Has anyone ever tried pitching balloon kits or know if there is any material on the subject? And if so, do you know of a source for cheap balloon kits?

You make 'em yourself - ziploc bag, a dozen or so 260Es, and a little sheet outlining how to make a couple of simple figures, maybe add a reference to "where to learn more." If you want to streeeeetch your performing material, sell the kits and then guide the buyers in a group through a doggie/rabbit/giraffe.

There should be more info and maybe some line drawings you could use at http://www.balloonhq.com/

Surely you'd have to sell 'em a cheap pump as well? I can't blow those buggers up myself, let alone ask anyone else to!

I agree. Make the kits yourself and add a pump to it, just as Ross and Ross suggested.

Simple enough to create and easy enough to sell. Just make sure to show them how "easy" it is to get started with balloons and twist something. A basic dog should do it.

Mark.

The 260E is lightweight and fairly easy to blow - also easy to pop. The 260Q is heavier - I usedta be able to blow 'em by mouth but not many people could - since my stroke I can't (it takes more fine control of facial muscles than I understood before, and I just barely don't have enough)

You can stand there and pitch kits, or in some arrangements when working a paid show, you can hand out some free blown-up balloons, teach them to make a dog or sword or whatever, and the kits pactically sell themselves.

I'd quite forgooten about the lightweight 260s. Tried some a long time ago but they break too easily. Normal 260s are fine and blow quite easily - provided they are Qualitx. I tried another make a few weeks ago and they wouldn't blow by mouth.

I only blow a few but if you work regularly you should use a pump for your health's sake. Over here - and probably with you too - there is concern that the powder found inside some balloons can cause serious lung problems. Interestingly there seems to be less powder around these days but you can still see traces inside, specially the dark colours.

You need to blow from the diaphram - singing lessions will help your control. The facial muscles are important too so try some lessions from a wind instrument teacher - brass for preference!

Best of all get a pump - and a spare, kept in the case, just in case!!

Great Idea
It would be nice add on sale for balloon workers to

Nice

They sell little kits with a pump at the Dollar store..

The is a balloon pitch book, I have it laying around here someplace

I think Tommy Windsor had a book on the balloon pitch (probably have it in my stuff somewhere) and there's also a book on Balloon Busking in my files which is not pitching per se', but still interesting to the balloon worker.

All the best,
John

When I worked at Market Magic in Seattle back in the late 70s we had a cardboard cut out of Steve Martin. His comedy album had recently come out and this was discarded from a record shop. We stapled bags of balloons and simple instructions to ol' Steve. He sold a lot of balloons for the shop back then. We also put an arrow thru head on his head and he sold a lot of those, too. I don't suppose it would work as well today.

You could get Chris Farley or some other fat guy, this way you can put a whole lot more stock up