor. Acquiring that prime intersection in that affluent neighborhood can make the difference between eking out a living and rolling in the dough. In this modular, portable, pre-fab, culture we live in, many businesses are recognizing the importance of mobility. Bringing the business to the customer has become more of the rule.
As restaurant and street entertainers, we have known of this golden rule of mobility for as long as there has been a minstrel playing before his hat. If this corner isn't bringing in cash, find a new one. Once I am through at this table, move on to the next. Key and crucial to our mobility, of course, is the ability to move all of our materials quickly and with professional ease.
Many years in the clergy has taught me the importance of the pulpit. When I was preaching every Sunday morning and Wednesday night, I would find my old, oaken friend always there to support me. The solidity that I could lean on if I needed to take the weight off my legs for a moment. The top platform to keep my Bible, notes, and a clock to keep track of time and not wear thin on the patience of my good congregation. Shelves below to keep a glass of water, visual aids for any object lesson I felt led to share, an inspirational picture or printed slogan to draw strength from when it seemed as though that good congregation's patience was running thin. My pulpit, my fortress, my strong tower.
Balloons? Oh, yeah, right. When I purposed to design my street/restaurant work station, I decided to draw on the experiences I had in the ministry. Thus I came up with "The Pulpit," as I have dubbed it. No, it isn't an oaken fortress, but a lightweight device which combines practicality, portability, and presentability.
"The Pulpit" is easily constructed out of a 3 tier storage (or "crash") cart made of vinyl coated wire shelves and steel tubing frame. The one I use is 15" (38 cm) wide by 12.5 " (31 cm) deep by 31" (78.5 cm) high. These are relatively inexpensive and can be found at any discount store (WalMart, K-Mart, and the like). Assemble the cart, but leave off the casters (or wheels) from the bottom.
Next you will need a plastic "milk crate" style storage box, 14" (35 cm) by 15.5" (39.5 cm) on the open end, and 11" (28 cm) deep. Using cable ties, strap the assembled storage cart to the milk crate along the 15.5" (39.5 cm) surface, so that the open end of the milk crate becomes another shelf.
Finally, get some colo(u)rful fabric to wrap around three sides of "The Pulpit" to give a cheery presentation. Leave open the "back" (the surface which lines up with the open end of the milk crate). I then take a carpenter's apron (or you can use a balloon apron) and attach it to the top shelf so it hangs down the back for cards, brochures, pumps, markers, and whatnot. The second shelf is ideal for my Majiloon battery powered pump, and the hose can be attached to the carpenter's apron. Scissors hung on a retractable wire reel can also be attached to the apron. The bottom shelf (milk crate) is the perfect size for an insulated cooler to keep extra balloons in. Use any type of dividers to separate your balloons on the top shelf. I have found that square plastic storage containers work well, and make for easy set up and break down. A luggage strap placed around the third shelf is useful to hold large items. I use the strap in conjuncture with a split cardboard box to make a good storage device for extra balloons, plastic ducks, rubber balls, and other items I make use of in my act.
When completely assembled and stocked, "The Pulpit" weighs in at just about 12 pounds (5.5 kg) or so, making it very portable. It can be set up in a lobby, carried to a tableside, or used outdoors on warm evenings when the waiting room overflow has sought refuge and fresh air outside the restaurant. A tip jar is easily attached to the front of the top shelf with a binder clip, making it very accessible to the generous. "The Pulpit" lends itself well to festival and street entertaining and fits well in the back seat of a mid sized car.
I hope these instructions and photos help anyone who wishes to make one of these work stations. Please contact me at attk@balloonhq.com if you need any clarification.
Oh, "The Pulpit" works great for street preachers too! Especially
those with balloon ministries. You may want to leave off the tip
jar in these situations, though . . .
See my website for more information, or you may e-mail me at info@airtothekingdom.org.
Until next time, I remain *Air-tistically* yours! Jack