Greycloud Studios -- The Balloonatic Fringe Show Page

What follows is a description of our current shows.

At the bottom of this page, you will find links to our Photo Gallery and to the Promotional Video for The Balloonatic Fringe.

This is pretty much what it sounds like. We arrive and set up our twisting carts and a line of people forms in front of us. We then begin working through the line scuplting balloon creations for each and every person in the line until we get to the end of the line or the event comes to a close. Normally, the event ends before the line does, but there's always next time. Still, that is another reason we come out as a team. It aids us in getting to everyone.

It is also true that sometimes the line looks more like a mob. The idea is still the same, and unlike other balloon scupltors we have seen, we make every attempt to keep the entire mob entertained while we are working with each child, no matter what age be they 2 or 200.

Similar to the work we do for Fairs & Festivals, in that we are making the same sort of balloon sculptures. However, there are several differences between the two basic show sets. First, we dress the part. For a Fair or a Festival, we tend to wear loud colors that announce to the world that we are balloon artists. At a Banquet or Corporate Event, we wear clothes that are more in keeping with the event. This is not to say that we won't stand out and be very apparent in what we are and what we're doing; it's just that we believe in dressing to match our surroundings. You might find us wearing a suit coat and a fedora or a Chinese style shirt with dress slacks. Always upscale and keeping with the feel of the crowd at the Banquet or Corporate Event.

The second major difference is that we often come in ahead of the event and help with the decor. This might range from the simple, set of a couple of balloons filled with helium and tied to a weight set around the room to centerpieces for the tables to large sculptures that are meant to be eye catching and tie in with the theme of the event.

This is a different take on what can be done with balloons and balloon sculpting. The basic idea is that we are hired into to an event or venue and during the course of the day, weekend, or week construct a very large balloon sculpture. How large? Well, the sky's the limit on that one. We have made sculptures that fit on a two-foot by four-foot table and sculptures that fill a twelve- foot by twelve-foot floor space. It's all up to you.

How does it work?

Glad you asked, we'll start at the beginning and walk you through a good example. To begin with, you have an event coming up that you want a unique draw for. To that end, you contact us and let us know you have this event coming up.

For the sake of this example, let's say that you run a hunting and fishing store and have a mall show coming up.

Having contacted us, we sit down and figure out how much area you are going to have for us to work with and what kind of a sculpture you would like to see. Being that you run a hunting and fishing store, we would tie into that. Assuming that we have a ten-foot by ten-foot space to work in, we might suggest a forest scene of a camp along side a stream. The sculpture would be sketched out and any frames that we would need would be constructed prior to the show.

The day the show opened we would be on hand to begin constructing this sculpture of a hunting and fishing camp beside a mountain stream with a couple of guys sitting in front of their tent beside a campfire. There might be some trees in the background and certainly some wildlife throughout the sculpture.

If this was a three-day mall show, we would bring in enough balloon sculptors so that the sculpture would be complete and finished on the third day. However, we would have the construction scheduled so that it would be completed in stages so that people could watch it growing as we worked and see things they recognized.

At the end of the show, we clean everything up and take away our frames and leave the space as clean as it was when we got there.

Why should you consider this type of show?

Another very good question, and here is our answer. The idea at a large show is to get your store or product in front of your customers. Now, it has been proven by some very smart marketing people that there are a certain number of times you have to get your product or service in front of your potential customer before they're willing to by. The exact number varies from product to product and service to service. Still, reaching that number is one of the reasons for doing these large shows.

Bringing us in to construct one of these large sculptures gives people a reason to stop back by your booth or store and see how far along we've gotten. This alone is often not enough to accomplish what it is your trying to accomplish. We understand this and that is why we make sure that the balloon sculptors that we have on site know what it is that you have on display. Why? Simple, it is so that every time someone stops to look at what we're creating, we can talk to them about the product or service you have on display. In the above example, we would talk to people about the fantastic hunting and fishing supplies that are carried in your store. However, it could just as easily be electronics, hardware, building materials, or office staffing. The other thing that we stress is that what we are creating is a work in progress and that the people should stop back by and see it when it is further along. This way they come back several times more through out the course of the event than they would have otherwise and you get closer to reaching that magic number of times that your product or service is put in front of them.

Balloon Tales is a uniquely fun interactive combination of Balloon Sculpting and Storytelling. Created by Sean Miller & Kristi Ward as a way of bringing their favorite stories to life, each program features an unforgettable combination of balloon sculptures and treasured memories.

Starting where others leave off, Balloon Tales brings to life original versions of classic stories combining the best of literary, visual and performance art to create something unique onto itself.

This highly interactive performance features stories from many different sources, taken to a new place through the creation of balloon sculptures right in front of your very eyes. From folk tales that we all know and love, to historical tales, to original works created right on the spot, it's all possible with Balloon Tales.

While drawing you into their world, our performers will twist and weave their spell around you. They might take a simple rhyme from childhood and show it to you in a unique and wonderful way. Then, without pausing for breath, they'll teach you a bit of actual history and sculpt it into a wonderous story. With Balloon Tales the possibilities are endless.