Date: Sun, 20 May 2001 23:08:09 -0700
To: balloon@balloonhq.com
From: Sondance <sondance@sondance.com>
Subject: Re: Professional vs. Amateur

At 07:34 AM 5/20/01 -0400, Jack Porcello wrote:
>There is a company of jugglers in my area whom I have had the good fortune
>to work with a few times, and their costumes aren't too far off of this
>(except the nose and shoes!).  I know, they don't call themselves clowns
>so it isn't the same, etc.  However, just looking at them would give you
>the perception that they were unprofessional.  These guys are great, the
>crowd loves them, and they work in coopoeration with other entertainers so
>well that I look forward to working with them.

I understand what you mean. From your description, it sounds like they 
could be described as "performance artists" or "circus style performers". 
But the fact that they HAD some skills (GOOD skills, from what you 
describe) still puts them in a whole 'nother category, in my opinion.

>Some individuals use balloon sculpting as a means to draw attention to
>specific causes, as is demonstrated by the artists involved in Balloons
>Around The World.  As sharing this message was apparently more important
>to this individual than getting paid, he pursued his choice.  If his
>balloon sculpting was substandard, it would only make you look better in
>the long run.

I know, and I fully support (and participate myself) in causes such as 
Balloons Around the World. The reason I brought it up was NOT to knock 
Christian clowning or balloon twisting, which I am totally for (when it's 
done WELL), but to illustrate the fact that this yahoo was depicting both 
clowning and Christianity in a very unfavorable light. For the record, his 
balloon skills were not bad. Nothing to write home about, but definitely 
not sub-standard.


>I've found that the best way to avoid having that bother me is to avoid
>"these kinds of events" altogether.  There are several of these sort in my
>area as well.  I just don't bother.  If the customer is happy simply to
>have a warm body twisting balloons, then they aren't looking for me!


Now THAT I COMPLETELY agree with you on. And I've lost many a job because 
of it, too. Some that I would have rather taken, simply because I needed 
the money at the time, too. But, I have this bad habit of not compromising 
my integrity, which is what I would be doing by giving people what they ASK 
for instead of what they want. When a place calls me looking for a clown, I 
ask them what their goals are. Well, they say, we want a clown to entertain 
our customers and make the day extra special. When I try to convey, in the 
most subtle way I can (I know what you're thinking), that handing out 
balloon animals willy-nilly is going to accomplish just exactly the REVERSE 
of what they're shooting for, they think I'm crazy. A few times, I've had 
the satisaction of talking to the people afterwards, and listening to THEM 
tell ME how "unsuccessful" their event was. They tell me about 50 kids 
whining and crying because the single balloon twisting clown couldn't 
handle them fast enough. They tell me about the impatient parents 
complaining about the long wait. They tell me about the clown who just 
stood there twisting- without being funny, entertaining, or even 
personable. Now, I NEVER say "I told you so", but I HAVE said things like, 
"Well, I know what you mean, I've seen that happen all too many times. Next 
time, let's try what I suggested when we talked, and I think you'll have a 
better idea of what I was talking about." But- and this is the part that 
BUGS me- they just say they "can't afford it", and end up hiring some OTHER 
cheapie next time around, and end up just as disappointed as before. I know 
I shouldn't let it bother that people are so adamantly opposed to LEARNING 
from their mistakes, but it does.



>Not too long ago I was at a school event.  My performance, which is a
>combination of storytelling and balloon sculpting, does not generally
>include balloon handouts.  About an hour into the event, a young man
>arrived with a balloon hat, and started making balloons animals to hand
>out.  He knew about 6 different things.  Kids swarmed him at first, but
>after a while it was just more of the same, and they came back to me.

 From one performer to another, wouldn't it be great if the people in 
CHARGE of these events would notice things like that? The EL Crappo's would 
quickly become extinct if the people making the arrangements took notice of 
who the crowd gravitates to, and who they stay away from.

>Looks like that would be the best favor they could do for you, actually.
>Why bother with this type of customer?

Yes, I agree. But keep in mind, I was not working for the EVENT, I was 
working for a vendor WITHIN the event. I would not have "taken" the event 
the way it was offered to Garcia-boy.