Date: Fri, 19 May 2000 08:11:22 +0000 Subject: Using Client's Balloons/moral of the story!!! From: "Melanie Binkley, CBA " <applause2x@earthlink.net> To: Balloon Decor <sales@balloondecor.com.au>, CLEvents@aol.com, Okay here's one more comment...... Sometimes using a client's balloons isn't sooooo bad and then again please learn from this little story the easy way by keeping it in mind rather than getting stuck there yourself. Had a very good client....hired me to do an arch and some bouquets for the grand opening, the press coming everything....gooodie! Of course I used what I feel are the very best -- Qualatex! At the tale end of the job.......the client comes out and says her boss.....yadda yadda yadda and couldn't I please just blow about 25 of their previously imprinted balloons which were sent from the district office yadda yadda.....and they'll be happy to pay etc....no problem..... I give'em my spiel about "unknown client balloons" but since it's only 25; I'll see what I can do! They offered my their helium tank which came from the district to use and were still willing to pay full price.....but no nozzle of course...... Our dual sizer was still hooked up so we just went with ours....... Oh Happy happy day the client brings out the bag and they are Qualatex balloons! mmmmmmmm sweet! ooooops! I open the bag..........extreme bummer.........the bag smells like nicotine. That's what happens when EVEN the Very Best Balloons are TOO OLD and the powder has turned......... But the client says pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssssseeeeeeeeeee......... do what you can we'll pay more if necessary they would just really like to have them for the press etc. Okie dokie I'll give it a try...... ssshhhhh BAM! ssssshhhhhh BAM! ssssssshhhhhBAM! get the picture? Old Brittle balloons snapping near my face.....major hazard and I don't have my safety glasses with me so I contort my beloved body to blow and keep my face away.....what a picture that made! sssshhhhh BAM OUCH! OUCH! OUCH! That one snapped my hand and its alreading turning bright red! @#$%%%^^&**(&&^%$$%$#@!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I dig down deep in the bag hoping maybe there are some in the center that are a bit more juicy..... ssssshhhhhh hey it didn't pop....cool let's tie........ ouch ouch ouch that hurts as it goes across my fingers.......my helper wants NO part of this action........crud as the owner I am the sucker/guiney pig...... sssshhhh okay we'll tie using our Very Best Technique that Jim Parker teaches us from the Qualatex videos and tie these suckers a little slower but only on the tips of my fingers... okay going along ouch it still hurts the sides of my fingers but I'll get it as the client looks on with pleading puppy dog eyes......(if I didn't like her I'd be gone....) so it took about 40 to get 25 and it hurt every time in fact it really really began to hurt..... we packed up and left and the side of my thumb was on fire.....I paused and took a look at it...... YIKES! Bright read cuticle swollen torn and bleeding...... Agggggghhhhhh! I leave for IBAC 1999 in the morning and I am planning on and excited to be working long hours as a crew member for the new world's record.......ouch...what am I gonna do? I take the very best care of my thumb....but to no avail....damage has been done.... So I get to IBAC.....I do work long hours the whole gig but I can't tie balloons.......I try but tying even duplets rubs slightly on my thumb and I am hurting ready to cry....I've already got it taped and protected but no way..... So this injury stays with me through all of IBAC and I was supposed to do "hands on classes" nope....not if it involves tying... Very long story short but played out to really make a point.... It took 3 weeks for my thumb to heal, throbbed at night, affected all my jobs after IBAC and all this was for I client I dearly liked....... Moral of the story...... Sometimes you've just got to say NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I can laugh now and hope you all will too....but I was crying then! We Keep'Em Flyin'High! o~ o~ o~ Melanie Binkley, CBA Applause! Applause! Balloon Decor & Event Design Redondo Beach, CA, USA