As seen on TV!  NBC San Diego interviewed Sandi from Balloon Utopia today on the helium shortage.  Lucky for us here in San Diego, we’re not nearly as affected as in other parts of the country where they either can’t get helium at all, or the prices have gone through the roof!  In some parts they’re paying as much as $250/ tank!!!  Anyway, here’s the news clip from the interview…. 

View more videos at: http://nbcsandiego.com.

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What a month! At the end of August, I (Sandi) went out to Kansas for a special invite-only workshop at the Pioneer Balloon World Headquarters. Pioneer makes the balloons that I predominately use- Qualatex.

The workshop itself was phenomenol. It was taught by Belgian balloon artist, Luc Bertrand. In the 2 day workshop we learned some new techniques for building sculptures, and then had a little friendly competition to build a giant doll that Luc had designed for a competition at one of the conventions some time earlier (and it won). There were 2 teams, each with 12 people or so on them- the red team and the blue team. I was on the red team (we won…).

It was a great excersize in teamwork and learning some new techniques and some time saving techniques as well.

During the workshop we were offered the opportunity to go on a tour of the headquarters. We didn’t get to see the balloons being made, as that happens at another facility down the road, but we did get to see how the design and prototype new balloons. And, I learned something really interesting, not only are all of the balloons I use made in America, but the mylar balloon plant also makes all their mylars for international distribution! So, not only is Pioneer/ Qualatex making their products here in America instead of outsourcing to China, they’re one of the few companies still manufacturing in America and exporting to other countries!!! I was very impressed!! I wonder why they don’t do more marketing about that. I think that in todays outsource- happy environment, that would be a major selling point….

Anyway, the other exciting thing that happened during those few days was that I finally took the CBA (Certified Balloon Artist) practical exam. I had done the written exams many many years ago- having purchased the kit in the late 1990s… but I never took the practical exam. I’ll be honest, I thought that it was going to be really easy, and didn’t think that much about it. Well, at 2 in the morning, working with my roommate for the event, Rachel Porter from Balloon Splendor in Washington, after spending 4 hours working on the job cost forms, I totally changed my mind!!! It was really eye-opening to do the job cost forms and learn exactly where my profit centers are, and where I was losing money without even realizing it!!

In the test itself, besides having to submit 4 photos with job cost forms, and 2 original designs with job cost forms, you also have to make a couple of arrangements copied from a card, and a 5 balloon spiral column, and answer some questions, and do a mock phone call. No biggie, right? Guess again!! For the 5-balloon spiral column, I found out that it had to be done without the automatice sizing equipment we always use, and it had to be done on monofiliament line. Both things that took me out of my comfort zone. I usually do my columns using the automatic sizing machines, and then building them on 260s or dacron line. Then, the room was really hot (and a very humid day) and the balloons were sticking to each other, and to my arm. I thought that it was part of the test, so I didn’t ask to have the AC turned up, LOL! Afterwards I found out that it was an accident and that it wasn’t part of the test, lol! Anyway, my column wasn’t that great, when the tester shook it, it broke in two. I would have had words if one of my employees had done it that loose. Luckily that wasn’t the only thing we were scored on.

So… to make a long story short, and in spite of my loose column, and being taken out of my comfort zone, I passed!! I can now add the letters CBA after my name!!!!

To all you balloonies out there, go through the training, take the exam and get your CBA. It’s a worthwhile experience.

My friend Lisa from Blooming Balloons in North Carolina made a little slide show video of the workshop/ competition. I’m trying to get a copy of it, and if I get one, I’ll upload it here… in the meantime, here are a couple of pix that I took at the workshop…

Here’s Lisa’s video… guess YouTube disabled the audio But it’s still fun to watch I’ll have to remember to tell her about Animoto

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Stage Decor, Backdrops, Custom Sculptures, Oh MY!

These past few months have been interesting here at Balloon Utopia.  We’ve been getting some really interesting jobs- especually on the corporate side of things.  We are loving working in the live event industry and being challenged to come up with new stage decorations.  In fact, we’ve done so many lately that you shouldn’t be surprised if a whole “Stage” page shows up!   We’ve also been commissioned to make a larger-than- life mermaid.  This was a really fun and interesting project.  We love challenges!   No matter what your event, call the San Diego Balloon Experts to make it really pop! (pun intended, lol)

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Today I had to get some balloons from Party City. I know, it’s silly that I would have to pay full retail price at Party City for my balloons, but tomorrow is my little son’s birthday, and he is all about Toy Story. Problem is, my local distributor doesn’t have any Toy Story balloons, and I procrastinated until it was too late to get them from out of state- what can I say, shoemakers children…   Anyway, I find it shocking and disappointing that Party City, probably the largest retailer of Mylar balloons, refuses to comply with the California balloon laws. I went in to pick up my balloons, and was handed a group of mylar balloons without a weight. I asked for them to please weight the balloons in order to be compliant with the law, they told me they could put a clip on it (which was an insufficient amount of weight for the size of the balloon) or I could purchase a weight. I told them that I didn’t care if the weight was a piece of cardboard, or a bag of rocks, but that my balloons, and every other mylar balloon that walks out of the store MUST be weighted.

Well, I’m sure that they saw me as the balloon police, but the reason for the laws are to protect our power lines from accidental failure. Here’s a link to a video I made on the subject of  CALIFORNIA BALLOON LAWS.  I may be a little fanatic about it, but I was part of a group that worked really really hard to lobby against the ban on mylar balloons that almost happened a couple of years ago.  The law banning balloons actually passed, but lucky for us, we got off on a technicality- Gov. Shwartzenegger vetoed it because he was trying to get the California state legislature to balance the budget, and had said that he would veto all bills until the budget was balanced. 

I have this same conversation every time I go into a Party City or a $1 store. If the largest retailers aren’t compliant with the laws, how can we expect the general public to observe them- or even know about them? It’s our job as decorators and retailers to educate the consumers. Anyway, if you go into a store in California and see that they are selling mylar balloons without the proper anchors, please take the time to say something to the manager. If we want to continue enjoying the color and happiness that mylar balloons provide, we all need to take care to observe the laws. Otherwise, we may lose the right to use them in California- as almost happened a couple of years ago.

Just to keep everything in one place, here’s a quick synopsis of the main points of the California Balloon Laws:

Every balloon that is made of an electrically conductive material (mylar) and filled with a gas lighter than air (helium) must be individually anchored to a weight that is heavy enough to keep it from flying away.

No balloon that is filled with a gas that is lighter than air may be attached to a material that is electrically conductive (so no mylar ribbon on latex balloons).

There are a couple more points, but those are the biggies.

All right, off my soapbox and onto the birthday cupcakes….

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Last night was the premiere of The Unpoppables on TLC.  This is a new balloon reality TV show.  They aired the first two episodes, and I have to say it was truely a treat to watch.  The show follows three balloon artists as they go through the process of what we do- consultation, conception, design and building amazing decor.   The three balloon artists are Addi Somekh, Brian Asman, and Katie Laibstein.  Addi I think I can call a friend.  He’s been an inspiration to me for many years, and I’ve gone up to LA to help him out on jobs a few times.  I’ve always admired the way that he thinks and sees the world in balloons.  He’s truly an artist.  Brian I have met several times at conventions, and have always wanted to learn his balloon couch.  (Yes! You can actually sit on it.)  I can’t say that we’re friends, as we don’t really know each other, but I’ve always respected his work.  I’ve never met Katie, but I really liked the “fire” she built in the first episode. 

I had to smile at the show, because it really showed what it’s like.  Very often when doing the big sculptures you’re working right up until the last minute, and running agianst the clock.  Since balloons have an optimum life span, you can’t start a big project too soon, or it will lose the best part of it’s life waiting to go to the event.  And the all night sessions are famous in our industry- especially on the “twisting” side of things. 

I’m also really excited  that this show will educate the general public about just how far we can take our art form.  For years we’ve struggled to be taken seriously as an artistic and decorative medium.  Often our big brothers and sisters in the larger special event industry figure that we’re all just clowns who make dogs and swords or a cheaper alternative to flowers, and can only make arches and balloons on string.  We have come so far in even just the last 10- 15 years!  It truly is amazing what my colleagues can do with balloons! 

Back to the review, I thought that they did a great job, and a great service to our industy.  Anyway see for yourself, below is a preview for you.  I highly recommend tuning in to watch The Unpoppables  on TLC.  Hopefully they’ll continue this series for many more seasons!

- Sandi

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Most Recent Balloon Decorations

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This is a small sampling of some of our most recent work.  In this edition, we had some interesting challenges, like trying to bring to life Andy Warhol’s Silver Room for a party, creating large scale Football Players for the Poinesettia Bowl, and making the University of North Carolina logo- giant size!   We love the challenges.  If you have an idea for an interesting theme or logo, give us a call, we’d love to put our thinking caps to the test!

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How to Make a Balloon Raindeer

Check out our Christmas Balloon Gallery

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Sorry for the multiple clicks and links, but I haven’t figured out how to forward it directly… 

Want to learn how to make more money with Social Media?  This course is the BEST Social Media course that you can find!  The skills that they teach can either be used to help you increase your own marketing efforts, or you can build a side social media consultant business with it.  Like I described in the video, these people really know their stuff!  I have taken two courses from them, and they really over-deliver.  I will be taking this course as well.  Even if you don’t end up taking the course, the free videos that they have out for the launch are worth taking a look at!  Video # 3 especially has some great tips in it!

Click here to learn more! (Click here, click here…) 

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Here are some pictures that show you some of the things we were busy with this summer.  There are more pix, like a ton of entertainment pictures that will be added as we go, but this is a fairly good representation of some of the San Diego Balloon Events that Balloon Utopia provided decor for. 

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Phil Mickelson Foundation Start Smart Balloons 

This is an incredible annual event that Balloon Utopia is hired to decorate.  Every year it gets a little bigger and more kids are invited to attend.  The general theme of the balloon decorations remains the same every year, but the configuration of the areas inside of Walmart changes. 

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