Say your working a festival and you have 75-100 kids in line. Is it best to do your best balloons, even if it takes quite a bit longer then simple balloons? Or would you try to get through as fast as you can, so you could give eveyone a balloon?

That would depend upon lots of different factors. Are you selling or giving out? Paid by the hour..as in, certain length of time you're supposed to work? Working with a menu board? So many things to take into account..

Steve

I would be giving them out, no tips, being paid by the hour and no menu board.

75-100 kids in all and how long do you have? Answer me that and I will tell you how I would handle it. There are too many varibles to answer now.

Jeff

I'm not working a festival. The reason I brought up the question, is because I would like to do this in the future. The fairs and festivals I've been to in my area, have huge lines of kids.
I should ask, How do you guys handle fairs and festivals? I know nothing about them, except what I have seen.

I work at a local art show and am paid and do not accept tips. I charge my normal hourly rate and look at it this way. People choose, whether it is due to the want of a balloon or a screaming child, to get in line. I do try to keep all my sculptures under 2 minutes. That way if someone says how long? I can look at my line and give an estimate of time. I have about 75 items under 2 minutes and most take between 2-4 balloons to make. Even if the line is short and you break out your best, what do you do when the line is long and somone makes what you made earlier? Good luck and I would keep each item under a time limit and keep the jokes going for the line.

I twist very fast, infact I have timed my self and could beat the record for most balloon animals in an hour however I can not mouth inflate that many that fast.

How many different items would be in you 2 minute and under repitior?

NUMS

Hey Nums, how in the heck do you remember 75 items? I'm rebuilding my repetoire going to 2 & 3 balloon figures, and although I only have about 35 under my belt, I still have to refer to my cheat sheet.

I have all my designs on a menu board for festivals and events such as this. Originally, it had little colored line drawings, but the kids would spend too long perusing them to make a decision, so I went with text this year. The largest festival I do each year (and have for 13 consecutive) is our local one, and I sell the balloons from my "BALLOON ART" tent. My line is usually no less than about 60 people at any time, and they'll wait forever. Customer gets to pick a design (ranging from $2-$5) and I make it and entertain them and the group around them. I cut down on the number of choices a little from years past. About 10 hats, 10 animals and 10 assorted things. You'll end up making lots of swords, lots of poodles, but my favorite (and not just because they're the $4-$5) are the hats. That's what I suggest to the parents, since they'll end up carrying whatever else they get. Wife usually assists by handling the money/business end. I don't hustle tips, either, but I make about half as much in tips as I make on the sales...if I clear $500 on balloons, I'll make around $250 in tips.

There are so many things to take into account in your situation that it would be difficult to make a judge as an outsider. Wish you could come watch me work. You don't want to get too complicated with your designs, or everybody will want whatever it is...make one Road Runner, and that's all you'll make all day. Same goes for Tweetie Bird.

Steve

I think I will make a menu board, it sounds like the best thing to do. Hopefully I can find a job like this soon. Do you guys have a lot of parents ask for your business card at festivals?

At large events I use a Deli ticket machine and call out numbers. No lines ... no arguments .... cut the line when I like ... take a break comeback everyone knows their place. People can leave and do other things as long as they listen for their number.

as for repertoire I use my imagination. Looking through my archives for 2008 I have over 350 new hats I have created this year alone. My mantra is I can make anything within taste and reason. This line alone keeps out the "monkey riding a bicycle while eating a pizza." You can have one of those.

I don't like menu boards for me... I don't want to be a balloon Gumball machine.

I might give fairs a try sometime, I just don't like the gamble. As a vendor, you pay to be there and hope people can afford or appreciate your services. As a paid entertainer you do that ... entertain a crowd. It is not possible to give everyone something.