When doing large events, I commonly have a pretty long line of kids waiting for balloons. The way I "plan" my restroom breaks at the conclusion of my performance is to give a large balloon to the last customer and have them let people know that they are the last customer until after the break or for the day as appropriate.

Unfortunately, this does put that individual on the spot as they often get the brunt of people who think entertainers shouldn't take restroom breaks or should continue to work after "quitting" time.

At one recent event, my booking was scheduled to end at 4PM and the hosts started calling the kids over for a pinãta a few minutes before 4:00. It gave me an excellent opportunity to make my exit.

What do you use?
How do you end your twisting line?
How do you build a break to perform magic, for instance?

I don't often twist balloons anymore but, when I used to, my assistant Raul would come over to my area and make a big deal out of removing my balloon equipment saying, "ReyRey you look thirsty, you must drink and then perform some more miracles!" and then replace them with a softdrink/food and or close-up pad and magic related performance material/equipment.

I found this was a nice way to deflect the blame to Raul and I was still the good guy. (Good cop/bad cop scenario)

Find someone from the party if you don't use an assistant and reward them with a very special balloon/gift for doing this.
~r2

Rob,

If I have a long line about 30 minutes before I finish, I have the end of the line come around and stand by me and we make a circle. I can then see if someone tries to join the circle and can explain that I am working on my final lap. Everyone in the circle knows this and backs me up.

If you give in to just one whining parent, you will never finish on time. The parents are the biggest problem in most cases. I find a lot of children can cry at the drop of a hat and I will not encourage that kind of behavior either.

I have been through this so many times it doesn't even bother me anymore. I am important too.

For the pocket magic, before I greet the next person in line I go into a story about wanting to be a magician or meeting a magician, and then right into a magic routine. This gives me a little break from the balloons. Don't forget to move to the side of your line so they all can see the trick or at least the closest group. I don't go into a 30-minute close-up show, I do a routine or two and then go back to balloons. They have been standing a long time and want to move on and I also take juggling breaks.

What is it about balloons that make people so crazy for them? Maybe it's just that I am always hired to make them for free and never sell them or work for tips. Do those of you that sell balloons or busk with them have these lines of crazed balloon lovers?

I'll give an uninflated balloon to each person in the line. Those with the balloon will come to me and I'll twist a sculpture for them. I'll also get the last person in the line to help me by informing people that he's last on the line.

I tried that approach one time and ended up with balloons covered in saliva.


I never sell the ballooons either. When I busk for tips occasionally, there is almost always a waiting time. Balloons are a novelty that isn't seen every day so I think that is the main attraction.

I had a sign made (airbrushed) with my logo, a blue balloon dog, that says "LAST PERSON IN LINE". I give this to the appropriate person, and they wear it around their neck (it hangs off their back) for everyone to see. I always (when working one particular town) have this one lady with 4 kids show up at quitting time, after she's been walking around the festival/area all day, and doesn't understand why I won't/can't stay late for her whiny children. They're not the only whiny ones in her bunch, either...hint, hint.

Steve Thomas

The idea of some sort of a "MARKER" for those that have been in line waiting is a good one,
however I would NEVER allow someone to handle one of the Balloons that I was
going to place in MY MOUTH to inflate!!! EEEK!!!

I used to have a Good Luck Token that had my Logo on it that I used to hand to those in line towards the end of my time.

Those with tokens got balloons. Those without didn't.

No Token, No Balloon. PERIOD!

=Frank=

I tried a new approach.

I was hired to do magic and give out balloons so I set up my amp-speaker, did a little comedy magic show, and then the audience was used to volunteering, so when I started making balloons, I picked people from the audience to come up and stand by me, and maybe hold some part of the balloon sculpture that I was making. Then I had that person guess what I was making. I gave them 10 guesses. They usually only had to guess 2 times. At the end of my time I packed up and said "Thank you very Much."

Only one mother came to me with her fussing child who obviously always got his way and wanted a balloon. I told her that "I'm sorry but the show is over." and she said ok.
I finished exactly on time and it was a lot less stressful. Plus I got applause for each shape I made.

I use two techniques, when I remember . . .

I went to a Dollar store and bought some poker chips. Depending upon how long the line is, at 15 or 30 minutes before quitting time, I pass out the chips to each person in line wanting a balloon. Then, as Frank said above, they must have a chip to get a balloon.

A better way is to have ending the line be the responsibility of the people who hired me; after all, they are the ones having me leave before the end of whatever it is, so let them take the grief. When this is an option, I use this.

As for stopping to do magic. . . I usually recommend that they have magic first, if this is possible. If not, I put the responsiblity for ending the balloons on them, as in the paragraph above.

Another thing to consider when being hired for multiple hour events is to try to work the last of the event. If ABC company has a picnic fron 12-4 pm and they want me for 2 hours I try and work the 2-4 slot as opposed to the 12-2 or 1-3. That way it is a little easier to leave...also if you want to look like the good guy you could show up a little early and give some time at the beggining as opposed to the end.....


Jeff

Good point, nums. I almost mentioned that. It doesn't always work, though. I did a grand opening, and even after the store was closed these people didn't want to go, even with me giving a 'warning' approximately every 5 minutes that once the store was closed, I was told to stop.

I recall an event that Mrs. nums and I did where at least one lady was fairly rude when I was leaving as the event ended.

It does definitely help reduce the possibility of last minute whiners, though.

Jewls, great idea!

You might arrange to "run out" of balloons (have an empty bag with 3 or 4 only left in it, that you can bring out.

I try to "back-time" my magic/games/prizes so I can start with balloons and "get back to them IF there's time" - there never is, and for the "just one for my kid, please?" crowd, I put away the balloon stuff in the car when I brought out my magic stuff, so "they're all packed away, sorry."

Use your best diplomacy, and if someone gets mad, remember ... they can kill ya, but they can't eat ya, so there. As long as the guy with the check is happy.

Here is one of the other things that I have done when it comes to the end of my time and I still have Balloons left in my bag.

I offer to hand out Un-Blown-Up Balloons.

I then tell the kids that I am very sorry that my time is up, but that if they take one of these Balloons for themselves and use the Outside, (I ALWAYS emphasize, "OUTSIDE"), water faucet that they can actually make a 60 INCH LONG WATER BALLOON with them.

I don't know why it sounds so appealing when you say "Water Balloon", but the kids ALWAYS seem to not mind that they didn't a Balloon Animal made for them after that!

They are quite content with the thought of making their own Water Balloons!

=Frank=

I found my most effective weapon(sorry Canada!) is my wife, the teacher. Kids can sense the evil in her and listen to what she says. If she says it is the last kid, that is the last kid. If I'm by myself they walk all over me.
Steve V

Good Cop, Bad Cop, eh, Steve?

=Frank=

I have used the empty bag trick a lot. Parents can't argue when you bring out a bag with only a couple left in it.

The odd time you still get a parent asking why you didn't bring more. I simply state that I have to be at another event...and that since I have been doing this for x years, I know exactly how many balloons I will go through in x amount of time. They seem to be impressed by this statement and ask me for a card.

Steve V, it sounds like your wife is pretty sharp!

Nowadays, when I do balloons for hire, I make it part of a show. Rather than have families & kids line up, I form them into a large street-performance circle around me. As I move around the circle, I give each child an inflated balloon...no color choice...no sculpture choice. It's a SHOW! There is a scripted joke or routine that accompanies each color...each balloon length...and each sculpture.

Each child who plays a part in the balloon show receives a single balloon creation as I perform various bits and routines. It is a much more enjoyable experience for everyone and the balloons take on the role of a gift rather than a right. I don't have to worry about timing my breaks or my getaway because the shows are scheduled and the show ends when the last balloon is made. If a kid wants a balloon...next show begins at X:00!

No muss - No fuss!

Skip

I have made that transition to balloons as part of a show. I rarely do the "balloon factory"...I have other people who do that for me!

I only do it when the other people are not available. Even then, I don't twist the day away. I go slow and make elaborate sculptures with people applauding after every one.

I know I have mentioned it before, but for info on routining with balloons go to http://www.balloonhq.com . Lots of info that you can really use.

I work a lot of balloon line gigs. I actually like them. I just take my time, talk to the people, joke around etc. Through they years I've tried lots of "line ending" techniques. I think you need to keep trying different approaches until you find one that works for you, and your personality. Keep in mind that as the years go by, you change somewhat, and I find it easier to end the line now that I'm older. Like Jewls, the crying doesn't bother me anymore, because there's always going to be a "crier" and I won't give in. You can do it in a nice way though.

Here's what I do

When I get to the last 30 minutes of the engagement, I'll take a rough count of the people standing in line. If it's no more than 20, I know I'm OK. I buy rolls of tickets and I hand out tickets to the number of people I can handle. If it's more than I can accomodate I make an announcement that I'll be leaving in 30 minutes and it's going to take that long for the people in the back to make it to the front, and that not everyone will get a balloon but that everyone with a ticket will get one even if I have to stay a little overtiime, (which I usually don't) I'll say that if anyone else wants to take a chance and see if I finish those with tickets early, they are more than welcome to hang around for a half an hour, but I can't promise them I'll have time to make them one.

I also ask the last person in line to tell anyone that comes in behind them that there are no more balloons after them. I say that if someone has a problem with that to send them up to see me, and I can explain it to them. I find that this eliminates 90% of any potential confrontations. I tried the hanging signs, but I don't like asking anyone to wear a sign. I just can't do it. I find it's easier to just ask them to tell any newcomers, there are no more balloons. Like Jewls says, they back you up.

I keep my eye on the back of the line and keep making the "Only those with tickets will get a balloon" announcement. I don't want a bunch of stragglers making a new line. You'd be surprised what a simple "Sorry, there's no more balloons after this person" can do for you.

Once I get down to my last 12 or so, I adjust my pace to finish on time. You can easily stretch the time out by playing around with the kids, or you can just twist faster.

Joe H

I should mention that if you are going to try the ticket idea, buy at least 2 different colors of tickets. I once had a gig where someone else had the same tickets for a raffle or something, and the kids kept running over to get more. I couldn't figure out how I had miscalculated the amount of people by so much until I saw what they were doing. It was pretty funny.

Hey Jewls, I don't what it is about balloon either. It must be the free factor. Why anyone would even want to stand in line for 45 minutes for something that will either pop, or deflate in a few days is beyond me. But lucky for us, they always do.

Joe H