Search the guide for particular terms

General info about Balloon HQ and the email mailing lists

• What is this document and where can I get the current version?

• What are all of the balloon mailing lists and what are they all about?

• OK, I'm convinced I want to join the lists. How can I get on? What do I need to learn first? Is there a fee to subscribe?

• How do I post a message so it's seen by everyone?

• Why do I have to be subscribed to the list for 4 days before I can post?

• I no longer wish to be on the mailing list that I've signed up for. What should I do?

• There's too much mail. How can I switch to the digest form of the list?

• How can I change my e-mail address on the lists?

• I've heard that all of the balloon information I ever wanted can be found on the web. Where is it?

• What should be posted to the mailing lists?

• I read that I can be removed from a mailing list if I don't follow the rules. Do people really get removed from the list, and under what circumstances?

• I was on the mailing list, but I haven't received anything in a long time. What happened?

• What can I do if I have a problem with the mailing list or web pages?

• How can I locate other balloon folks in my area or in areas that I visit?

• Is this list affiliated with any balloon manufacturers or other balloon-related organizations?

• Who's responsible for maintaining this stuff?

• How can I support Balloon HQ?

• Who owns the content of the BHQ site and mailing lists?

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Mailing list rules

• Rules for posting to the balloon list - as of 23 Sep 1998

• Violation of rules

• Disagreement with rules

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Advice on posting to the lists

• Legal and ethical stuff - What can you post?

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

About this guide

• SAFETY WARNING!!!

• About the Guide to Balloons and Ballooning

• Printing Sections of Guide Chapters Without Printing the Whole Chapter

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Definition of "balloon"

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

History of balloons

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

How balloons are made

• How latex balloons are made

• How the rolled lip on balloons is formed

• Color issues

• Making balloons at home

• Other types of latex balloons

• Printing on latex balloons

• How foil balloons are made

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Balloon terms

• The Name Game
  

• Balloon types: by letter
  
  • A, E and W
    

  • D
    

  • P
    

  • Q
    

  • S
    

  • T
    

  • U

• Balloon types: by number
  
  • 130s
    

  • 260s
    

  • 280s
    

  • 321s
    

  • 350s
    

  • 360s
    

• Balloon types: by name
  
  • Airships
    

  • Animal Balloons
    

  • Bee Bodies
    

  • Custom Shaped Balloons
    

  • Foil Balloons
    

  • Foil Gift Wrapping
    

  • Flying Saucers
    

  • Geos (Donuts and Blossoms)
    

  • Giant (Latex) Balloons
    

  • Glow in the dark balloons
    

  • Hearts
    

  • Hot Water Bottles
    

  • Inflatable Women/ Men
    

  • Jell-O Balloons
    

  • Knobbies
    

  • Latex Gloves
    

  • Mickey Balloons
    

  • Novelty-Shaped Latex Balloons
    

  • Pencil Balloons
    

  • Punch Balloons
    

  • Round Balloons
    

  • Self-inflating Balloons
    

  • Spaghetti Balloons
    

  • Spinners/ Spiral Balloons
    

  • Squiggly Worm Balloons
    

  • Talking Balloons
    

  • Twisty Balloons
    

  • Water Balloons
    

  • Weather Balloons
    

  • Whirly Balloons
    

  • Yo-yo Balloons
    

  • Hot Water Bottles

  • Inflatable Women/ Men

  • Jell-O Balloons

  • Knobbies

  • Latex Gloves

  • Mickey Balloons

  • Novelty-Shaped Latex Balloons

  • Pencil Balloons

  • Punch Balloons

  • Round Balloons

  • Self-inflating Balloons

  • Spaghetti Balloons

  • Spinners/ Spiral Balloons

  • Squiggly Worm Balloons

  • Talking Balloons

  • Twisty Balloons

  • Water Balloons

  • Weather Balloons

  • Whirly Balloons

  • Yo-yo Balloons

• Balloon Certifications, Organizations and Conventions
  
  • Alberta Balloon Expo
    

  • Balloonverband
    

  • The Balloon Council
    

  • Certified Balloon Artist (CBA)
    

  • Clowns of America International (COAI)
    

  • European Balloon Symposium (EBS)
    

  • International Balloon Arts Conference (IBAC)
    

  • Tom Myers: Tours and Workshops
    

  • National Association of Balloon Artists (NABA)
    

  • NABA Certified Master Balloon Artist
    

  • National Association of Balloon Artists and Suppliers (NABAS)
    

  • Pioneer Balloons and the Qualatex Balloon Network(QBN)
    

  • Texas Clown Association
    

  • Western Region Clown Association (WRCA)
    

  • World Clown Association (WCA)
    

  • Wait, don't go away - there's more

The allure of balloons

• Drawing Power
  

• Intrinsic Value
  

• Size
  

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Balloons in "pop" culture

On Television

Commercials

Shows

On The Evening News

In The Movies

In Print

Literature

Popular Press

In The (Record) Books

Music and Balloons

Song Lyrics

Albums and Titles

On The Street

Wait, don't go away - there's more

Balloon games

• Popping, Breaking Balloon Games
  

• Giant Balloons
  

• Balloon Skins
  

• Balloon Board Games
  

• Balloon Toys
  

• Balloon Goop
  

• Party Games
  

• Crowd Control Games
  

• Temporary Balloons
  

• Games That Really Clean House
  

• Balloon Accessories - Talking Balloons
  

• Balloons & Water
  

• Balloon Stuffing
  

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Other uses for balloons

Tie Me up, Tie Me Down

Balloon Business: Quick-Fixes

Emergency First Aid

Money Issues and Barter

Novelty Items

Twisting Other Materials

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Balloon books, magazines, videos, and other resources

• Balloon Books and Booklets

• A Word of Encouragement to Would-be Authors

• Balloon Videos

• A Word of Encouragement to Would-be Video Stars

• Magazines and Newsletters

• CD ROM's

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Balloonware - software, fonts, 'net resources, ...

• Balloonware for Apple computers
  
  • All fun and games
    

  • Educational games
    

  • Business-related software
    

• Balloonware for DOS/Windows computers
  
  • All fun and games
    

  • Educational games
    

  • Business-related software
    

• Balloonware text fonts
  

• Balloonware clip art
  

• Balloonware bouquets
  

• Balloon-chat
  

• Balloon-mail
  

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Blowing up a balloon

• How much air does a fully inflated 260 hold?

• Why blow up a balloon by mouth?

• How to blow up a balloon by mouth

• Special effects
  Blowing up a balloon backwards
  
  Blowing up balloons from the middle
  
  The Suck Method
  
  Altering the shape of the balloon
  
  Controlled variations in thickness
  
  Puffing a poodle tail and making antennas/feelers
  
  Curly-Q's
  
  Uses for the Curly-Q
  
  Multiple balloon inflations
  
  The Flash Inflate or the Blast Method:
  
  Nose inflation
  
  Up Your Nose with a Rubber... What???
  
  Other Tricks
  

• Tying Knots

• Why blow up a balloon with a pump?
  Pump Disadvantages:
  
  Pump Testamonials
  
  Cheater,Cheater...
  

• Balloon pumps
  • Hand pumps
    

  • Palm pumps
    
    130 Blaster
    
    Euro pump or Faster Blaster
    
    260 Blaster
    
    Qualatex AirInflator
    
    Pump T
    
    Other hand pumps that work for inflating balloons
    

  • Floor pumps
    
    Pump O
    
    Pump 1
    
    Pogo Pump
    
    The Invincible Free Standing Balloon Pump
    
    The Amuzemetist
    
    The Filbert Pump
    
    Convert-A-Pump
    
    Balloon Master
    
    Making Your Own Pump
    

  • Living, breathing pumps
    

• Carrying Pumps

• Decorating Pumps

• Portable, Battery Powered Inflators
  The Inflator
  
  Pouch Pump
  
  Balloon Buoy
  
  Airman Pump
  
  Other Rechargeable pumps
  

• Air compressors

• Blowers

• Helium

• Nitrogen

• Sizers and Regulators
  Dual Sizers
  
  Duplicator II
  
  Precision Air Inflator
  
  Other Regulators and Sizers
  

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Twisting Balloons 101

• Twisting Balloons 101
  
  • Basic pinch and twist
    

  • Locking twists and the basic four-legged animal
    

  • Bird body or 3 bubble roll through
    

  • Fold twist or large (elephant) ear twist
    

  • Ear (Pinch) (Bean) twist
    

  • Apple twist
    
    • Advanced Apple twists
      

    • Yo-yo twist (split Apple twist)
      

    • Suction Cups
      

    • Marriage Twist
      

    • Rattlesnake tails and Other Cool Stuff
      

  • Hook twist
    

  • Apple Twists and Deep Hook Twists: How NOT to Get Your Finger Stuck
    

  • S-Twist
    

  • Putting an object inside a balloon
    
    • Things to put inside balloons
      

    • Where to get stuff to put in balloons
      
      • Anything
        

      • Meatballs
        

      • Peas In A Pod
        

      • Glo-Sticks
        

      • Super Balls
        

    • Things NOT To Put Inside Balloons
      

    • Where To Get Stuff To Put In Balloons
      

    • Tools for Putting an Object Inside a Balloon
      

  • Pop twist
    
    • Pop Twists: The Alternate Method!
      

    • Popping the center bubble
      

    • Implements of Destruction
      

    • Fear of Popping

    • Noisy Pop Twists

  • Banana Twist
    

  • Attaching balloons with adhesive
    
    • Rubber cement

    • Cold Glue Guns

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Twisting Balloons 102

• Twisting Balloons 102
  
  • How to minimize the squeaking when twisting
    
    • Pull the bubbles apart
      

    • Wear gloves
      

    • Use Powder
      

  • Holding a chain of multiple bubbles ("String of Pearls")
    

  • Shaping/forming a long section of balloon
    
    • Swan Neck
      

    • Making a heart from a 260
      

    • Other Bends
      

  • Double-helix balloon poles
    

  • Weaving
    
    • Balloon Weaving Resources
      

    • Balloon Weaving Hints and Ideas
      

  • The 'Eyes' Have It: Miscellaneous Eyeball Methods
    

  • Raisin Twist
    

  • Belly Button
    

  • Distortion Effect
    

  • Side Bubble
    

  • How to tear apart a pencil balloon
    

  • Tearing Thru the Body
    

  • Tools for cutting a pencil balloon
    

  • General Twisting Tips
    

  • Minimizing the Deflation Rate
    

  • I'm Not Looking!
    

  • Practice, Practice, Practice

  • Create, Create, Create

  • Cheat Sheet
    

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Using color to your advantage

• Using Color
  

• Dreaming of New 260 Colors
  

• Double Stuffing
  
  • Color Combination

  • Advanced Techniques

  • Stuffing Tools

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Decorating 260 balloon sculptures

• Markers and Paint Pens
  

• Additions: Glow-in-the-dark
  

• Additions: Uninflated Balloon Bits
  

• Additions: Miscellaneous
  

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

ASCII notation for sculptures

• General Guidelines

• Method 1

• Method 2

• Method 3

• Method 4

• Gallery of ASCII balloon art

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Sculpture instructions

• by name

• by category
  • Armory

  • Balloon Apparel

  • Bugs, Insects, Creepy Crawlers

  • Cartoons/Caricatures

  • Chanukah

  • Christmas

  • Dinosaurs/Reptiles

  • Fantasy Critters!

  • Farm Critters!

  • Feathered Friends

  • Flowers

  • Fourth of July

  • Hallowe'en

  • Hats Galore!

  • Orchestra

  • People

  • Produce

  • Routines

  • Space Race!

  • Sports

  • Teddy Bears

  • Transportation

  • Under the Sea

  • Valentines Day

  • Zoo Critters!

  • Miscellaneous

• download all (not current)

The tools of the trade, a collection of tips and tricks

• Equipment

• Monofilament Line

• Tulle

• Deco Lace

• Ribbon

• "Premium Balloon Stems"

• Plush

• Latex Balloons

• Combating Pear Shapes

• Sizers/Templates

• Foil Balloons

• Deflating Foil Balloons

• Painting Foils

• Heat Sealers

• Storing Balloons

• Corralling Balloons

• Tools For Cutting Foamboard

• Mylar Cutter

• Bow Machines

• Spray Adhesive

• Glue Guns

• Pan Glue

• Velcro

• Tape

• Hanging Things From Walls And Ceilings

• Power For Outdoor Work

• Painting Styrofoam

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Balloon deliveries

• Stuffing Machines
  • Product-specific information
    • IBalloon Wrap
    • Incredible Balloon Machine Company
    • Le Pouf
    • Magic Box
    • Maxim
    • Ohio Art
    • Stuffing Machines Keepsake International
• Stuffing Round Balloons

• Special Stuffing Effects

• Keeping Clears Clear

• Foil Gift Wrapping

• Care Cards

• Balloon Weights
  • Sand Weights

  • Rock Weights

  • Imprinted Balloons As Weights

  • Metal Weights

  • Baby Theme Weights

  • Candy Weights

  • Salt Weights

  • Assorted Weights

  • Alcohol Weights

• Tips For Delivering Bouquets Of Balloons

• Delivery Area

• Extra Balloons

• Surprise Deliveries

• Character Deliveries / Singing Telegrams

• Entertaining the "Not-Thrilled" Customer

• Mail Order Balloons

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Classic Balloon Decor 101

• Classic Balloon Decor
  • How Long Does It Take To Make Decor?

• Table Decor - Centerpieces
  • Table Decor Bases

  • Mirrors For Centerpieces

  • Weights For Centerpieces

  • Weights For Floor Bouquets

• Arches
  • Arch Bases

  • Sop - String Of Pearl - Arches

  • Mylar Sop Arch

  • Geo Blossom Arch

  • Sop Arch Length

  • Fishbone Arch

  • Queen Arch

  • Butterfly Arch

  • Double-Stuffed Arch

  • Giant Arch

  • To Fill With Air Or Helium... That Is The Question

  • Magic Arch

  • Creating A Spiral Arch

  • Patterns

  • Tie One On

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Classic Balloon Decor 102

• Balloon Columns
  • Bases For Balloon Columns

  • Internal Frames For Balloon Columns

  • Balloon Columns Held Together With Monofilament

  • Bottom Balloons Popping

  • Attaching Toppers

  • 6-Pack Columns Of 5" Rounds

• Canopies
  • Canopy Base

  • Full Canopy

  • Open Canopy

  • Criss-cross Canopy

  • Illusion Canopies

  • Gazebo Canopies

  • Low Ceiling For A Canopy?

• Balloons On The Ceiling
  • How To Get Balloons Off The Ceiling

• Balloons To Lower The Ceiling

• Wrapping Balloons Around Columns (The Columns That Hold The Roof Up)

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Large balloon sculptures

• CREATIVITY - WHERE TO GET IDEAS

• HOW TO MAKE LARGE SCULPTURES

• LARGE SCULPTURE TRICKS

• Fantasy Flowers

• TOPIARIES

• LETTERS & NUMBERS

• SDS pricing

• SDS co-op

• SDS Quick-frame

• HOW TO PUT FOILS IN SDS

• SDS layout program

• Tradeshow decor with SDS

• LARGE WALLS

• GENERAL COMMENTS

• RMS

• LAYING OUT RMS

• BUYING FRAMES

• BUILDING YOUR OWN FRAMES

• 1/4 in ALUMINUM ROD

• SPLICING ALUMINUM ROD

• BENDING ALUMINUM ROD

• BENDING CONDUIT

• DOING THE "HOW MANY BALLOONS" CALCULATION

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Making balloons last

• PREINFLATING

• PLASTIC BAGS

• PREVENTING FROSTED BALLOONS

• KEEPING CLEARS CLEAR

• BALLOON SHINE/SHIELD

• SON OF A GUN/ARMOR-ALL

• FOLIAGE SEALER

• BALLOON JUICE

• HAIR SPRAY

• OTHER

• HI FLOAT

• Hi-Float and Super Hi-Float

• SQUIRTING IT IN

• TO CLIP OR NOT TO CLIP, THAT IS THE QUESTION

• I'VE BEEN SLIMED!

• PRE-TREATING UN-INFLATED BALLOONS

• PRE-TREATING INFLATED BALLOONS

• THE NECESSITY OF HI-FLOAT

• SPEED / COST

• SALES TECHNIQUES

• HI-FLOAT IN DECOR

• HI-FLOAT ON THE OUTSIDE

• METALLIC BALLOONS

• HI-FLOAT AND GEO BLOSSOMS

• HI-FLOATING 260's

• HI-FLOAT AND AGATES

• TIPS FOR MAXIMIZING FLOAT TIME

• ARTISTIC APPLICATIONS OF HI FLOAT

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Using balloons outdoors

• Best Brand Of Balloons For Outdoor Work

• Balloons Outdoors In Hot Weather

• Balloons Outdoors In Cold Weather

• Outdoor Columns

• Outdoor Arches

• Outdoor Decorating With SDS

• Giant Balloons Outdoors

• Outdoor Decorating - Pools

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Outdoor Balloon Releases

• Things to watch out for

• Releases At Funerals

• Dissolving Arches

• Gift Box Release

• Outdoor Non-balloon Releases

• Released Balloons - Where do they go?

• No strings attached

• Use the right ribbons

• Promotional balloon horror stories

• Assorted essays

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Balloon special effects

• *LIGHTING

• LIGHTED ARCHES

• *INDOOR DROPS

• NETS VS BAGS

• STITCHING THE NET / BAG

• GENERAL ADVICE

• HOW MANY BALLOONS?

• DROPS GONE BAD

• *INDOOR RELEASES

• BALLOON BANNER INDOOR RELEASE

• GLO-STICK INDOOR RELEASE

• DISSOLVING 4-PACK GARLAND

• Confetti Drops

• *EXPLODING BALLOONS

• Conwin's Pneumatic Exploder

• SHOCKTUBE

• STINGER

• A SEQUENTIAL EXPLODING BALLOON PROBLEM

• STUFFING EXPLODING BALLOONS

• EXPLODING CENTERPIECES

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Holidays and Special Events

• Valentine's Day
  • What To Order, What Not To Order

  • Deliveries

  • Restaurants

  • Promotions

  • Kiosks

  • Weekend Valentines

• Parades

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Twister fashions

• Visibility
  

• On the need for costumes:
  

• How your costume affects business
  

• Normal, comfortable clothes
  

• On the "uniform" look
  

• Your outfit is part of your act
  

• On clothing covered with pictures of balloon
  

• More examples of what people wear
  

• Other fashion-related resources in the Guide

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Balloon care

• Storing Uninflated Balloons So They Last
  

• Carrying Uninflated Balloons So They Last
  
  • Aprons

  • Bucket O' Balloons

  • Carrying Cases and Stands

  • Carts

  • Costumes

  • Fishing Vests

  • Gift Bags

• Tips for Sorting Your Uninflated Balloons by Color
  

• Making Inflated Balloons Last
  

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

The business of balloon twisting

• Permits and Licenses

• Overhead

• Taxes

• Insurance
  • General Information

  • Home Owners/ Renters, etc. Insurance

  • World Clown Association (WCA)

• Employing your children

• How Many Balloons Should I Take?

• Full time twisting
  • T. Myers Article

  • Larry's Response

  • Other Responses

• "What is my profession?"

• Copyrights, trademarks, and balloon art

• Monikers for balloon artists

• Refusing Service

• Handling "Balloons are not allowed here"

• TURNING PRO

• STUPID MISTAKES OF TWISTERS STARTING OUT

• BUSINESS OUT OF YOUR HOME - PHONE ISSUES

• INSURANCE

• TAXES AND RECORDS

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

How to market yourself

• Balloon Care Cards

• Business Cards

• Flyers

• Miscellaneous

• Photographing and Filming Your Work

• Newspaper Ads

• Sell yourself!

• Yellow Pages

• ADVERTISING

• MARKET YOURSELF - WAYS TWISTERS CAN ATTRACT ATTENTION TO A BUSINESS:

• REFERENCES

• CARE CARDS

• BUSINESS CARDS

• IDEA BOOKS

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Workplaces for twisters

• Indoor Work
  • Restaurants

  • Shopping Malls

  • Stores

  • Wedding Receptions

  • Museums

  • Company Events

  • Movie Theatres

• Outdoor Work
  • Outdoors
    • General Advice

    • Drink Plenty of Fluids

    • Stay in the Shade

    • Take Breaks

    • Keep Cool

  • Car Washes

  • Theme Parks

  • Zoos

  • Parks

  • The White House

  • Graduations

  • Your Own Front Porch

• Indoor-Outdoor Work
  • Anywhere
    • Carrying Balloons And Twisting For A Smile

    • How Come I'm Frowning After Twisting For A Smile?

    • A Smile Isn't Enough For Me

    • I'm a walking billboard (Will Twist For Food)

    • When Is It Inappropriate To Twist?

  • Festivals, Fairs, and Flea Markets -- Oh, My!
    • How To Find The Events

    • Paying For a Place to Work

    • Getting Paid to Work

    • Vending Balloons

    • Finding A Good Spot

    • When Not To Work For Tips

    • Booths vs Strolling

    • Event Crashing

    • General Advice

  • Car Dealers

  • Radio Station Remotes

  • Sporting Events

• Altitude Work
  • 30,000 Feet (Aircraft)

  • Sea Level (Cruise Ships)

  • Dive! Dive! Dive! (Underwater)

Working With an Agent

• BalloonAbilities

• Balloon Attractions

• Agencies Miscellaneous

• Becoming An Agent Yourself

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Twisting Balloons For Tips

• Balloons Free, Tips Welcome
  • I Like Working For Tips...

  • ...But I hate Being Used

  • Hey Mister, How Much Are The Balloons?

  • It's All In The Approach

  • Be Direct

  • How To Squeeze Money Out Of Kids

  • When Not To Accept Tips

  • General Advice

• Handling the Money
  • Containers: Passing the Hat

  • Containers: Priming the Pump

  • Hand it Over: Money in the Hand

  • Making Change
• Making Yourself Visible
  • Buttons and Pins

  • Wearing Money

  • Signs

• One-liners to Use When Working for Tips

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Busking

• What is busking?

• What are the legal issues?

• Primer on Busking With a Special Focus on Balloon Entertainment, by Larry Moss
  • Introduction

  • What is balloon busking?

  • Constructing a balloon show

  • Educating the crowd

  • What to wear

  • How to be heard on the street

  • Building a crowd

  • Bringing in the money

  • Where to busk

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Working in Restaurants 101

• Picking the Right Restaurant

• Getting Them to Hire You

• Walking Into a Restaurant and Twisting

• Will Work for Food

• Charging for Balloons

• Working for Zero Base Pay and No Tips

• Working for Zero Base Pay - Just Tips
  • I Like Working For Tips...

  • ...But I hate Being Used

  • What Are the Rules of the Game?

  • It's All In The Approach

  • How to Handle Tip Offers

  • Refusing Tips

• Working for Base Pay and No Tips

• Working for Base Pay Plus Tips

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Working in Restaurants 102

• A Twister's Function at a Restaurant

• Advertising Your Own Business in the Restaurant

• Working With the Wait Staff
  • Make Friends With the Wait Staff

  • Affecting The Wait Staff's Tips

  • Greedy Wait People

• So Many Customers, So Little Time

• Dealing With Customers Who Don't Want Balloons

• Working The Crowd

• What to Make in the Restaurant

• One-Liners For Restaurants

• Mc Donald's

• Restaurant Cards

• Books and Tapes

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Determining what to charge

• Make 'Em Flinch

• Public Events

• Private Events

• Payment Issues

• Norm's Summary

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Twister Crowd control

• How To Attract A Crowd
  

• Keeping Your Space
  

• Techniques For Forming A Line
  

• Techniques For Handling The Line
  

• Techniques For Ending The Line
  
  • Promoter To End The Line

  • How They End The Line at the Whitehouse

• Single Or Multi-Balloon Creations
  

• Giving Customers A Choice
  

• Not Giving Customers A Choice
  

• Menus
  
  • Menus You Make

  • Menus You Wear

  • Menus You Marry

• Balloon Display Stands
  

• One More Please
  

• What To Do When You Don't Use A Line

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Twisting for Children

• Keeping Track Of Which Children Have Balloons
  

• How to Childproof a Sculpture
  

• Dealing With Breakage And Repairs
  
  • An Ace in the Hole

• Dealing With Kids So They Aren't Afraid
  

• Dealing With Kids Who Are Too Young For Balloons
  
  • Drastic Measures Are Sometimes Called For

  • Don't Chew On Balloons Routine

  • Balloon Alternatives for Young Children

• Dealing With Indecision
  

• Dealing With Obnoxious Kids
  

• Dealing With Greedy Kids
  

• Dealing with Balloon Thieves
  

• Little Helpers
  

• Should I Make Weapons?
  
  • Boys will be boys...

  • Yes

  • Yes, but...

  • No, but...

  • Never, no way, not ever!

• Boys And Girls
  
  • Giving The Child The Choice

• Dealing With Parents/Relatives
  

• Losing/Keeping Control
  

• Miscellaneous
  • Child Abuse In The Line

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Twisting for other audiences

• Twisting For All Audiences
  

• Twisting for Teens
  

• Twisting for Obnoxious Teens
  
  • Dealing with hecklers

• Twisting for Adult Audiences
  

• Adult Sculptures
  

• Twisting for Elderly Audiences
  
  • Visiting Nursing Homes and Retirement Communities

• Twisting in Spanish
  

• Twisting for the Hearing Impaired
  

• Dealing with Latex Allergies

Balloon acts

Developing Your Balloon Act
Before You Go Onstage

Developing a Character

Developing Your Balloon Act

Ideas For Your Balloon Act
Routines

Balloon Magic

Story Telling with Balloons

Balloons and Comedy

Patter

Balloons and Music
Getting the Word Out

Your Act Comes Alive, With the Sound of Music...

Your Act Goes To Jail, With the Sound of Music...

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Entertainer Issues

Being An Entertainer
Entertaining Styles

Good vs. bad entertainers?

Entertaining and Crowd Control


Speed Twisting: Entertainer or Balloon Factory?

Performance Anxiety

Talking To Kids

Blue Material

Video Taping Your Show

The Top 18 Signs You've Hired the Wrong Clown for Your Child's Party

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Balloons at parties

Planning a Birthday Party

How Long

How Many

The Entertainer: Child Ratio

How Old

Entertainer or Coordinator?

Do You Wanna Party?

Preparing For A Party

Getting The Party Started

When The Show Doesn't Start On Time

It's Showtime

Getting The Show On The Road


Happy Birthday To You

So Many Balloons, So Little Time

So Many Balloons, So Little Time

Pre-Made Balloons

Speed Twisting


Maintaining Control at birthday parties
Crowd Control at Birthday Parties

Crowd Control at Chuck E Cheese

Saving The Best For Last

General Advice

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One-liners for balloon creations

• Retorts for requests

• Hey, that doesn't look like a XXXXX!"

• Retorts for repairs

• One-liners for kids
  • One-liners for kids who want more balloons

• What do they eat?

• General

• What to say when a balloon pops

• One-liners for pumps

• One-liners for balloon dogs

• One-liners for balls in balloons

• One-liners for adults

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Jokes and One-liners

• One-liners For Balloon Creations
  • Balloon Dogs
  • Fowl Requests

    Chickens

    Hens

    Birds

  • Fish
  • Giraffes
  • Pigs
  • Frogs
  • Rabbits
  • Elmo
  • Disney
  • Other Various Balloon Animals
• One-liners For Hats

  For adults:

• Hey, That Doesn't Look Like A XXXXX!"
• One-liners For Rejection

  For nice children who politely refuse:

  Nasty people who rudely refuse:

• One-liners for Crowd Control
• One-liners for Any Crowd
• One-liners For Kids
• One-liners For Kids Who Want More Balloons

  I Want. . .

• What Do They Eat?
• Are Those Special Balloons?
• How/Where Did You Learn This?

  How Did You Get Started Doing This?

  Where Did You learn How to Do This?

  Did You Go To School For That?

  How Long Have You Been Doing This?

  And For the Adults

• Are Those Special Balloons?

  YES:

  NO:

• What To Say When a Balloon POPS!
• One-liners For Pumps

  For adults:

• One-liners For Balls In Balloons
• One-liners For Adults
• One-liners For Jerks
• One-liners For Money
• General
• Additional Joke Sites

Balloons and teaching

• Teaching Children to Twist Balloons
  
  • Teaching Children to Twist Balloons (or, "It's a Dog's Life")
    

  • Teaching Elementary School Children
    

  • Teaching Handicapped Children
    

  • Teaching Children to Decorate with Balloons
    

  • General Advice
    

• Teaching Adults to Twist Balloons
  
  • Teaching Children to Decorate with Balloons
    

  • Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced: Where Do I Belong?
    

  • Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced: Fundamentals
    

  • Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced: Instructor's Point of View
    

  • How to Best Gage the Average Level of the Class
    

  • Other Things You Need To Know
    

• Suggested Curriculum Ideas
  
  • A Sample Curriculum for a 6 wk Class
    

  • Some Other Suggestions
    

• Using Balloons as a Tool for Demonstration
  

• Balloons as Rewards
  

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Facing the competition

• Encountering Other Twisters

• Competition Is Good For Business

• Don't Bad-Mouth the Competition

• Business Ethics - Respecting Professional Space

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The business of balloon decor

• *STARTING/RUNNING A BALLOON BUSINESS

• QUOTE TO START SECTION

• BUSINESS DECISIONS

• STARTING OUT

• PARTNERSHIPS

• HOME BASED BUSINESSES / STOREFRONT?

• "FTD" STYLE NETWORK FOR BALLOON DELIVERIES

• BUSINESS NAMES

• CONVEY A PROFESSIONAL IMAGE

• TAXES

• SALES TAX

• INSURANCE

• BALLOON VEHICLES

• PHONE ISSUES FOR HOME-BASED BIZ

• PAYING HIRED HELP

• TRAINING HELP

• THEFT

• CONTINGENCY PLANNING

• TAKING CHARGE (CARDS)

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Rules to live by

• California Law
  • The California Law

  • Comments on The California Law

  • Horror Stories

• Permits

• Rules For Malls

• Shop Rules - Keeping Workers Safe

• People Have No Respect For Balloons

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How to market yourself

• *ADVERTISING

• CLOTHESPINS

• PIONEER QBN/CBA MAGAZINE ADS

• DECK THE HALL/PORTFOLIOS

• PRESS RELEASES

• SIGN YOUR WORK

• WINDOW DISPLAYS

• DISPLAY BALLOONS CONSPICUOUSLY

• TARGET YOUR CUSTOMERS

• DIRECT MAILINGS

• IDEA BOOKS

• TRADING DECOR FOR EXPOSURE

• NETWORKING

• YELLOW PAGES

• COLD CALLING

• WHISTLE WHILE YOU WORK

• REPEAT BUSINESS

• SIGNS

• BRIDAL FAIRS / SHOWS

• BEFRIEND THE BALLOON RETAILERS

• REFERRALS

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Your valued customers

• *CUSTOMERS

• SERVICE WITH A SMILE

• MEETING CLIENTS

• QUOTES AND PROPOSALS

• SELLING

• SALES TERMINOLOGY

• PACKAGE DEALS

• REFERENCES

• CUSTOMERS WHO BRING THEIR OWN BALLOONS

• PROBLEM CUSTOMERS

• LAST MINUTE JOBS

• REFUSING SERVICE

• WORKING WITH EVENT PLANNERS

• PROMS

• RENTALS

• GETTING YOUR STUFF BACK

• LINEN RENTALS

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Determining what to charge

• *PRICING

• PRICING Long-Lasting Decor

• PRICING HELIUM BALLOONS

• PRICING ARCHES

• HOLIDAY PRICING

• PRICE SETTING STRATEGY

• THEY'LL PAY FOR GREAT WORK

• SURPRISE DELIVERIES

• FREE DELIVERY

• DOING JOBS FOR FREE

• WHAT IS YOUR TIME WORTH?

• WEEKEND RATES

• COMMUNITY SIZE AND PRICING

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Facing the competition

• On competition
  • Reviews and Impressions

  • You Get What You Pay For

  • Party City Is My Friend

  • Party City Is My Supplier

  • All Is Lost! Oh, Woe Is Me

  • On The Bright Side

  • It's All In The Delivery

  • The Customer Speaks
• Party Chains (Party City)

• Competing With Other Retailers

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Vending Balloons

• Vending Balloons

• Vending Balloons at Fairs

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Volunteering and Donating to Charity

• Why Volunteer?

• Don Dixon on Business Donations

• How to Handle Requests to Work at Charity Functions

• Getting Paid For Charity Functions?
  • Doing It For Free

  • Doing It For Tips

  • Doing It For a Discount

  • Doing It For a Write-off

  • Doing It in Exchange

  • Doing It For Exposure
• Donating to Charities? -- ALWAYS!

• Donating to Charities? -- NEVER!

• Donating to Charities? -- MAYBE!

• Volunteering at Hospitals

• Restrictions at Hospitals: Latex Allergies, etc.

• Volunteering at Nursing Homes

Contracts for Balloon Professionals

• Business Contracts

• Confirmation

• Deposits and Cancellations

• No contract?

• Sample Contracts for Balloon Artists
  • Additional Material

  • Agent Contract

  • Client Contract

  • Information Sheet

  • Liability Release

  • Deco and Twister Contract

  • 13 Point Contract

  • Short and Sweet

  • Wait, don't go away - there's more

How balloons impact health

• Health Benefits

• Health Complications
  • Introduction

  • Fainting, Seizures, Etc.

  • Headaches

  • Eyes

  • Ears

  • Sinuses
    • Surgical Emphysema

  • Mouth

  • Cheeks

  • Neck, Shoulders and Back

  • Throat

  • Choking (General)

  • Choking (Journal of the AMA)

  • Lungs

  • Arms and Wrists

  • Hands and fingers

  • Latex allergies

  • Wildlife

  • Miscellaneous Health Problems

• Use of Balloons in Surgical Procedures

• Balloon-Related Diseases (Jokes)

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Balloon science 101

• Stupid Pet Tricks

• Hysteresis effects in Latex

• Entropy and the second law of thermodynamics as applied to latex

• Effect of water and ozone on balloons

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

How helium-filled balloons float

• Why do balloons float?

• What sculptures can I make that will float?

• What can I do with floating sculptures?

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

How balloons pop

• How Do Balloons Pop?

• Why Do Balloons Go Bang?

• Balloons at High Altitudes - when do they pop?

• Why Do Balloons Go Bang?

• The Big Bang Theory

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Buying balloons

• Heartfelt Testimonials

• Balloon Distributors: The people & companies we know and love!

• Balloon Distributors: Other Balloon Sources in the United States

• Balloon Distributors: Other Balloon Sources, Worldwide

• Wait, don't go away - there's more

Congratulations!

• What can you give?

• The BHQ support hat

BHQ Editors

BHQ Contributors

BHQ Sponsors

• Balloon Manufacturers

• Manufacturers of Balloon Related Products

• Balloon Supplies and Apparel

• Educational Materials and Events