How to Have a Great Birthday Party!

Get Bookings:
Before you can have a great party, you’ve got to have a great client. On another day, I’ll write some about advertising, lead generation, and database maintenance. For today, however, I’m just going to say that you’ve got to make sure you get your name out well enough to get the event in the first place.

Intel:
Make sure when you book the event that you get plenty of facts and information pertaining to the event. The more you know, the more you have to work with. On the same note, be sure not to ask too many questions or you may scare away an otherwise great potential client.

Directions:
It is always a good idea to map out your route to your event ahead of time. By doing so, you are well aware of the estimated time of travel and can allow yourself plenty of time for accidents and traffic delays along the way.

Giving 110%:
This section pertains to how you use your intel that you gathered to give your client more than they expect. For instance, if you find out that Birthday boy Sammy likes Batman, you can learn ahead of time how to make a great batman lootle. You can then go to the event prepared to awe and astound the crowds with an amazing sculpture you planned to make ahead of time.

Get there:
Get there early or on time. You do not want to have the party mom stress out over when you’ll be there. Know that she’s plenty stressed about the party already. She doesn’t need your help making her hair fall out.

Get Going:
I start with the birthday child and usually make the figure I planned out on the way there. If it is a boy, I’m usually making a super hero or a crazy costume. If it’s a girl, I make a full princess outfit with crown, dress, wand, and ear rings.

Nip it in the Bud:
Stop any and all problems before it gets too big to handle. If you notice a child is acting up as soon as you get there, make note of it and draw extra attention to them. Sometimes you’ll find that if you set the right tone in the very beginning, things will work out really great for the rest of the party. This section could be a whole book by itself (In fact, there are MANY books on it.), so I won’t be spending time on it other than letting you know it should be dealt with appropriately.

Heading Out:
When you leave, be sure to thank your client for their hospitality. Many times they are going out of their way to invite you into their homes. They are inviting some of their closest friends over and honoring you by presenting you to them as an entertainer and sometimes even a family friend. Do not take advantage of it; and, certainly you should be grateful.

Get Out:
This last point has been added to emphasize the importance of leaving on time. Your client has planned their event around the times you were scheduled to be there. Be sure not to get in their way by staying too late.

Last Notes:
Okay, so I know these weren’t complete notes on how to perform at a party or even how to get a party or go through with an event, but I hope that you’ve at least seen an outline for what I do and how I go about doing it. If you have any specific questions or you would like for me to expand on a certain section above, let me know and I’ll be more than glad to do what I can.

Failure Leads to Success!

The greatest asset in this business is failure. That's right! --Failure. I know some of you are thinking that I am insane, but I want you to try and hear me out...

First off... What is failure to a balloon artist? Is it when a balloon pops? It is when a design doesn't look as well as you hoped? Is it when you don't know how to make something someone asks for?

All of these things lead eventually to success... Or at least they can.

When I started ballooning, there were a few things that I researched a LOT more than others. One of the things I constantly did was look at new designs on BalloonHQ so that I could figure out new ways of making stuff. And upon searching the site, I found a goldmine list of pop-lines. That's right! Lines that could only be used when a balloon pops. Some lines were so great that I even intentionally popped balloons a few times so that I could see the crowds reaction to it. Pop lines are amazing!

I think my first suggestion to any balloonist would be to learn so many pop lines so well that there is absolutely NO FEAR in potential poppage... I believe that this will decrease poppage dramaticly. When you are not nervous and relaxed, you are more likely to have the balloon live longer in your hands.

If you are just starting out, learn a few basics and work with them... Don't be afraid of challenges. If someone asks for a three-headed dragon and you dont know how to make one... Attempt it. Create it in your mind and try it out. What is the worst that could happen? You could fail horribly and pop the daylights out of it. Is that bad? Nope... That means you get to entertain... As an entertainer, you are given a LOT of leeway... You could say something like, "Sorry, I messed up... This isn't the three-headed dragon balloon, this is the recently slain dragon I was asked for last night... These hands just get away from me sometimes and I don't know what's been done until it's over..." Then... as an entertainer, guess what you can do next? "well, sinse your dragon has been slain, how about a dog or a monkey to take home.. .you know something that wont scare the neighbors away?"

Mistakes are great! You get to learn new balloons, practice pop-lines, and work on your creative genius. Creativity is not an inherent talent in most people... It is an aquired talent through practice.

Make sure you use your noodle or you might just turn out being as entertaining as a bowl of sauceless spaghetti...

In what ways can you practice creativity? Where can you go to learn new ways to do things? What are some ways you can be prepared to fail? How can you turn a failure into a success?

Jonathan Fudge
YourBalloonMan
YourBalloonMan@BalloonHQ.com