Date: Fri, 18 Aug 2000 10:34:19 -0700
Subject: Re: Bad areas of town.
From: "John M. Holmes" <bloonman@airmail.net>
To: balloon@balloonhq.com

Hello pop artists,
It's been awhile since I've posted. John, The Balloon Man here.

>From: Justin a Hamilton
>I just waited to see the film crew for C.O.P.S. show up and record. 

If they had, I bet you'd have whipped out a balloon! I know I would
have! Just  don't pop one. I had an officer pull his piece once when
that happened. REALLY!!

>From:sirtwistalot@juno.com
>I would like to start out by saying, I grew up for the first half of
my
>life, in one of those, "Bad Areas.".

So did I.

>From: Gary Cole
>I've done my share of gigs is South Dallas where the crime rate is
very >high.

So have I.

>From: "Curtis Robins"
>Some of the most fun jobs I have done has been in the bad part of
town.

Same here.

>From: "Ross MacRae" 
>I have paid my dues and done all the shows I care to do in those
parts 
>of town - quit doing them after I saw the pistol on the table in the 
>same room with me and all those kids.

WOW! I've never had that yet. I was going to jokingly say, "Why not
just load up the ol' Grendl P-30, stuff a couple of extra full clips
in your pocket and go have some real fun.", but somehow, it just
doesn't seem to hold the humor I thought it had. Actually, after
thinking about it, I believe that seeing a pistol on the table would
not change my mind about going to "THAT" part of town. I'd still go.
At worst, I might ask the folks for "Hazzardous Duty Pay". At best, I
might just say, "Please put that thing away until I leave or I can't
stay. I need to have a fear free work place.". 

>From: Mark Balzer 
>So my follow-up question is, why do you people think that it's better

>to lie to a caller than to tell him the truth?
>the Guide (a decorator chapter) has a  safe, HONEST, method for 
>turning down risky work that you don't want. I suggest that 
>everyone search it out.

Testy, eh Mark? I kind of wondered the same thing, though. Also, I
knew that we could count on you to "GUIDE" us along, but it's nice to
read something from you, once in awhile, in addition to your usual
"Guiding Light", that btw, is good for searching things out.

>From: AeraDeco@aol.com
>You want to be a true professional? You go where your client wants
you 
>to be...it's that simple.

I know that there are exceptions to the rule, but as "rules of thumb"
I go ! This last one just about sums it up for me. I doubt that any of
us would blame anyone for not going where they don't feel safe, but
neither should we feel less professional because we don't mind going
where the need is. In 1993 I got cornered in a biker bar in New
Orleans LA(I was having a burger & a root beer) with my pink and green
socks on and twisted my first Harley-Davidson, just to get out of
there with my skin. You'd be surprised what you're capable of when the
right incentive is brought to bare. The place was called the "Hickory
Dickory Bar & Grill". It was very clean and nice looking. If you're
ever down that way, stop in and you'll see for yourself that it
doesn't look like a biker bar. Wrong place, wrong time, that's all. 

Also, I was forced by traffic to take the wrong highway and as I
exited to get turned back around, my car broke down right around dark
in one of the absolute worst areas of Southeast Dallas. A tapping on
my window and a big smiling face almost sent me into shock. The
genlteman, and I do mean, gentleman asked if I planned to be there
long. I told him that if my car hadn't broken down, I would not be
there at all. He didn't want to be out after dark in that area either
and was really struggling with whether or not to help me out or leave
me on my own. I popped out a balloon, blew it up and asked him if he
had any kids(another good reason to always, ALWAYS carry some
balloons). Two hours later, after the gentleman had gone to get a fuel
filter and installed it in my car, I was ready to go home. We actually
had us a block party til 9:00 pm. All the kids came out from up and
down the street. Mom's & dad's were everywhere. I doubt that any
crooks would have braved that crowd to try and rob me, but you just
never know. Oh, yeah. I forgot to mention that I left with $46.00 more
than I started with and a mess of vittles that took me two days of
snacking to finish off, AND I LIKE SOUTHERN COOKING ! ! ! Ever had
FRESH cooked collard greens? Mmm!

>From: Need2tri@aol.com
>Being a clown, and having faith in my creator, I go wherever I am
asked 
>to go. In 7 yrs of clowning, I have not refused a job no matter
where.

Halleluia, Hi-Pockets! I know just how you feel. Of course, I always
ask first and then go if it's okay with the boss. It usually is,
though.

>From: "Magic Chistopher" 
>But I think the real reason I don't run into trouble is that anybody
who
>harasses a birthday clown or magician is going to be perceived by his
>peers (or fellow gangmembers) as a real loser. Put yourself in that
>position, what stature would you gain by getting the better of a
birthday >clown?

Now THAT'S a funny picture! I don't see them wasting their time on
something that will get them laughed at more than it would you.
HAHAHAH!!!!! LOL, alot! 

>From: Imaflibbertygibb@aol.com
>Mostly, IF you have the courage to take a gig there, remember, their 
>laughter and smiles, and looks of delight/wonder are precious jewels 
>in your crown

OOOooooooooooow! I want jewels in my crown, too. And I just thought
the smiles and such were their own reward. You mean I get paid good
money to do this and I get to enjoy the precious looks of wonder on
the faces of those I touch with what I do and I get rewarded later,
too? Come on ! ! 
All kidding aside, though, I do this alomst as much for the money as
for the delight in their eyes and the smiles on their faces. I've made
more money doing other things than balloons, but I've never made
better money or easier money.

>Uncle Curt said:
>Some of the people save all they can so their kid can
>have a clown.  They deserve the best I can do, and I give it to them.
>HOWEVER.   Some of the type of people that live in those areas will
book >the first entertainer that they get ahold of, and then shop
around for the
>cheapest.  If you are lucky, they will call and cancell you.  If not,
you
>show up at the door and get cancelled.

The financially disadvantaged do save their money to give their kid's
the best they can and they do deserve the best I have to give, but
I've found that the rich people tend to book and shop then book and
drop more than the poor folks do.

>From: roxycarr@aol.com
>I think it's all well and good that some of you travel to these areas
but I >am a 30 year old girl under 120 pounds.  I've already been
jumped once >when I was in costume.

Even though I, myself and many others on this list would and do go to
these "BAD" areas in the towns where we live, I have a 5 foot 2 inch,
28 year old daughter who does balloons, and I promise you that I never
book her into the areas we have been discussing. I don'y even know if
she would go or not. I never asked.  I wouldn't book her and I
wouldn't book you, Roxy, out of respect. Call me sexist if you wish,
but it would not make it so. Lorna Paris touched on the difference
between racism & realism in her post. I believe that this falls into
place with that. Calling a realist a sexist for convenience sake
actually looks worse for the finger pointer. You all know it's true
that no one likes a tattle tale, right or wrong. Thank you Roxy &
Lorna for a touch of realism. I needed that.

>From: LLDiva@aol.com
>Another thing I might mention as an aside - those of us doing
Balloons >Across America - how about finding something in an
underprivileged area >to do for the volunteer thing?

Way to GO ! ! !     I LIKE IT ! ! !   I've been meaning to join this.
No time like the present. Jeff, I live in the Dalls, Texas area. Whose
heading it up down here? 

Now for my "aside". How many of us are from poorer upbringings? How
many of us had our monetary stature in life lifted when we discovered
balloons? How many of us would be MUCH worse off than we are, were it
not for a skinny piece of tree sap? How many of us, having never
really known much happiness before balloons, came to understand a real
joy of living after we found the gift of ballooning? If even one of
these questions touches your heart, then you are in good company. If
not even one relates, then I would ask,"Do you know the meaning of the
word mercenary?". A merecenay is one who does a job merely for the
money. It's that one word "merely" that sets wrong with me. Don't get
me wrong, I don't want any of the "mercenaries" to quit doing balloons
for two reasons.
#1. They could have a change of heart. many do. I would like to see
that happen to all of them.
#2. They make me look oh so much better and more fun, too!

I just had to address this issue. Sorry for the size of the post.
John, The Balloon Man