From: RLBMagic@aol.com
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2000 10:52:38 EDT
Subject: 13 year olds!!!!
To: balloon@balloonhq.com

<< I will have my first paid party to go to that will have  20, 13 yr. old  
BOYS!! >>

First tappy tap your way over to The Guide and read everything. Take it from 
someone who does Bar and Bat Mitzvahs - 13 year olds can be a *very* tough 
crowd. Hormones are a-flowin', primitive and not so primitive dominance 
rituals abound, and you are plopping yourself in the middle of them. That 
being said, if you can right from the start come off as someone who is 
relaxed yet energized, self-confidant (but not falsely over confidant) and in 
control of your own part of the party the show can be a hoot. 

Multi Person Balloon Connector hats, which have been written about the list 
before, can be a big hit. (You make a hat base for each kid you're going to 
connect and connect them with 260s, and hang some twisty stuff between them.) 
Unless you plan on replacing balloons for the entire party and cleaning up 
the broken breakables in the room I do not recommend swords, which are really 
for younger kids - if your ethics permit you to make them at all.

One way to help gain control is not to give them choices. Others on the list 
may tell you exactly the opposite. You should also not start simple and do 
more complicated stuff later, because the earlier kids will then want the 
fancier stuff. Some of this balloon jealousy is unavoidable, as Balloons are 
Always Greener On the Other Kids' Heads. Don't give in to it.

Don't let them see you sweat. Basically though, have fun!

Richard