Balloon Graphics Jobs
Four Critical Factors
by Graham & Mary Queen Rouse
Here are four factors that are often critical to balloon graphics jobs (and other balloon decorating jobs as well) along with suggestions on how to deal with them.
- The Budget
- The Space
- The Design
- The Time
1 - THE BUDGET
It is quite common for the budget to be the dominant, limiting factor to your graphics project. Customers often want more than they are prepared to pay. Balloon artists often want to do more than the budget will profitably sustain.
A. The simple, though often difficult, choice is to scale back.
B. One alternative is to increase the budget for your graphics project.
- Consider repositioning the graphic so that it becomes a more important feature of the event both physically and psychologically. If you make your balloon graphic the focal piece for the event you may get the overall budget raised to accommodate your design.
- Consider asking permission to reallocate funds from other portions of the event budget and scale back somewhere else.
- Educate your clients so they understand how your pieces compare to regular signage and pictures.
- Educate your client to appreciate the novelty and originality of your work.
C. Another alternative is to lower costs through efficiencies.
- Recycle materials and / or designs you already have in hand.
- Rent or borrow frameworks or specialty equipment rather than purchase new.
- Purchase more efficient frameworks rather than "making do" with whatever.
- Consult or hire someone who has done something similar before.
- Create standard production systems for your work based on tools and techniques that have been successful for you in the past.
2 - THE SPACE
Sometimes the space assigned to your graphics can be the most difficult element. You face questions like these:
A. How can you fill such a large space?
- One option is to design with larger balloons. Just make sure to match the larger balloons with a larger aperture framework.
- Another option is to cover part of the space with curtains, net, tulle, or other fabric.
- A third option is to use lighting to focus attention on the balloons and hide the extra area in shadow.
B. How can you fit all the elements you want in such a small space?
- One option is to design with smaller balloons. Just make sure to match the smaller balloons with a smaller aperture framework.
- Another option is to use smaller balloons in critical areas only. Insert multiple, smaller balloons in single apertures. Techniques for this will appear in later articles.
- A third option is to use "overlays" of smaller balloons, foam board, or other materials to "draw in" the details you need on top of your basic balloon background. (Techniques for this suggestion will appear in a future article.)
C. How can you match the shape of the space?
- When you use soft, flexible frameworks you can cut them into the shape you want. This is usually best done by loading balloons into the pattern you want and then cutting around the balloons.
- When you use rigid frameworks cover or camouflage the sections you do not want to show.
D. How can you support the graphic is such a space?
Lighter weight frameworks give the balloon artist more options that you may easily and safely use. Heavier, rigid frameworks can be configured to serve as structural elements for other parts of your event in addition to the balloons. Here are some options to consider depending on your situation:
- Suspend the display from helium filled balloons. This can work well with lighter frameworks.
- Suspend the display from overhead structures.
- Simple magnets to a dropped ceiling can work for lighter frameworks.
- Stronger overhead structures and substantial lines may be required for heavier frameworks.
- Base plates and vertical poles are the most common supports used.
- SDS™ metal frameworks have gaps built in between panels to accommodate horizontal or vertical reinforcing tubes of 1/2" EMT.
- RMS™ can similarly accommodate straight reinforcing tubes or rods in the ROSA (octagon-square) pattern. The size of the reinforcing element would vary depending on which size ROSA grid you are using.
- RMS™ HONEYcomb (hexagon) pattern grids can accommodate custom formed rods between balloons in a single layer, but this is usually practical only in the smaller sizes.
- Standard "pipe & drape" fixtures commonly used for trade show booths are frequently effective for positioning behind balloon displays for support. Or, sometimes balloon graphics may be suspended from the horizontal rod on top.
- Attach the display to existing columns, a wall or fixtures on a wall.
- Lighter weight displays may be attached with hook and loop fasteners, removable adhesive, magnets, or just tie them on with light weight line.
- Heavier displays require more substantial connections that increase in proportion to the weight.
- Some balloon graphics can be self-stabilizing.
- Both light weight, flexible frameworks and heavy weight, rigid frameworks are strong enough to carry their own weight and the weight of balloons they hold.
- Neither light weight, flexible frameworks nor heavy weight, rigid frameworks are stable enough in flat, single layers to be left on their own with no reinforcement.
- Both light weight and heavy weight frameworks can be made stronger and more stable by curving or bending the normally flat structures.
- Make your display in two layers instead of one. Each balloon in the first layer is tied at the neck to a balloon in the second layer. Even without adding reinforcing elements, the display will be 10 to 20 times stronger than a single layer. The double layer also provides a hiding place in the middle for structural elements.
- If the double layer idea is too costly for the budget, use double layers only at he edges or at selected points in the graphic display. This technique requires the addition of relatively few balloon, provides good camouflage for the reinforcing elements and can be used as a decorative form for the balloon graphic.
3 - THE DESIGN
Sometimes the design is the most critical element. Maybe the featured balloon colors simply must match those of the invitation or the graphic must match the company logo, or the shape must be the same as a company product.
A. Have the customer give you samples of what is critical to them, be it color or matching to a logo or product.
B. Match your balloon colors as you plan to have them sized and lighted at the job site. Try double stuffing balloons or check into other brands if your preferred brand of balloons does not have the right color.
C. Layout your design on graph paper to scale.
D. Use layout colors as close to real as you can find.
E. Use computer graphics to help you visualize, design and present you proposal to your customer.
F. Ask for help if you have difficulty.
4 - THE TIME
Time limits are often critical. It might be
- the short time between first contact with your customer and when your proposal is due or
- limited days between contract and event or maybe
- the few hours for set up at the venue.
A. It will be much easier to meet these deadlines if you have already done a number of organizing tasks:
- Make a portfolio of your work and of other project ideas.
- Make a work book of plans, labor, materials, equipment, etc. for all the projects you expect to show potential customers.
- Make a reference/resource book of contacts you could use to put together proposals, materials, equipment, labor, transportation, etc. for your customers and their events.
- Make an up to date inventory of materials, equipment and supplies you have on hand.
- Make a schedule/calendar of pending personal and business commitments.
- Set aside "contingency" funds to deal with crises or special opportunities on short notice.
- Cost all of the items in your shop and make a Job Cost Form. Instead of having to think about what you will need for a particular job, you can just check it on your list. Taking the time to prepare a Job Cost Form not only saves time to prepare a job, but is an invaluable time saver when calculating costs for a proposal.
- Keep a fully stocked tool box.
B. Here are additional pointers for saving time.
- Build your proposal, your plans and your installation scheme on design ideas, resources and experience you already have in hand or readily available.
- Keep your proposal, your design and your installation plans simple.
- For short installation times in particular:
- Get full contact information and meet with venue staff ahead of time. Be sure to get cell phones numbers, especially if your installation is at an odd time.
- Preview the event site to locate loading docks, the best routes from the dock to your event, access doors, etc.
- Design and make your décor ahead of time in moveable sections.
- Try to get a work space/staging area close to the event room.
- Make sure your sections can fit in/through necessary vehicles, passageways and doorways.
- Use RouseBAGS™ bags or other large plastic bags to safely and easily transport balloon graphics.
- Design to minimize your dependence on other people's presence or equipment.
- Avoid designs that require lifts or ladders. Use light weight designs you can suspend with magnets or stand up from the floor.
- Arrive for the job early and check in early with venue staff.
We hope you find these suggestions helpful. They will not solve all your problems, but they can hopefully give you a head start on dealing with four factors - the budget, the space, the design, and the time - which are often critical to the success of your balloon graphics projects.
For more information on Balloon Graphics check into the RouseABOUT Fall Session - Balloon Graphics Seminar at this link:
http://www.rouseinternational.com/ra/ed.events/rafs2005/previewBHQart.htm
