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Marc Levine Regular user South Florida 125 Posts |
I just went to a pulmonologist and took a breathing test. I was able to blow over six liters of air out of my lungs - supposedly an incredible amount. However, I have much trouble blowing up the lousy 260's. I can do 2 or 3 baloons, but with much effort and after the third I start feeling funny. I have seen many balloonists blow up countless balloons with seemingly no effort, and often times the full length in one blow. I was wondering if there is a trick to blowing them up by mouth. Clearly I don't lack lung power. I like the look of blowing them up by mouth, and I feel it appears more professional. Any help is greatly appreciated.
(please spare me the posts about blowing up by mouth being disgusting or unsanitary, as that is not the topic at hand...thank you) |
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Ron Reid Inner circle Phoenix, Arizona 2732 Posts |
Hi Marc:
It's not lung power you need - it's diaphram power. If you use your lungs, you always have trouble. It is a process - I learned by reading some of postings at http://www.balloonhq.com - there are some sections for balloon twisters. There are quite a few posting on how to blow up the balloons. Here's what helped me. From what I understand, the diaphram is below the lungs - in the belly area. So, rather than expanding your chest, you expand your stomach. I also found that a downward push helps. It's extremely hard for me to explain. I think some trial and error is what you need. But know that you are building up muscles you don't normally use this way, so you need to increase your strength. I hope this helps you. Ron |
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Stevethomas Inner circle Southern U.S.A. 3728 Posts |
Ron, you're exactly right. Also, Marc, you mentioned the VOLUME of air you had and not the force. As a guy who can mouth inflate upwards of 500-600 balloons at a festival before getting tired...trust me, it's just something that comes with time, and I don't recommend it.
Steve Thomas |
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Carl Skenes New user 96 Posts |
Marc,
Back in the early 70's, when I started working with balloons, it was hard for me to inflate more than one or two without getting light-headed. It took me 3 or 4 weeks to develop the skills needed to do it correctly. Use your diaphragm to force the air up and use your cheeks as a bellows to help speed it out. If you start to feel dizzy, then stop for the day. Over a very short time, you will build up the muscles needed in order to mouth inflate with ease. Remember, this is a acquired skill and doesn't happen overnight, so pace yourself. Carl |
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Joe Howard Loyal user The Peoples Republic of Massachusetts 204 Posts |
When I teach balloooning I explain inflating the balloons this way.
You need to take a deep breath and push all the air down into the bottom of your belly, then you need to push all that air back up with your stomach muscles and out your mouth without stopping anywhere. Don't let the air stop in your chest, or your cheeks, just push it straight into the balloon. Essentially you're using your diaphram to push the air, I find that but most kids ( and a lot of adults) don't know what I mean by that, so I use the term "belly" instead. Like Carl mentioned, it's hard at first, but you build up the muscles and skills as time goes on. I try not to let the air go into my cheeks, so I don't end up like Dizzy Gillespie. I'm pretty sure there is some information on what can happen to your cheeks at BHQ. Joe H |
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RiffClown Inner circle Yorktown, Virginia (Previously Germany) 1579 Posts |
The advice given by Joe H above is excellent. I'd like to add that stretching the first inch of the ballon by closing the whole ballon off an inch away from the nozzle and pinching a small bit right at the nozzle will aid in getting that first bubble. After you get that, please don't let the back pressure deflate the ballon or you could hurt yourself. I inflated my saliva glands once and bought a pump.
Rob "Riff, the Magical Clown" Eubank aka RiffClown
<BR>http://www.riffclown.com <BR>Magic is not the method, but the presentation. |
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Marc Levine Regular user South Florida 125 Posts |
Thanks guys. This has been extremely helpful. I think I understand what you mean by using your stomach and not your chest. I too found that it helps to stretch the first inch and block off a small section to get the first bubble. I think Joe said it best: "push all the air down into the bottom of your belly, then you need to push all that air back up with your stomach muscles and out your mouth without stopping anywhere. Don't let the air stop in your chest, or your cheeks, just push it straight into the balloon". I'll keep you posted on my progress. Thanks again!
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Joe Howard Loyal user The Peoples Republic of Massachusetts 204 Posts |
I forgot to mention the getting a small bubble first, thanks Rob. I do use my cheeks for this, but you are only putting a small amount of air in the balloon. Then take a big breath, and inflate the rest of the balloon as described.
have fun, Joe H |
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JoeJoe Inner circle Myrtle Beach 1915 Posts |
After a long nights blowing up balloons, I tend to start croching down to help ... from the standing position, just croch down tightening your ab muscles as you go down. Use the ab muscles to help push the diaphram up. This should help a beginner.
And if your not a beginner it makes for interesting showmanship to explain "ok, this is what everybody wants to see - watch closely" and blow the entire balloon up with one breath using your full body (gives them something to watch other than just the balloon inflating). I always follow with some sort of joke, along the lines of "now if only I could stand back up". Or "now if only I could do that without a headache". Or "now comes the part everyone wanted to see - I'm about to pass out!". JoeJoe
Amazing JoeJoe on YouTube[url=https://www.youtube.com/user/AmazingJoeJoe]
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Joe Howard Loyal user The Peoples Republic of Massachusetts 204 Posts |
There's a lot of comedy potential there. Sometime's I'll start panting like I lost my breath. When someone asks why I don't use a pump, I'll tell them I have one implanted in my chest. I'll tell them if they listen closely they can hear it. Then I inflate the balloon while making a flutter sound with my tongue, and it sounds like an electric air pump. Often they'll ask, "Don't you get light headed ?". I answer, "Of course ! That's why I do this, it's cheaper than drugs". ( Obviously don't say this with kids around.)
Joe H Posted: Nov 17, 2005 6:29pm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JoeJoe mentioned long nights of twisting. You can get really tired and your body can get stiff from being in the same position for too long. Make sure you take time to stretch your arms and hands every so often. if there is a really small child in line, I'll crouch down to talk to him/her face to face, but it also helps me by stretching my back, legs, and knees. Keep a water bottle handy as well. With each puff of air you lose a little moisture, after several hours you've lost a lot of moisture, especially in the warm weather. You need to keep hydrated. Joe H |
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JoeJoe Inner circle Myrtle Beach 1915 Posts |
Quote:
if there is a really small child in line, I'll crouch down to talk to him/her face to face, but it also helps me by stretching my back, legs, and knees. Keep a water bottle handy as well. With each puff of air you lose a little moisture, after several hours you've lost a lot of moisture, especially in the warm weather. You need to keep hydrated. I always crouch down to give them to the little kids. I'm beginning to wonder how many more years I'll be able to keep doing this? lol In addition to water ... you should have lotion. My hands tend to get really dry after twisting, the popped ones leave powder all over you that can really dry your hands out. JoeJoe
Amazing JoeJoe on YouTube[url=https://www.youtube.com/user/AmazingJoeJoe]
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Joe Howard Loyal user The Peoples Republic of Massachusetts 204 Posts |
Hey JoeJoe, (sounds like Jimi Hendrix record with a skip),
I'm sure you can go on for quite a while still. You're younger than me and I'm still twisting. A good indication of when to think about giving it up will be when you crouch down to give a balloon to a little kid, and you stay there I hate that powder. I try and keep a packet of baby wipes with me. My hands get so dirty looking from the powder as well as drying out. It's funny when a balloon pops and the kids see the powder and think it's smoke. Joe H |
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michaelwriting New user Kenosha, WI 55 Posts |
Of course, blowing is part of it, but I also think there's sort of a knack to it. I blew my first Qualatex 260 by mouth at a balloon seminar. I actually blacked out and was trying with all my might to keep myself standing up so I wouldn't embarrass myself in front of everyone. Talk about blowing your brains out.
In addition to the blowing, you have to ever-so-slightly pull on the end of the 260 as you start blowing, then release the end of the balloon after you start getting it going. If you pull too hard (or if you don't pull hard enough) it makes it harder to blow. Again, you have to get a feel for how hard to pull on it. I can now proudly blow up multiple balloons simultaneously and can blow up spirals, etc. Blowing up 160s is still darn near impossible for me though. If anyone can blow up 160s, let me know...Mike |
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Carl Skenes New user 96 Posts |
Mike,
In regard to mouth inflating 160's, I do. By the way, I don't say "blow up", I always say inflate. Nowadays, if you say "blow up", Homeland Security will get involved. And then, of course, there's all that paperwork............ |
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Joe Howard Loyal user The Peoples Republic of Massachusetts 204 Posts |
Michael, I've seen people pass out trying to inflate a 260, and I saw some professional Hockey players trying to inflate them and they nearly passed out, so don't feel bad. It's an aquired skill.
I inflate 160's by mouth as well. Joe H |
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Stevethomas Inner circle Southern U.S.A. 3728 Posts |
I can mouth inflate a 160, as well.
Steve T. |
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RiffClown Inner circle Yorktown, Virginia (Previously Germany) 1579 Posts |
Me as well but only just. It isn't easy for me at all. 260s are not a problem.
Rob "Riff, the Magical Clown" Eubank aka RiffClown
<BR>http://www.riffclown.com <BR>Magic is not the method, but the presentation. |
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Gideon Sylvan Special user Deerfield, IL 541 Posts |
Here's how I learned after 3 years of not even being able to make a bubble. Take a pump and blow up a 350, hold it there fr 30 seconds and deflate. Repeat that act three more times until balloon is extremely weak. Use every muscle in your body and push and keep pushing until you can get a bubble. Then use your lungs (if your still alive) and push air into it. Repeat this many times a day.
Eventually you will get to 260s, do the same thing. After a little big you will get the hang of it. Hope this helps, Gideon P.S. I use to pass out trying to blow up rounds, so anyone can learn.
You know you are a magician when you have boxes full of lecture notes you have never read, but still are excited about going out and buying more.
www.gideonsylvan.com |
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magicguy67 Loyal user mEL.fLORIDA 287 Posts |
Gota have a strong set of abs.
they thought it was impossible until they met me.
theres no reality in magic did the magician come before the assistant or the other way around. |
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wol Loyal user Norfolk, UK 238 Posts |
I managed to inflate a 125 by mouth once, a sort of bloon modellers ego challenge, I WON!! I don't anything other tha n260's for work and it took me a month to do them and not pass out. I do all my bloon work ontop of my stilts (which makes it hard to pass the bloons to little kids, but I like to make em work for their bloon. JUMP LITTLE ONE JUMP JUMP!!! HAHAHAHHA
Keep passing the open windows!
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