Fun With Ballooning
As a clown, one of the skills you'll need to fine-tune is balloon sculpting. Why? Because kids will expect you to.
It's no longer enough for clowns to be entertaining; today's youngsters want the whole shebang: magic tricks, face painting - and dogs, cobras, and swords to appear, within seconds, from a few twists of a latex balloon.
Now you know why clown outfits sport so many pockets! You'll need several just to house your assortment of rainbow-hued balloons.
Of course, if you're clowning in a hospital that doesn't allow latex, then practicing balloon skills may not be high on your agenda.
And yet, I'd still argue that it's wise to learn a few balloon twists, to stay competitive with the many clowns who do offer them. Who knows? Tomorrow you may decide to clown at a corporate event or want to show off those skills at a family picnic.
Pioneer, which manufacturers the Qualatex brand of balloons (a superior balloon made from latex collected from rubber trees in the rain forests), does so at the rate of nearly one billion per year. That's a great indicator of how popular balloons have become with entertainers and audiences.
Sound intimidating?
Here's the good news: you can start small and still have happy customers. Being able to quickly produce five simple shapes will get you in the game. You might start with a dog, a snail, a sword (or two, as boys love them), a ladybug, and a flower.
Choose those shapes that come easily to you, as your line of customers will snake a mile long if you can't keep up. Save the more complex shapes for birthday parties or special events where the crowds are smaller.
Kids don't need a 12-balloon masterpiece to be satisfied. So don't go heaping undue pressure upon your broad clown shoulders.
Kids are happy to be presented with a shape they can recognize. And if you can attach it to another balloon that wraps around their head - giving them the thrill of being adorned with a balloon hat - they'll think you're quite clever.
Fortunately, ballooning is not difficult. Balloons can be a tad scary when they pop, and rough on the hands during a high-volume day, but you'll find that the twisting itself is fairly simple. Believe me: If I can do it (and I am notoriously all thumbs), then so can you. And there will come the day when you're completely addicted to twisting and hungry to master more difficult shapes.
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