From: "John Michael Stevens" <joyfulnoise@uswest.net>
To: "Balloon List" <balloon@balloonhq.com>
Subject: Magic Pipe
Date: Thu, 13 Jul 2000 06:32:01 -0700

Hey Listers!

I'm probably way behind the rest of you, but I just got a Magic Pipe
yesterday, and have been having a lot of fun with it...putting everything I
can get my hands on into 260's.  This takes me back to the discussion on
pre-inflated balloons, and gives it a whole new meaning.  You could
pre-inflate the balloons, insert toys or party favors, take them to the
party, then twist them into figures.  Of course, this technique is so fast
and easy (did it the very first time, and each time thereafter with no
problems*), that a person could easily do it right at the gig also.  I
believe it would be fascinating for the kids to watch it being done.  With a
little practice, I think the maneuver could be accomplished so swiftly that
your audience cannot even tell what you're doing, or how.  The Magic Pipe
can almost be concealed by my hand(s), and for a person with larger hands,
even less of a  problem.  (No, I'm not selling them.  You'll have to go
elsewhere for that.)

Have fun!

*Well, two problems arose:  if using a dollar bill, it has a tendency to
unfoll and expand enough where it doesn't want to readily fall into the
balloon through the opening.  I had to shake it several times.  Also, you
must be careful when re-tying the balloon that you tie below where the nail
pierced it, so that you have no air leakage.  Then there's a longer "tail"
hanging there that, IMHO, is unsightly and should be cut off, which just
adds to your "time factor."