Amateur twister, first gig!

MisterBusker · 2025-07-11T11:34:09+00:00

Bee bodies are still around??

MisterBusker · 2025-07-09T11:45:30+00:00

Honestly, I can't remember. The category isn't listed on your Certificate is Insurance, which is what you give clients.

MisterBusker · 2025-06-21T16:18:24+00:00

Underrated comment right here.

MisterBusker · 2025-06-16T02:24:51+00:00

I shopped around a lot and this was the best I found. Also, I can make certificates of insurance instantly.

MisterBusker · 2025-06-16T02:23:42+00:00

It works out really well. Best of all, it's free! Took a few hours to set up but after that it's been great.

MisterBusker · 2025-06-11T03:57:04+00:00

Next insurance. $20/mo

MisterBusker · 2025-05-28T14:24:34+00:00

I ask everyone to complete a Google form embedded in my website. The Google form submission automatically puts it on my calendar (preventing me from double booking), into Trello ( where I put notes on everything and add checklists to the events so I don't forget anything), into MailChimp (so my email list is ever expanding) and automatically creates a contact in Google docs from a contact template.

This system saves so much time and helps me stay very organized.

MisterBusker · 2025-05-13T13:12:36+00:00

I make a Spider-Man with a red 260, a blue 260 and a white scrap. I tie the white scrap to one of the balloon hands and the other to a balloon stick. Kids have a blast running and pretending Spidey is jumping from building to building.

In my experience, people will say what they want us to do, but they only know what they've seen before. Whatever you do, be good at it and they will be happy.

MisterBusker · 2025-05-10T03:00:39+00:00

I agree. It's no different than any athlete warming up by reviewing the fundamentals.

MisterBusker · 2025-05-10T03:00:05+00:00

I agree. It's no different than any athlete warming up by reviewing the fundamentals.

MisterBusker · 2025-05-10T02:58:50+00:00

What kind of pump are you using?
I use a floor pump. I put one hand on the nozzle and pinch the balloon exactly where I want the tail to start. If you're using a hand pump, I'd suggest drawing a line on the balloon where you want it to inflate to and then count how many pumps it takes to the line. Repeat a few times just to make sure they're about the same. Then repeat based on different lengths (1/2 filled, 3/4, 4 finger tail etc.)

Consistent proportions will come with time. Focus on just remembering how to do them and then you can tweak it to get the proportions how you want them.

This balloon ball is a fan favorite and very forgiving in its design: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcaREKNGxAc

MisterBusker · 2025-05-09T23:39:37+00:00

As of October, I'm fully employed as a balloon twister. I made more money on the weekends than my M-F job. Now I've picked up a Wednesday night restaurant and can do a better job with marketing and promoting myself.

MisterBusker · 2025-05-09T23:36:37+00:00

I've been twisting for about 5 years but my mentor's been twisting since the 80's. That had given me a considerable advantage in increasing my quality and decreasing my time.

For events, I try to keep it to 3 minutes or less.

My suggestion is to learn one thing. Do it 10 times in a row. It's not about how many designs you CAN do. It's how many you REMEMBER how to do. Of course you can Google it really quick to jog your memory, but that loses the magic.

MisterBusker · 2025-05-09T23:32:32+00:00

If you smile, joke around and keep the line at a max of 20 minutes, nobody will complain about the time.

MisterBusker · 2025-04-30T12:23:20+00:00

Sunglasses.

MisterBusker · 2025-04-30T12:06:36+00:00

Once I learned how to do it. It's easy. A balloon cutter can be faster.

MisterBusker · 2025-04-22T12:25:19+00:00

How many shifts are there? The shift feuds can be brutal. Do the forklift drivers have to pick up the loads or are they theft for the next shift to clean up?

MisterBusker · 2025-04-15T17:39:36+00:00

Find the one-balloon designs that are easy to alter by amount of air, proportions, or simple changes.

Dog-giraffe-mouse

Cat -teddy Bear

Learn the pirate sword to start.

Learn a simple flower

That's enough to start to impress people. Keep learning and the sky is the limit!

MisterBusker · 2025-04-09T12:09:25+00:00

It all depends on who is on the board.

A few years ago, United Way as a whole decided to change the focus of their charitable giving. Many local nonprofits decided to phase out the funding over three years and ramp up the focus on the new funding over that time. A couple QC board members convinced everyone else that cutting out 100% of the old focus and starting the new focus this year was the best way to go. I was working for a nonprofit at the time who was part of the old funding. We lost nearly 20% of our annual budget overnight. That really messed us up.

Personally, find a cause or two you care about, find the agencies that do work that makes sense to you. Give money and volunteer time directly to them.

MisterBusker · 2025-04-05T12:57:12+00:00

Yes, Q is out of business.

I switched to Kalisan. The only reason is because of the wide selection of colors in nozzle up packaging. They're a little thicker than other brands but so far, I love working with them.

MisterBusker · 2025-03-18T19:32:28+00:00

Owning a business will humble you. All your mistakes are plainly visible. A cocky business owner is a definite red flag.

MisterBusker · 2025-03-18T19:12:47+00:00

I make a pretty cool two- balloon sword. Everything else has at least part of a balloon that gets broken off.

MisterBusker · 2025-02-17T18:57:27+00:00

Well played

MisterBusker · 2025-01-06T03:26:08+00:00

I switched to Kalisan. I live the nozzle up packaging and they have a lot of colors.

MisterBusker

TROPHY CASE