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General_Magician Special user United States 707 Posts |
Well, I am a beginner balloon twister. I have been learning most of my balloon animals from YouTube. I also decided to get the Balloon School from Penguin Magic as part of a "Choose 5 for $99." I couldn't justify buying the download alone for the price they were asking for, so I found a few good tricks that I think would be worth buying and got it as part of a deal with Penguin, which gave me a significant discount. Probably saved anywhere between $50-$80 with the deal I went with. Is this balloon school download good for a beginner like myself?
"Never fear shadows. They simply mean there is a light shining somewhere nearby." -unknown
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The Mighty Fool Inner circle I feel like a big-top tent having 2140 Posts |
If it's the one with Joe Montella, I have it & it was one of the first vids I ever learned from. His mermaid is AWESOME. To this day, I think I get more compliments on that design than any other. All the others are fairly easy & quick, but as you go on learning, I garuntee you'll find way better designs for swords, girrafes, ladybugs & flowers.
Everybody wants to beleive.....we just help them along.
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Josho Special user Albany, New York 758 Posts |
I got this video recently, and I wish I'd had it 44 years ago, when I first started twisting. Tons of great advice and good figures to learn. I've particularly enjoyed learning his Diamond Ring. Took me a few tries to figure out the construction, but now I can't make enough of 'em.
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General_Magician Special user United States 707 Posts |
Well, I did plenty of magic and balloon twisting today in the hot sun for a festival called Vet Fest which is held for veterans. I would do a small magic show and then afterwards twist balloons for the kids at the show. Even had a few adults want some of the balloon animals. Right now I twist an elementary poodle dog, basic sword and a butterfly which requires two different colored balloons. Today was a good opportunity to get plenty of practice in.
"Never fear shadows. They simply mean there is a light shining somewhere nearby." -unknown
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TKD27 Elite user Wallingford, CT 458 Posts |
I bought Balloon School when I first started, then dove in to YouTube while I waited. By the time the DVD came I had learned everything it had to offer. I actually went back to the DVD recently just to see how the designs are now that I know what I'm doing and I couldn't believe how terrible they are. I really wouldn't recommend this DVD. If it was available 40 years ago, yeah, it would have been fantastic. But not today.
FWIW, I think his mermaid is terrible. The way he does a pop twist is VERY insecure... if you're doing a pop twist you should do two pinch twists (or preferably a split twist). One pinch twist is asking for trouble. The best mermaid I've ever seen is Mark Byrne's. It's available on YouTube, though the camera work is poor and hard to follow. He also has it on one of his DVDs, but I don't remember which one. It's probably my favorite line work design to make and usually the first thing I recommend to a girl in my line.
Connecticut Kids' Magician, Matt Matthews (formerly known as Matt The Balloon Man)
Magic Shows, Face Paintingand, Balloon twisters. |
ellisd Veteran user Sacramento 330 Posts |
Also the first balloon dvd I purchased. I like it. I thought it was pretty good for a beginner.
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Dollarbill Inner circle Colorado 1005 Posts |
TDK. Seriously? For. a beginner?
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TKD27 Elite user Wallingford, CT 458 Posts |
Quote:
On Sep 6, 2014, Dollarbill wrote: For a beginner, what? Do you mean Mark Byrne's mermaid? If so, yes. It's no harder than the one taught on Balloon School. In fact I'd say that most of Mark's designs are good for beginners. I mean - I guess it depends how you define beginner. I think it's a good idea to start with the real simple balloons like the dog and bear, but after a week you can comfortably be on to more elaborate (but still beginner) balloons. Just my opinion, though.
Connecticut Kids' Magician, Matt Matthews (formerly known as Matt The Balloon Man)
Magic Shows, Face Paintingand, Balloon twisters. |
ellisd Veteran user Sacramento 330 Posts |
Quote:
On Sep 7, 2014, TKD27 wrote: No. I was referring to the original post about Montella's Balloon School Dvd which get's mixed reviews. I happen to like it and think it was pretty decent to start out with. As far as Mark's stuff while I have never attempted his mermaid I currently do his shark and dolphin hat and am adding his Funky Monkey Hat and Clownfish Hat to my line up. I really like his one eyed alien on the very first Bad to the Balloon dvd but can't seem to get the proper measurement on the arms and always end up with one long and one short. Oops getting off topic. Sorry. |
Juliegel Loyal user 294 Posts |
A couple years ago I probably would have suggested Balloon School as a good starting resource. It has useful info and informative camera angles. Unfortunatly for this DVD the balloon world is moving at an extremly fast pace. A standard balloon twister today would easily run circles around the info on this DVD. Around the time this DVD was released Mike Floyd was the only real name in youtube twisting and he was teaching 1 balloon dogs and cats. These days you can learn top quality sculptures from many youtube channels.
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NYCTwister Loyal user 267 Posts |
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On Oct 3, 2014, Juliegel wrote: Agreed. YouTube can take you from beginner to an above average twister without needing anything else. (Well except for the balloons of course ) The playlists on Mr Bomas channel alone will keep a beginner busy for many, many months.
If you need fear to enforce your beliefs, then your beliefs are worthless.
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Josho Special user Albany, New York 758 Posts |
I'm also impressed with the vast amount of information cataloged on bibaballoons.com
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TKD27 Elite user Wallingford, CT 458 Posts |
Quote:
On Oct 3, 2014, ellisd wrote: I actually think his newer one eyed monster from Badder 2 the Balloon 3 is much better than the first one (they're probably called different things, but they're both Mike Wazoski, without invoking a trademarked name). I've had a little trouble getting the proportions right on the second one in order to make it a hat, but I don't really ever do it as a hat anyway, so it's no big deal. I absolutely love the way he connects the legs in to the rest of the balloon... it's really clever and looks better than other versions I've seen (including the one from his first DVD). You should give the mermaid a try, but I think he's simplified the way he does the hair since he shot the DVD. I learned it from him at one of his lectures... if you ever see Mark in person, ask him to show you how to do it. It's fantastic. On a side note, if you ever see Mark in person, also ask him to show you his Batman. Either of those designs is worth the price of his lecture
Connecticut Kids' Magician, Matt Matthews (formerly known as Matt The Balloon Man)
Magic Shows, Face Paintingand, Balloon twisters. |
Joe Montella New user 4 Posts |
I want to thank you all for commenting on my DVD I did many years ago... Actually it was 13yrs ago long before youtube or many other balloon DVDS. I know when I pitched the idea one comment was they never saw a balloon DVD sell for more than 10.00 a copy... I hope I provided value to all who purchased it. There are some new and amazing balloon DVDs out there and who knows maybe I will even create a new updated version. That DVD took all of two days to shoot and two years to get edited and ready for sale... Maybe someday I will tell the whole story. Thanks for all the thoughts and comments (good and bad) it is very appreciated to hear. If you ever find yourself in Phoenix AZ I now have a brick and mortar magic shop.
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