Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 14:15:38 -0400 (EDT)
From: Larry Moss <moss@balloonhq.com>
To: Balloon Twister List <balloon@balloonhq.com>
Subject: Re: Speed vs WHAT?

On Mon, 17 Apr 2000, Franklin wrote:

> All I have heard in the last month is The pump is too slow, 
> [...]
> SO! If someone would explain to me please, Just why is it so necessary to be
> so darn fast?

It all depends on your style and what you're used to.  I don't think anyone
is saying that it's unprofessional to have a slow pump.  I also read enough
positive comments about the pump that I've been considering picking one up
just to add to my collection.  Not everyone has a problem with the speed.

I do like a faster pump.  This is nothing but opinion.  Here goes ...

What makes balloon twisting fun for me is the twisting and the interaction
with the audience.  There's nothing interesting about the inflation part.
I don't want to take 10 seconds to inflate a balloon.  Sure that's 10
seconds for another joke, but that isn't always what I'm looking for.  If
my pump can accomplish the job faster than I need it to, I can waste
whatever time I want.  If 3 balloons in a row pop while I'm on stage, that
may translate into 30 seconds of wasted time.  That's a long time for an
audience to stare at me.  Even with extra patter, 30 seconds can easily
throw off the timing of the performance.  It's momentary.  It's easy to
recover.  But I have a very carefully scripted stage show.  I dont' want
surprises.

Now, the solution to the timing problem is simple enough.  I actually
inflate most of the balloons I use in my show before the show starts.
There are a few balloons that do get inflated as part of the show (which is
where the above-mentioned timing problem comes up).  Now, if I'm going to
use 200 balloons in my hour long show, and I have to inflate them all
before hand (a lot of them are 350s so they take even longer to inflate)
that's a lot of time to stand around prepping the stage.  Again, it's not
that it's necessary to have a faster pump.  I just do enough of these shows
that I'd rather spend the money on a faster pump and know I can get through
the setup faster.

You asked why people care about speed.  I've given you my reasons.  I'm
sure other people have other reasons.

As a side note, when I'm really pressed for time, I still mouth inflate all
the balloons for the show.  That's still fastest for me.

Larry Moss
BalloonHQ.com