Be ready for the BIG job! The Design! Part 3/3

The Design!

So finally the design. Last year the theme for this Christmas event was not Christmas but all the glamour of Hollywood...“A Night at the Oscars”! No helium balloons (what a relief as this would just be added complication especially during set-up) so all the balloons are air-filled! 

I would like to talk about how I started my design process for last years centrepieces.

I always start with ‘Google’ and do an image search. This will give me lot’s of ideas to work with; however, Pinterest is also a really great source of inspiration too!

Be ready for the BIG job! 2/3 Price and contract

Here is the second part of my 'Be ready for the BIG job'... looking at the business side.

Before we talk about the design, let’s looks at the business side of a job like this and everything that we need to include when working out our costings. We need to make sure that we have accounted for everything!

Material Costs

Labour Costs

Other items

Material Costs - all the elements that we use to make the design, including balloons, accessories, design structure - such as Lomey products or containers.

Labour Costs that include preparation & assembly time - the time that it takes to prepare all the elements for each of the centerpieces. How many people do you need to work, how many hours of prep?

Van Hire - I will need a large van to transport as many pre-made centerpieces as possible, however, some will require ‘finishing’ on arrival.

Van loading - loading and unloading 80 centerpieces will take time, especially if you want them to arrive safely in 1 piece!

Travel time to venue

Unloading - (see van loading the same will apply).

Finishing and repair time on site - there are bound to be a few casualties so be prepared!

Parking Fee - check out parking at the venue, especially if you have a van and review any fee’s.

Refreshments - keep your troops happy, with food and drinks.

De-rig - the removal of any remaining centerpieces after the event, which will also include labour time & mileage.

A Wonderful Step by Step Snowman Balloon Wall from Luc Bertrand CBA

I love balloon walls and the fantastic impact that they create! A balloon wall can be used in many ways; as a backdrop for an entrance or stage, they are also great for photo opportunities, everyone will love to have their pictures taken standing in front of it! Balloon walls and Qualatex Quick Link Balloons® are the perfect combination making them easier and faster to build!

Luc Bertrand CBA, WaW Balloons, Belgium shares his wonderful Qualatex Quick Link & 5" Balloon Snowman Wall.



 

Be ready for the BIG job! 1/3 Organisation

Does the thought of creating and supplying 80 centrepieces instead of 8 for an event fill you with dread or excitement?

I love to create exciting and detailed centrepiece designs, but these are not always practical, especially when you need them in mass! I have had the honour at previous events such as IBAC and the World Balloon Convention to design and create the "Final Night Gala" table centrepieces and have learned a number of very valuable lessons along the way:

• Keep your design simple but stunning.
• Don’t use too many complicated techniques.
• Use elements that can be prepared in advance like air-filled 4” & 9” Microfoil® balloons. 
• Make sure that you can achieve what you set out to do in the given time!

Matt & Celini McKinney tell us how using the AeroPole System has saved them Thousands of Dollars!

Balloon Arch by Balloon & Party Events, California

Everyone's talking about the AeroPole System and how easy it is to use with fantastic results every time! No more risks of 'failed' Arches due to insufficient floating time or bad weather bashing them to the ground!

Matt & Celini McKinney of Balloon & Party Events, California, are great advocates of the AeroPole System, and they have very kindly agreed to share their experience working with it.

Balloon Arch by Balloon & Party Events, California

"Our balloon business has run much easier since investing in the AeroPole System. Now we can create ‘helium looking’ Arches that last longer and hold up better, even in the wind and the rain. The AeroPole System is a real time-saver; allowing us to book more jobs simultaneously. Because we can pre-inflate and build the modules ahead of time, we can transport and set-up more events on the day of the event. Assembly is so fast, our clients marvel at how their events comes alive almost instantly.  We rarely sell helium-filled Arches anymore and have saved thousands of dollars on helium costs. Thousands!"

An Interview with Treb Heining and Bill Schaffell of AeroPole System

Treb Heining

The AeroPole System™ is the brainchild of inventors Treb Heining and Bill Schaffell. As the pioneer of the balloon decorating industry Treb Heining combined his skills and knowledge with long term friend and colleague Bill Schaffell who has 30 years experience in the special events industry. Between them they invented the Aeropole System™ which allows balloon professionals to create classic balloon décor without the need for Helium. 

Bill Schafell showing the AeroPole System.

I recently had the privilege to interview Treb and Bill, where I took the opportunity to asked them both about the AeroPole System™, how they came about inventing the system plus how they see it being used now and in the future with some other great ideas and applications that they have planned for it, plus much more, including setting up tips and hints!

A few key points to remember:

• The AeroPole System is flexible, it will perform (move) outside in the same way a helium filled arch would, it is not ridged like an arch that is built on a conduit frame.
• Ensure that you tape the sections together with gaffe tape to prevent the poles pulling apart in windy conditions.
• The base plates that are supplied with the AeroPole System weigh in at around 30lb's/13.6 kilograms each, but it is suggested that in windy conditions additional weight should be added at the base to ensure that the arch cannot blow over - wind is an unknown, we never actually know how windy it can become, make sure that you are prepared!
• When placing the AeroPole onto the pins, be sure that the pole is straight before sliding it onto the baseplate pin. If it slides on easily, then you know you did it right, if it binds up then stop and don't force it. It should slide on easily, and it will when it's in-line with the baseplate pin.

For more great information regarding the AeroPole System visit www.aeropolesystem.com

Plus I have written 2 blogs about the AeroPole System that you might find useful:
Creating Air Filled Arches and Columns using the AeroPole System

Part 2. The AeroPole™ System - some great tips from balloon expert David Taylor CBA

We would love to see your great designs using the AeroPole System, please send these to sue@suebowler.com

Happy Ballooning!

Sue
www.suebowler.com

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow - Elegant decor design ideas with Dazzling Snowflakes!

I would have to say that the new Qualatex Dazzling Snowflakes Holographic Microfoil® balloon has to be one of my favourite winter balloons this year!

Dazzling Snowflakes #20263/ #20260

I'm not sure if it's the 6-Point Star shape, the design, the Holographic effect or all of it, but they are such an elegant balloon that is perfect for all winter events!

I am very excited to be decorating a corporate Christmas party this year and the Snowflake balloons will be a huge part of the decor, I will be using them for the centrepieces and a feature arch! I will share the end result after the event, but I am sure that it will look amazing!

This balloon shape is also perfect for connecting together, allowing us to create stunning air-filled mobiles, which I think are perfect for venues with higher ceilings and good fixing points. Once positioned they will gently move around, and the Holographic elements will sparkle in the light!