Balloon Hats for Literacy

I have an amazing new project.

It's been taking up what little time I have left over during the busy season, but it's something that really brings satisfaction from the work.  Next summer we will be attempting to set a world record while supporting and spotlighting literacy.  4500 people in balloon hats!  Over 30,000 balloons and at least 100 people making hats.  It's going to be a blast!!

Check it out at www.balloonhatsforliteracy.com 

Balloon Hats for Literacy

Crazy big project.  check it out!

Fun with leftovers

After we practice I don't like to keep the balloons around.  I usually give them to a friend's kids.  This is what happens when you give a creative kid some leftover balloons.  :-)

Maker Faire Kansas City - Come see us this weekend!

This is our sculpture this year!  Started with a GIANT round balloon, uninflated it was close to 5 feet long!  If I fully inflated it, the thing would be 8ft,b ut I wanted to downsize a little to allow for the people who insist on poking and touching.

This one is dedicated to the 30 years of fun Ghostbusters has brought the world!

Maker's Faire this weekend!!!

Looking for something amazing to do this weekend?  Come visit us at the KC Maker's Faire in Union Station.  We have a fantastic sculpture planned to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Ghostbusters.

Amazing doesn't stop with the balloons - there are robots and spinners.  People who make cars and even some guys from the physics department who shrink quarters.  So much to see.  This is our 4th year here and it's still my favorite event of the year!

Defying the odds at Kansas City's City Market

It really didn't take long for the whole "random" spaces thing to fall apart.  At least for some performers.  Not all, some are still forced to draw spots and get what they get.  However, a few are gifted with the same choice spots week after week.  The odds of someone drawing the same spot 3 weeks in a row is less than 1 in 1000.  Somehow a couple of very lucky musicians have managed it.  One said, "Luck had nothing to do with it!" but then realized that he was saying too much and shut up.  Another performer, non music, confirmed for me that he was allowed to set up in a spot that isn't even one of the designated places.  Three vendors and two other people associated with the market confirmed for me that some performers get the space they want week after week and they had noticed that it didn't seem random.

Even more troubling is that one of Deb Connor's stated reasons for charging balloon artists, but not other performers is that "the kids get to take something away like they do with a vendor".  I don't actually buy that, but for a moment, let's give that argument a chance.  If that's the case, then why is she letting a portrait artist set up, WITHOUT PAYING and not in a designated spot when people get to take things away from his activity as well.

Deb, if you want to charge, how about charging all the performers a flat $10.  Don't force some into $54 plus fees for taxes and licences.

My family & I make enough to cover it, but have no desire to work under her conditions.  We can also make just as much money without working the market.  I have spoken with another balloon artist who said that the $54 was over half of what he made on an average Saturday.  50 - 60 % of earnings is simply too high a fee.  Then because he is now vending instead of working for tips he would be required to pay sales tax on all of that, not just income tax.  by the time you add in income tax, sales tax and material costs he would end up with less than 20% of what he grossed.  That is seriously out of control.

I do still shop at the market occasionally and am friends with many of the vendors, though I do find myself venturing out more and more to other area markets.  This is just another in a string of ways the market has become more corporate and less farmer's market over the past decade.  It makes me sad.  Luckily, Waldo, Brookside and Lawrence retain the earthy, cooperative air that I think a farmer's market shoudl have.

More about the City Market

So instead of paying too much for performer space at the market, we decided to perform in the park nearby.  Deb Conners came and told Dan he wasn't allowed to be there.  He disagreed with her because the market itself has been traditionally a public forum and public parks even more so.  As he explained it to me, if there are benches that homeless people can and do sleep on, grass that dogs can and do poop on, how can she say it's private and no performers are allowed.  Later he noticed the sign which does lead credence to his train of thought.  A sign put up by the city itself.  The market was so much of a valued public forum that they immortalized it in bronze.

Deb did say that if we got all the licenses required we could have a full booth and be regular vendors selling stuff besides balloons.  That part was interesting to me.   I know people on the waiting list to get a space on Saturday and I have been told previously that there are no more.  Suddenly there is and I'm offered one, but the people on the waiting list are not.

More importantly she's saying we can't be performers we have to be vendors.  I much prefer busking.  I don't set prices and let people tip me if they are happy with how I have made them feel.  Usually works out well for me.  Sometimes people don't toss anything my way, but so what.  It's part of busking.  I value the freedom of working that way.  I don't have to set up by a certain time and only leave after a certain time.  I do pay state and federal income tax on my tips - always have, but I'm not selling anything so I don't have to worry about sales tax.  I don't have to worry about making a certain amount to just break even for the day.  Being focused on money saps the energy and sucks away the spontaneity of performing.  I don't want to vend.  I don't want to sell.

I do have other options for places to busk on the weekends and it doesn't worry me to lose income from the City Market.  That doesn't make Deb's micromanagement of performers right.  If she wants to dictate so much then she needs to HIRE people to perform and PAY them to do what she wants.  Don't abuse the artists who work for tips.  If you're lucky enough to have talented musicians, magicians, balloon artists, living statues, jugglers and so on who want to perform without cost to you, let them.  Don't make it impossible.  I'm not saying it should be a free for all.  Make certain places off limits and buskers will take care of the rest.  We're very good at staying out of each other's way.  For many years that system worked well at the market.  A few people didn't follow the rules of checking in and they were always asked to leave.  we stayed out of walkways and the sheds.

Sometimes it seems to me that Deb wasn't happy that we did earn money.  That's why balloon artists and face painters are the only people being charged.


Several people told Dan they were thrilled to see him there on Saturday and I have close to two dozen emails asking me why we haven't been there.  After so many years we've got a little following and I didn't realize how much they appreciated us until I started getting the letters.  It really made me smile.

I wish I had an answer to give them.  I can afford the booth space, but why should I be forced to vend when I want to perform?

No more Balloons at the City Market

Looks like there will be no more balloons at Kansas City's Farmer's Market.  Deb Connors, the market manager, decided to single out balloon artists and face painters from the other entertainers and charge us as much as as a vendor.

I know it comes because some entertainers didn't follow the rules.  However instead of insisting that they do what they were supposed to and only work for tips, Deb decided to change the rules for us all.   There is one particular face painter who was allowed to set up wherever, not on one of the designated spots.  All the other face painters had to set up in specific places.   She was a member of the local doomsday cult, IHOP.  More than once she gave IHOP literature to my children and I'm sure they were not the only ones.   On two occasions I had people yell at me because they didn't want a Bible lesson with their balloon - although I was never in charge of anyone else's activities.  I'm not against people spreading their own religious beliefs as they feel called to.  True I'm not a fan of IHOP, but their religion is not at all on my list of reasons to dislike them.  What I don't care for is that only some religions and religious people are allowed into the city owned property.  Deb once told me that no fortune tellers or anything else that would upset the Mennonite farmers.  I get her reasoning, but then it seems that all religious activity be curtailed, not just some.

We always followed her rules.  Despite the fact that as the evolved they were (according to two lawyers I consulted) really pushing on the edges of what the 1st amendment allowed her to do.   Contrary to popular belief, the market is not private property, it is city property. Just like the Plaza and Power & Light.  Now the rules have gone way too far.  Makes me sad.  For 12 years I've enjoyed doing balloons there.  I always worked for tips only, even though sometimes that didn't pan out.  My theory was that if one person didn't have a tip, I'm sure the next one would make up for it. I never turned anyone away because they couldn't or even didn't want to put any money in my bucket.  I didn't treat them any differently, because treating people well always comes back to you.

One lady was at the market and got a flower.  She didn't have a tip and we made her one anyway.  I don't remember her.  It happens all the time.  She remembered us though.  Months later we got a card in the mail with $5 and a note.  She told us that she had been having an awful day and that flower was the one bright spot and she wanted to say thank you and tell us how much it meant.  The $5 was cool, but the card is priceless.  It was a bright spot in my day.

I'm going to miss the market, but it's not the only place in town where I busk.  I'll email my regulars so they know where to find me and post here and on my main website for everyone else.

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update - April 7

Went to the market yesterday to purchase some produce and spices.  Found out that Deb is now drawing for the spaces randomly.  That's better in some sense, worse in others.  Some of the spaces are crap and not worth the time it takes to set  up.  Mark drew one of those.  Despite the fact that there were LOTS of open "good" spaces and it was already past noon AND there were only 3 performers in the whole place, he was stuck out somewhere that wouldn't allow him to make money.  He didn't play.  The coffee shop didn't have music on Sunday because no performer drew that spot.  Its' a shame since that's where people gather and for years they have been able to enjoy music.

Drawing is fair - but what happens when a performer draws a space where they wont' fit?  Knobtown Skiffle Band can't work in most of the spaces.  Neither can a facepainter or balloon artist.  Does she then allow them to set up in some other space and doesn't that remove the fairness from the whole thing?  Also why on earth would I PAY for a space that the other performers get for free?  If I am to pay shouldn't I be allowed to set up like a vendor with a 10x10 spot, not a 2x2 area?  I'm required to pay the same as they are, but not given the rights.  If I'm going to be a vendor then I want to be a vendor.  I want the spot, the control of how many people doing what I do can be there, the reliability of knowing where I'll be.  If I'm going to be subject to the same rules as the buskers, then I want the same price the other buskers pay.

It was sad to see the loss of energy at the market.  Not many musicians, no balloon artists, no face painters, no jugglers, no magicians.

Thumbtack

I have been using thumbtack.com with quite a bit of success, so I was surprised today to stumble across many posts referring to it as a scam.  All of the posters were claiming that there were phoney leads and the real ones were few and far between.  They also claimed that the leads were costing $8 each.  I do pay $3 for every lead I respond to, but that's not $8 and while I have not booked 100% of the parties I've responded to, I've averaged around 60%.  They weren't phoney leads - just actual people looking for someone to entertain at their party.

I'm happy to be using thumbtack.com.  The whole reason for this post is that far too often people complain when they are unhappy but never compliment when they are.  Figured I would just put it out there.

An entire Orchestra

on our facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/balloonsrfun) we have a weekly challenge.  People get to come up with crazy ideas for balloons they would like to see - then the suggestions get put up for a vote.  The winner is what we try.

Last week someone suggested "An Entire Orchestra" Really?

Guess which one won?  Of course it did.

So what to do, what to do.....

We did in the end make an entire orchestra.

The entire MUPPET orchestra.  :-)

They're all there. 

Nigel - band leader

Floyd Pepper - Bass

Lips - Trumpet

Trumpet Girl - trombone (after season 4)

Zoot - Sax

Rowlf - Piano

Crazy Harry - Triangle

and of course

Animal on drums

Maker Faire Balloon Tardis

Maker Faire KC was an amazing event.  We made the Tardis - which was not quite life size, but it did end up being 6feet tall.

Tuesday night jam

We've started jamming at Scooter's on the Plaza.  Tuesday nights at 6pm

Perry Hat

made with 4 5-inch round balloons

caterpillar

I like this rose.  It's made with 3 hearts.  Not different enough for me to use it in line work, but great for decor projects.

Woven rose

Weekend wrap up

My exercise is still on hold.  Being a 46 year old woman with mono kind of sucks!  I'm more active, but still get exhausted easily, so long runs are out of the question.  I did manage to work this weekend.  Wore me out, but was worth it.

I have a year's worth of balloon scraps that I have dedicated myself to using up.  Started by making this to set up where I am busking.

Got lots of attention and it was fun to see the reaction of people when they walked by.

I went out early because Sunday was the 25th Trolley Trail run.  Lots of people out and about all morning.  Wore my Newtons

I have several pairs, usually wear the purple ones to work, but these were right there and I was feeling lazy.  :-)  One of the great things about wearing them on Sunday was meeting and talking to all the other Newton Runners.  Saw one guy in a Newton shirt and New Balance shoes.  he and I spoke for quite awhile about shoes and running.  I love runners.  such a fun group.

The kids were great too.  So excited about having done the kids race.  Many of them gave me full recaps.  It was great.  I wish I gotten into racing at that young of an age.  Makes me glad my daughters discovered the joy so much earlier than I did.

however much fun the weekend was it left me super tired.  Today I have been just dragging, but am finally up and about.  Now I can take advantage of the wonderful weather we have.  Still no running, but I will get in a nice walk.  moving is better than sitting still.

Balloons

Although you might not know it from the posts on this blog - I am a balloon artist.  Somehow I have stumbled across a way to get paid to play.  It's a pretty fun job.  Decided to share a bit of what I do.  After I retrieve files from my old hard drive I will post some instructions for making basic balloon sculptures.

Birthday Monkey

Giant Flower

Not so basic dog

Happy Flowers

Miss Monroe