Event Booking and Consultation Forms - What Do You Use?

Imagine that you are in a meeting with a client to discuss their event. You have probably walked around the event venue with them to look at the space and the decor opportunities and you have started to offer your ideas and suggestions. So how do you now present that information back to your client to ensure that you get that booking and at the same time ensure that you have obtained all the information that you need?

A simple and advantageous way to do this would be to always use an event booking/consultation form. This can also serve as a check-list to help you when you are preparing your quotes and invoices. 

For this post, I have created a comprehensive Event Booking/Consultation Form. To be honest, I am a note-book scribbler, and probably one of the world's worst at obtaining all the relevant information when it comes to booking an event! I am now in the position where I rarely take on big events these days due to all my other work commitments, but I know for sure that if I would had of used a form such as this, it would have made my life a whole lot easier.

Let's start with the more practical, non-creative stuff, like event and client details. Getting all those relevant contact details is so important from the very beginning. And it should include not only not only the person who is booking you, but also the venue contact and the name of the person who is responsible for paying the invoice too! 

If you are at the venue, this is also the perfect time to find out about parking, and other hotel/venue-related information. Many of my previous corporate events were located in central London and that alone brought many additional complications to a job. So standard things like parking are worth finding out about, as many hotels and venues will offer vendors free parking while they are onsite. It's worth noting; having a good relationship with the events manager at a venue can be worth it's weight in gold! 

It's extremely important to know dates and times too! I like to be able to access a venue as early as possible on the day of an event to ensure that we can get a head start, and miss peak time traffic or anything else that may delay us.

You may not need to know about payment details at this point, but you may want to inform the person who is booking with you that you have payment terms, and keep them informed of those when you send in your quotation or proposals. 

Type/ Name of Event
Date of Event		Contact Details
Event Location & Address		Company/Clients Name
Event Start Time		Contact Name: Name of person responsible for payment of invoice if different from contact
Event Finish Time		Contact Email
Venue Access Time		Contact Phone
Venue Parking & Parking cost if applicable		Postal Address
Set-up location		Payment Details
Strike/ Tear- Down Date & Time		Deposit Required
Venue Contact & phone		Deposit Due Date
		Final Payment Required
		Final Payment Due Date

Now let's look at design details and description of work.

Design Details & Description of work
Theme
Entrance/ Foyer
Bar Areas
Photo Backdrop
Stage Backdrop
Table Decor
Other

Sometimes clients have a good idea of decor they want at their events, while other times they have no preferences or ideas, giving you an opportunity to get very creative! I have given some key locations and decor that you can suggest while you are building your ideas.

I have worked directly with both clients and also with event organisers who are managing a big event, and to be honest, working with an events organiser has always been my preference as they can always see the bigger picture and know how to 'sell' to their clients. They often have an idea of the clients potential budget, which again can be very useful to know. I expect that the more experience you get, the easier it is to become a sales person as well as a creative director too! 

So, now you have all this information and all your creative ideas and suggestions, you will be able to get back to your customer with a comprehensive quote. Do not leave this too long, as your client will be keen to get you booked! I would also make your quotes time-limited, like 30 days, to ensure that the client cannot come back to you months later and expect the same deal! 

I like to make my quotes as visual as possible; in this instance pictures are much more impactful than words. The design below is a Sculptured Column that I proposed for an upcoming event for a client. I wanted the client to be able to visualise how the column would look without having to make up the design in balloons. I then use creative and descriptive words to accompany the picture! 

Even showing a customer something as simple as how a logo will look on a balloon can really help to sell the idea or concept to a client.

This is an Arch that I designed for a New Years Party at
the Savoy, London

As part of your quote, you will need to incorporate a price breakdown. I rarely discuss pricing during a consultation as your pricing can be subject to so many variables. Many customers will ask you for an approximation or a ball part price, but you need remember that once you give a price, it is very hard to make changes later. 

Don't present prices for your work to your clients in the same way as you cost your work. Remember, your customers are not buying balloons, fishing line, aluminium rod and helium. They are not even buying Arches, Columns, Balloons Walls and balloon displays, they are actually buying the wow factor and the atmosphere to create a great party or event. They are buying your experience, knowledge and expertise. Never be embarrassed to ask for the full value of your work.

I personally price balloon decor by the job, and not by each specific balloon design or creation. There are many elements that may need to be included into a job to ensure that you can fulfil it within the required time and location.

If a client asks for discount and you want to give it (maybe it's for a charity event that you want to support) ensure that you always present an invoice with the full amount and then take the discount off the bottom. If I ever offer discounts, I will only deduct from the net profit of the job, and never from the costs, to ensure that the job does not cost me money. Remember that even charity events pay for their venue, food, band, etc. They will always try to get discounts, but you also need to cover your costs at a minimum. I recommend that you choose any charities that you want to support at the start of the year, and if anyone asks you to support a charity not on the list, tell them that you have your charities for this year and if they want to be considered for next year, to put their request in writing. 

Here is a full copy of the Event Booking/Consultation Form. If you right click on it you will be able to save it to your computer, or you can simply create your own form using some or all of the information that I have included.

Type/ Name of Event
Date of Event		Contact Details
Event Location & Address		Company/Clients Name
Event Start Time		Contact Name: Name of person responsible for payment of invoice if different from contact
Event Finish Time		Contact Email
Venue Access Time		Contact Phone
Venue Parking & Parking cost if applicable		Postal Address
Set-up location		Payment Details
Strike/ Tear- Down Date & Time		Deposit Required
Venue Contact & phone		Deposit Due Date
		Final Payment Required
		Final Payment Due Date
Design Details & Description of work
Theme
Entrance/ Foyer
Bar Areas
Photo Backdrop
Stage Backdrop
Table Decor
Other

I hope this has helped you to feel a little less overwhelmed in your event planning! Being organised and having all the information recorded is definitely the key to success and a smooth- running event! 

Happy Ballooning! 

Sue

www.suebowler.com

Follow me @suebowler

Classic Balloon Décor vs. Organic Balloon Décor

When I look at Facebook, Instagram, and other social media channels, I see far more displays of organic balloon designs and installations than I do of Classic Balloon Decor. I believe that social media has played a huge part in the rise in popularity for the organic style of décor. So is Classic Décor going 'out of fashion?' Before we look further into this possible change of trend, let us look at what is meant by each of these styles of balloon decoration.

Classic Balloon Décor

Classic Balloon Décor is the building blocks of ballooning, and almost all balloon artists/decorators begin here! It is as basic as learning how to inflate balloons to a specific size, tying a duplet, twisting balloons into clusters, as well as the art of adding balloons to line or framework! Classic Balloon Décor is taught as part of the Qualatex Fundamentals course. Fundamentals is the balloon course for beginners, and it provides the grounding that retailers and decorators need before starting a business that includes professional balloon work. It is also taught as part of the QBN Program (Qualatex Balloon Network).

Striking Balloon Arches by Dianna Glandon, CBA, of Above the Rest Event Designs, 
Knoxville, TN , USA.

So what is Organic Décor?

Organic decor is best described as latex balloons that are styled to mimic the beauty in nature. When a piece has organically, or randomly, sized balloons placed throughout, it adds an elegance within the design that helps set the mood of an event space.

However, organic décor is not created by simply using a range of different sizes of balloons. It consists of  intentionally sized balloons that have been arranged to create a natural flow whilst also ensuring that the principles and elements of design have been applied to ensure that the design maintains rhythm, balance and harmony.

Balloon Decor by Sue Bowler of Balloon Art by Sue Bowler & Nicci Gibson of Balloon Bouquet Events

So is it actually true that there is a greater demand for organic décor, or is it that we are seeing more of it on social media and therefore are led to believe that it is more dominant?

I recently asked some of our QBN members if they are offering Classic Balloon décor more often than Organic Style Décor? Here are some of their responses:

Cindy Chait of Balloons N Beyond, LLC, USA, reports "I do more classic over organic; almost 2 to 1 classic vs organic."

"Corporate customers love Classic Decor!"  is the statement from Nina's Balloons, CBA, in Norwalk, California, USA.

Balloon Columns by Ninas Balloons

Kahla Sharp-Leggett of Altitude Balloon Décor in Naperville, IL, USA. "I love the classic style, and try to steer customers to it. Corporate clients prefer it."

Red, White and Blue Columns by Kahla Sharp-Leggett of Altitude Balloon Décor

"Classic can look fun and hip!"  suggests Rachel Porter, CBA, of Balloon Splendor of Mount Vernon, Washington, USA.

 

How fabulous is this balloon arch! Rachel describes it perfectly on her website.
 "Bright fun colors served as the entrance decor to an outdoor company picnic at the Microsoft campus. 6 colors in a well-disbursed pattern accented with small round balloons attached to long skinny balloons (balloon bauble accents) made the cold July day not seem so dreary."

 Bob Armstrong, CBA, of Doctor Bob's Balloons Unlimited in Barry, Wales. "We create the same amount of classic and organic. It’s good to offer both."

Bob uses Classic Décor to create these fabulous letters to spell out 'PRIDE' for an event in Cardiff, Wales.

Maria Alvarez of Balloon Decorations by Maria, in Los Angeles, California, USA says "I love classic décor. Too bad Customers prefer organic right now hopefully it will pass soon."

Classic Balloon decor is often described as being "Timeless", "fast to create, making it highly profitable", and as a balloon companies "bread and butter" work!

Reading the responses from some of our QBN members, it is apparent that many of them still prefer to offer classic over organic décor. This is mainly because their client base is more corporate-based, and that the classic style of Arches and Columns lend them better décor opportunities for corporate events. However, organic décor can be visually softer and often offers a sense of artistic creativity and elegant movement, which are usually better suited to more personal occasions such as birthdays and weddings! 

I know that there are a number of balloon companies, possibly those who have started ballooning more recently, who only offer organic décor, and equally there are some more established balloon businesses that only offer classic décor! In my opinion, I believe that both are missing out. Being able to offer both styles of decor makes a balloon business more appealing to clients. 

From my own personal experience, I like to mix both styles when decorating, especially corporate events. I love the crispness of classic décor, especially when it comes to building Balloon Walls and Columns. But equally, there is definitely a time and a place for offering organic decor too. 

I designed and created this 'Sculptured Column' for an event I decorated in 2019. The client  loved it so much that they ordered 12 for their forthcoming event later this year!

I love to create balloon walls, they make the perfect photo backdrop. Personally, I prefer the classic style wall compared to an organic balloon wall, however, each event is very different and therefore we should adapt our décor to suit the event and our clients needs. 

Here is a "Yin and Yang" Balloon Wall where I mixed a classic wall with an organic Garland, and I loved the end result!  

So which is your preference, classic or organic?

Happy Ballooning! 

Sue

www.suebowler.com

Follow me @Suebowler

How Do You Build Your Corporate Client Base - by guest blogger Jill Shortreed, CBA, of Charleston Balloon Co.

Samsung - New Product Launch 
Decor by Chris Adamo of The Balloon Crew in Sydney, Australia

Today, I would like to re-share an highly informative article that was first featured in Balloon Images Magazine in July, August, September of 2016. Jill Shortreed, CBA, of Charleston Balloon Company in Charleston, SC, USA, shares some of her experiences in running a business, including how to build your corporate client base. I've compiled bits from this article which I hope will help you to boost your own business! 

Jill Shortreed

"If you want more work Monday through Friday, corporate clients are the perfect solution. To land them, you’ll need research skills, a strong professional image, and a good network.

LANDING CORPORATE CLIENTS

Identifying Corporate Clients First, what is a “corporate client”? 

Basically, it is any customer not celebrating a social event. It’s easy to think corporate clients are all huge corporations that wouldn’t hire a balloon decorator for an event. Actually, that’s not true. Corporate clients come in all types and sizes, from tech companies to car dealerships and everything in between. Any business can be your corporate client. All you have to do is ask. If you don’t ask, the answer will always be “No.”

So now that you know what a corporate client is, the next question is where to find them. Potential leads are everywhere and the sky’s the limit. 

If you think your work can add value to their event or business, that’s a lead. They’re not hard to find if you know where to look.

Mazda - Product Promotion 
Decor by Chris Adamo of The Balloon Crew in Sydney, Australia

Your local newspaper is the easiest place to start. It contains upcoming events, new business announcements, and local business ads. You can use these leads to ease into the corporate client market or as a backup when you start looking at other potential sources of revenue. 

Expo lists are what I refer to as the “jackpot.” They’re the next big step in your pursuit of corporate clients. Expo lists show you businesses that will be exhibiting at an event with the potential to interact with thousands of people. They have a serious need to make their booth or table stand out from the rest. You can do that for them. And once you’ve shown them your balloon decorating prowess, they’re more likely to become repeat customers. 

Vodafone - Christmas Product Promotion 
Decor by Chris Adamo of The Balloon Crew in Sydney, Australia

Government contracts are the best kept secret as a corporate client. If you make it onto an approved vendor list, you’ll most likely be the only event decorator, especially for balloons. The process to get on the approved vendor list involves contacting your local agency to attend training, getting a background check, filling out insurance permits, and submitting a business license.

As a balloon decorator, Balloon Arches are a big part of our everyday business. David Saker, CBA, of Balloon.co.uk, regularly sells multiple Garland Arches for sporting events such as this recent cycle race that was held at Windsor Racecourse in the U.K. David was commissioned to build fifteen Arches to mark the start and finishing line of the race. Each Arch was built using the AeröPole System, a fantastic system for creating air-filled Arches that still gives the free moving appearance of a helium-filled Arch, and is perfect for outdoor events!

Sports clubs post a list of upcoming local races and marathons. Depending on your area, races and marathons may be extremely popular. They can be an opportunity to create a unique experience for the client and build your outdoor design portfolio. 

Fabulous sports event balloon Arches by Davis Saker, CBA, of Balloons.co.uk

Large corporations hold seasonal parties and employee appreciation events. These events are usually annual so impress them once, and you’ve likely made a repeat customer.

This party decor was commissioned by a client for their staff and customers!
 Event Decor by Sue Bowler, CBA.

Networking is a fantastic way to find clients, both corporate and otherwise. 

You can network in person and online. But remember, you’re not selling balloons to people; you’re building a relationship with them. Simply put, people want to do business with people they know and trust. The benefit of having a good network comes when someone had a positive experience and recommends you to their friends or contacts.In order to network effectively, you’ll need a strong “elevator pitch.” Sometimes you’ll only have a few minutes to explain what you do and how it will benefit them to take advantage of your expertise. 

There are four crucial questions you need to ask yourself in order to construct a solid elevator pitch:

• Who is your target market?

• What is the problem you can solve for them?

• What can you provide for them that no one else can?

• What is the outcome for them if they use your company?

Be specific and state it in a way they will understand. Saying “I am a balloon decorator,” or “I am a CBA,” or “I decorate parties,” leads to more questions than it answers. 

A much stronger statement would be “I help non-profits who want cost-efficient and creative ways to decorate their events.” This makes it clear what you do, for whom, and how you can help them. 

Strengthening Your Brand 

Your brand image is your logo, business cards, promotional material, uniform, social media, website, etc. Your brand is your reputation and your business’s. Consistent branding leads to a strong presence and differentiates you from your competition. 

If you want to work with corporate clients, a strong brand is vital. This is especially true if you want to work with Fortune 500 companies—a professional image can make all the difference. You won’t meet most of these big corporate clients prior to their event, if at all. In today’s digital world, your website is especially important in creating a strong brand and presenting yourself to potential corporate clients. Corporate clients (and clients in general) visit your website to answer questions they may have about your business. That means it needs to look professional, convey what you do, showcase your work, give your contact information, and ultimately, make them want to work with you. Even if you can get potential corporate clients to your website and they like your work, your contact information can still make or break your chances of getting their business. Some key things to consider about your contact information include:

• Business name/tagline – Is it clearly understood who you are and what you do?
• Address – Even if your business is home-based, is it professional?
• Phone number – Do you have a dedicated phone line strictly for clients?
• Business hours – Can you be reached during working hours?
• Email – Is it professional or are you embarrassed to say it out loud?"


If you would like to learn more about branding your business check out this great post by Zoe Adam-Jones,

Creating Your Brand & Image - Digital Marketing with Zoe Adam- Jones CBA,

Working With Corporate Clients

Jill's best advice is not to wait for the phone to ring. "If you don’t go after what you want, you will never have it! That being said, corporate business is not without its challenges." 

Some things to prepare in advance when working with corporate clients:

• Certificate of Public Liability Insurance - Accidents happen. Corporate clients will likely want proof your business is insured in case anything goes wrong. If you are based in the UK, I recommend www.bapiaonine.com
• W-9 - In the US, if you will be entering into a business relationship with a corporate client as an "independent contractor," the law requires you to fill out a W-9 form for tax purposes.
• Other legal documents they may require - these could include items like confidentiality agreements. 
• Risk Assessment & Method Statement - these are becoming more commonplace in the UK. Risk assessment is a term used to describe the overall process or method where you: Identify hazards and risk factors that have the potential to cause harm (hazard identification). Determine appropriate ways to eliminate the hazard or control the risk when the hazard cannot be eliminated (risk control).

If you are unsure how to prepare a Risk Assessment or Method Statement, Click HERE 

• Proper ID - Make sure that you will be able to enter a building to set up for the event and teardown afterwards.
• Payment - Discuss your terms up front or you may need to wait up to 90 days for payment.
• Contracts - some corporate cannot sign contracts until you a reviewed by their legal department.

Whilst this may seem like a lot of hoops to jump through for one job, but there is an upside. Once you wow a corporate client, you will most likely stay on their preferred vendor list.

Remember: there is no guarantee when it comes to landing corporate clients. But with a strong brand, a good network, an eye for opportunity, a little hard work, and "The Very Best Balloons" you can get your phone ringing and put high-profit clients into your portfolio."

I often hear people asking how do they 'find' corporate clients or how difficult it is to break into this market! Jill's article is packed with some truly great advice and tips on how you can go about this. It is obviously easier to start small and locally, then once you have built a small portfolio and a little bit of confidence, you should be ready to try for some of the bigger clients! 

A huge thank you to Jill for all the great information and to Chris Adamo and David Saker for sharing some of their awesome balloon décor photos! 

Happy Ballooning! 

Sue

www.suebowler.com

Follow me @suebowler.com

💀👻🎃 𝓣𝓻𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓸𝓻 𝓣𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓽... 𝓗𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓸𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓲𝓼 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓰! 🎃👻💀

You might think that I am a little early with the Halloween vibes, but being prepared for the next big occasion or holiday is paramount to a business's success!

Many of the usual traditions of Halloween were cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic! With restrictions being lifted in many countries, for some of us, it will be business as usual for lots of us. There is no better time to start marketing than now!

The one thing that we can all do, with or without restrictions is to promote different options for customers wishing to decorate their homes. 

Balloon Wreaths - great for both indoor and outdoor decor

A wreath always says "WELCOME" no matter the occasion. In modern times, Christmas and holiday wreaths represent the festivity of the holidays; a welcoming sign to adorn a doorway in the spirit of the season.

Here are a few examples of creative balloon wreaths.

Just Hangin' With the Gang!

A design that’s both cute and creepy!

Designer name: Eve Antonello, CBA, Pioneer Balloon Company, Wichita, KS, USA

Boo-Y!

This Halloween wreath is versatile and adorable!

Designer name: Cam Woody, CBA, Pioneer Balloon Company, Wichita, KS, USA

Baubles, Balloons and Spiders
Designer name: Sue Bowler, CBA, Balloon Art by Sue Bowler, 
Henley On Thames, Oxon, England

Fabulous Halloween Door Decor that are not wreaths

Of course, there are many other creative alternatives to decorating a door other than wreaths. These door sign displays are a spook-tacular spectacle!

A Little Bit of "Boo!"

Welcome your guests with this charmingly spooky door display.

Designer name: Cam Woody, CBA, Pioneer Balloon Company, Wichita, KS, USA

Happy Halloweenie!

"Who let the dogs out?!"

Designer name: Eve Antonello, CBA, Pioneer Balloon Company, Wichita, KS, USA

Go Big or Gourd Home

Smiling Jacks welcome your Halloween guests with this door display.

Let's Get noticed!

Here are some fun Halloween marketing ideas.

• Dress up your store. You don't have to sell costumes to deck out your store for Halloween. If you don't have a shop or store, your website and social media pages are your 'store window'
• Update your website to get in the spirit. Don't forget to "dress up" your social media presence, too!
• Halloween-ize your products and the text in your posts!
• Offer specials or deals - try offering early bird deals!

How about changing your Facebook banner? Changing your banner to reflect the next season or holiday is a great way to get noticed! Qualatex has some really fun banners, some like this one are animated, great for catching attention! Here is a direct link to the banners - https://pioneerballooncompany.widencollective.com/c/b6ulvwws

Social Media Ready-Prepared Posts! 

Finding inspiration to create fun and effective social media posts is sometimes challenging! If you are in need of a kick-start, Qualatex has some excellent pre-prepared posts that are ready to go, or you can edit them to add in your own message and company details. I recommend using CANVA to create your own edits; it's free and super easy to use! Click HERE to see all the available posts - free to use, just simply download!

As we know, all social media posts require a good hashtag or two to make them even more effective! 

TOP 10 HALLOWEEN HASHTAGS

Best halloween hashtags popular on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr:

#halloween - 63%

#spooky - 5%

#horror - 5%

#october - 4%

#art - 3%

#halloweencostume - 3%

#halloweenmakeup - 3%

#pumpkin - 3%

#spookyseason - 3%

#happyhalloween - 3%

So, this is just the start of the Halloween season, so we have weeks to prepare ourselves and make it our best Halloween yet! 

Happy Ballooning! 

Sue

www.suebowler.com

Follow me @suebowler

Welcome Back to School! Fabulous Balloon Design Ideas by Keren Fridman, CBA of Balloons, Israel.

Whether they are just starting out or making a returning to nursery, school or college can be exciting for many children but it can equally be a little daunting for others. Welcoming children on the first day of school with bright and fun balloon decor can really help to reduce any apprehension or anxiety!

As we all know, 'Back to School' campaigns are huge for many retailers, where students and parents purchase school supplies and apparel for the upcoming school year.

As balloon professionals, we too can offer other ways to bring a little fun and excitement to a child's first day back at school, helping to make it a happy and memorable experience!

'Colouring Pencils' Balloon Arch by Keren Fridman.

Keren Fridman of Balloons in Haifa, Israel, certainly has an eye for creating spectacularly colourful school themed decor, and she is thankfully happy to share her ideas to inspire others!

Keren Fridman

 

Decorative Balloon Arch by Keren Fridman of Balloons.

Rainbow Arch by Keren Fridman

How cool are these 350Q balloon pencils! 

Organic Rainbow Balloon Arch with 'Coloured Pencils'

Organic Balloon Arch with 'Books and Coloured Pencil' accent details! 

These 'Coloured Pencils' are simply fabulous - simple but so effective! 

Last year I wrote a post entitled Welcome Back to School - Balloon Decòr to Bring Smiles to those Returning to School. Feel free to peruse this post once more, which is also packed with fabulous ideas and decor that's perfect for your back to school campaigns! Check it out for more inspiration! 

A huge thank you to Keren for sharing her beautiful designs! 

Happy Ballooning! 

Sue

www.suebowler.com

Follow me @suebowler

Helium (Balloon Gas) and Helium Safety.

Balloon Gas

We often talk about using helium to inflate balloons that we want to float. However, in the UK. (I am unsure about other countries) we mostly use a product known as Balloon Gas. Balloon Gas is a re-cycled product that derives from helium that has been re-captured after being used for other purposes and is no longer suitable to be used in medical or science applications. This re-cycled helium would be wasted if not re-used in balloons.

It is often speculated that helium is wasted when used for balloons.

​The simple answer is no – it is not a waste. As cylinders of pure helium are filled, the escaped gas mixes with air and is captured and compressed into cylinders as balloon gas. Some manufacturers capture this helium when filling MRI scanners.

​Manufacturers have stated that this wasted helium is considered a ‘recycled product’ as it would have been lost to the environment had it not been captured and re-purposed. If the balloon market demand declined, manufacturers would have to re-evaluate other markets and consider the possibilities of re-liquefying it. Re-liquefying is currently considered uneconomical from the locations of where the filling application take place.

Let’s not forget that the balloon market is only one application and makes up less than 10% of the worldwide helium market, there are several other applications that also use helium.

Helium Facts

Helium is an inert gas, and is the second lightest element next to hydrogen. It is colourless, odourless and tasteless. INERT means it will not react to any other elements, therefore it is impossible to cause a fire or to burn. However, it is very important to know that helium is an asphyxiant, and therefore inhaling helium can cause serious harm that could result in fatality, so it is definitely not safe to inhale helium!

Is there a safer alternative to helium? This is a definite no! 

Helium Safety Tips

• To avoid muscle strain and injury, use correct lifting techniques. Larger cylinders should not be lifted manually due to their weight. Cylinder trolleys should always be used.
• NEVER drag a cylinder along the ground. 
• When transporting a cylinder by car or van, make sure that the vehicle is well ventilated and that the cylinder is very well secured.
• Ensure that cylinders are stored in well-ventilated areas, away from direct heat.
• When inflating a balloon, always point the balloon and inflator away from you, and close the cylinder valve after use. Some professional balloon artists will wear protective eyewear when inflating balloons. Always offer staff protective eyewear when inflating balloons.
• Always secure a cylinder to a secure support in an upright position when in use, as cylinders can cause serious injury if they fall over or roll on to you.
• Do not attempt to catch a falling cylinder; move out of the way.
• Keep cylinders away from children at all times.
• The valve on high-pressure balloon gas cylinders should never be opened unless the appropriate filling kit is attached.
• Always use the correct inflation equipment designed especially for inflating balloon and the cylinder type that you are working with and NEVER repair, alter or change equipment as this can result in serious accidents, remember you are working with gas under very high pressure.
• Slowly open the cylinder valve by turning it in an anti-clockwise direction.  Listen for any obvious leaks. If there is a leak, turn off the valve, release any excess gas in the filling kit and check you have fitted the filling kit correctly.
• Remove the filling kit if moving the cylinder any distance or ceasing use.  Before removing the filling kit, turn off the cylinder valve and release the pressure in the kit.

How long does helium last inside a latex balloon?

Balloons look fantastic when they are filled with helium, majestically floating in the air,  but it does require some thought when using them for events. Since latex is porous, helium begins to seep out from the surface of the balloon the moment the balloon is filled. How long the helium lasts inside the balloon depends on the size of the balloon. An 11" latex balloon will typically float for up to 18 hours, but will only look good for around 12 hours. It is recommended to inflate latex balloons with helium as close to the time of the event as possible to ensure that they look their best throughout the event.

To make latex balloons float for longer they can be treated with HI-FLOAT. ULTRA HI-FLOAT is a patented liquid solution that dries inside latex helium-filled balloons to form a coating that helps hold in the helium. A single squirt inside the balloon keeps it floating longer – up to 25 times longer! The chart below will give you the average floating time for different size latex balloons. Please be aware that not all latex balloons are of the same quality, and therefore I always recommend that you use Qualatex balloons.

Will latex balloons still float if you mix helium and air together?

Yes! It is possible to mix air with helium to save on your helium costs. However, you need to be aware that adding air into the helium will make the balloons heavier and reduce the floating time and liftability of the balloons (this means that a balloon cannot lift the same weight as a balloon that is filled with helium only.) Personally, I would only recommend using this technique if you are working with balloons 16" and larger, and also if you only require them for a shorter length of time. You cannot use a 60/40 mix of helium and air with foil balloons.

Conwin makes a range of 60/40 inflators. For more information visit https://www.conwinonline.com/shop/60-40-helium-air-inflator/

I hope that this information has helped you. It is always good to know a little bit more so that you are always informed and have responses available to give to customers who may have their concerns regarding the use of helium in balloons.

Happy Ballooning! 

Sue

www.suebowler.com

Follow me @Suebowler