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The Guide |
Photos |
Videos |
Columns |
Calendar
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Rubber Circus |
Manual of Balloon Modeling #1 | Review 1 |
Manual of Balloon Modeling #2 | |
Manual of Balloon Modeling #3 |
Comedy Magic With Balloons | Review 1, 2 |
Entertaining With Balloons | Review 1 |
Balloon Biz | Review 1 |
Air-Robics Volume #1 |
Air-Robics Volume #2 |
Air-Robics Volume #3 |
Dr. Twistin's Greatest Hits |
Entertaining With A Twist |
How to Be An Airhead |
Comic's Trip |
Marvelous Miniatures | Review 1, 2, 3, |
More Marvelous Miniatures | Review 1, 2 |
Balloonimals #1 |
Balloonimals #2 |
Twillibee's Not So Creepy Crawlers |
Twillibee's Ocean Twists |
All Wind And Twists |
All Wind And Twists Finale |
Big Balloon Book |
Blue Pencil Balloons |
More Wind And Twists |
Second Wind And Twists |
Balloon Busking | Review 1 |
Balloons Over Alaska |
Homer's Rubber Bubbles |
Air Heads | |
Balloon Basics | |
Cartoon Balloon Series Volume I | |
Cartoon Balloon Series Volume II | |
Cartoon Balloon Series Volume III | |
Heart Breakers | |
One Balloon Handbook | |
Captain Visual's Big Book of Balloon Art | Review 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
Color Changing Balloons |
Illusion Rings |
XXI Century Balloons |
Texas Style Balloons |
Balloonatrix |
TV'S Original Balloonatic |
TV'S Original Balloonatic Second Edition |
TV'S Original Balloonatic Third Edition |
One Balloon Zoo | Review 1, 2, 3 |
The Book Of Balloon Art #1 | Review 1 |
The World of Balloon Art #2 |
Double Decker | |
Say "Hey, I Can Do This" | |
The Lecture | |
There Seems A Magic In The Very Name Of Christmas | |
EZ Balloons for Kids | Review 1 |
New Twists For Balloon Workers |
Dewey's Amusing Rubber Antics | |
Dewey's Balloon and Clown Notebook | Review 1 |
Dewey's Balloon Anomalies | Review 1 |
Dewey's Balloon Buddies | Review 1 |
Dewey's Basic Balloon Sculpture | Review 1 |
Dewey's Bubble Buddies | Review 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
Dewey's Celebrity Balloons | Review 1, |
Dewey's Clown Notebook | Review 1, 2 |
Dewey's Easy Gospel Chalk Talks | |
Dewey's Extra Easy Balloons | |
Dewey's Gospel Balloon Routine #1 | Review 1, 2, 3 |
Dewey's Gospel Balloon Routine #2 | Review 1, 2, 3 |
Dewey's Gospel Balloon Routine #3 | Review 1, 2, 3 |
Dewey's Gospel Cartoon Chalk Talks | |
Dewey's Gospel Cartoon Fun | |
Dewey's Gospel Clown Skits | |
Dewey's Mammoth Multiple Balloons | Review 1, 2, 3, 4 |
Dewey's New Balloon Animals | Review 1, 2 |
Dewey's Rubber Rascals | Review 1 |
Dewey's Zaney Balloons | Review 1 |
Turtle Stuff |
Patch Adams balloon book | Review 1 |
Dr. Dropo's Balloon Sculpturing For Beginners | Review 1, 2 |
Flosso's Clown Capers |
Bob's Balloon Book |
Balloonacy |
More Magic Tricks and Science Facts | Review 1 |
Balloon Airobics |
Decorating With Balloons, Part 1 | Review 1 |
Decorating With Balloons, Part II | Review 1 |
Balloon Magic #1 | Review 1, 2 |
Balloon Magic #2 | |
Balloon Magic Basic Edition | |
Balloon Magic Deluxe Edition | |
Beginner's Balloon Art Book | |
Balloon Oriented Magic | |
The 260-Q Decorator Manual | Review 1 |
The Fascinating World of Balloon Art | |
Balloon Magic - 321Q Book | Review 1, 2, 3 |
Out of the Part Time Frying Pan, Into the Full Time Fire | Review 1, 2, 3 |
Balloon Magic Advanced 260Q Figures | Review 1, 2, 3, 4 |
Balloon Magic - The Alphabet Book | Review 1, 2 |
Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm | Review 1, 2, 3, 4 |
The Ride Inside Sculptures: Intermediate to Advanced Multi-Balloon Sculpture Designs | Review 1 |
Two Bears, One Balloon | Review 1, 2 |
Advanced Balloon Artistry Vol 1 |
Advanced Balloon Artistry Vol 2 |
Balloon Merry-Go-Round |
Balloon Animals | Review 1 |
Balloon cartoons and other favorites | Review 1 |
Balloon hats & accessories | Review 1 |
More balloon animals | Review 1 |
I Want One Of Those Balloon Hats | Review 1, 2 |
Dooney #1 - The Basics | |
Dooney #2 - Original Sculptures | |
Dooney #3 - Human-like Figures | |
Dooney #4 - Hats and Such | Review 1 |
Professional Portfolio for Balloon Artists | Review 1, 2 |
Dooney's #4 (Hats and Such) |
Passing Air ... For Laughs |
Return of the Rubber Bullet |
Lamonica's Balloon Sculpture #1 |
Lamonica's Balloon Sculpture #2 |
JoyBringers Youth Balloon Ministry Manual |
Attack Of The Gooney Birds | |
Balloon Books Review | |
Balloon Hats | Review 1 |
Signed Bill In Balloon Sculpture | |
Singles, Multiples And Jumbos |
A New Enterprise In Ballooning |
A New World In Ballooning |
Balloons For Fun And Laughter |
Crazy Balloons From Las Vegas |
History of Balloon Sculpturing- mainly Wally's opinion of 100 balloon books. |
Eleven Balloon Menagerie |
Christmas Wonders |
Rubber Wonders |
Gerassic Park |
The Big Balloon Book |
Balloon Side Show |
Balloonasaurs and Dinobubbles |
Enchanted Land of Balloonia |
Lost City of Atlantaloon |
More Balloonasaurs |
Great Balloons | Review 1, 2 |
Balloon Busking |
Twisting History | Review 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 |
The Pied Piper Squeaks |
Atmosphere Inflatique | |
Balloon Hats Vol 1 | Review 1 |
Begin Twisting | |
Designer Collection | |
Giant Tazmanian Maneating Devil | |
Life on the Living Room Circuit | Review 1 |
Making Inflation Work For You | |
Monkeys and Puppies and Bears, Oh My | |
Some Of My Favorite Hats | Review 1 |
Some Of My Favorite Hats Volume 2 | Review 1 |
Want To Write A Balloon Book? | |
Balls 'n Balloons | |
Twisted Figure Clip Art | Review 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
Building a Better Balloon Business | Review 1 |
Tiny's Balloon Animal Zoo |
Balloon Hats and More | Review 1 |
The Balloon Book Of Dinosaurs |
The Balloon Book Of Dinosaurs Second Edition |
The Balloon Book Of Dinosaurs Third Edition |
X Rated Balloons |
Balloon Creativity Lecture Notes |
Petri's Balloons |
The Balloon Book |
How to become a balloon artist and make up to $100,000 a year | Review 1 |
Rainbow Balloon Book | Review 1 |
Too Cute To Live |
Encyclopedic Balloon Modeling Course #1 | |
Encyclopedic Balloon Modeling Course #2 | Review 1, 2 |
Basic Balloon Sculpture | Review 1 |
Bar Room Balloons | |
Roger's Rubber Ark | Review 1 |
Roger's Rubber Magic Volume 1 | |
Roger's Rubber Magic Volume 2 | |
Roger's Rubber Jungle | Review 1 |
Big Laughs For Little People |
Clowning For Children |
Clowning Wherever We Can |
Just For Laughs |
The Clown In You |
Blow by Blow | Review 1, 2 |
One Balloon Menagerie |
Awesome Balloons by Flash | Review 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
Balloontoon Elvis and The Rockin' Maniacs |
Balloon Bits |
Inflation Information |
Turtles & Ninjas & More |
Basic Gospel Messages With Balloons | Review 1 |
Balloon Art |
Sparky's One Balloon Menagerie |
Fun With Balloons |
Balloon Sculpture | Review 1 |
Bible Balloon Stories |
Way Cool Balloons | Review 1, 2, 3 |
WAY Cool Hats | Review 1, 2 |
WAY Cool Balloon Hats: The Prequel | Review 1, 2 |
WAY Cool Holiday Balloons | Review 1, 2, 3, 4 |
WAY Cool Spaghetti Balloons | Review 1, 2, 3, 4 |
Balloon Fun: easy to follow step-by-step instructions | Review 1, 2 |
The Balloon Pitch |
Troubles With Bubbles | Review 1 |
Balloon Toons |
I know some of you are making really nice multi-balloon stuff. Do you plan to write instructions for sale? I've got people calling me asking for instructions to multi-balloon cartoon figures, to the airplane and the golf bag in Balloon Magic, to anything fancier than they know how to do.
I know it is not a big market and writing a book is a pain when you are going to sell hundreds, not thousands. May I make a suggestion? Don't write a book. Do an exploded view. Like an auto parts book. It could be one page or a poster size. It could be 9 letter pages laid out in a square or 4 legal size pages in a square. Just stick it in an envelope, don't pay to bind a book. Keep the instructions to a minimum and the drawing to a maximum. Keep the production costs to a minimum and the information to a maximum. Don't expect to sell it to beginners but make it accurate enough for a twister to figure out. Something like that could sell for $4 or $5 retail, $2 to $2.50 wholesale and would cost you $1 to make once you've made your original.
One of these isn't going to make you much money, but it shouldn't cost you much to do and it will get your name out there. Besides, if you've got 1 new figure to show you probably have more. If you had 15 or 20 of these it could make a nice little extra income. You only have to do one at a time so it is a do-able project. Go ahead, do one every 2 months for the next 4 years. Just get started; your adoring fans are waiting.
If you want to your instructions to sell, have something unique to offer.
If the main goal is to get across information, the clearer and cleaner the media, the easier the communication. Being in order, making sense, being concise, with clean drawings, sound and/or visual makes communication easier. The more effort you put into being clear, the more effective your instructions will be.
About books and cartoon characters: when you start getting complicated, it is so much easier to do a video than a book that there is not much in the way of books.
I've got a book called "Want to Write a Balloon Book?" if you are interested in what I think about the self-written balloon book market. Topics I think would work are Christian Applications, Christmas (or any Holiday) Balloons, Extra Fancy Multi Balloon, Bits, Tricks and Routines, Stories using Balloons, Working Balloons, Hats, Etc. If you want to compare your publishing efforts look at Capt. Visual's Big Book of Balloon Art and the Qualatex Books as the most professional approach. They are not self-written but they are examples of all around good books. T. Myers
Other lists of balloon videos can be found on these online catalogs:
If you have an online catalog full of balloon-related videos by various authors and would like it listed here, please contact Mark at mbalzer@BalloonHQ.com.
Michael Aamar's Tape on Pricing Magic | Review 1 |
Twist Rattle & Roll Balloons | Review 1 |
Blumbo's Balloonology and more... - Vol. I | Review 1 |
The Art of Balloon Canopies From Simple to Sensational | Review 1 |
Selling the Magic, plus Tips, Tricks & Time Savers! | Review 1, 2 |
Classic Decor with Ideas Galore | Review 1, 2 |
Beginner's Guide to Decorating with Balloons | Review 1 |
Wedding Workshop in a Box | Review 1, 2 |
Operating A Successful Retail Balloon Business | Review 1 |
Bridal Fairs and Beyond | Review 1 |
Beautiful Balloon Weddings from the Ceremony to the Celebration | Review 1 |
A Christmas Balloon Video | Review 1 |
Balloon Magic - Basic Edition |
Balloon Magic - Professional Edition |
Some Assembly Required Vol. 1 - Hats All Folks | Review 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
Some Assembly Required Vol. 2 - CHARACTER-istic POP ART | Review 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 |
Some Assembly Required Vol. 3 - Birds and Buds | Review 1, 2, 3, 4 |
Some Assembly Required Vol. 4 - Beasts and Bugs | Review 1, 2, 3 |
Some Assembly Required Vol. 5 - Gray and Brown Good Buddies | Review 1, 2, 3 |
Some Assembly Required Vol. 6 - Folk Art | Review 1 |
Some Experience Necessary! Vol 1 - Hats All Folks Part 2 | Review 1 |
Some Experience Necessary! Vol 2 - The People's Choice Awards | Review 1, 2 |
Some Experience Necessary! Vol 3 - Birds & Buds The Mini-series - Chapter 2 | Review 1 |
Some Experience Necessary! Vol 4 - Get Those Ooh's & Ah's! | Review 1 |
Some Experience Necessary! Vol 5 | Review 1 |
Some Experience Necessary! Vol 6 | Review 1 |
"Get A Grip!" Ministries - Christ on the Cross | Review 1 |
"Get A Grip!" Ministries - Tree of Knowledge | Review 1 |
"Get A Grip!" Ministries - Pockets of Praise | Review 1, 2, 3 |
"Get A Grip!" Ministries - Pockets of Praise II | Review 1 |
"Get A Grip!" Ministries - Special Effects Ballooning: A Combination Secular & Ministry Video | Review 1 |
Ballooney Toones |
Airnimations | Review 1, 2, 3, 4 |
Airnimations 2 | Review 1, 2 |
Balloon Sculpture Made Easy | Review 1 |
Creative Ballooning For Everyone |
Balloon Animal Safari | Review 1 |
Entertaining With Balloons | Review 1 |
Balloon Man & Co. | Review 1 |
Atmosphere Inflatique - Vol 1 |
Balloon Sculpture 101 |
Flying an Octopus | Review 1, 2 |
Balloon Creations |
Volume 1: Mastering the Basics | Review 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 7, 8 |
Volume 2: The Art of Balloon Arrangements | Review 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 7, 8 |
Volume 3: A Foundation for Balloon Decor | Review 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 7, 8 |
Volume 4: Strategies for Balloon Delivery | Review 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 7, 8 |
Volume 5: The Business Side of Balloons | Review 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 7, 8 |
Creatures from the Bottom of my Mind | Review 1, 2, 3, 4 |
Seredipity Boppity Boo! | Review 1, 2 |
Uncle Curt's Hatstravaganza | Review 1 |
Volume 1 - The Basics | Review 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
Volume 2 - Dynamic Interactive Cranial Decorations (Balloon Hats) | Review 1, 2, 3, 4 |
Volume 2 - Taking the Leap From Balloon Animals to Balloon Sculpture | Review 1, 2, 3 |
Party Fun For Kids |
Balloon Sculpture Made Easy | Review 1 |
Bruce Walden's "Balloon School" Videos: # 1 High Speed Basics |
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# 2 Murals, Logos & Sculptures | |
# 3 Exploding Balloons & Other Special Effects | Review 1 |
# 4 Making More Money | |
# 5 Centerpieces Part A: Design | Review 1 |
# 6 Centerpieces Part B: Production | Review 1 |
# 7 SDS, Topiaries & Foil Sculptures | |
# 8 Lights, Animation & Amazing Drops | Review 1 |
# 9 Figure Tying Part A | Review 1, 2, 3, 4 |
# 10 Figure Tying Part B | Review 1, 2, 3, 4 |
# 11 Balloon People | Review 1, 2 |
# 12 Balloons on Parade | Review 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
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The Hi-Float Video (Hi-Float Company) | Review 1, 2 |
The Qualatex Premium Balloon Stem Kit for Florists Video (Pioneer Balloon Company) |
Have the video filmed with professional equipment. A home video is not good enough in my opinion. You could spend a lot of money and have a local videography company tape you or... Contact the local High School Media Department and see if the students want to take your tape on as a project. You could give them a percentage of the sales as a donation to the school or you could donate something that the school might need. When taping the video, make sure that the squeaking does not interfere with what you are saying. Also make sure that the camera gets close enough to actually see what you are doing. When it's time to duplicate your master, I'm sure that the school will know of places to do that.
If the main goal is to get across information, the clearer and cleaner the media, the easier the communication. Being in order, making sense, being concise, with clean drawings, sound and/or visual makes communication easier. The more effort you put into being clear, the more effective your instructions will be.
This does not mean it has to be perfect to get your instructions across. Squeaking, sloppy camera work and going off subject or looking like family vacation movies make it harder to understand but the instructions can still come through. I try to honestly describe the item in the catalog and I'll say if it is living room quality. A statment like that will not increase sales. But if I can also say, the figure is outrageously wonderful, sales will increase. In the end, it is the unique figure that is most important. You are not making a movie, you are trying to get across instructions.
Putting together a video is kind of like approaching doing a kids show. You have to be everything. The Director, the Light Man, the Makeup Lady, the Writer, the Producer, Promotions, Camera, Editing, Props, Everything. The more effort you put into each area of expertise, the better you will do overall.
If you are paying/requesting help or renting equipment, you want to know what you are going to do before the time clock starts. The more practice you put in the less time it will take in the studio and the less it will cost.
Like doing a show, if you rely solely on your wit, you will have hours of mediocrity with minutes of inspriation. If you remember those moments over a couple of years, you can string them together into a reasonable show. I'd suggest the more planning and practicing you do the easier it is to identify and correct problem areas as they appear in performance.
Because we are a niche, low $ market, it is difficult to pay professional help and stay within budget. I mark up books and videos "100%". If a video sells for $30, I pay $15. New video sales may be from 100 to 400 in a year. Certainly not 1000's. You can look into production and reproduction costs without actually spending money so you can start to make a guess about costs and sales.
I'm interested in seeing any and all twisting videos. If you ask for a critique I'm happy to give my opinion.
If you have an online catalog full of balloon-related magazines and would like it listed here, please contact Mark at mbalzer@BalloonHQ.com.
Balloon ImagesPioneer Balloon Company | Review 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
Balloon JournalAmy Stewart's Balloon JournalPost Office Box 6250 Beverly Hills, California 90212 $25 for one year (six issues) $27.06 in California (US only at this time) "100%" money-back guarantee at any time. |
Review 1 |
Balloon Magic - The MagazinePioneer Balloon Company |
Review 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 |
Balloons & PartiesLife O' The Party and PartiLife Publications |
Review 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 7, 8 9 |
Balloons@WorkEditor: Don Dixon, CBA |
Review 1 |
Balloons-N-Fun Times Newspaper8733 Kraft Road |
Review 1 |
Clown AlleyInternational Shrine Clown Assn. |
Clowning AroundThe World Clown Association |
Event Solutions3300 N. Central Ave. |
Review 1 |
Florist's Review913-266-0888 |
Review 1, 2, 3 |
Genii |
Laugh MakersFun Technicians |
Review 1, 2 |
Linking Ring |
Magic13337 E. South St., #310 |
The Magic Menu |
Review 1 |
MUMPO Box 510260 |
The New CalliopeClowns of America International |
The Party ShopperFestivities Publications, Inc. |
Party Times Magazine (First published as "Balloon World")Plaza Publishing Ltd |
Review 1, 2, 3 |
Party & Paper70 New Canaan Ave. |
Review 1 |
Special Events MagazineMiramar Communications |
Review 1, 2, 3 |
True Inflations(out of print)T. Myers Magic |
Review 1, 2 |
Weddings With Style54861 Elder Road |
Review 1, 2, 3, 4 |
Attack of the 50 Foot Demon: Twisting techniques for large scale balloon art | Review 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
Balloonicature: The many faces of balloon art | Review 1 2 |
DG 3/14/96
MB 1/3/97
MB 4/27/97
LM 3/9/98
SMB 8/6/98
SMB 10/15/99