You: Seriously?! What! Are you kidding me?
Me: Yes, this is real folks. This is a real life-size model of a dinosaur fossil made out of…balloons. I’m totally blown away too.
So, backing up a little, this is how I came to know “Balloon Guy.”
There we were. My family, enjoying a nice dinner out with my parents. Then suddenly…
BAMM!, Kaaa-zamm! Explosions of excitement went off in our children’s eyes. We saw this guy going around the tables making balloon sculptures. “How fun, I thought. What a fun way to entertain the kids.” But really, the entire jam-packed room of adults were just as fascinated as the kids were.
So what makes this guy so fascinating? Well, let me first make a comparison. I know you’ll identify with me because everyone at some point in their life has received a balloon character, right? Sometimes it’s a flower, a poodle, or a sword.
Okay, hold on ’cause I’m backing up some more…ready for a flashback?
…
So one time I was shopping with all my kids and, needless to say, by the end of the excursion a few of the kids were having meltdowns in the very long checkout line. I finally reached the checkout, paid and was high-tailin’ it outa there when suddenly an old man stepped in front of me. He opened his jacket and reached down (I was a little freaked out at this point wondering “What the heck?”). Anyway, he reached down and slowly pulled out this long skinny balloon and started blowing up balloons and twisting them into unrecognizable shapes. Um, weird and awkward timing obviously. I suppose he saw my screaming kids and tried to divert their attention, but yeah, it didn’t really work. I grabbed all my kids and ran out the door, pretty much crying myself at that point.
That was the psycho balloon guy day.
…
Back to now.
So this day at the restaurant was a complete opposite of the psycho balloon guy day. Sure my kids were in a better mood and all, but still this “Balloon Guy” could have turned any frowns up-side-down for sure. I expected him to make some little dinky doggy balloon or something. He asked what my kids would like and when they said a dog, he replied “Are you sure? I can do a lot of different things.” So of course that prompted me to ask, “How many designs can you make?”
It turned out that this guy can make thousands of different designs, all imagined by him. He uses many balloons and makes the most amazing details. My three daughters were fascinated and as each of their turns came around, each daughter tried to think of something more challenging. The first was a panda bear holding a heart. The second was mini mouse (complete with pink dress and high heels). The third was a kangaroo holding a joey in it’s pouch.
Mark and I exchange “Wow!” glances. We couldn’t help it. Suddenly we saw balloons as art and wanted to know more. We had to find out more about this guy.
So “Balloon Guy” is Jeremy Telford. He creates art for all kinds of parties and events–from birthdays to museum displays. You can see his website at www.balloonguyentertainment.com.
Jeremy also has a book out called Balloonology. It has “32 fun projects to take you from beginner to expert.” Cool. I think I’ll have to try this.
Anyway, we had a very fun (and non-freaky) evening at the restaurant. Thanks Balloon Guy! :)
