From: "Joe Ponik" <bimages@cwnet.com>
To: <balloondeco@fooledya.com>
Subject: outdoor decor for car lots
Date: Fri, 18 Aug 2000 09:14:36 -0700

I hate outdoors!!! I hate outdoors!!! I hate outdoors!!!!

Get the point.  I don't know why people insist on putting balloons outside
when they themselves don't want to stand outside.

We have had many learning experiences with outdoor events.  My temperature
here can soar up to 110degrees.  And some times wind can be a terrible
problem.  Humidity is rare.

What we watch out for is:

Type of ground we are going over.  Is it black, concrete, grass, dirt.  The
darker the surface the hotter ground temperature will get.  We did a job
where we sent appx 80 ft in the air up 5ft balloons sized to 4ft with a
column of 16" below them and the balloons that were over the asphalt parking
lot popped and the ones over the dirt area stayed up all day.  We did this
two days and same results each day.

Next we try to use only light colors.  I am having great luck with white and
the fashion tone colors.  I also am taking 16" balloons and sizing them to
12 - 14".   The 3 ft balloons I am sizing to 24" and they are doing ok.

Hi float doesn't help at all with outdoor work.  Doesn't seem to dry in the
extreme heat.

I also pay attention to where the sun will be in the hottest part of the
day.  If my balloons are shaded at around 3:00 I will be ok.  But if I get
most of the sun from 12:00 to 5:00 I know that poppage will be the greatest.

Hope this helps a little.

Lonna
Balloon Images
El Dorado HIlls, CA

P.S.  I never tell a client that my outdoor work will last.  I explain that
"I will do everything possible"  but that I can't control the temperature or
other outside elements.  (bees, birds etc. )