7 Tips to Successful Balloon Twisting for Beginners

TIP #1 – WHAT YOU NEED

A colourful costume is good, however the most important thing is to be armed with quality twisting balloons and a good pump.

TIP #2 – MASTERING THE DOG

The dog, like most mammals, has 4 legs, a tail, head and ears. By mastering the dog without realising, you have already learnt the template of ¾ of the animals you will encounter.

1. Giraffe – lengthen the dogs neck
2. Cat – exactly the same as the dog (if the children are not convinced it is a cat, pat it and pretend that it is purring – simple, yet effective)
3. Elephant – loop the ears, shorten the tail, and lengthen dogs head to look like a trunk
4. Horse – Extend the head and neck of dog
5. Tiger, lioness, pig, cow, goat etc. – make the dog

TIP #3 – BRING A PERMANENT MARKER

Convincing a child that what you have made him, is not another dog like what you made his brother, but a tiger cub, is easy enough. But unfortunately the parents are harder to convince. That’s when bringing a marker and adding stripes, whiskers and claws becomes a real asset.

TIP #4 MASTER 2 – 3 OTHER ANIMALS

I have found learning the rabbit, swan and humming bird (which turned around becomes a bee) useful. Instructions for these are found in most magic shops, as well as other web sites. Learning these shouldn’t take more than an hour to perfect, however they are more difficult to make than the dog. However if you fail in your attempt, ask the kid if they like puppies (who doesn’t?)

TIP #5 – WHEN FACED WITH DIFFICULT ANIMALS

Some children will try to think up the most difficult animals to try to test your balloon making ability. I have encountered pterodactyls, dragons, reindeer – you name it. What I tend to do (useful also in cutting a queue down) is make that reindeer an invisible reindeer – which simply made by taking a fully blown up balloon and making a loop at the bottom, which mimics a lead for that animal. Once the word gets around that you make invisible dragons, children start requesting them.

TIP #6 – LEARN SOME TRICKS OF YOUR OWN

Children, especially around the age of 7 – 12, are a little old to fully appreciate the cleverness of the balloon dog, that’s where having a few tricks up your sleeve is useful. Some ideas are rocket balloons or thumb tips concealing balloons.

TIP #7 – HAVE FUN

This is really the key to any kind of children's entertainment. When you are having fun you too become like a child and will enjoy yourself much more.

You can have have joy.
It is not so hard.
Just be like a child.
You can be like a child.
To your surprise,
Joy has arrived.

- Sri Chinmoy.

You want to be happy?
That is very easy.
Simply watch the innocent child as she plays.
Just watch her playing.
See. You are happy.

- Sri Chinmoy.