Joined in 2023 
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63 About this deal
Lay the other regular piece face up on the bottom and sew along the * * * *s to the third piece. Then sew each of the two ‘regular”‘ pieces into the side seam of your pants. I have a variety of brightly colored shirts and I either wear bright pants or a loose fitting miniskirt, depending on the weather and my expected audience. From time to time BHQ has made shirts available. You may get to see some of these at various conventions around the world. Just a top hat and tail coat, no makeup talking, this is one of the outfits I wear when strolling and doing balloons at company picnics outside. Talking or not talking made no difference since most were freebies for the folks at company paid events and they never had any money in their hands.
Working in costume increases your tips, as well as helping you to identify yourself as a performer and not a balloon machine. If you are entertaining and another balloon artist is there, people will come to you because there is laughter and smiles being given as well as balloons. I’ve traded services several times with local air-brush shops. I entertain outside their mall store in exchange for a custom airbrushed balloon-animal shirt. When I wear them on a gig, they are always very popular. The most effective use is just wearing them. People are curious and the subject of balloon twisting comes up in the conversation. As we talk, I’m able to educate them about how twisting would be good for their next birthday party or business (i.e. crowds and happy customers). I’ve worn out several “dress” shirts and sweat shirts and continue to have a good working relationship with local air-brush artists. Good for them — Good for me. My tips go down when I wear REALLY nice shirts… they also go down when I accidentally leave my hat or vest at home. My goal is to entertain FIRST and make balloons SECOND. Object lesson: While busking the Edmonton Fringe Festival I spent 1 1/2 hours working a crowd. In that time I made about 20 balloons. But the ENTERTAINMENT provided was so appreciated, the hat worked out to about 4 times what I can get just twisting balloons (NOTE: I never suggest a donation now. I had an increase in my take of 20% when I just said that I accept tips. Vendors set prices, buskers entertain and let the change fall where it may.)
I have added a pouch to my apron for ‘balloon droppings’ so that I can always clean up after myself. Balloons draw people to the balloon person. Always have on a balloon hat so that people know where you are… Whether my skirt is short or I am in baggy turquoise pants, my costume is family oriented. I never dress in a seductive way… it is not my role as a family entertainer, nor is it part of my balloon lady character. I like the bright clown makeup and clown costume the best myself and the kids like it. A clown is easy to spot the length of a football field away, since you are the only thing in yellow pants on a green field at a company picnic.
When I work the restaurants I feel wearing a suit works best, people tend to be intimidated by someone in a tux, especially since I’m only 19.Tip-wise (and this is by no means my major income source), I do better when in full costume (more later) than when I dress up brightly and colourfully… but in obviously normal clothes. I have 4 clown costumes for my main character, a Klondike, Western, Medieval and other theme costumes. I make up simply (or some of my characters have make up). There was about a 50% increase in tips when I started doing balloon busking in costume and character two years ago. And I get my picture in the paper more often. I am certain that for some people and in some markets, there is no point or need to costume or appear in character. I get BORED if I’m not in character and performing while ballooning. I like the interaction my characters have with the audience. Clients see a value in the character and costume.
Costumes are important but they don’t make the clown. I believe that a costume MUST be professional i.e. neat, clean and fit the personality. But as someone who spent 2 years studying clown & comedia in European schools, I take great offense to entertainers that dress like clowns and act like someone’s uncle. To be professional, your character must “carry the mask”. If your costume is bizarre, your character had better be bizrare. If you can make people laugh by dressing like an english butler and acting like an english butler, you’re more of a clown than someone who looks like Bozo and acts like a regular guy. If entertainment is your goal, a solid character and costume is essential. Your clients and audience will see and appreciate the care and attention… Otherwise, you had best be the most superlative twister and friendliest most personable human (unless you do it for nothing).
Clown makeup and costume both talking and non talking. didn’t make much difference in tips or how many balloons I tied etc. Good advice from T. Myers: I don’t bother with a clown costume. Clean and comfortable helps when you are putting in long hours and the balloons will start and keep the line going. It is important to be clean and friendly. I want to look like a (slightly dressed up but comfortable) dad wearing a silly balloon hat. As a dad-looking-person I still have a position of authority, even in a silly hat. As long as you look just a little better than most of the fathers out there in the crowd, the balloons will sell themselves. I’ve had shirts with lots of pictures and shirts with only a few large animals. I like the few large pictures best. They seem less busy and generate the same amount of curiosity and conversation.
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