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Ziv:

Hello balloon artist. And this is season eight, episode 13 today’s episode is with the wound that he’s now on his way back from the float convention, as we are adding, this only is his way to twist and shout when he will. I am going to be presenting is a Vandal as BAC college. I’m super excited about today’s episode. I think it has a lot of value for you. And even if you’re listening for this, uh, way, way later, which happens very often, I think you’re going to love it. Enjoy the interview with Ron Fowler.

 

Take your balloons to the next level. As we delve deeper into what truly makes a professional balloon artist with your host Zivi Kivi. Now welcome to the balloon artists podcast.

Ron:

This is season eight, the veterans, and today I have the privilege of talking with a veteran balloon twister in the cloud, and also a manufacturer of one of the best balloon bags I ever saw. And I have the privilege of even being a customer of him. Tyler. Hello, flower clown. How are you all? Hello, everybody out there in the balloon land I’m doing well. Thank you today. I want to talk with you first of all, about your journey as a balloon twister, we get to talk about the bags as well, because I’m actually quite curious about the background of that and how you come up with ideas. But before that, like just where did you start with balloons?

Ron:

I basically pick them up as a hobby the summer of 1988. So I’ve been doing balloons for a little while, stayed a hobby for about the first nine years. I did dog sorts flowers, mouth inflated, which was part of the problem. Never knew there was pumps, so never get it out in public and only did it for like relatives during the holidays, 97 discovered a pump. And there was no stopping me after that point. So back then it was, I guess like a two 60 pump, like the green or the purple one, I guess it was the purple one or the red single action.

Ziv:

Yeah, that makes sense. So what happened then? Like how did you learn back then?

Ron:

When I first saw the guy doing it in 88, he made some bloods, he’d get all mouth and fighting. So I didn’t know. So I actually just went out to a balloon shop and bought a bag of balloons and figured it out on my own. I grew up on Legos. So Legos was my entire childhood.

Ron:

I can build anything out of Legos. So I just saw the balloons as a different median, as far as the artwork. So I’m like I can do it. So I bought a bag of bone and took them home and then realized I couldn’t Melton play. This is a problem, but I was determined. So I actually worked on it for a good couple of weeks to get those things in inflated and then taught myself how to do a dog, a sword, and a flower ADA then, I mean, in 97, that really when it took off, when I discovered a handful.

 

 

 

Ziv:

So tell me what happened when you discovered the hand pump. Like what was the trajectory from there?

 

Ron:

All my eyes got really big. They make makeup Paul home. I was just over the moon excited. So I met a clown. Uh, I used to fix video games, so there’s a clown, they making balloons.

Ron:

So I basically said, Hey, I know how to make a few balloons. I took a balloon from my mouth and plated, which really impressed him because he didn’t multiply and then basically showed him, I knew how to make the three animals. So I’m like, and I was the game tech. So I actually have a degree in electronic engineering. So I was fixing the video games. I had the keys and free access to tokens. So I’m like, can we barter, can you show me some balloons? And I’ll give you a free arcade tokens. And that’s how it started out.

 

Ziv:

Well, I would teach you a few balloons myself for some, some fleet tokens for arcades back then. I remember in my childhood it was really a fun pastime. So you learned a few more, but where did the clowning thing started? Because you, you eventually became a professional.

Ron:

Yes. So once I discovered the pump, once I had some balloons under my belt that I can do where I was at, I was in the big bar district. So this one clown that, that showed me the pump and show me people balloons in 97, he did one side of the river and there was another bar district on the other side of the river. So I went to the other side and I figured that wouldn’t be competition. And he was okay with it. And I’m kind of a shy person in my real life. I’m kind of an introvert. The only way I can actually go out and entertain and get in front of people, was to hide myself. That’s where the clown came in and that worked wonders for me. It just, I could go out and just talk to anybody who has a plan and started doing the bar district that, that lasted about three years, doing that, and then passing out cards and then started picking up birthday parties.

Ron:

After three years, I got so busy. I had to quit my engineering job. And I’ve been a full-time clown since 2000.

 

Ziv:

Wow. That’s like, as we record this, that’s like 20 years of clowning. I’m doing the clowning salute now and taking my hat off. So you’ve been researching topic of how to make balloons entertaining for many years. And, uh, one of the reasons why I know this is that you were actually very generous to share some ideas about how to just be more entertaining when you’re presenting go balloons. And you’ve been sharing some of these ideas in a course that we had in Balloon Artist College the best dad ever. And, uh, this one, like you just blew me away with some of your, some of the things you carry with you in your, and we’ll talk about the bags later, but let’s talk about some of the things you carry with you that helps you just supplies the kids that are waiting for the balloon and delight them and just make an experience in that moment.

Ron:

I am a clown. I’m an entertainer. And the way I explained to people, and even when I’m at the conventions in that this is something I explained, you come to me to get a balloon, you get entertained. And then you actually just walk away with a piece of latex. So you’re there for the experience. And it took me a while to learn that it’s me at some of my events, not just the bullet. So that’s it. So I, I try to make it a show. I, I have, I do balloon lines. I also do the number system where you come up and you take a number and you sit down. It depends on the event, but I’m very animated. I get down to the ground with the kids. When I have that kid in front of me, I have a one person audience, and I’m going to make that kid that moment.

Ron:

Everybody else gets to enjoy it. And sometimes I’ll like break away and entertain the whole crowd too. So I have the little rocket balloons I’ll do to entertain the line. Anything to make up that half hour 45 minute, wait more enjoyable. There’s no mother wants to sit there for 45 minutes to get a blown. That’s going to pop in five minutes. I understand you’re coming for the show. You walk away with a balloon. So I have little gags. I do little routines during my show. First, you know, you break off a bone. Your hand is to get applies up in the air. I have little gag things in my pocket. I just play. And that’s what I do in my role. As long as I’m having fun. Everything’s great. If I’m having fun, they’re having fun. So my line is just to show, I just do balloon shows and people walk away with a balloon animal.

Ziv:

Can you give us an example? First of all, I want to say this is really just a very clever deep line. You come in for the show. You walk away with a balloon people. If you’re going to do it a too soon, these should be the two you put on your body so that you don’t forget. It’s really important. And I really appreciate the way you coined this phrase. What can you give me just as an example?

 

Ron:

All right. Best example, I’ve just went viral on tech talk like a week or so ago from a video, a friend took, I’ve been doing this for a while, but they came out with these little tiny rubber balloon animals. This is a great thing. I do this at my restaurants when the kids in line and the child does it, like I asked them what they would like.

They don’t know, they haul and home. At that point, I got a second let’s entertain the line. I’m like, here’s my list. Here’s like a menu. And then I entertain the line. So I basically, I take these little balloon, rubber balloon animals, and I have them strategically located in my bag. So I see the color of the animal I’m going to do. I pull out that balloon, same color, matching color, inflate the balloon, and then pretend like I’m twisting it as the balloon deflates in my hand, while I’m twisting, like, oops, I forgot the title or not. And at the very end, when I get, I actually have them Palm. So I have the balloon in one hand in the animal and the other hand, and I present the animal while I dispose of the balloon, the people don’t exactly know what’s going on. So they have no idea what to expect.

Ron:

And when they see that I made a tiny balloon animal, they’re just amazed. And it’s just, I just get laughs and smiles and everybody’s so happy. And that’s part of the show and other ones, I have gags in my pocket. So if I do a hat and I have to measure a kid’s head, I actually have a small brain. So I asked the kids, can I measure your brain? I have mine. Do you have yours? And just little one-liners like that. And to me and I roll is as good as a laugh. So as long as I get that reaction from that kid or that parent, they like it they’re entertained.

 

Ziv:

I don’t know if it’s and uh, those, uh, rubber dogs or other animals that you use, the small ones. Is that something that you basically give them? That one is a gift? Oh yeah, I will.

Ron:

I pass those out. Sometimes I pass them out. When I got to get out of the gig, I’ll take like a handful and just pass them out to the kids. So I hand them something and they let me go to my car. So I go through quite a few of them, but you got to give them to the kids cause you made it for them. And like at a restaurant, if I make the younger kids something and the older teenagers there, and they’re like, yeah, I don’t want to Balloon let me show you a magic trick. And then I blow up a balloon and then I get the eye roll. I said, I didn’t want a balloon. Oh no, no, no, it’s a magic trick. And then I present them and the teenagers love it because I can take that and they could put it in their car or the Walker or whatever.

And they just think it’s the coolest thing. And it’s not a balloon animal.

 

Ziv:

Yeah. Got it. Love it. And I want to ask you, like, when did you start using the balloon bags? Because for me it was really a moment that defined me as an artist because I started to just play to the balloons is more than just the two sixties and a few buckets for some miscellaneous. I started to look at the bag and think about what strategically I want to put there. And usually also put more stuff into the bag. What was your first two bags?

 

Ron:

So basically in 97, when I started doing the bar work in that I needed, I needed to shoulder bag. I need something to organize the balloons in a dark environment because I was doing a lot of bar work going in and entertaining for, you know, guys basically trying to pick up girls or, you know, what the situation was.

Ron:

I borrowed my grandmother’s sewing machine. As I went to college for engineering, the Legos, I just grabbed a piece of paper. I designed up a simple bag, very, very simple with multiple pockets that fit over my shoulder said, grandma, can I use your sewing machine? I went out to the fabric store and bought some fabric and I made a very, very simple bag, but it worked well. And I use that for many, many years. Then I incorporated my love of travel. And I took my bag overseas and said, can you make this nice? And we made a nice bag, brought it back. Local entertainers said, can I get one next year may brought back a few more. And now I’m exporting and doing conventions.

 

 

 

Ziv:

These days. Like how much of your time energy, you know, life is into the balloon bags and how much of it is like the I’m a full-time clown.

Ron:

This bag thing has taken away all my, my extra time, but I enjoy it. And I do it with my breast friend out in Nepal. So we’re literally it’s because we’re on a, like a, basically a total time change. We’re on two different ends of the planet. So it’s usually we’re talking my evening is morning. So like every night around 11:00 PM, I’m talking to brought up who’s over in Nepal and that’s his morning. So I can actually figure things out what we’re doing at production. And then at that point, he’s going down to the factory, which is actually in his house and he can tell the tailors what changes to make. So, but it’s a lot of nights. I mean, sometimes the one o’clock in the morning working on bag designs and production,

 

Ziv:
and you came up with like, you started with one and then another one and another one and another one. And then the Zucker came in the Zucca card and they were designed specifically for that, that are super portable because I think one of the biggest hurdles of moving into a balloon bag is that it waits a lot. It is a heavy piece of equipment. Yeah. So if you, in some of the balloon bags are just gigantic. So you managed to find all sorts of solutions that will be relatively, very portable with Zucca. And in general, what would you recommend someone that wants to start moving into a balloon bag? What would you tell him that, uh, makes sense. My first rule lecture, balloon money pay for your equipment. Some people get into it and want to buy a bag from me. I refuse to sell it to them. I’m like, how long have you been doing balloons three months. I’m not going to sell you that bag.

Ron:

You know, find some things else. When you make enough money, then come see me and buy the bags. So in your bag, your balloon setup is just as important as your dress. As far as I’m concerned, you’re standing next to your, your equipment. That’s your system, that’s your bag. That’s your cart. That’s everything that has to look as good as you do because you’re both out in front. So I work with two other ladies. They’re more concerned about looks and appearances. And me as an engineer, I’m more concerned about function and how it works on the other end. So we make a great team. And so basically back in the day, I started with my simple, what ended up becoming my Noma stay bag. So for about 12 years, I just redesigned that bag and focused on that bag. And I learned tailoring and I learned bag making just on that one piece.

Ron:

And then I did my first convention, which was twist and shout when it was in Orlando and people went crazy. They’ve seen my stuff online. They’re like, you’re here. I’m like, yeah, I’m here. It’s like, so they wanted to see what I had. And my biggest request at my first convention was can you make a bag with wheels? Yeah. People are just tired of carrying this thing and understandable. I was tired of carrying it. My rule. I’m 50 years old now, as I get older and things in the balloon twist and get more difficult for me, I invent something to make it easier, whether it’s a bag, whether it’s a pump, whatever, I’m like, I got to keep doing this. I love this with my badge. And so I make whatever I can to invent, to make my life easier. Then over the years, we’ve just decided, and I work with a team.

 

And once the, once the, once the industry went nozzle, that’s when the Aloha bag was needed. And that’s when the Zoopla came in. Because before that, I couldn’t do nozzle up. I could not do nozzle up period. I can, I don’t have the time to sit there and stretch out all my balloons and organize I’m like that. Now, once the manufacturer did, let’s design a bag around that, and that became the Aloha, which was actually Lisa MacIntyre’s dream bag. I just made it happen and made it functional.

 

Ziv:

And thank you, Lisa. You’re listening right now for just like caring that much. And to making things happen with you and the entire team around you. I have to say, I use slap bracelets, bracelets from silicone. It’s an idea by Matt Falloon. There’s like actually a Facebook coop slap bracelet for Malala. These 12 people can find how to get themselves some slack platelets.

And the idea is basically that you can tie a balloon to it. So it’s kind of like the headbands only on your hand. And when you introduced these law laps for the nozzle lap balloon bags that can easily help you arrange your balloons inside of an Aloha, if you want to. Um, I immediately saw the potential and I actually use it for, for the slap bracelets. So when someone comes by and I want to show them their options for colors, I show them not the balloons. I showed them the slap bracelets. They choose the slap bracelets color. And because it’s silicone, it’s very safe for the kids. Then I make them the balloon that I choose to make for them. So it’s really versatile your solutions. You’re like, there’s so much attention to details with the, with the buckets and with the Sharpies and with the headbands and whatnot business cards, and even sometimes a place for a tablet or a laptop.

Ziv:

So many details, it almost looks like why invent another bag? How come we need more like new air bags. It seems like you thought about everything. Tell me what happens when you decide to make a new version or a new bag. Where does that start for?

Ron:
It’s basically quantity by different bags are different sizes. So some people having free, everything they have with them, other people are like, I don’t want to carry that much in, I have different bags that could be for walk around. And I have bags that are for festivals. I have bags that are for a restaurant and I mean, I’m in the business. I mean, I do this. So I use all these tools and I need a place to put them. So I make the bags like, all right, I have, where do my Sharpies go? Where does my card reader go for credit cards?

 

I need space for all this. So why not just make a bag with those pockets? And then I use it. Everybody else uses it. And then I also get a lot of feedback at the conventions, from people. And like, what do you use? What do you carry? And online too. I’m always asking questions. I’m always intuitive and trying to ask people what they need. And a lot of ideas I get from the convention. So that just fills my mind. And as soon as the convinces are over, I immediately slide in Nepal and start designing. I do love the roll ups cause that one of the conventions you said, look, and you just picked up your roll ups with all your risks, flatlands, all that great idea. I just want to give a shout out. Rose Burkholder is the one that introduced me to the Zuko card five days before I flew to Nepal.

Ron:

So I saw it and went, yes, I ordered one and had it delivered to me, like made sure before. And I carried that over to Nepal and I’ve been designing around it.

Ziv:
Can I ask for the details of branding and of helping people look good, but also market themselves. So you sometimes do custom designs on how do you call it

 

Ron:
Embroidery?

 

Ziv:

Yeah, yeah. Employee employee today on top of the cover of this Luca, or even on top of the bag and all these little details of showing someone’s logo or someone’s name on top of your equipment, that makes a world of different. Of course, sometimes you can wait for this and you just, you’re in a convention and you’re going to pick up a bag and then pick up a bag. But the fact that, uh, there’s some customizations that are possible can help people stand out and look professional and let’s face it some fast on that charging the same rate, like everyone else, or like many of the other people we charge more.

Ziv:

So we better look like we are worth more. So is there any, anything new and exciting that you’re designing or planning to design that we can expect in 2020?

 

Ron:
Well, it is 2020. So basically this is the convention season. Then I go to Nepal design then production over the summer 2021 is basically when the new book come out. So I’ve got the twisters. They’re good. The problem is the twister. It’s a limited market and I’ve kind of saturated the market. So I’m actually branching out. I’m going into decor. Now I’ve got three new products. Two of them are ready. I’m actually doing my first decor convention. This tour that I’m on. And I’ve got three decor products, I’ve got a decor apron. So no balloons go in it. It’s all clips, magnets, everything used for decor tools, Al that kind of stuff. And I have a pump of bag made for one of the big bucket pumps, air force pump.

Ron:

That’s got a bag with that provocative. I’m also working on a big tool bag for decor. And then I’ve been talking to decor people on this tour that I’m on currently. And that is giving me so many ideas. I’ve already got sketches on my books for a new product. So I’m not going to tell anybody because I’m in a year, it’s going to be a year before it’s released.

 

Ziv:

We won’t tell anybody who’s specifics, but we will say that, uh, like balloon decorators stay tuned for more surprises coming your way. And where can people go to, to check all of your options and balloons like bags of balloons, whether you’re a twister beginner that makes enough money to buy a bag, or you are like a seasoned polo, where should people go to learn more, more details?

 

Ron:
Basically I have of course, a website, which is bagalloon.com links right there, right there links down there.

Ziv:

Well, putting the links in a balloon artistpodcast.com. So if you go to the show notes, we put the bagalloon.com a link in there as well.

 

Ron:
I also have a Facebook page for bag alone. And then, um, I’m always on balloon artist gear, cause I’m always monitoring that page and see what people are using and all that. So those are the best three ways. I also have a YouTube channel. Anytime I have a new bag, I go through all the functions. It’s so technical because of who I am and the way I design that I have to show people. And when I go to the dimensions and somebody has one of my bags and I’m like, well, why aren’t you using this for that? And like, I didn’t know. You could do that. You got to watch my videos to see work. I have a specific place for the ring cutters.

Ron:

I have specific places that are designed for the Sharpies. You don’t watch the video. You’re just like, okay, I don’t know what that’s for, but no, they’re, they’re technical. So watch my videos. My YouTube channel is flower clown. So it’s going to have bag videos, but I also do balloon tutorials. And then when I’m traveling through Nepal and Asia, I tend to post my travel videos as well. I really need to break it down into different YouTube, but I just like doing one on every one for everything. I don’t know.

 

Ziv:

Cause are you spending every year?

 

Ron:

I’m there. Usually I leave after convention season in the states, which usually ends around Valentine’s day, mid February, and I’m there for two and a half months now in DePaul. I also do some volunteer work for orphanages and that I’ve been going to Nepal since 97. But what I’ve noticed is Nepal’s a very poor, so I cannot get really good clips and zippers and rings and all the materials and prints.

Ron:

I really struggle finding that. And I’ve struggled for a long time. Now I actually go to China, which borders, Nepal. My Nepalese friend does business in China. So I just go with him. He speaks fluent Chinese. We do all my shopping for all the parts I need. And then it goes on a truck and they just drive it right over in Nepal and over the border and through customs. And then it goes right to my factory and I have good quality supplies. I got great tailors. I got well bagged design designs that are bags that are designed well. And then I do an air freight cargo once a year.

 

 

 

 

Ziv:

Wow. That’s quite an operation, definitely a very serious operation, not clownish at all. So you have your two identities, uh, favela, the clown that can make people happy or either by volunteering with kids in the polo or back in the states where you a full-time entertainer and a lawn Fowler, the businessman that really nailed it in terms of production in a multi-state operation and creating very high quality products.

And really thank you for the time. I know you’re busy, you’re in the middle of a tool, uh, yourself in the states and you have been serving the industry for so many years with so much dedication and care. I just want to say, thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Ron:

You’re very much welcome. I, I do really enjoy this, so it’s my pleasure. And like I said, even when I’m clowning, as long as I’m having fun, you’re having fun. As long as I’m enjoying myself, you’re gonna enjoy yourself though. And, and you may enjoy yourself when you get the bag and you’re like, I’ve got a beautiful setup and this works so well. And yeah. So thank you. Thanks for having me. Appreciate it.

 

Ziv:

Thank you so much. And I’m in for that. And thank you so much guys, for listening for the balloon artists podcast. See you next week. Bye-bye bye-bye

Ziv:

Thank You for listening for another episode of balloon artists podcast, we have one more episode on this season and by the time you’re hearing this, I’m like packing up my bags to prepare myself for flight, for twist and shout 2020. And I will be waiting for you in the jam of woman in the vendor room. So if you are going to attend a twist and shout, and you’re listening to this on time before February 4th, 2020, then please stop by, uh, the vendor room or the jam room where I will be spending most of my time and say, hello. I would love to meet with propel who listened to balloon artists podcast. Love to meet you specifically. Thank you again for listening for this episode of BP and see you next week.

Zivi:

Hello, balloon artist podcast, nation Zivi Kivi here. And this is season eight, episode 13, the tip section. And I want to tell you a story about art, but it starts with two female good-looking singles one for me. And one for the states that dress the same way. Well, it’s not a coincidence. Most likely. These are only seeing was learning how to dress up from the states SINGA, which was very famous and very big. However, the discussion I had with my daughter was that she showed me how people are already cooling the Israeli singer and showing pictures side by side of how she dresses in a very similar way to the American singer. And when I looked at it, I felt really bad for the young ones. The youth that are focusing on who is she inspired by with her, with a Waldo. And actually I thought that a lot of the pictures showed similarities in color and in shape, but there was a lot of differences that showed the specific style of the Israeli singer.

 

Zivi:
So I thought that it was okay, but the slides that my daughter was showing me said too much, too much like, Ooh, this is too much of a copy. Well, I went on a rant with my daughter and I’m going to share this with you because I think it’s important for the sake of art to survive that we understand what is the difference between stealing and between being inspired by other people. This is what I’m sharing with you. You can learn about it also in the book steal like an artist, which I think I’ve mentioned before. And if I haven’t hit, I’m sharing it with you now. And I apologize for my voice being a little bit choppy, but this is really important. Stealing like an artist means you don’t steal only from one person. You don’t steal. One for one is ease. Uh, you always change stuffing.

 

Zivi:
And it has been decided upon by many societies and in the quarter floor, that’s 20% change. That’s what you’re aiming for is the minimal amount to make something only inspired by another artist in stolen form. Now don’t get me wrong. I don’t recommend stealing a design at all. I recommend being in touch with the artist and asking for permission to remake ITO be inspired by him. But in general, if you’re changing 20% or more into design, then you’re off the hook. You’re it’s okay. In the modern debt, I would recommend that you make your art, uh, inspired by someone, not always the same person, but definitely yes. Be inspired by people because art is a communication form between artists. So when you’re creating an art piece, if you don’t have any inspiration, usually your art sucks. The reason why we came to the point where we have amazing balloon designs is because someone was inspired by the previous generation and the previous generation.

 

Zivi:
And, and it’s, it’s a constant evolution of designs and the of art. And this also happens between different mediums. Like some people are inspired by flower arrangements and some people are inspired by pop art or by comics. And some people are inspired by theater OTV, or even by songs you can do balloon out that is inspired by songs. Well, well then you’re inspired by something that is totally out of your, of your art. Then it’s, it’s way harder to find out who was the source, which is fine. It’s, it’s, it’s an advantage as well. Sometimes I think that if you’re doing balloons, you should know who you’re inspired by. You should give credit inspired by that fluid inspired by Dave Flynn and so on. And I think that that’s okay. And for, as for the Israeli singer, she really did change at least 20% of a loop, you know, the, to just be herself and more important than that is the fact that she syncs really well.

 

Zivi:
And I think it’s important because there’s more context in there. There’s more than meets the eye that needs to be considered. Like for example, maybe she even got permission from the single, when, when you look at the picture, you don’t know if she got permission or not, but maybe she did. So like just I’m going on a shame journey and like shaming other people. And even just without naming publicly, just going on the mindset of Ooh, too much, that’s too much. That’s not the right. Those people are misbehaving. That is not going to be healthy for you as an artist. It’s not going to help you move along and to be brave and make decisions and get stuff done and inspire other people. It just won’t, that’s my rant for today. I hope that you won’t be one of those people that say, Ooh, too much. This is, this is, uh, something that was stolen, uh, when you don’t necessarily have the full picture or when you don’t take into consideration that actually like, it’s not exactly the same. It’s 20% different and this is what art does. It’s getting inspired by other people. So I hope you’ve enjoyed my rent of today. And I’m looking forward for meeting you again next week in balloon artists podcast, the last episode of the season. So see you next week and thank you for listening for balloon artists podcast.