2:1 Introduction

Working as a balloon modeller can be fun and rewarding.

If you play your cards right, in a typical week you will work in a variety of different locations, meeting groups of new and interesting people at various types of events.

Keeping the Kids' Attention Throughout

Most of a balloon modeller's staple work will come from entertaining children at birthday parties. Kids love to see the balloons being transformed, as if by magic, into forms that they love and recognise. But children are unlikely to be entertained for very long unless you can make a show out of what you are doing. You could be the world's most talented balloon modeller, but if you are not able to keep the children's attention with jokes, games, competitions and stories, then you won't last very long and are unlikely to be recommended amongst groups of friends.

In order to keep receiving business on a regular basis you need to make sure that your skills move with the times. If there is a new children's film out in the cinemas, and kids are obsessed with this latest craze, then they will be extremely disappointed if you cannot model at least one of the characters. Being up to date with all the latest trends and fashions in children's entertainment won't rule you out of being hired for themed parties either.

More and more children are choosing to have a birthday party centred on one film, game, television programme or character. Keep practicing new models so that you can take requests from children fixated on the latest craze, and make sure that you have all of the balloons necessary to make them with you, even if you have already rehearsed something different. Be ready to entertain at a Frozen party one day and a superhero themed party the next.

2:3 Adults are Much Harder to Please

Adults can be trickier customers than children.

They might try and catch you out by asking for bizarre and near-impossible models, especially if there is alcohol involved and they think that they are being clever. If you can't make a model of whatever they have asked for, try asking similar or related instead. It might be wise to have a standard rebuttal up your sleeve which you can use for anyone who requests anything completely impossible. Perhaps just giving them a round balloon with a picture of what they asked for drawn on in marker pen might be a way of shifting the focus onto them.

At corporate functions, remember that these can be very formal events. The entertainment afterwards will be much more relaxed, but the guests will probably still be dressed in black tie and could be very high up in their respective firms.

You are there to entertain, but you do need to keep an air of professionalism to your act. Again, word of mouth from guests at these events could be the key to taking your next booking, so being polite and professional with everyone you meet is a must. But don't forget to wow them with your amazing modelling skills and your sharp wit too. For adult clients, one of the most powerful tools you have to impress them with will be nostalgia. Conjure up a character from their childhood, be careful to guess their age right though or you could end up offending someone!

Make sure that you speak to the person organising the event so that they know your full capabilities. Make suggestions about how you could do more at the event, such as making balloon model centrepieces which feature the company logo or one of their products. This could be a fantastic way to inflate your fee for the night, especially if you charge per centrepiece.

2:5 Publicise Accordingly

Each of the above events is a publicity opportunity.

Be prepared to answer questions from the parents of children who are attending one of their friends' birthday parties or from someone at a corporate event who is looking to organise something similar somewhere else. Make sure that you always have some business cards on you to give out to anyone who enquires about future bookings so that they can get in touch easily.

At all of the events listed above, you will be hired on a flat rate for a certain period of time. All of the balloon models which you create within that time will be covered by this rate and you should not charge for them separately. Another way of making money as a balloon modeller is by selling your individual balloon models separately.

Just because you haven't taken any bookings for one day doesn't mean that you can't go out and use your balloon modelling skills to bring in some extra money. On a busy day in the town or city centre, you could make a fair amount of money by making models for people who pass by.

Target children, asking them if they would like a balloon model. Dress as brightly as you can so that you can be seen from far away. Make yourself a hat out of your balloons and wear it on your own head as advertising, so that people who pass by see it and want one too.

Make sure that you get your pricing right so that people are not put off by how much it costs but that you are still making money from your models.