Bubbleology
Information
Stacey "The Balloon Kid" Schmude
November 2000
Photo by Joey Hall
HALLOWEEN, ROLE MODELS, AND "BALLOONS ACROSS AMERICA"
Hello everyone. It's this month's article! Halloween's crept up on me this year. I've had a bunch of programs where everyone wants Halloween balloons… and here are my suggestions for the most popular Halloween balloons -
Pumpkin... simple Apple out of orange with a face.
Black Cat - A mountain lion out of one black balloon.
Ghost - Bruce Kalver's Ghost.
Bat - Simple one-balloon bat
These were my most popular requests in the last few weeks. My one-balloon bat is a modified bat from a pattern in the guide. It's a bubble, lock twist, bubble, bird body, then a two balloon wing with a bubble about 1 _ times the size of the bird body, then just enough to attach it to the neck of the bat. Repeat with the other side and don't bother with legs. It's simple, it's cute, and it works.
I have followed a recent discussion on the list about whether your appearance and character (what you say, act, and look like) really matters and makes an impression on kids, and whether a balloon twister can be (is) a role model for children. It is my feeling that - by the stars - yes, it does! I'm not as experienced as many of you, but I have had over three years of professional programs and have twisted in the neighborhood of 25,000 balloons. I did a birthday party after which I received a thank you a few days later. The birthday girl and her sister told me about how they were playing Balloon Kid all week. If one twister can make that much of an impression on a kid in a half hour, imagine what someone with a tongue piercing, dirty costume, swearing, etc. could do, especially if the children like you! They'll run up to their parents and probably say...“Oh look! So in so has a tongue ring! Can I get one too? Please mommy? But they're so cool!”
Just the slightest little thing... a piercing, dirty costume, smoking, swearing, etc. can make a huge impression on a kid. This makes no difference if you are a clown, magician, or balloon artist and it has nothing to do with being biased or predjudiced. You should strive to be professional whenever you are in public. I have now reached the point where people are recognizing me as the “Balloon Kid” when I am in public and not in costume. And, as many of your mothers may have told you: “No matter where you go, there is always someone there who knows who you are.”
If I may suggest to those of you performing for children... take out the rings, wear a clean costume, don't smoke in public, etc. Not because you are free to do as you choose, but because you want to be that role model. I am more than flattered that someone would want to be me...aren't you?
I want to use this column to again thank Jeff Brown for all his work in getting “Balloons Across America” started. I had a great time and look forward to participating in this event next year. Tommy Thompson, the Governor of Wisconsin, signed a proclamation for “Balloons Across America” and to continue the promotion of this event, I will be going to Madison next month where Senator Carol Roessler will introduce me to the Governor and I can present him with a balloon sculpture. Hmmmm, I'm not sure what I should do . . . a cheesehead? . . . a badger? . . . a football player ? any suggestions? Drop me a note at schmude@vbe.com
All for now, more later!