From: "Shansu Ellwood" <shansu@mediaone.net> To: "Balloon" <balloon@balloonhq.com> Subject: advice? -Long. Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2000 08:52:21 -0700 OK, fellow twisters, I need some advice! This weekend I went to a local mall that had an exhibit about Australia. I went with my balloons, but wanted to ask someone if it was OK if I twisted before I started. I also took my protégé and HIS balloons. We walked into the main tent and one of the employees asked about the balloons. I made her a ladybug bracelet and when she asked "how much" I just told her I take tips if people want to give them to me. If they don't, that's fine too. She tipped me and the lady next to her (running the show I think) said we were free to twist within the exhibit as long as we weren't charging. Getting tips was fine. We twisted for about 15 or so minutes, including my protégé getting his picture taken for the paper. The reporter wanted to know where he learned to twist, and he told the guy I had taught him. The reporter left. Guess I am just too old... <grin> Anyway after a few more minutes (and a couple of non-tippers) my protégé wanted to go "somewhere else." Like in the mall. I explained that you have to get PERMISSION to twist in a mall but he insisted we go "check it out." Well, he is 16, he gets bored easily. So we went into the mall. I know that mall sometimes has a couple of twisters- I looked for them but didn't find anyone. One of the mall employees told me where the other twister usually works but there was no one there. We wandered around a bit and then went home. When I got home I called the store, asked who their twister was. The manager said she didn't know his name but they ( he and his friends) only came SOME Saturdays, no set schedule. She said I was welcome to come twist any day he wasn't here, as long as I called first. So- the problems. How do I get my "kid" to quit looking for a "bigger, better deal?" He gets restless whenever we don't have a line, and wants to move on if he gets a couple of people that don't tip. I try to explain that sometimes that happens, but he is WAY too focused on the $$. We have twisted in malls together before- when things slow down he leaves to wander the mall. OK, but boring for me- I am standing around alone looking stupid, just twisting for practice, and he isn't around if I DO get a line! (I usually stand in one spot in front of a store- I have yet to find a way to get mall management to return my calls...) And- later that night, I went to a restaurant and saw the "mall" twister working. (OK, I tracked him down!) I told him how much I loved the things he does, and how great they are. He did a Taz for me that was great. I talked to him about jamming or learning from him. My husband gave the twister HIS card (computer tech) but we didn't get one from the twister. Just a first name we both forgot. So- What if I want to figure out how he made his Taz? Should I ask him first (tracking him down if I need to?) He said he created it himself, and can do over 2000 things, including ten or twelve different motorcycles. I would love to learn from this guy! But he seemed kind of lukewarm to the idea. I THINK I know how to do it- but would it be wrong to do his creation without asking him first? He said there is a big group of people he twists with, that get together a lot- they send the money they make overseas to improve people's lives. Great- but how do I LEARN some of this stuff??? Anybody got any advice? Did I do wrong by tracking him down to learn one of his sculptures? He wouldn't show me how to make it, but he DID give me the finished model. I saw him turn down a tip from someone else- so my hubby didn't tip him, but we DID tell the manager how great he was. Dunno if he was working for a fee or what. Didn't have time to ask. But I would LOVE to do the Taz he did for me- I just don't want to do "wrong" by doing another twister's creation without his permission. Thanks a bunch! Shansu Ellwood shansu@bigfoot.com Handmade Glass Spindles (Jewelry too!) http://shansu.iwarp.com