Hi all. I am moving to a college town(two colleges, a four year with 25 plus thousand students and a two year-unknown attendance) I am looking to start working restaurants and parties when I get there and am focusing on my entertaining, building a show for the parties and such now. I will not do anything until I have practiced much and have several parties lined up for free for family and their friends to really get other people's opinions. I do have a question though.

I am convinced there must be a way to tap into those huge college markets with balloons. It could be approaching the schools or the students themselves, but what kind of show or other service could a balloon entertainer offer to the college age crowd(and I'd rather not have to learn adult themed balloons and such.) Any ideas?
Please help.

If you are wondering I would say I have about an intermediate level of ballooning. I can do close to two hundred sculptures(I do not count variations of that quick twist dog, or the giraffe, or anything like that.) I do about a half dozen characters(I need some work on some more complex ones.) I am not yet making a lot of sophisticated creations of my own(I am starting to take that plunge.) I am still learning 4 or five new creations a week. I have Restaurant Portfolio on the way, and am looking forward to getting Bad to the Balloon and Mad Hats, in the next two weeks or so. I mainly need work on my entertaining though. Well, ok, thanks for any ideas you can offer, have a great play day, Chance

Nightclubs

Surely the college will be having events (ie student balls and the like). Decorating the venue or providing walkabout entertainment just modelling balloons could prove profitable.

Most of the population don't expect a balloon modeler to be able to make more than dogs and simple balloons so if you can do as you say you shouldn't have to worry too much about building adult themed balloons (even students will be impressed).

Hope it helps...

Thank you both so much. As far as working night clubs do you suggest some sort of stage show, like a stand up act? Or working tables and such?

Flashy, I can sure see your point. Yes, I can do that many, although as I admitted earlier I could use more practice(and that is what the months ahead will provide.) We won't be moving until June, and I expect it to be quite a while before things take off, or really take off. Luckily, I will have my old job from years back to hold us(our expenses will also be much less than they are now.) I am also blessed in having many early leads as my family has been down there for some years.

Thanks again, and when I know something I will fill you in!

Find a night club promoter and approuch them with the idea of working the crowd.

this is what I do:

http://www.facebook.com/MarktheBalloonGu......ref=name

I agree with Mark but it might not need to be a Nightclub. Nightclubs are party central so getting grown people to want a balloon is very easy. I myself look to the works of Addi Somekh when I am trying to entertain an adult audience. Focus less on what the balloon becomes and more on just being abstract in a way that turns out elegant and sophisticated.

Also consider that there will most likely be sporting events and if you can offer the home team a chance to make themselves more visible and supportive of their team then you have a market.


My two cents,
Dylan

Mark is the only guy I know in the United States working nightclubs. I think he works several infact.

Amazing!

I have never thought of doing this.

I bet it pays well!

Much more thank a kids dining place would be my guess.

Best I have ever been paid between the hours of midnight and 3 am!!!!!

I know of at least six people in Southern California, New York, and Vegas who work nightclubs. They all have a lot of fun with it.

Todd Neufeld taught an excellent class at Twist & Shout this year about entertaining adults. It was hands down my favorite class at T&S, and the class that I got the most out of.